The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-02-05

Cad0s column OF citizen soldiers !:
above it, like fine sparkling needles,
glistened the bayonets; the officers
rode in advance.
The column reached the opposite side
of the boulevard, and, occupying it en-
tirely, wheeled in front of the barricade
and halted, ever increasing in numbers
and becoming more consolidated. Not
withstanding the arrival of SO many
troops, everything became more still !:
voices were lowered at rarer intervals
resounded the former laugh it was as
if pail had fallen on every sound.
An empty space between the line of
the National Guard and the barricade
was suddenly formed, over which light
of dust, and, glancing about, walked a
little black -dappled dog. Suddenly
from front or behind, from above or
below, was heard a quick, hard SOUND.
resembling rather the noise of a falling
iron bar than of q shot, imme1iateIv
followed by strange, death-like still
ness. All was silent in expectation-it
seemed that the air itself pricked up it's
ears = then abruptly, above
my very head, something hard cracked
and shrieked, like quickly torn linen.
1t was the volley of the insur-
gents bursting through the jalousies of
Louvin's factory, occupied by them.
NY comrade fGraeatrs and I Immediately
hurried along the boulevard (I remem-
Der having had time to notice on the
empty space in front, creeping man,
an ownerless cap with scarlet pompon,
and black dappled dog, covered with
| dust, running we reached small lane
and entered it. 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, the musketry
roared necessarily. We entered another
street-if mistake not Rue de IEchi-
( quier. At one end of il low barricade
was erected, and lad of about twelve
years of age jumped en- its top, making
wry faces and brandishing q Turkish
sabre !; a fat National Guardsman. whit
as sheet. ran by, stumbling and
groaning at every step
from the sleeve of his uniform dropped
scarlet blood.
The tragedy had begun-its serious
ness was not to be doubted, although
scarcely any one could foreteu what di-
mensions it might assume.
was not obliged to fight on either
side OF the barricades returned home
The entire day passed in tnspoakable
anxiety. The weather was hot, suffo-
eating. spent all day on the Boule-
ward des Italiens, which was crowded
with all sorts of people. The most in
~ followed by others still more improb-
able. Toward night one fact was
1nd1sputable nearly one-half of Paris
was IN the hands of the insurgents.
Barrlcades were erected everywhere
particularly on the left side of the
Seine the army occupied the strategic
points a forlorn struggle was at hand.
Next day, from early morning. the
aspect of the boulevard and the exter-
nal appearance of that part of Paris not
yet IN possession of the insurgents, was
changed as if by magic. An order, .is-
sued by Cavaignac, the chief of athe
from leaving their houses. The Ma
t1onal Guard, Partisan as well as pro-
vinclals from the sidewalks watched the
houses selected as their headquarters
the regular army, Garde Mobile, were
on the battlefield foreigners, women.
children, old and infirn 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 physician. constantly stopped by
sentlneIs to show his pass or. with
rumbhng noise, batteries hurried to the
place OF conflict. Detachments of sol
dIers marched, adiutant or ordinary gal
loped. 1t was dreadful, anxious time
none but those who outlived it can fully
comprehend it. It was certainly pain
fuI for the Frenchmen; to imagine
their native land, society, being de-
stroJed /; but the anguish of foreign
er, sentenced to involuntary inactivity.
was, If not more terrible, at least more
harassing.
Sultry heat no possibility of going
out through the open windows unim-
peded pours the burning stream the
sun binds you; all occupation, read
ing, writing, are out of the question.
sound the cannon shots from time to
time is heard the burst of rifles. the
confused buzz of the battle.
The streets are empty as a ball |
ground, the burning pa7ement-stones |
become yellow, the dusty, red-hot air |
streams in the sunbeams. Along the |
sidewalks stand the immovable figures |
Of the National Guard-there is not one |
solitary, vital sound. Deserted-but
one feels oppressed, as if in the grave
1r prison. Noon beholds new spec
.acto uGGerS with wounded and killed |
appear. Here is carried by q gray:
haired man, with face white as the pill
ow on which rests his head this is q
wounded deputy = Charbon-
lelle. Heads are silently barred before
lim-but he does not see these tokens
If heartfelt esteem his eyes are shut.
There goes crowd of prisoners, es-
'orted by the Garde Mobile the latter
re all young men, almost boys very
title was expected from them, but they
ought like lions. Some bear on their
the bloody caps of their de-
eased comrades-or flowers thrown to
hem by women, out of the windows.
Vive La Republique r. exclaim on
9th sides of the boulevard the National
&uard, laying a somewhat wild and
loomy stress on the last syllable
'Vlve Ia Mobi-i-ilei'' The prisoners
ralk with downcast eyes, and as close
ogether as flock of sheep; very
iscordant crowd, gloomy faces, many
len in rags, bareheaded some having
heir hands tied. The cannonade does
OF stop. A uniform roar seems to per-
ade the air it hevers over the city to-
ether with the smoke and heat.
Toward evening could hear from