The record-union., 1896-07-15
While on His Way to Review Troops
Near Elysee Palace.
Two Shots Fired as the Presidents s
Carriage Was Passing Through the
Large ConCourse of People, Which
ByStanders Claimed Were Aimed
Arrested, and an Examination of
His Pistol Proved 1t to be Loaded
With Blank Cartridges.

PARIS, July 14.-What is claimed in
sCme quarters as an attempt to assaSsi-
nate President Felix Faure was made
at 200 o'clock this afternoon at the pa
rade ground at Long Champs. The day
was the one hundred and seventh ami
versary of the fall of the Bastile, and
| was celebrated in the usual manner, in
Guiding review of the troops at Long
Champs, which drew a very large con-
course of people. Among those present
We're some of the members of the An
cient and Honorable Artillery Company,
who were honorary members of the Ger
| eel Militare.
President Faure, with others, left the
palace of the Elysee III an open carriage
and drove to Long Champs, it having
been arranged that the President should
review the troops. AS the carriage
passed through the Porte du Moulin en-
trance to the parade ground it was sur
rounded by troops, who We're to escort
M. Faure to the reviewing stand. Be-
fore the vehicle had proceeded far a tall,
| fair and fashionably dressed man of
about 30 years of age stepped slightly
| III advance of the crowd and drew a re-
volver, which some eyewitnesses declare
he discharged point blank at the Presi-
! dent.
Immediately there was a scene of the
greatest excitement, and it would un-
| doubtedly have gone hard with the man
had he not at once been seized by the
gendarmeS who were standing by He
was at once conducted to the temporary
police quarters that had been estab-
llshed within the grounds. The man
resisted arrest, declaring that he had
done nothing to cause his being taken
into custody. He claimed that he had
not fired the revolver with any intention
of injuring the President, and that in
| fact the weapon had only been loaded
with blank cartridges. Some of those
who stood close by him when the Presi-
| dent entered the grounds declare that
two shots were fired. An examination
OF the revolver made by the police an
pear to bear out the statement that
blank cartridges We're used, for in four
of the chambers cartridges with no bull
let's were found.
Attempts at the police station to learn
| further of the prisoner were of no avail
He stated that his name was Fran
coise, and refused to say anything fur
ther. The prisoner appeared to be in
sane.
News of the affair spread like Wild
fire, and the most exaggerated reports
gained credence. The crowd of spec
tators surged toward the Presidents
carriage, and the troops had a difficult
task in keeping the excited people back.
1t took only little time, however. for
it to be learned that NJ. Faure was un-
harmed, whereupon the crowd cheered
the President again and again
M. Faure appeared to be entirtly un-
moved by the excitement. He had paid
no attention to the shot, and calmly con-
versed with his companions in the
carriage until the shouts and cheers of
the multitude drowned his voice. Then
directing his coachman to proceed, the
carriage, which was temporarily
stopped, went on to the stand, where
the President reviewed the troops. after
which he was driven back to the palace
of the Elysee.
The police informed a reporter of LA
Presse" that Francoise is the same lu-
natic who recently threw a bundle of