Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-10-26
BARBAROUs BUTCHERY.

HOW THE FRENCH TROOPS SLAUGHTERED THE
HELPLESS ANNANuTEs AT HUE.
"a shameful story as told by correspondent Of the
Paris Figaro and cabled to the Boston Herald
LONDON, Oct. -, 1888. Pierre Lote, an
officer of the French expeditonary force in
Tonquin, sends to the Paris Figaro the fol
lowing description of the fall of Hue The
beaten Annamites were cooped in the burning
village. The only road of escape from the
flames lay under the gates of the fort, which
was filled with sailors armed with Krapotehak
repeating rifles, with sights carefully adjusted
to the distance The magazines of the rifles
were duly loaded The men looked on, wait
ing until flank movement of the other
troops and the firing of the bamboo huts
should drive the human quarry out before
them We saw them hating at the end of
the village, with singed hair and garments
then after few moments hesitation, tuck
ing up their flowing robes as high as they
could, and, trying to protect their heads with
planks against the impending shower of bull
let's, they rushed. A great butchery then
commenced. Two volleys we're fired. 1t
was quite a treat (c'tat un plasir) to
these fan-like streams of bullets sweeping
down upon the fugitives They were poured
twice in one minute at the word of command,
and in sure, methodical manner. 1t was
like a Jet from a huge watering pot, which
moved them down by dozens. In cloud of
dust and gravel We could see some, who
seemed to be driven mad picking themselves
up, limping one way, now another, like
wounded animals, gathering up their clothes
! in comical manner. Their long hair un-
! fastened and streaming down their backs
made them look like women. Others tried
| to escape by swimming a lagoon to try to en-
| ter the iunkG These were killed in the wa
| ter. Some good divers remained long time
! under water. Our men continued to kill them
| all the same whan they came up to breathe
like seals The men then amused themselves
counting the dead-j0 on the left, so on the
right. In the village were small heaps.
With those killed in the southern forts, about
500 or 1000 must have been disposed of, The
sailors made bets as to the numbers destroy
ed. About in the morning all was over,
and the rout of the Annamtes was complete.
The heat was intense, and the Sailors mad
dened by the sun and the noise, quivering
with excitement rushed out of the fort after
the wounded. Some were crouching in holes,
others were feigning death, while others, at
the last gasp, were stretching out their hands
pleading for mercy and shouting Han,
Han !" in heartrending accents. Our mel
slaughtered them with bayonets, or Drained
them with the butt end of their muskets
The Annamite servants, diminutive effemin
ate lads, who had followed the infantry from
Sargan, were hunted out Here's another
Come, give him Iany, lany" These sailor
were quite unacceptable. They were alb
solutely madmen. The officers attempted t.
restrain them, aud said to them "You ough
to be ashamed of such cowardly, dirty work.
They replied 1.-The Annamites are savages
They carried the head of Capt. RiviGre oil
the top of a pole, and if they carried the
day, they would cut the French to pieces o.
saw them within two planks." There was NJ
reply possible to this. 1t was true and e
they were left to their grim work.