San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-07-19


An event OF so transcendant I'M
portance in the worlds history, grow
ing directly out of the American
revolution, ought to be better known,
and we propose to ''improve the &C.
casion" by copying few pages from
L3ssing's "Home of Washington; or
Mount Vernon and it's Associations,
Historical, Biographical and Pic
torial.
The Bastile was first royal castle,
completed by Charles V OF France,
in 1883, for the defense OF Paris
against the English, but in the lapse
of time it had become fortress de-
voted to the selfish purposes Of tyr
amy. 1t was hated by the people.
During the preceding year, 1888,
the slumbering volcano OF revolu-
ton burning in the hearts of the
people, upon which for a long time
royalty md the privileged classes of
France had been reposing, showed
frequent signs of inquietude, which
prophesied of violent eruption. We
now quote connected account of
the events of July IA, 1889, and what
follows as related to our subject:
On the night of the 18th, Paris
was comparatively quiet 1t was the
lull before the bursting of the storm.
The dismissal of NJ Necker from the
post of minister of finance, had greatly
exasperated the inhabitants. The
streets were barricaded. The people
formed themselves into q National
Guard, and chose Lafayette rs Their
chief. Each assumed some sort of
military dress, and laid hold of gun,
sabre, scythe, Or VII stever weapon
first fell in their way. Multitudes of
the same opinion, embraced each
other in the streets as brothers; and
in an instant, almost, n National
Guard was formed, consisting of
hundred thousand determined men.
1t was believed that the Bastile
contained n large quantity of arms
and ammunition, and thither the
people repaired on the morning of
the nth A parley cnsued, the gates
were opened, and about forty citizens,
leaders of the people, were permitted
to 90 in. The bridges were then
drawn and n firing was heard within!
That moment marks the opening
of the terrible drama of the French
revolution. The fury of the populace
was excited beyond all control. That
firing fell upon their ears MS the
death-knell of their friends who had
gone within the walls OF the hated
prison. With demoniac yells they
dragged heavy cannon before the
gates in the face of the storm of
grape shot from the fortress. They
quailed not before the storm, but at
tackled the stronghold Of despotism
with tiger-like ferocity. The alarmed
governor. Delaunay, soon displayed a
white flag. AMI the firing ceased.
A second deputation was now sent
to the governor. They shared the
fate of the former. With redoubled
fury the people again assailed the
walls, made a breach, rushed IN,
seized the governor and other officers,
and conducting them in triumph to
the Place de Grace, first cut off their
hands and then their heads. The
latter were then paradod upon pixies
through the streets. and the great
iron KEY Of the Bastilo vas carried TO
the Hotel De Vile, OF town ball The
National Assembly decreed lis demo
lition. Seven prisoners who had
been confined in its dungeons since
the reign Of Louis the Fifteenth
three OF whom had lost their reasonl
we're set at liberty, aud the Old for
tress Was demolished soon afterward
The key Of the BAstile was placed