Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-09-21

Some idea may be formed of the terrible
power for the destruction of life and pro-
| perty when, according TO Cluseret, who
was allied with the Commune. that at the
time of its collapse it held LOO pieces of
cannon and mitrailleuses, $4,000 guns OF
different models with sabre bayonets. &c.
900 cavalry sabres, Ia 900 Enfield rifles. re-
volvers, making a total of TIC, ZOO weapons
of all kinds which the commitment had
robbed the city of. Thus equipped,
they entered upon their work OF destruc-
ton, but what must excite amaze
ment," writes the American Minister,
Washburn, who, by the way. was the
only representative of any foreign power
who remained in the city during the seige
and in the bloody reign of the Commune,
and over whose Legation the Stars and
Stripes foated when even the banner of
France was supplanted by the blood-red
flag of destruction, lis the knowledge of
the vast number of people in Paris at this
time who not only were in sympathy with
the Commune, but who abetted and sus-
tanned il IN its career of crime and blood.
The minority, embracing the better class,
was completely cowed and subdued BY this
insurrectionary mass OF the population"
AT TIE MERCY OF THE MOB.
For two months and eight days Paris
was at the mercy of the mob. Nothing
was sacred TO them. IL was ariotous, mad
race while it lasted, and women and men
alike lost sight of their humanity as well
! as their reason. Ii could not last long.
| Even wild beasts, after preylng upon each
other, will tire Of blood. Dissensions
among the Communist leaders themselves
| were the first signs of weakness and O sure
sign of an early close of this terrible car
nival of crime.
The seven days which succeeded May %,
1871, can scarcely find parallel in the an
nails of civilization. and it is hard to i'm
agine it took place but q few years ago..
I Barricaded streets, with men and women
/ fighting like demons against the troops
! carrying their nations flag. The Commu-
, naire battery on the heights of Montmor-
tire belching forth its destructive rain of
shot and shell into the best portion of the
city. Everywhere the work of destruction
| going on.
For days and nights most desperate fight
| ing was carried on without any cessation
in the streets. The carnage was some
| thing fearful. Regault, who had ordered
the arrest of Archbishop Dorboy. had now
almost supreme power. The venerable
Archbishop, who was beloved by rich and
| poor alike, and had spent his whole life in
acts of charity and benevolence, was seized
and thrown into prison. SO. too. A6De
Dezuerry and number OF other priests.
! The Gath, one of the worst days of this ter
rible period, saw the respected chbishop
| Dorboy, Chief-Justics Boniean, the Abbe
DeZuerry, and his friend led from their
| cells in the prison Sa Roguelle, and after
being insulted by the mob, were placed
against the walls and shot down.
THE THIRST FOR BLOOD.
The Archbishop did not fall at the first
volley, but stood erect, and before the
other discharge came, which launched
him INTO eternity, he crossed himself on
the forehead three times. The Arch
bishops body was afterwards mutilated.
This seemed to whet the appetite OF the
Commune leaders for more blood, as three
days later thirty-eight gendarmes and six
| teen priests were conducted from Pere La
Chase and then shot.
Excess succeeded excesses so rapidly
| that it seemed one dreadful nightmare of
bloodshed, crime and pillage and demo-
ralization. The fighting IN the streets
during the day was fearful. and when
! night came on the houses were lighted
mp with fires from the buildings which pc
treleouses had devoted TO destruction.
The roar of artillery and the sharp rat.
/ tie of the mitreilleuses and rifles, mingled
with the demoniacal yells of infuriated
men and women. had transformed this
beautiful city into pandemonium.
Inc famous VenuOlne cOiutnE Ilaue VI
the bronze courslng from the cannon cap
tured by the army of the great Napoleon
was a special object of hate TO Courbet,
| the artist, and hs, leading mob as mad as
/ himself in the delirium of psesion. tore
down the magnificent work. which served
to recall the glory of the French army.
| Neither church nor palace, private resi-
dence nor public building. the city's
adornment nor gardens of the great edIfces
which tell the tales OF French history were
safe from the iire and destruction which
ragged all around.
Near 10 the close OF this dreadful orgie,
| which cost Paris Thousands of lives and
| $2O0, 900, 600. and left stain on the tan
| fame Of Parisians, about 600 OF the most
desperate of the Communists had taken
possession of the Hotel dc Vile.
TIE czozISo SCENE
The regular troops had reached the city
from Versailles and resolved to dispossess
the rabbla who we're well armed and bsrri.
\ caded. One of the most terrible encoua.
ters took place heze- Seeing tbs chances
were against them. the desperate Coumq
nists saturated the wallis Of the baiidIn1
with petroleum and determined 70 are y