Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-01-26
FACTS ABOUT GAMBETTA,s DEATH

The authentic account Of NJ. Gambetta's
illness and DEATH whttcn by one of his
most intimate friends, NJ Joseph Reinach,
is published iii the Rcruc Politicue ct Litter
airc. VI. Rcinach commences by saving
that the time has come for NJ. Gambetta's s
friends TO put an end to the numerous le-
gends which their silence till now has per-
haps cngcudered. He proceeds 1T was on
Monday, Nov y, at Il quarter to eleven
o'clock in the morning. that NJ. Gambetta.
being Mt his country house, Les Jardies, at
Vile d,Avray, wounded himself in his right
hand with Il revolver The following are
the circumstances under which the accident
occurred He had spent tho morning in
company with one of his friends of the De-
Tense Rationale. the Artillery General
Thomas, who had come from Versailles to
Vile d'Avray to visit him. At about half
past ten O'Clock General Thomas rose to
take leave of his friend, but NJ. Gambetta
pressed him TO remain for breakfast Tho
General, who was expected back at Eer-
saiIlcs, was unable to accept, and left the
house. NJ. Gambetta then went up stairs to
his bedroom, on the first floor 4 revolver
on g lever system of quite Il new model, the
barrel lifting up, was on one Of the tables
weapon wished to go and try it in the gar
den. He was fond of firearms and often
handled them somewhat imprlldently but
in the country, i'll rather lonely place, and
living i'll i house situated at the end Of a
garden, only imperfectly walled round, it
was almost indispensable to be provided
with such weapons. TO load the revolver
the natural way was 10 hold it in the left
hand and to put in the charge with the
right In this way he loaded the revolver,
but one of the cartridges did not enter
properly into one Of tho chambers When
n. Gambetta tried TO put down tho barrel
into its place it met with resistance from
this cartridge. On this he took the barrel
with his right hand while holding the butt
end Of the pistol firmly with his left, and
cndeavored to force it down The cartridge
then exploded, and the bullet entered NJ.
Gambetta's right hand at about the
middle OF the palm, close to the
tlsshy part near the thumb. Tho bul-
let penetrated below the skin, and fol-
lowing slightly obliquc direction passed up
the muscles Of the wrist, and came out
about five centimctrcS above the wrist on
the inside ofthc arm. Tho devoted lady
who has since become the victim of the
most cruel curiosity RAW into the room with
the servants. hearing the report of the pis-
tol. to sec what had happened. A few min
utcs later the wound was dressed by DR..
Gillc. of Vile d'Avray Dr. Lannclongus
arrived about two O'Clock. TIc examined
and completed the dressing made by his
colleague. Every wound in the hand is
serious. even when the bullet, rs was the
case with NJ. Gambettu. does not pass
through the flesh without injnring any arte-
'l,, 4 I, l->,1 r.l A..
ri November more serious Was-lrst. the
condition Of N. Gambetta's health, which
had long inspired his friends with uneasi
ness and. second the position and internal
arrangement Of the dwelling where the
wounded man had to be nursed"
| ". Rcinach leaves it to the province of
the faculty TO describe the different phases
of the illness which proved fatal to NJ. Gam
bctta, and, after describing his last hours,
concludes as follows 1--WE have now su-
prcme duty TO fulfil on the very day of the
great national funeral, during which the
grief ia mourning family, deeply afflicted,
disappears rs drowned in the sorrow OF
| France. \ woman was found faithful, de-
voted indcfatigable in kindness and affec-
tomato care, who nursed during no less
than thirtyiour nights the man of whose
heart she had so large a share We scarce
ly know this woman, even by name, but we
can guess that she has suffered. We know
how she has answered the calumnies heap
ed upon her. She has abandoned herself
entirely to her duty and her friendship.
That broken heart inspires profound sym.
pathy i'll all those who have loved and ad.
mired Gambetta. We owe her respectful
and discreet gratitude for the JOY she has
shed upon this great life, and for the tender
consolation with which she surrounded its
end"
ETEST POCKET DYSPEPSIA CURI