The herald., 1896-07-15
ALMOST An ASSASSINATION
M. Faure, the President of
France, Assaulted
NO INJURY WAS INFLICTED
And the Enthusiastic Crowds Shout in
Frenzied Joy
The Assailsnt Promptly Arrested nnd Mar.
rowiy Escapes Lynching-A Crank
Who Has a Bad Record
ociated Press Special Wire.


He had no sooner reached the field than
q man in the crowd stepped forward and
fired at him. The shot did not take ef-
feet.
The would-be assassin was arrested
and declared than he only fired blank
! cartridge.
When it became known in the crowd
that the president had not been hurt
by the pistol shot, cheer after cheer
was sent up.
The news of the attempt upon the life
of the president spread with great rapid :
ity among the crowds celebrating the
national fete day. He was every
where received with cheers, the
populace taking that means of ex-
pressing qualification at his escape from
violence.
President Faure was seated in an open
carriage, accompanied by NJ. Meline,
premier, and NJ NJ. Boydefer, and
Tourney, when a we'll l-dressed man, ap-
parently 40 years of age. who had been
leaning against tree, took deliberate
aim and fired at the president twice In
quick succession with a revolver. He
had not time to fire again before the
crowd closed in upon him and seized him,
and but for the interference of police he
would have probably been lynched.
The name of the miscreant is given as
Francois. 1t appears that some time ago
in order to draw attention to a sup
posed grievance he fired revolver in
the hall of the chamber of deputies
Francois declares he had no desire to
harm the president, and the sole purpose
for his act was to secure hearing by
the president of his grievance.
Throughout the sensational events of
the day, and the exciting scenes which
accompanied and followed the attempt
on his life, President Faure maintained
an outwardly placid demeanor and man
ifested not the slightest sign of anxiety.
When Francois, the attempted assas-
SIM Strengthened from his lounging po-
sition near tree and opened fire on
the president of the French republic, the
latter showed no alarm, and the open
carriage in which he was riding made no
pause, but proceeded across the review
ground to the presidential tribune, where
he was to review the troops who were
out in parade in honor of the anniver-
sary of the fall of the Bastile The cool
headed course pursued by the president
| promptly assured the crowd of his per-
| sonal safety and welfare, and the first
momentary apprehension of a tragedy
gave way to a frenzy of congratulation
/ The presidents carriage was greeted in
| its progress to the presidential tribune,
after the shots had been fired, with en-
thusiastic cheers from the dense crowds
which packed all sides of the parade
grounds in expectation of the brilliant
| spectacle. Shouts rose from thousands
of throats, "Vive Faure." viva la Re-
publique," and similar expressions.
President Faure retained his calm and
self-possessed demeanor, and after he
| had taken his place in the presidential
tribune ne frequently acknowledged the
enthusiastic greetings that were given
him from all sides by raising his hat.
The man Francois fired two shots in
the presence of hundreds of people,
whose attention was, however, directed
towards the presidents carriage. The
immediate spectators of the act, horri-
fled and indignant, rushed upon the
shooter with loud cries: of "A mort,
mort. (Kill him.) Things looked de-
cidedly threatening for NJ. Francois, and
it seemed as though summary punish
ment was to be wreaked upon him by the
infuriated' crowds. But strong escort
of police appeared promptly on the scene
| and took charge of the culprit and sue
ceeded in transferring him in safety to
police station. There Francois was i'm
mediately examined and stated in reply
to inquiries that he was a foreman in
the imperial Office works. The revolver
he used was still in his possession. 1t
was small weapon of the bull dog pat
tern and still contained undischarged
blank cartridges. Francois claimed the
two cartridges he discharged were also
blank and his purpose in firing them was
simply to create a sensation and thus
call attention to his grievances
Another man named Boulant was also
arrested at the same time as Francois
| When the latter had fired at the presi-
| dent and the crowd rushed at him with
a threatening aspect, Bouant came to
his defense, exclaiming: "Well done;
| that's the man for me-"
Upon the return from Longchamps to
the city after the review of the troops
| was over President Faure received a
| tremendous ovation from the people
who lined the whole route, anxious to
| get glimpse at the president.
Loud cries of "Vive lie president" and
"Nive la republique" resounded from all
! sides. The full name of the man who
attempted to shoot the president is
| found to be Eugene Marie Francois. His
| record proves to be we'll known and he
| mas been under surveillance of the police.
! He was dismissed from his position as
foreman of the municipal worksin June
| Tor sending threatening verses to the
| president of the municipal council. On
June 18th he threw in the chamber of
deputies pamphlets entitled Freedom of
! Writing in the Ninteenth Century I'm
der Felix l." In this pamphlet he spoke
OF the abuses of the administration and
declared attempts had been made to
| poison him wherever he went.
After the excitement had, somewhat
abated the firing of the shots began to
! be regarded as only the irresponsible
| ana harmless act of a madman. But
nevertheless several of the ambassadors
OF foreign powers ancE diplomats called
! upon President Faure to offer their fe-
licitations and sovereigns telegraphed
| their congratulations upoon his escape
The members of the Ancient and Hon
orable Artillery company of Massachu-