The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-16
A WILD-EYED CRANK TAKES TWO
SHOTS AT THE PRESIDENT
OF FRANCE.
WOULD-DE ASSASS|NS HIN WAS BID
The President Was Unharmed-T
Shootist Claims He Fired Only
Blank Cartridges-The President
Remained Calm Throughout.

10 review the troops. lie llau no sooner
entered the field when man in the crowd
stepped forward and fired revolver at
him. The shot did not take effect. The
would-be assassin was at once arrested.
He declared that he had only fired blank
cartridge, and that he had no intention
Of killing the president. When it be-
came known in the crowd at Long Champs
that the president had not been hurt by
the pistol shot the greatest enthusiasm
was manifested. Cheer after cheer was
sent up, and the people could scarcely be
restrained by the guards from crowding
about the place where the president and
his suite were standing. The news of the
attempt upon the life of President Faure
spread with rapidity among the crowds of
people who We're celebrating the national
fete day, and created an immense sensa-
ton. The president, after the exciting
incident, was everywhere received with
cheers, the populace taking that means of
expressing their qualification at his es-
cape from violent death.
AS President Faure, seated in an open
carriage and accompanied by Nj. Meline,
the premier, appeared upon the reviewing
grounds at Long Champs a well dressed
man, apparently about forty years of age,
who had been leaning against tree, took
deliberate aim and fired twice in quick
succession with revolver at the presi-
dent. The man had not time to fire
again before the crowd pressed in on him
and seized him, and but for interference
by the officers the would-be assassin would
probably have been lynched. The name
of the miscreant is given rs Francois.
1t appears that some time ago, in order
to draw attention to Il supposed griev-
ance which he harbored, he fired n revol-
yer in the hall of the chamber of deputies
Francois declares that he had no desire
to harm President Faure, but that the
sole purpose of his act today was to Sc
cure hearing by the president of his
grievance. Throughout the sensational
incidents of the day and the exciting
scenes that accompanied and followed the
attempt upon his life, President Faure
maintained an outwardly placid demean-
or and manifested not the slightest sign
of agitation. When Francois, the would-be
assassin, Strengthened up from his loung-
ing position against tree and deliberate
ly opened fire upon the president Of the re-
public, the latter showed no symptoms of
alarm, and the open carriage in which he
was riding made no pause, but proceeded
| across the review grounds to the presi-
| dental tribune, where he was to review
the troops. who were put on parade in
honor of the anniversary of the fall of
the bastile. A cool-heuded course pur-
sued by the president promptly assured
the crowd of his personal safety and well
fn met ptnt nm
sion of a tragedy gave way to n frenzy of
| congratulation. The presidents carriage
/ was greeted on its progress to the presi'
dental tribune after the shots had been
fired with enthusiastic cheers from the
dense crowds which packed all sides of
the parade grounds in expectation of the
brilliant spectacle. Shouts arose from
thousands of throats, Viva Faure,"
Viva la Republique," and similar cries,
to express the sympathy and congratula-
tons of the multitude.
President Faure maintained his calm
and self-possessed demeanor and after
he had taken his place in the presidential
tribune frequently acknowledged the cor
dial greetings that were given him from
all sides by raising his hat.
The man Francois, who fired the two
shots, was surrounded ut the moment
by hundreds of people, whose attention
was, however, directed towards .he presi-
dents carriage. The immediate specta
tors of the act, Mortified and indignant,
rushed upon the shooter with loud cries
of "a morte, morte." Things looked
decidedly rough for Francois and it was
thought summary punishment was to be
dealt with him on the spot. But "A
strong escort of police appeared promptly
on the scene and took charge OF the cul-
prit and succeeded in transferring him in
safety to a police station. There Fran
co.'s was Immediately examined and
stated in reply to queries that he was Il
foreman in the municipal Office works.
The revolver was still in his possession.
1t was small weapon of the bull dog
pattern and its chambers still contained
four undischarged blank cartridges.
Francois claimed that the two cartridges
which he had discharged we're also
blank and that his purpose in firing them
was simply to create n sensation ana
thus call attention to his grievances.
Another men named Boulante was
also arrested at the same time as Fran
co.'s. When the latter had fired at the
president and the crowd rushed at him
with threatening aspect, Bonllnte came
to his defense, eXclaiming: well done"
Upon the return from Long Champs
to the city after the review, President
Faure was given tremendous ovation
by the people, who lined the whole route
anxious for II glimpse of the president.
Loud cries of "Vive lie presidente," and
''Vive la republique," resounded from all
sides.
The full name of the man who at
tempted to assassinate the president is
found to be Eugene Marie Francois.
His record proves to be well known, and
he has before been under the surveillance
of the police. He was dismissed from
his position as foreman of the municipal
works in June for sending threatening
verses to the president of the municipal
council. On June 30 he threw in the
of deputies a pamphlet en-
titled, Freedom of Writing in the
Nineteenth Century Under Felix l." In
this pamphlet he spoke of The abuses of
the administration and declared that at
tempts had been made to poison him
wherever he went.
After the excitement of the sensational |
firing upon the president had somewhat |
the incident began to be regard |
ed as only the irresponsible act of a
mailman. But, nevertheless, several of |
The ambassadors of foreign powers and |
diplomats called upon President Faure to
,ffer their fluctuations, and sovereigns
-elegraphed their congratulations upon
his escape.
The heat throughout the day has been
sitting and proved most trying to the
roops that took part in the review and |