The Springfield herald., 1899-08-25
FRENCH ANARCHISTS
SUNDAY OF sAcRlLEoR IN PARIS
Commissionsr Of Police Stabbed, Hun
drsds of Persons Injured, Churches


Paris, Aug. 2O.-Paris was to-day
the scene of most serious disturbances,
mune. In response to an appeal Of the
Journal du Pspule and La Petite Re
pubiiQue, groups Of anarchists and So
cialists gathered about 3 o'clock in the
afternoon In the Place de la Repub-
lique. The police had taken precau-
tions and there seemed to be no danger
Of disorder.
Sebastian Faure and Faberot, well
known revolutionary anarchists, were
the leaders. Faure, standing on the
pedestal Of the statue which rises in
the center of the Place de la Repub-
liQue, addressed the crowd. Among
other things, he said that the anar-
chists should be masters of the streets.
The police then interfered and dis
lodged Faure and Faberot, making
three arrests. The crowd at this point
dispersed, but a column Of demon
strators, headed by Faure and Henri
d'Horr made for the Place de la Ma
ton.
The police broke through the col
umn and struggle occurred. Shots
We're fired, and NJ. Gouillier, commits
sary Of police, was twice stabbed with
a knife.
This threw the police into momen-
tary confusion. The mob reassembled
and ran toward the Place de la Ma
ton. The police, reinforced by squad
that had been held in reserve, made
another attempt to stem the current,
and fresh, fierce fighting occurred,
three constables being wounded.
Faure and d'Hor1 jumped into pass
ing street car that was going to the
Place de la Republique and the car
driver on arriving there gave a sig
nal to the police, who Immediately ar.
rested them both, together with two
other anarchists, Joseph Ferrier and
Jean Perrin. Only dHorr was found
in possession of firearms.
In the meantime the anarchist mob
retraced its course to the Place de Ia
Republique, smashing the windows Of
religious editices on the way.
Suddenly, either at the word Of
command, or in obedience to impulse,
the column made a loop and curved
towards the church of st. Amboise,
where the rioters smashed the win
dows Proceeding thence toward the
Faugourg du Temple Mt the corner of
Rue Darboy and Rue st. Rauri-Popln-
court, they formed up into compact
body. Hatchets were suddenly pro-
duced and knives stolen from the coun-
ters of shops, and a concerted rush
was made on the church Of st. Jo-
seph.
The aged sacristan, seeing the mob,
hastily closed the outer gates, but
these were soon forced with hatchets
and bars of iron. The massive oaken
doors were then attacked. According
to the first account, the wild horde
burst into the church, which instant
ly became scene Of pillage and sac
rilege. Affairs and statues were hurl-
ed to the floor and smashed. Pictures
were rent, candlesticks and ornaments
were thrown down and trampled un-
der foot. The crucifix above was
made the target for missiles and the
figure of the Savior was fractured in
several places.
Then, while rancorous voices sang
"Carmagnole" the chairs were carried
outside, piled up and set on fire in the
center OF the square fronting the
church.
When this stage was reached the cru
cifix was pulled down and thrown into
the flames Suddenly the cry was
raised that the statue Of the virgin had
been forgotten and the crowd returned
and tore this down also.
Meanwhile the sacristan, who had
been captured by the anarchists, es-
capped and called the police and repub
lican guards, who promptly arrived
with many constables. They were com
PEELED to fall back in order to form up
into line Of defense, as the anarchists
attacked them with knives.
At length the officers began to gain
the mastery. A score OF anarchists took
refuge In an adjacent house. Others
&ho,, iv hn
and f1ercely defended themselves by
showering missiles on the republican
guards, but finally these were dis
lodged. Twenty anarchists were ar
rested, taken to the police station,
searched and found to be carrying re-
volvers, loaded sticks and knives.
When the police entered the church
the anarchists had just set fire to the
pulpit. The interior of the edifice was
a complete wreck. Several valuable old
pictures that can never be replaced
were ruined.
After the mob had been driven away
Able Lacour, the incumbent, collected
the fragments of the sacrament and re-
placed them in the ciborium. AS he did
so he was heard bitterly lamenting.
The people living in the houses near
by extinguished the bonfire.
Besides st. Joseph's church two
cafes were wrecked.
At a late hour 10000 people were In
the Boulevard De Magenta, which runs
past the end of the Rue De Chabroi.
They were kept constantly moving by
the republican guards, who made re-
markable display of force.
An attempt was made to fire the
choir of st. Joseph's with petroleum,
and the firemen were called In to
quench the flames.
1t is much to be feared that yester-
days scenes were due to the weakness
the government has displayed over the