The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-15
APPARENT ATTEMPT TO SHOOT
THE PRESIDENT OF THE
FRENCH REPUBLIC,
He EXPLODED TO SHELLS
SUPPOSED ASSASSIN SAYS THAT
WERE ONLY HARMLESS BLANK
CARTRIDGES.
Had Grievance He Desired to Call
to the Attention OF the Pres
ident.

PARIS, July 14.-An attempt was
made to assassinate President Faure
today. The president had gone to Long
champs to review the troops He had
no sooner entered the field when a man
in the crowd stepped forward and fired
a revolver at him. The shot did not
take effect. The would-be assassin was
at once arrested. He declared that he.
had only fired a blank cartridge, and
that he had no intention aof killing the
president. When it became known in
the crowd that the president had not
been hurt by the shot, the greatest en-
thusiasm 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
great rapidity among the crowds of
people who were celebrating the ma
tional fete day, and created an i'm
mense sensation. The president after
the incident was everywhere received
with cheers, the people taking that
means of expressing their qualification
at his escape from violent death.
AS President Faure, seated in open
carriage and accompanied by M. Me-
line, the premier, appeared upon the
reviewing stand at Longch amps we'll
dressed man, about forty years of age,
who had been leaning against tree,
took deliberate aim and. fired twice in
quick succession with revolver at the
president. The man had not time to
fire again before the crowd closed in
upon him, and seized him, and but for
the intervention of the police, the
would be assassin would probably have
been lynched.
The name of the man is given as
Francois. 1t appears that some time
ago in order to draw attention to a
supposed grievance which he harbored
he fired q revolver in the hall of the
chamber of deputies. Francois declares
that he had no desire to harm the pres
ident, but that the sole purpose Of his
act today was to secure q hearing by
the president of his grievance.
Throughout the sensational incidents
of the day and the exciting time that
accompanied and followed the attempt
upon his life, President Faure main
tanned an outwardly placid demeanor
and manifested not the slightest sign
of agitation.
When Francois, the would-be as
sassin, Strengthened up from his loung
ing position against a tree and delib-
erately opened fire upon the president
of the republic, the latter showed no
symptom of alarm, and the open car
riage in which he was riding made no
no hxrf cd he III
ground to the presidential tribune,
where he was to review The troops who
were out on a parade, in honor of the
anniversary of the fall Of the Bastile.
The cool-headed course pursued by the
president promptly
REASSURED THE CROWD
Of his personal safety and welfare, and
the first momentary apprehension Of
tradgedy gave way to a. frenzy of con-
graduation. The presidents carriage
was greeted in it's progress to the presi
Dental tribune, after thesshots had been
fired, with enthusiastic cheers from the
dense crowds which packed all sides or
the parade ground in expectation of
from thousands Of throats ''Vive
Faure,p "Vive la Republique," and
similar cries to express the sympathy
and congratula tion of the multitude.
President Faure maintained his calm
and self-possessed demeanor and after
he had taken his place In the president
ial tribune, frequently acknowledged
the cordial greetings that was given
him from all sides by raising hisshat
The man Francois whe fired the two
shots was surrounded at the moment
by hundreds of people whose attention
was, however. directed towards the
presidents carriage. The immediate
spectators of the act, horrified and in
dignant, rushed upon the shooter with
loud cries Of "A mort, mort
Things looked decidely threatening
for M. Francois, and It seemed as
though summary punishment was to
be wrecked upon him on the spot by
the infuriated crowd for. his attempted
crime. But strong escort of police ap-
neared promptly on the scene and
took charge of the culprit, and succeed