The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-03-17
Legation, des Etats Unis,
Paris, April 5, 1871.

at noon to-day and Maj. O'Flynn greeted
me like brother. He had prepared most
elegant dejeuner, and gave me the posi-
surgical instruments with me, prepared to
60 out and help bring in the wounded. I
was wondering how we were going to OBJ
tain the horses to pull our ambulance
wagons, but I was informed that one of
our number had made demand for them
and that the Communistic leaders would
attend to it. Such turned out to be the
case, for in a few minutes an omnibus
pulled by two strong horses drove up,
which the Communists had seized for our
special use. Not wanting the omnibus, we
sent it back, and asked for two more
horses, which in a short time were sent to
Us. Eight of us started out.
was the only physician among them.
Two or three were London newspaper re-
porters. Maj. O'Flynn. in his handsome
carriage-frOm which huttered in the breeze
the Red-Cross flag and our own glorious
American colors-led our party. We drove
first to the Porte Maillot, at the end of the
Avenue de la Grande Armee. 1t was a red
hot place there.
The Commune troops were stationed up
the side streets. We attempted to cross the
square, under the fire of several batteries.
When we approached the center, shell
came bounding along, and took off both feet
Of an old woman, who was also trying to
cross the square. We halted and put her
in the ambulance. The French ambulance
(hospital) was nearer than the American,
so we took her there, and then started in
the direction of Fort Issy. For sometime
heavy firing had been kept up in that di-
rectiOn.
We made for that quarter at breakneck
speed. The gates were thrown wide open,
and we passed out. We passed a great
many troops, and were soon in the little
village of Issy, and could see the puts Of
smoke from the cannon, short distance
ahead. We pushed on, and arrived almost
we had realizing sense that we were I'M
der fire; shells were bursting in the air
above and on either side of us. The shrek
ing of a shell is not the pleasantest sound
In the world.
When a shell passed over, the horses
would crouch down and tremble. Finally
one of our party exclaimed that piece of
shell had passed through his legs. sup
pose that he meant between them. As 1t
was his trousers were considerably torn.
We thought it about time to change our
base, and We walked our horses around
q little to our left, to an orchard. There.
however, we found it hotter than where
we were before.
We saw. at some distance of. railway
tunnel. We hoisted our Red-Cross flag,
and made q dash for it. Behind the en-
sbankment the Reds were fighting the Yer
sailles troops. Back of us was a battery
sending shells over our heads. Pandemo-
MUM reigned in that tunnel. We found
1t filled with all sorts of vehicles. Soldiers
were cursing, laughing and gesticulating in
the line was there "arrayed in all his
glory" My staff went out with stretchers,
and climbed up on the top of a "'bus" for
. quiet smoke. 1t was not long before I
was called down from my perch. My party
came in triumphantly bearing wounded
ooldier-as they said-we took from off
) him four coats. 16 shirts, more or less, and
then we saw q small black-and-blue spot
on his shoulder, where he had been hit by
. q spent ball As my professional advice
was eagerly sought, l suggested that lit
de saliva. applied in the. Chinese way,
would be as good an application as any.
: This advice excited the ire of the French
surgeon. / let him have the last word,
rs my knowledge of French is limited.
can hold my own in my own language. Not
terrible noise. l thought that the Versail-
- tToops were coming In at the other end
Ct the tunnel There were shrieks and
gels, and our French surgeon turned pale
and fell. We examined him and found no
broken bones, or any marks of violence.
A vivandiere gave him a little eau de vie,
fnd consciousness soon returned, and with
1t little more mOdesty of demeanOr. The
polse was caused by runaway team dash
Ing through. Our little party, carrying
stretchers, then followed little Captain,
who assembled the embankment to make a
Reconnaissance. 1t was his last. for a bull
let pierced his heart, and he fell back into
my arms-dead. In his pocket we found
bis address. We placed him gently in the
ambulance. and We drove rapidly back to
Paris. At the gates hundreds of men,
women and children were congregated. All
hats were raised as our little cortege pass
cd through. We delivered the remains to
weeping relatives.
..i April is 9. ls71.1o On Thursday morning I
and We took q walk down the Champs
Elysees and through the bouIeyards. There
was great excitement in consequence of the
funeral Of 81 of the Reds.
always wear around my coat sleeve the
badge OF the Ambulance little Geneva
That evening Mrs. Moore gave small
party. Upon my return home, / found that
the ambulance had stopped for me to go
out and help pick up the wounded. For
the past week there has been heavy can
ing, and has been very near Mr.. Wash
burne's house.
Look at the map, follow the Avenue de
la Grand Armee, and at the wall of the
city you will see Porte Maillot. The Reds
have a battery at said porte (gate), and
-
OF Versailles troops. who are within rife
range. The guns from Mont Valerien
are brought to bear on the battery
at Porte Maillot. Yesterday for two hours
DIR. Peet and /, from the upper windows
OF Mr.. Washburne's house, watched the
shells from Mount Valerien. We could see
the fash and soon hear the shrieking OF
= the shell. It took IA seconds before the
sound came. and 20 seconds before the shell
would fall at or near Porte Maillot.
On Friday the firing was kept up as
heavy as ever. The ambulance wagon stop.
ped for me to 60 out with them. As usual
I was the only medical man among them
We drove out to Chatillon, and to the pom
toon bridge, crossing the same, and tried
TO go over ii. so as to make circuit bach
OF where they were firing, but the nights
on the other side were held by the Yer
sailles troops, and they had taken two O,
three boats out of the bridge, rendering 4
impossible. We then returned to the city
and thought that we would 90 out anothe1
gate. We drove along this side of the wal
until We came to Porte Maillot Here w.
found q great many Commune soldiers ur
the side streets out Of harms way. Tn.
men at the battery at the gate were load
ing and firing as rapidly as possible. The,
were friendly, and invited us to 20 ou
that way. We declined. We crossed th,
square under a CALLING fire, and went ON