The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-06
HAD NO NEED OF BRANDY.
Went to His Death Preaching
the Crusade of Anarchy.
MEN AND WOMEN IN MASKS
Come to the Place of Execution to
See the Bomb Thrower
Lose His Head.

PARIS, Feb. 5.-Shortly after midnight
last night the police began clearing the
Place de la Roquette. where the execution
OF Anarchist Valiant was to take place,
Of the rabble which had gathered there,
| with mutterings against the authorities
for not committing Vaillant's sentence.
The crowd was finally driven into the
streets opening OH the place of execution
and barbados were erected to prevent
them from approaching too near the gull
lotine. Then NJ. Diebler, he public exc
cutioner, and his assistants appeared and
erected the guillOtne. Diebler called at
| tentOn to the fact that the barriers were
not so far away but that one might throw
a bomb from them 10 the guilloune. and
the authorities took the hint aud moved
the barriers further back.
The preparations for the execution were
made in a drilling rain, but the rain
cleared away before the time for the exc
cution, and every point of vantage around
the Place de Ia R0Quette was occupied.
The judicial authorities arrived at the
prison at 6:15 o'clock and went to Vail
lants cell and awakened him. He turned
deadly pale, but quickly began dressing,
with the remark to one Of ths prison at
tendants:
you see, was right in saying my sem
tence would not be commuted."
Noticing his hands trembling one Of
the officers counseled him to have courage.
Valiant smiled in sickly way and re-
piled Never fear, l will know how to
die.'
Offered glass Of cordial to brace him
up he said: Il have no need of artificial
strength. and despse the man who needs
brandy to nerve him TO meet his fate"
To one of the attendants who offered 10
assist him in dressing he said: Il need no
assistance, thank you. l am dressing as
quickly as possible. and will not delay you
any longer than l can help"
Asked If he had any statement to make
Valiant began defending anarchy in
burning words, and continued until it was
suggested to him that they were useless
and out of place. He refused 10 see the
prison chaplain. saying:
II do not believe in religion. 1t is all
sham. Let those who profess religion give
some evidence of it by extending helping
hand to the deserving poor. This will 10
more to crush anarchy than all the armies
of the world"
At 30 O'clock the march to tho guillo-
tine was begun. valiant marched be-
tween the eXecutiOner and his assistants.
his head erect and defiant, while people in
the crowd cried out, "He dies like a true
anarchist" accompanied by the occasional
cry of "Vve PAnarchIe." Standing at
the foot Of the steps leading TO the plat
form. and gazing at the bright blade,
Valiant shouted. ''Vive l'AnaIchie," and
moment later. ascending the steps. he
said In loud voice: "A mort les Bour-
gois." Death to the Bourgoisie.l On
the platform he cried, death to society,""
These were his last words. He was
quickly strapped to the sliding plank, his
neck placed beneath the knife. which fell.
severing the head from the body.
The head and body were quickly taken
up and carried off at gallop, while the
crowds made tremendous rush for the
guiIlotine, but the large force of troops
and the police held them back till the
guiIlotlne was entirely remov, d. In the
crowd gathered to witness the execution
was large number OF maskers, male and
female, from balls held during the night,
while among the women present were some
OF the lowest of the demimonde who be-
haged most outrageously and indecently.