Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-04-05
.THE RAILROAD STORE.
...... -....o or FORBES.
incidents In the Famous War
Correspondents Career.
his VERY oLosE CALL IN PARIS.

A. Adventure winch the city W a.
Besiesed That Came Near Tern'i,
mating HI. Car~er-stSary of az
Evening" Spent Under straNnEe CIR
constance. In New zealand
Mr.. Archibald Forbes. who recOEptd
died In London, was famous the WORK
over as war correspondent, and id
that capacity he was at the front int
many battle and perhaps had been i'm
more dangerous positions than many
+ rXa fstssiEzRP NseldisE wAs f.ihs Efiein II
was besieged. and there he met with
an adventure that very nearly termif
mated his career. The communists has
taken possession of the city, and Mr..
Forbes employed his time in taking
uotes OF their doings.
while there" he said. Il met with
an experience which was near being
tragical Hearing firing In the direction
Of the Church OF Notre Dame de Lo-
rette. l left the Rue Lafayette for the
Rue Chateaudun. When l reached
that place, In the center OF which the
church stands, l found myself inside
most extraordinary triangle of barri-
..ades. There was a barricade across
the end OF the Rue st. Lazare, another
across the end of the Rue Lorette and
q third between the church and in
front Of the place. looking into the Rue
.chateaudun. The popularity of the
arrangement consisted I'm this: That
each of these barricades could be Ell
Their enfiladed or taken in reverse hy
fires directed against the others, SO
that the defenders were exposing
themselves to fire from flank and rear
as well as from front
Il took a protected position in the
church porch to watch the outcome Of
this curious state of things But the
officer in command happened to notice
me. approached and ordered me TO
pick up the musket Of a man who had
Just been bowled over and to take a
refused. urging that was a foreign
er and neutral He would by no
means accept the excuse and gave me
the choice Of the cheerful alternative
Of complying or being forthwith shot.
Il did not believe him serious and
laughed at him, whereupon he called to
four Of his men to come and stand me
I'D against the church wall and then
constitute themselves firing party
They had duly posted me and We're
proceeding TO carry out the programme
when suddenly a rush came upon and
over the Rue ST. Lazare barricade.
whereupon the defenders precipitately
evacuated the triangle. the firing party
~ vi fhaSr |
manned. not caring for the society /
should accompany If | fed. but | pres
entity came to regard my fastidiousness
a folly. for several shots came too near
10 be pleasant. ard in twinkling ]
was in the hands of the opposing ranks
and instantly charged with being .
communard.
The people in the red breeches SCI
about standing rae up against tie
church wall again when. fortunately. /
saw a superior officer and appealed to
him. | was hidden 10 hold up my
hands They We're not particularly
clean. but there were no gunpowder
stains on the thumb and forefnger.
Those stains were. ii seemed the brand
marking the militant communard, and
through.
1T was close, but then a miss is as
good as q mile
Some of the best short sketches writ
ten by Mr.. Forbes are descriptive OF
his experiences in Australia and New
Zeaiaud and are very amusing reading
both from the keen observation they
display and also the grotesque forms
Of human nature which they portray.
Forbes puzzled and astonished the
worthy people of those parts quite as
much as they did him. and the result
of their encounters, as depicted by his
,ncisive pen. is rare entertainment
l shall never forgeI an evening !
0A0 ia.
Beam ~ Hn knt fa .. N9E eaa;r
Egssssn ~AV~