Saint Mary's beacon., 1877-10-11
The Paris Commune In II.

What with our recent experiences OF
mob law in America and the ATTEMPT OF
certain ag'iators to establish IN the Uni
ted States the Commune, the history OF
the Commune in Paris, in 1871, will be
found to possess for Americans addi-
honal interest to that which it must al
ways provoke. There was no more
brutal and cowardly episode Of that
''redfoot fury Of the Seine" than the
massacre OF the hostages and butchery
OF the Dominican priests. the full story
Of which is now told for the first time
by nj. Maximum du Camp. Archbishop
Darboy and President Boniean OF the
Court OF Cassation-Chief Justice We
should say-with the other hostages ar
rived at Mazas April 6. On the 10Th
was arrested Jean Baptiste Jecker, the
banker whom the Mexican expedition
had brought into notorietv. He had
gone TO the prefecture to obtain a pass
port under a false name, but after get
ting II was recognized by casual pas
ser, who had him arrested as a hostage
worth keeping. Baron iIaussmanns $
father had gone on similar errand, but
was stopped on the stairs by merciful
official, who whispered to him to fly
l. Able Crozcs, almoner Of La Grand
Roqucttc, took his Improvement phil
osophicaily; it gave him chance to
read up his theology, in which he was
getting rusty. Mou,on, the governor OF
the prison, treated his prisoners well,
and would have provided for their es-
go IN ~ knt L. II
refused les, the rage Of the Communist,
should be famed against the clergy and
Nj Bonjean because magistrate should
not run away. Meanw bile the Protes-
tant pastors had protested vigorously
against the Archbi>hops arrest and Of
ticious negotiations for the release Of
the hostages had been begun. the insur-
gents Offering to barter several ecclesi-
astics against BlanIui. L'bbc Eagarde
was sent to Versailles on parole, and
MIR. Washburne, our Minister, interest
ei himself. lie had permission to Wis
It the Archbishop, 70 whom he brought
newspapers and wine, and finally he
sent 10 Versailles a note written by the
venerable prisoner urging that Blanqui
should be set free. This the Papal
nuncio communicated to NJ. Theirs, who
declined to recognize the Commune bv
treating with it. and expressed belief
that lives of the hostages would be
spared, an erroneous opinion, as both
Cardinal Chigi and MIR. Washburne de-
clared at the time.
Raoul Rigauit. deeming Mouton's : rule
too mild. sent TO Mazas as Governor
the locksmith Garreau, whose brutality
was extreme. You are Id Gu
nous was his reply TO prisoners who
sought to know why they had been ar
rested. "lf you prefer it, we can shoot
YOU, to those who complained Of their
treatment. .lfthey aint>ati>fied. all they
have to do is TO die" he said, when
told that the Archbishop was suffering
and NJ. Bon Jean al invalid. May II,
the Commune organized jury of accu-
sation To decide whether or not the
designated individuals were hostages"
The jury only sat once, and then-it ac-
Quilted ore prisoner, bu, he was taken
back to La Roluettc, nevertheless, and
massacred in due course. Edmond
Rouse bafonnlcr ofthe Paris bar was pro-
digal of efforts TO secure the liberty or at
least the better treatment OF The ho>ta-
ges. On the Goth OF Nav he saw them.
The Archbishop was aim aud resigned,
Father Duguerry gay and cordial as
ever Father Caubert confident that
France would come out of the struggle
stronger and more Catholic than ever.
NJ. Rouse was TO have paid them ano,h-
er visit on the 2Sd.
On the 22a keeper whispered to NJ.
Rabut, one of the hostages, that the
French troops were in Paris. 1t is
yoai deliveranee," said the keeper;
My death. replied the prisoner. A,
. P. N. the hostages were hurried from
their cells and ranged in the corridor,
whittier 10 20 none of them or the keep
ers knew. The Able Crozes and NJ.
Core were at the last moment pushed
back into their cells by a keeper and
saved. Their removal was in obedience
to an order Of the committee of Public
Safety, dated 1 Prairial 70, signed BY
c. Ranvier, Eudes and Ferd. Gambon,
requiring that the Archbishop, the dit
ieIem cures, BonJ.an, Senator, and all