Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-11-18

children cry for bread!"
"My wife suffers with hunger; we
are ruined!" cried another.
"My soldiers starve!" exclaimed a
third.
Gentlemen" said the unfortunate
chevalier, turning to the militia, "you
have some influence with your men
surely! Return to them, beg them to
fight one more day! Monsieur de Lewis
will surely succor us. Upon us depends
the fortune Of New France. When we
strike the flag we give UP province,
an empire! For Gods sake, messieurs,
for the king, for your own lands, once
more to the walls! Vive la nuvelle
France!"
The militia officers stood In gloomy
silence in the face Of this appeal. The
feeble acclamations Of the loyal Off
GERS of the line were drowned by a
dreadful crashing sound, followed by
detonating explosion, which hurled
the people in the room in every direc-
ton. A shell from the batteries burst
in the hall.
"Sauve qui peut!" cried one in the
smoke.
1--WE have no safety anywhere!"
"Strike the 11ag!"
Fly, fly, messieurs!"
The room was filled with men, dead,
wounded and stunned. Groans, curses,
shrieks resounded. Scarcely knowing
what had happened, the governor, de
Vitre, and the rest, blinded, dazed, and
choking, found themselves swept out
of the chateau to the terrace in front
of it overlooking the river. From the
tall staff above them fioated the white
flag Of France. There was an excited
group of men around it. Two or three
eager hands clutched at the halliards.
Slowly, as II with reluctance, the proud
banner came dropping down to the
earth.
De Vitre, Rouvigny, Joannes, Fled
mont and two or three others with
drawn swords ran into the midst Of
the mob, driving back the townspeo-
pie and the officers. With eager hands
they strove to hoist the flag, but the
halliards had been cut and they could
only lift it in their hands little space
above the sodden ground. AS they
realized the effort, their antagonists
swept down upon them again. The
governors spirit was unabated, but
his resolution at this gave way. He
succumbed to the inevitable.
LET bel" he cried, breaking his
sword and throwing the pieces far from
him, "the flag is down. Be it remem-
bered that it was not my hand that
struck It! You towards, you have
your way! 1t is the end Of New
France"
He stood, with the tears trickling
down his rugged old face, q picture or
shame and sorrow.
One by one the big guns that ringed
the city ceased to pour their shot up
on the town, as the English saw the flag
come down. Although the heavy
smoke still hung low in the sodden air,
a silence ominous and gloomy for the
Frenchmen succeeded the roar OF the
cannonade. The ships in the harbor
were soon black with men. From the
meadows on the Plains Of Abraham
the sound of cheering could be heard
family, and down by the St Charles
gate, where the columns Of the Eng
lish were massed, came back an echo
of the joyful sound. 1t was the DEATH
knell Of the province.
Maj. Joannes, reluctantly comply
ing, while bitterly protesting, was dis
patched with a white flag to Gen.
Townsh ends headquarters. With the
cessation of the bombardment the
townspeople, regardless Of the rain,
poured into the streets. The plateau
in front of the chateau was soon filled
with people shouting, gesticulating'
laughing. crying, sobbing like mad.
The gaim old governor, with the off,
GERS about him, stood at the foot OF
the Flagstaff looking over that marvel
Gus prospect which should never again
belong to France. Presently Joannes
returned.
"The terms, major?" cried the gov
ernor.
"The garrison to march out with
the donors Of war, with their arms,
two pieces of cannon, and 20 rounds;
afterward to be transported to France
with such Of the townspeople as choose
to go with them. The free exercise OF
our religion permitted and the rights
and property of the people respected"
"And the alternative. monsieur%
Immediate attack"
"Have you the paper?"
"Within my breast. sir" answered
Joannes.
LET US go to the chateau: we will
sign It,"
Presently the two reappeared on the
terrace.
"Say to the English that the people
are starving, and ask them in the name
Of the women and children to send us
something 10 eat at once" said the
governor.
Joannes saluted, turned away. and
was gone. The people watched him
disappear in silence.
TO BE CONTINUED.