River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-04-02

a
Immediately followed by strange. death.
like stiffness. All was silentN expecta-
ton = it seemed that the air itself prick
ed up its ears then abruptly,
above my very head, something hard
cracked and shrieked, like quickly torn
linen. 1t was the vOlley of the
insurgents bursting through the
falousies Of the windows from
the upper story of Jouvin's
factory occupied by them. My comrade
fGneltrs and Immediately hurried along
the boulevard Il remember having had
time to notice on the empty space in
front, a creeping man, an ownerless cap
with scarlet pompou, and black dap
pied dog, covered with DUST, running we
reached a small lane and entered il. Our
company was soon enlarged by twenty
others, among whom was young man Of
about twenty, who had been wounded in
the foot. On the boulevard behind us
tho musketry roared incessantly. We
entered another street-if | mistake not
Rue de l'Echiquier. At one end Of it "a
low barricade was erected, and a lad of
about twelve years of age jumped on its
top, making wry faces and brandishing
Turkish sabro fat National Guards
man, white as a sheet, ran by, stumbling
and grooming at every step
from the sleeve of his uniform dropped
scarlet blood.
The tragedy had begun--its seriousness
was not to be doubted, although scarcely
any one could foretell what dimensions it
might assume.
| was not obliged to fight on either
side Of the barbados; | returned home.
The entire day passed in unspeakablc
anxiety. The weather was hot, suflocat.
ing. spent all day on the Boulevard
DIES Italiens, which was crowded with all
sorts of people. The most incredible ru.
mors we're circulated, Immediately fol-
lowed by others still more improbable.
Toward night one fact was indisputable
nearly one half Of Paris was in the hands
of the insurgents. Barricades were erect
ed neutrality-suspicious. on the left
side Of the Seine; the army occupied the
strategic points a forlorn struggle was at
band.
Next day, from early morning, the as
pect Of the boulevard and the external
appearance of that part of Paris not yet
in possession of the insurgents, was
changed as if by magic. An order, issued
by Cavaignac, the chief Of the Partisan
army, forbade the citizens from leaving
their houses. The National Guard, Par
isian as well as provincial, from the side
walks watched the houses selected as
their headquarters; the regular army,
Al - l., ~. ,,,f ho hot 10 al q.
foreigners, women, children, old and in-
firm persons, were locked in their houses;
all the windows were ordered to be kept
wide open to prevent ambuscade. The
streets were deserted. From time to
time the mail omnibus rolled along, or
the carriage Of a physician, constantly
stopped by sentincls to show his pass or,
with rumbling noise, batteries hurried to
the place Of conflict. Detachments of
soldiers marched, adjutant or ordinary
galloped. 1t was a dreadful, anxious
time; none but those who outlived it can
fully comprehend it. 1t was certainly
painful for the Frenchmen; to imagine
their native land, society, being destroy
ed; but the anguish of foreigner, SEN
fenced to involuntary inactivity, was, if
not more terrible, at least more harras-
ing.
Sultry heat; no possibility of going
out; through the open windows unin-
peded pours the burning stream; the sun
blinds you; all occupation, reading, writ
ing, are out of the question. Five times,
ten times in minute resound the cannon
shots; from time 10 time is heard the
burst of rifles, the confused buzz of the
battle.
The streets are empty as background,
the burning pavement-stones become
yellow, the dusty red-hot air streams in
the sunbeams. Along the sidewalks
stand the immOvable figures of the Ma
tional Guard--there is not one solitary,
vital sound. Deserted, but one feels OPP
pressed, as if in the grave or prison.
Noon beholds a new spectacle; Filters
with wounded and killed appear. Here
is carried by grey-haired man, with
face white as the pillow on which rests
his head this is a mortelly wounded
deputy, Charbonnelle. Heads are silent
ly barred before him, but he does not see
these tokens Of heartfelt esteem; his
eyes are shut. There goes crowd of
prisoners, escorted by the Gardc Mobile;
the latter are all young men, almost boys;
very little was expected from them, but
they fought like lions. Some bear. on
their bayonets the bloody caps of their
deceased comrades, or flowers thrown to
them by women, out Of the windows.
"vive la Republique exclaim on
both sides of the boulevard the National
Guard, laying a somewhat wild and
gloomy stress on the last syllable-"Vive
Ia Mobi.i.ile!' The prisoners walk with
downcast eyes, and as close together as a
flock of sheep: vary discordant crowd,
gloomy faces, many men in rags, bare
headed f; some having their hands tied.
The cannonade does not stop. A uniform
roar seems to pervade the air; it hovers
over the city together with the smoke
and heat. Toward evening |
could hear from my room on the fourth
floor something new added to the former
uproar could be detected other sharp and
nearer sounds--short, crashing volleys.
The people said that the prisoners were
being executed in the mairies.
And so for hours and hours.