The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-31
People ThrOng the Streets to Witness
the Destruction of the Column.
THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED.
The Shaft Topples Over While Cries Of give
10 Commune !" Fill the Air.
NAPOLEON IN THE DUST.


The Commune's campaign against the bronze col.
umn erected TO Napoleon l.. was expected 10
close to-day For over week workmen have been
preparing the shaft for destruction, various sys-
tens OF demolition have been proposed and tried,
until finally 1t determined to cut OF the shaft at
its Joint with the pedestal and let the huge metallic
and cement cylinder fall 10 the ground Working
upon this principle the bronze cutters masons and
engineers have been progressing slowly and con-
siderable crowds have gathered from day to day be-
fore the barrcade In the Rue de la Paix. But to-day
has been the grand day and not less than 5000
people were collected from the Rue Neuve des Capu
cnes TO the boulevard eagerly watching for the mo-
ment when the column should fall upon It's pro-
posed bed OF straw, manure and maple boughs.
At noon sauntered up through the throngs an
heard the projected Vandalism discussed by many
bitter tongues Few among the respectable and
well dressed defended the act and some derisively
pointed to
THE TREMBLING COLUMN,
already vibrating upon its slender foothod as the
first great victory OF the Commune. cannot say
that ali Paris was out, but hundreds OIL the better
Parisans were In walking, together with most every
stranger in Paris including those who have recently
come to the city to witness the long expected event.
1t seemed to me that 1t was about the same gather
ing that was present on the god OF March, during
that memorable massacre.
showed my latsser Dasser 10 the guard at the
corner Of the Rue Ncuve des CapncInes and from
many rccognitlons was allowed to pass in without
the formality OF explaining that was In deep SYM
patty with the demolition and so on. Alter thread
ing the barricades that block up the place where it
Joins the circular buildings occupied by General
Dombrowski, reached the INTERIOR and found but
lew curious people examining the work.
THE IMPLEMENTS
he frat IN fba
was the erection over week ago OF thin, slight
scanolding resting on twelve stancheons, dispo ed
on the four faces OF the pedestal and shipped IN
cement shoes, sunk in the asphalt walk around the
base. The pedestal is about thirty feet high, ana
the platform secured TO these shores, surrounded
by green canvas was the theatre OF the severest
labors. The plates had been removed for distance
or six feet from the pedestal all around the shaft
and on the semi-circumference fronting toward the
Rue de la Paix the hard, finty cement masonry had
been removed py cutting and chipping, leaving q
wedge-shaped excavation two feet deep, reaching
almost the very core OF the shaft.
On the arc fronting the Rue Castiglione four men
were working IN cut about three feet deep, which
was simply the cut OF q stone saw. The shaft itself
Is but ten feet In diameter and the reader can thus
judge how greatly the superinposed column was
weakened In Its underpinning. slight leaning
could be noticed already, rather an incline toward
the Place de la Concorde than otherwise Atads.
lance OF seventy feet from the ground on each side
OF the column, ranges OF iron had been worked
through the bronze into the masonry. and these
were 10 bind the heavy wooden shores one foot
thick, which were placed at an angle or sixty
degrees to guide the fall. Above the railing just
BELOW TIE STATUE OF NAPOLEON,
a strap OF hempen rope, four times wound around
the shaft, was placed and secured to single marine
block. The tackling used consisted OF two single
blocks the other being secured TO wooden hits sunk
into the ground opposite No. 20 Place yendome
These hits were firmly anchored and confined by a
heavy lashing through large gas hole IN the middle
OF the pavement. Through the block at this point
and the at the top OF the column heavy hempen
rope was run, and the fall led TO capsian opposite
No. "a Place Vendome. or course this purchase
permitted an immense leverage the column rising
to height OF l45 feet ana the distance from the
was secured to its place by light
anchor, and, with It's ordinary wooden bars
OF pulls, it bore verItabie marine aspect, This
competed all the machinery OF pulling down.
certainly not very complicated to dismantle
column varousy estimated as weighing rom 400 to
1000 tons. From lis base direct line to the Rue
de la PAX bed was being preparation its fall, and
made OF an under stratum OF dirt and loose gravel,
overtopped with manure and capped with boughs or
green trees. remarked that TINS bedding was only
twenty feet wide, and apparently was shorter than
the altitude OF the shaft But this Communal APP
very imperative engineer or ''boss." or course
found him both yesterday and today. He was a
well dressed young man, thirty perhaps. slim, with
red moustache and q garcon's approach to mill
tary imperial. He was on his dignity and
allowed every one TO understand 81 am
TIE DENOLiSHER or NAPOLEON FIRST.
he wanted people TO keep at a convenient radius
iiom the base lest they might invade his territory.
modesty attempted to approach the hallowed
ground, when he explode In 4 terrible exclama-
tion, "TogonSi Toi'ons I'm rdcnOandrci an Tac-
nonnoFet' soon hal 70 retreat from my position
Ia hn fara nl4 ltn
putaole authority. turned now from the busy pre-
narations TO survey the crowd TO what an effect
the great event was producing upon the spectators
ana soldiers In the place Itself the clerks OF DOM
oiowsxi and The employees IN all the public buildings
long strips Of paper TO annhiIate the Conclusion
One or two Guards, with their families, we're discus
sing the odd-looklng hulkhead on the place which
there since the 18th Of MARCEL. TINS bulk.
head, made OF iron cables hempen rope twenty feet
by fifteen, and stuffed with impenetrable filing was
manufactured. 1t Is said, 10 protect some tlmid
spnsters chamber door from Prusslan shells during
the siege any rate several very legendary stories
were tod ABOUT the curiosity al equally marvellous
III all equally untrue. Cart after cart was arriving
every moment and dumping ils manure and straw
upon tne huge heap already collected ana the work
was evidently last approaching climax. The saw
was removed from the cut OF four p NJ, and the
turesome members OF the Commune now opened
the heavy bronze door and up to the top OF the
moments and they came down. but not Increased
10 heroic stature. ] observed that there was
Etat-Major OF the conlny concrsson :" % VIZ
moved OF towards the Rue de M Paix msi
In time TO be spared the honor Of being mn
out bJ the military. II wa now half-past four and
fdisser Ddsse,s were no longer or any use No one
was permitted 10 behind the barrie aces INT An
oficer oil the staG. MANY tried ana as many failed
4 walked along the sidewalk ana turned into the
Hotel Mirabeau, but as i was not lodged there OF
course could not
WITNESS TIE FALL THEREOF
from there. But found friend VINO lad a sump-
tuous suite OF apartments In the Hotel Hollande
L Dy
balcony. The crowds had swollen to ABOUT fifteen
thousand people, densely packel and extending
Tar as the eye could reach. Many
AMERICANS OF DISTINCTION
we're In various positions, among them George
Wilkes Or. Johnston, Perry Smith, Mr.. Wasnburne,
Gratiot washburne, William Bowles, Consul General
Read, MAJOR Hitchcock, II. NJ. Heurton, OF Cali
forna Mr.. shineller and family. Mr.. Merry, artist;
Thomas, Mr.. Moule, Mr.. w. @, Hale, or
singapore; Dr. siszer and lady Mr.. s. M. Durand
and family, Of chicago; Mrs. Glove, and Mrs.