Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-15
HOW THE FRENCH TOOK PARIS.

A CHI apter from the story of the Com
naHne of Paris la 1871 by Maxine Du
Camp.
Translated for the World from the Revue des Deux
1t was little after three O'Clock when
the Council adjourned. At that very
moment the first soldiers of the French
army were on the point of entering Paris,
thanks to well-known incident the prin-
cipal details of which are unworthy OF
being related. M. Ducatel, formerly q
pentonnier, and then forty-oae years of
age, ventern soldier and man of en-
ergY, brave and not without love of ad-
venture, was then living near the gate of
Auteuil, in house which the bombs
from Montre' out had often visited.
Without being initiated into the negoti-
atoms which George Veysset was carry
ing on with Dombrowski, he had noticed
great incOheIence in the attitudes of
Fedelals guarding the ramparts. The
posts were sometimes abandoned during
a whole day, when they were renamed
by an insufficient force. which of cn went
| awaywithout being relieved. NJ. Ducatel
went to Versailles, bearing passport al
cars, saw several persons, gave useful in
formation, and even furnished plan of
the Sixteenth District.
He made several journeys with the de-
| sign OF Fastening the deliverance of Paris
and when the 2lst OF May arrived he had
already got into relations with General
Felix Douay, Commander in Chief of the
Fourth Corps of the French army. On the
morning of the 21st NJ. Ducatel perceived
that the whole zone of Notifications from
| Auteul to the Point du-Jou was deserted
there was no one on the military road, or
upon the bast1ons, or at the posts, or in
the taverns. The Federals had disap-
peared! He went out, made the round
carefully, and discovered a desertioh too
general not to be systematic. In the
course of this long and minute inspection
he met but three or four insurgents,
who had taken refuge in cellar, through
the grating of which he exchanged some
words OF abuse and even several pistol
shots with them OF all the gates, that
of St. Cloud, battered by the artillery
seemed to him, the most practicable fo1
a possible escalade. From a house-top
he saw that the advanced guard of the
French army, sheltered behind the CAB
IONS of trench, was not farther than
sixty yards off. Perhaps he might sue
coed in making himself understood by
signs, and induce our soldiers TO enter
the deserted city. Among the luins of 8
sheltered house he found long lath, tc
which he fastened white foulard, which
he wore as scarf. With this he climb
ed upon the crumbling bastion and wav-
ed his improvised flag. The fire of Mon.
tretout was terrible at this moment. M
Ducatel disappeared several times amidst
the clouds of dust raised by the shells
which fell, bursting around him. HI
cried, "Come the road is clear" Hi
voice, lost in the oise of the fire and alst
in the distance, did Lot reach the soldiers
M Ducatel ran great risk of being kill
ed by those whom he so valiantly triet
to assist, when Captain in the navy, M
Treve, perceived him.
M. Treve was an active little man
quick and naturally intrepid. "Wha
was he doing near the st. Denis Gates?
He was there as an amateur" led on b!
an idea which had tormented him TO
several days. He also, being stationed
} outside of the ramparts, had noticed, lik
J Ducatel within them, that the insurrec
} ton had become very silent. There wa
J no more fine salvos of artillery, no NOR
OF the noisy firing which was so dear Il
i the hearts of the FederalS. From tn
10Th of May on Captain Treve had beel
examining the walls in the neighborhoot
OF the Point du Jour, and wondering if
| n% ha Ia
} mind was made up upon this subject, AM
+ he had mentioned it to Colonel Piquemal
the chief of General Verge's staff; so j
} came to pass that he was there, wanderin,
i along the line of Notifications, looking
, perhaps. for place where the scaling O
: the walls would be least difficult, whel
2 he saw Ducatel waving his white sill
4 scarf, which had suddenly become fla
. of truce. He started to run toward DUO
atel, but the soldiers prevented hin
s.Don't go. Captain, it's decoy; they wi
!, fire upon you.n M. Treve did not hesi
tate; he thought the signal was made i
good faith, doubtless because he desire
!, it so passlonately.
r Several men wished to accompany hin
: but he forbade them and started alon
at full speed toward the draw-bridg,
! There was great excitment among th
J. soldiers, who prepared themselves TO tir
in case the white flag concealed an an
buscGae. Soon these two men, Ducats
0 and TrsYe, so simply heroic. were able [
: talk to each other across the ditch whlc
e bordered the Notifications. Paris
d yours" cried nj. Ducatel; every thin
e is deserted; bring in the troopsl' Car
], ain Treve, who has a seamans legs
e he has right u have ventured upo
$ beam of the draw bridge which ha
e fallen across the ditch. AS be caution,
+ ly advanced he felt the beam tremble b,
n meath him, and turning saw Sergear
it jules Content, cf the Third Battalion
r the Ninety-ffrst, with his niger upon I'll
g trigger of his gun, ready to defend /
g avenge him. Captain Treve did not fe
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