Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-10-08
SWIFT RETRIBUTION.
HUGO'S ACCOUNT OF AN INCIDENT
OF THE RIOTS OF 1890.
How . CowardIy and Unprovoked Murder
by Disguised Police Agent Was Sum-
mariIy Avenged by Enjolras, . Young
! Student, Leader of the Mob.

by Disguised Police Agent Was SUM-
marty Avenged by Enjolras, . Young
I Student, Leader of the Mob.
In that wonderful book, "Les Miser-
ables," Victor Hugo devotes considerable
space to descriptions Of the riots OF 1885,
which were Of such Importance that they
are often termed a revolution. He was an
eyewitness Of the events and says Of them:
The facts we are going to record belong
TO that dramatic and living reality which
the historian sometimes ncglects through
want Of time and space, but they contain,
we insist upon It, life palpitation and hu-
man quiverinG Small details apparently
unimportant are, 10 to speak, the foliage
Of great events and are lost in the distance
Of history.
Bands Of rioters, 1t is we'll known, re-
semble "A snow ball, and as they roll along
agglomerate many tumultuous men who
do not ask each other whence they came.
Among the passersby who Joined tho
band led by Enjolras, Combeferre. and
Courfcyrac there was a man wearing a
painters jacket much worn at the shout
ders who gesticulated and had Moderated
and had the appearance of n drunken say
age This man, whose name or nickname
was lie Carbuc and entirely unknown to
those who pretended to know him, was
seated In q state Of real or feigned intoxl-
cation with four others round table
which they had dragged out OF the WINE
shop. This Carbuc, while making the
others drunk, seemed to be gazing thought
fully at the largo house behind the barri-
cadc, whose five stories commanded the
whole street and faced the Rue ST. Denis
II at once he exclaimed:
"Do YOU know what, comrades, we must
fire from that house. When we are at the
windows, hang me If any ono can come
up the street"
eyes, but the house Is closed" said one
OF tho drinkers.
Gwen knock"
"rhey won't open"
"Then we'll break in the door"
10 Carbuc ran up to tho door, which
had n very massive knocker, and raped.
As the door was not opened he raped
again, and no one answering he gave d
third rap but tho silence continued.
as there any one in heref" lie Carbuc
shouted. Bat nothing stirred, and so he
seized muslset and began hammering tho
door with the butt end. 1t was an old,
low, narrow, solid door made of oak, lined
with sheet iron inside and heavy bar,
and % thorough postern gate. The blows
made the whole house tremble, but did not
shake tho door. The inhabitants, how
ever, were probably alarmed, for n little
square trap window was at length lit up
and opened on tho third story, and "a can
die and the gray haired head of n terrified
old man who was the porter appeared in
tho oridco. Tho man who was knocking
left off.
"What do you want, gentlemen" the
porter asked.
"Opcn tho door," said lie Carbuc.
IL cannot, gentlemen.
"Open, tell you"
at Is impossible, gentlemen.
Le Carbuc raised his musket and took
aim at the porter, but as he was below and
1t was very dark tho porter did not notice
tho fact.
"Will you opon--yes or nor"
"No, gentlemen.
"You really mean it?'
81 say no, my kind
Tho porter did not finish tho sentence,
for tho musket was fired. Tho bullet on
tered under his chin and came out of his
neck after passing through the jugular
vein. The old man fell in heap without
hcaving sigh; the candle went out, and
nothing was visible save n motionless head
lying on tho sill of tho window and a
small wreath OF smoke ascending to the
roof.
"There, said Carbuo as he let the butt
end Of tho musket fall on tho pavement.
He had scarce uttered tho word Gro he
felt hand laid ON his shoulder with tho
tenacity of an eaglos talon, and he heard
voice saying to- him:
"On your knees
The murderer turned and saw before
him Eniolras' white, cold face. Enjolras
held q pistol In his hand and had hurried
up on hearing tho shot fired and clutched
with his loft hand Le Carbuc's blouse,
shirt and suspendors.
son your knees, " he repeated.
And with n sovereign movement the
frail young man of 90 bent like reed the
muscular and robust porter and forced
him to kncel in the mud. Lo Carhuc tried
to resist, but he seemed to have been seized
by superhuman hand. Enjolras, pale.
bare nocked, with his disheveled hair and
feminine face, had ut this moment | know
not what of the ancient Themis. His di-
lated nostrils his downcast eyes, gave to
his implacablc Crock profile that express
sion of wrath and that expression of chas-
tity which, in the opinion of the old world,
nre becoming to justice. All the insur-
gents had hurried up and then ranged
themselves in circle at n distance, feeling
that 1t was impossible for them to utter
word in the presence of what they were
going to sec. lie Carbuc, conquered, no
longer attempted to struggle and trembled
all over. Enjolras loosed his grasp and
took out his watch. L..
pray or think" he said. You
ono minute to do SO" E85xz
"Mercyl" tho murderer sta0x4 -
then hung his head and mutteN6
inarticulate excavations. E$E q
Enjolras did not take his eyes ID $Eh6
watch. He let the minute pass and then
put the watch again in his fob. This done,
he seized Le Carbuc by the hair, who chung
to his knees, with "a yell, and placed the
muzzle of the pistol to his ear. Many of
those intrepid men who had So TRANQUILITY
entered upon the most frightful of adven-
lures turned away their heads. The ex-
plosion was heard; the assassin fell on his
head on tho pavement, and Enjolras drew
himself up and look around him with a
stern air of conviction. Then he kicked