Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-09-20
The Apaches of Paris.

A condition akin to the worst kind
of anarchy is prevalent in Paris. which
in times past, except during periods OF
violent political disturbance, has been
the best policed city in the world.
But during the past few years, and
more especially during the past few
months, the French papers have been
printing and correspondents have been
sending to American papers stories
that show a condition that is most
horrible.
1t seems that practically the whole
of the law abiding portion of the city
is being held in a state of cringing
terror because of the operations OF a
large and powerful organization OF
thieves ard cut-throats known as the
Apaches.
The Apaches first became known as
such to the citizens and the police,
because Of various peculiarly daring
holdups on deserted streets, and occa-
sional assaults and murders. These
outrages continued to grow in number
and violence, and the band was not
long in securing recognition as an es-
tabliShed institution.
A citizen pursuing his ordinary bus-
mess along a more or less infrequented
street is suddenly confronted by des-
perado. who with drawn weapon de-
mands his valuables. If the citizen
gives up what he has, the Apache goes
about his business, and a subsequent
report to the police amounts to moth
ing. If the citizen undertakes to show
fight, then, the Apache proceeds with
murderous assault, and If it develops
that he is unable to handle the case
alone, a signal brings several confed-
crates to his immediate assistance,
and the victim is handled to the ex-
tent that may be necessary to COM
plete the robbery. 1t is a matter or
no consequence to the Apaches wheth-
er they kill their victims or leave
them only partly killed. In neither
case is there subsequent arrest.
The clamor on the part Of the
alarmed, aw-abiding element at this
unbearable condition seems to have
disclosed the fact that the Apache Or
ganization is so powerful as to abso-
lutely control the city. The Apaches,
of course, can vote, and they nave
elected many of their representatives
to various influential government posi-
tions. AS the result the policeman who
shows conspicuous energy in trying to
run them down. suddenly finds him-
self out of a job. having been removed
from above, and later, he has to flee
the city or be murdered.
All Paris was in a fearful turmoil
a few days ago on account or the ac-
ton of the president in committing to
life imprisonment. the sentence OF a
man who had been condemned to the
guillotine because Of criminal as
sault on a little child. Just what the
facts are is not known: but thousands
of Parisians believe that the criminal
was a member OF the Apache organi-
IA atiCn. and that the Apaches brought
about the communication Of the sentence
either through political pressure or
through threats to put the president TO
death.
Similar conditions have prevailed in
some of the cities of the United States.
especially in Chicago; but the deVel-
opment has not been quite so extensive
or alarming. The police never actual
" lost control Of the situation. They
merely winked at ii, evidently by in
structiOn Of their Superiors; but when
the officials higher up finally told them
that there must be an end to such
things the end came.
What will be the outcome in Paris
cannot be foretnld. OF course. there
must be an end of such intolerable
conditions somehow: but as to wheth-
er these conditions have permeated
the entire government to such an eX-
tent as tn make their correction i'm
possible except at the end of long
reign Of bloOdshed. worse even than
the revolution. seems tn be question
of the near future.