Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-05-15

crack of rifles from the interior of
the building showed that they had fail
i ed to accomplish their purpose. The
| Zouves answered the fire. When the
| bandits resumed the aggressive M Lee
| pine himself had narrow escape from
| death. Although some distance from
| the villa, bullet passed within an
inch of his shoulder and buried itself
in the wall of house, sending up a
shower of fragments into his face. The
crowds, forced back further and fur
Their, lost patience and vented their
feelings in wild chorus of Death to
the banditsi'
The arrival of brigade of reserve po-
lice gave the crowds a chance to cheer.
IL was evident after the explosion that
the bandits had taken refuge in the cell
lar. They then mounted to the attic,
from which they directed steady fusi-
lade. In the uncertain glare of torches
the scene was dramatic in the extreme.
Trains from Paris conveying the work.
ing people to their homes slowly passed
over the bridge, affording thousands a
view of the fight.
At 10.15 NJ Lepine ordered electric
searchlights from Paris as there was
great danger in the obscurity of the be-
segers accidentally shooting their fell
lows. AS matter of fact, the captain
of the gendarmes and several soldiers
had lucky escape, their heads being
grazed by bullets fired by civilian men,
bers of the attacking party whose ardor
was better than their skill and judg-
ment
The project also reauisitioned extra
dynamite bombs and cartridges from the
military barracks at Vincennes. Sever
al detectives armed with new type of
steel shield which the police arsenals re-
Gently devised, were able to approach
within Is feet of the house. Holding the
shield with the left arm and crouched
behind it. they fired One shield was
pierced, but the detective was not
wounded. Serg. F'leury, who was dam
gerousy wounded earlier in the battle.
while protected by steel shield, owed
his injury to the fact that he turned
to explain to a comrade how well his
armor was working, thus exposing his
body.
There was considerable indecision as
to when the final assault on the house
should be made. Some of the officials
advised that they wait until daybreal;
1 dc hiit pfoAhliAiS VI tHt olHOf villas
made dynamiting at night dangerous
However, another bomb was exploded
followed by the clatter of broken win
dows and crumbling walls.
But the bandits seemed really possessed
of charmed lives In spite of the fact
that the villa cracked and was badly
damaged it remained standing and a
seemingly inexhaustible hail of lead con-
tinued to pour from within.
A soldier asked permission to place a
cartridge alongside of the house instead
of throwing it, as was previously done,
but this was refused, as it undoubtedly
would have resulted fatally to ,ae dar-
ing soldier. He then climbed to the at
tic of an adjacent house which had been
vacated, like others nearby. and fired a
dozen shots through the damaged roof
of the Moulin Rouge, but without result.
The fire ceased for a time, the bandits
either being exhausted or saving their
ammunition. while the soldiers were
forced to discontinue pending the arrival
of new stock of cartridges from Fort
Nogent.
At 1l.25 two more dynamite cartridges
were exploded and portion of one OF
the walls toppled over. Nevertheless the
bandits apparently succeeded in finding
shelter in what remained of the struc-
ftIre.