The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-20
THE EVENING sToRT-
Bad Afarksrnanshin.


Paris is in the hands of the COM
mune!"
such was the startling announce
ment that came at the close OF the
Franco Prussian war and the down
fall of Napoleon III.
Thousands of misguided commun-
lists fought worthy of a more prae- |
teal cause and when their effort coli /
lapsed were led out in squads, placed |
with their faces to wall and shot
down like dogs.
Victor Fournier, an artist, who had
entered the army when all young
Frenchmen were needed there, was
one morning ordered to lead his COM
pany to the Rue B. and dlslodEe the
communists from behind barr1cadel
of paving stones they had erected
across the street.
Fournier gave the order to march
There was a sharp tap on the drum,
followed by others reverberating be-
tween the tall houses on either SIDE
and the company moved forward
They'll have a hard fight for that
barricade,'' said a bystander to an
other. Louise Dechtalle y1ves in that
section and has a wonderful influence.
She has an iron will and the courage
of a lion"
The soldiers tramped on until they
turned into the street where the barr1-
cade had beer placed, then marched
by the flank and proceeded ShOulQSE
to shoulder with cooked rifles. When
they were yet 200 yards away from
the barricade a bullet sang spftefulIy
over their heads. They paid no atten-
ton to it, moving steadily on, their
captain, with drawn sword, marching
at their head. Then coming nearer
they distinguished woman looking
over the barricade. Doubtless the
other defenders were crouching be-
low, waiting a signal to spring up and
pour voiley into the faces of the ad-
Vaucing troops.
THAT must be Louise Dechatelle, -
muttered a soldier to the man next to
Wen have a bloody time taking that
work If you want men to fight just
give them a woman to lead.
1.-The maid of Orleans, for instance
replied the other.
When the attacking force came with
in a hundred yards of the barricade
the woman mounted it and, taking aim
at the captain, fired. The bullet went
wide of the mark. The woman threw
out the exploded shell, put in a car
fridge and, taking aim again at Four
nie-, sent a bullet over his head.
They're keeping mighty dark,
muttered the man who had spoken OF
Louise DeChatelle. They're waiting
till we're right against them"
By this time the troops were within
half block of the barricade. The wo-
man could be plainly seen raising her
weapon for another shot. She was evil
IDENTIFY trying to bring down the cap
tain, trusting that this, followed by
volley in the mems faces, would drive
them back in disorder. The captain saw
her object, but paid no attention to her,
tramping on, followed by his men, till
they came directly under the barricade-
There stood a girl, with eyes afiarne,
her hair partly uncoiled, color in her
cheeks, the inpersonation of q. beautl-
full fury. Taking final deliberate ann
at the captain, she sent a bullet this
time tearing the sleeve Of his coat, but
doing no further injury. Spring1ng on
to the barricade where she stood, he
looked down on the other side. To his
establishment not man was there. Inc
girl had been the sole defender.
"You have made a gallant defense,
mademOiselle,' he said, but 1 cannot
compliment you on your marksnan-
ship"
A squad of prisoners-men. some wo-
men and a boy-was standing up
against a wall waiting to be sent TO
their long home. Captain Fourier,
who, with his company, was on duty at
the prison stood near a platoon OF his
men, who were commanded by ser
geant The captain was in charge OF
the execution. A woman turned for a
moment and looked calmly upon the
soldiers.
sergeant said the captain, that is
the woman who single handed defended
the barricade in the Rue 3. Tell the
men.
The sergeant saluted and informed
the men that they were to execute
Louise Dechatelle.
At the first fire seven-eighths of the
communists fell. Louise Dechatele
remained among those left standing.
After the second fire she stood alone
Turning, she looked at the executioners
with the same impressive face as before
CAPTAIN Fournier gave the order Pre-
sent arms!'' Then advancing, he sa-
luted her and said:
ssAGademoiselle, I am the man VINO
owes his life to your poor marksnlan-
ship You did your best to kill me and
failed My men of their own accord
have declined to fire on you. l snail IN
tercede in your behalf with the COM
mander of Paris"
What men marching against her bar
ricade could not do, what a platoon of
executioners could not do, was aGcom-
pIished by magnanimity. Mile Decha-
teue burst into a torrent of tears.
The prisoner was returned to the
iaiI and at Captain Fournier's request
was held to await further action. The
next day he called for her and she was
brought forth Fourier handed her
pardon Womanlike, she turned away
from him for a moment, then, facing
him, said:
Monsieur, pardon my attempts to
kill YOU. I did so, regarding you an
enemy of France rejoice in my fail
ure. Vive Ia commune!"
HARRIET CAWLEY.
POINTED PARAGRAPHs-