Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-01-10
DEATH OF LOUISE MICHEL.

045<A a - 04 A20 ~ AVA 49, $4,000
Louise Michel, prominent as CON-
munist and revolutionary agitatorfor the
last 35 years, died yesterday in Mar
seilles, aged rs years.
The death of Louise Michel. "the
Red Virgin" and "the Petroleuse, " as
she liked to be called. removes one OF
the famous figures of the Paris Com
mune, and one OF the most advanced, as
we'll as sincere, of the French, REDS.
Born in the Chateau of Vronconrt, in
the Department of the Haute Narne, in
1888, she WAS the illegitimate daughter
of a chambermaid employed there and
the son of VI. de Mailly, the owner OF
the chateau. While NJ. de MaiIly re-
NAMED in possession of the chateau
LOuise's mother was we'll taken care OF
and she grew up in the remote place, a
favorite of her old grandfather and edu-
Gated herself in the chateau's library.
When Louise was IA years old the de
Maillys were compelled to sell their
chateau. and her life there came to an
abrupt conclusion. She obtained the
place of assistant schoolteacher in the
village schools of Audelencourt and Mil
Heres, nea7 her old home.
In 1860 sne went with her mother to
Paris, and there her theories underwent
complete transformation. She estab-
lished school in Mon.martre which for
time prospered. Largely under the in
huence of Victor Hugo however, Louise
became an outspoken and bitter enemy
of the empire. teaching her pupils to
sing The Marseilaise" and not permit
ting them to pray for the Emperor.
Frightened by these radical surround
ings, parents began to take their chill
dren away, aud the school ceased to
prosper.
1t dragged along, however, unit! with
the outbreak of the Franco Prussian
war another stage in Louise MichePs
life began. She had long cherished the
ambition of saving France by the MUIR
der of Louise Napoleon, as the heroine
of her youth, Charlotte Corday, had
killed Marat. She alterward declared
that only the Emperer's departure to the
ill-fated field of Sedan prevented her
from carrying out her designs.
Louise's hatred of the empire, how
ever, had not affected her patriotism.
She did splendid work in an ambulance
corps, and toward the close OF the siege
of Pals she donned the uniform OF Da-
tional guardsman and fought with dis
guished bravery.
1t was in the Commune, however,
that she made herself famous. She
offered to kill Thiers as she had planned
to kill Napoleon, and vent to Versailles
aud back to prove that it could be done.
Her proposition, however, was rejected
by the, scruples of the Communard leaed.
ers. and she was compelled to content
herself with the organization OF the
central committee of the Union des
Femmes.
While the Versailles troops were fore
ing their way slowly into the burning
city and the Commune was falling,
Louise distinguished herself with rife
and petroleum. Wounded in the defense
of Fort Issy, she returned to the city to
aid in the defense of the barricades.
Falling into the hands OF the Versailles
troops, she escaped only TO learn that
her mother had been arrested in her
stead. Louise at once gave herself up
and her mother was released.
At her trial, 10 spite of her admission
that she attempted to burn Paris in or
der to "oppose a barricade of flames to
the army of Versailles" she escaped
with a sentence Transportation for life.
She was sent to New Caledonia, and
three remained the idol of her fellow
prisoners, until, by the efforts of Gam
BETA, the amnesty act was passed IN
1880.
She arrived at the Paris railway sta
ton with red flower in her hat and a
Csnaoue cat under each arm. On the
platform to greet her were Clemenceau
and Rochelort, and outside great mob
had gathered, which ran cheering after
her cab TO her home. For the next
three years she devoted herself to max
ing anarchis.ic speeches. writing plays,
abusing Gambetta for the tardiness OF
his amnesty and in general leading the
life of a Paris agitator.
la 1888 she led the mob at the Place
des Invalides. which pillaged some
bakers shops, and for this was sentenced
to six years imprisonment. Allowed
once to pass the day with her uyipg
mother. il was noticed that her reason
was giving way. Ultimately she was
pardoned by President Grevy.
Death followed an attack oi double
nneumonia contracted while Mile. Michel
was on a lecturlng tour of the southern
provinces of France.
Mr. VIM. s. Crane, of California,
Nd suffered for years from rheumatism
- - Io rvaa finally advised