The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-07-30

y y y \ =
In Wild St;
BY FULTON THATCHER GRANT
CHAPTER TEN
Part II
had worked my way CAREFUL,
along the rue de Rivoli to the Hote
Crillon, hoping to get to the Ameri.
can Embassy. I was cut off at the
rue Boissy d'Anglas by the raging
battle.
suddenly realized that I was ir
danger. My coupe-file was just sc
much cardboard now, Of no value OF
protection. crawled back to the
front Of the hotel and Rugged the
stone wall. A force of some twenty
agents thanked the entrance. I could
not get through.
heard suddenly a howl, far out
In the place, as the rioters made their
major charge, driving everything be-
fore them. I thought they would
win the bridge.
And then there was a new sound
Then absolute quiet for an instant.
The sound was OF gunfire.
Frenchmen, fighting for their coun-
try, had been fired upon by French
men fighting for political ambition:
There was hush. Not sound. It
was as II no one could believe his ears.
Then the crowd lost control, lost
its head, tore through the police lines
like paper, Infatuated beyond express
sion. forcing them back across the
bridge, stepping on them, tramping
on them. tearing them. It is impossi-
bic to write the savagery Of that mo-
ment.
Bodies Roll on Pavement
Then another scattering of gunfire.
A scream above me. a woman's
scream. Somebody shot by a stray
bullet. The agents who guarded the
Criuon's entrance were restless and
frightened. They too were exposed.
helpless. I took shelter behind a
stone column. could see bodies roll
ing on the cement pavement OF the
place. The armed forces had won
their position again. They were surg
ing back into the arena. The crowd
was retreating, slowly, fighting the
way. Another horse charge. The
crowd was broken up. Hand to hand
lighting In the place. More trucks
brought more bluecoats, mobile
guards. Splitter, splutter: was it a
machine gun? The density OF the
crowd was breaking up. Bodies were
being carried toward the hotel, back
from the fray. They were grooming
IN pain. They were bleeding.
had seen enough. I took q chance
and slipped along toward the rue
Royale, hoping would not be noticed,
hoping there would be no firing for
. moment. was lucky. I made the
corner and worked my way to Max
inns. All along the street were fight
ing groups. Policemen had lost their
heads. They were attacking and club
bling everyone In sight. A little fam
lily had come out Of some doorway,
trying to get home probably, and
hoping for cab. They were frighten-
ed and clinging to the father. There
was the tat mother and two girls,
one very young. Two Of the rioters,
just boys, trying to avoid the police
clubs, ran onto the sidewalk. Cops
followed them like maniacs. The little
family retreated to the wall OF q
building. The cops, five of them,
caught the boy-rioters and struck
them down. They beat the head and
arms Of one Of the fallen youths,
making blood squirt from his mouth
and nose as he lay there helpless on
the ground, trying vainly to ward off
the blows Of the white nightstick. The
tat woman screamed. Her husband
called out.
For the love of God. let him go
The policemen silenced him, graf
uitously, with their clubs. The fat
mother was knocked down violently
when she interfered. The youngest
daughter was literally kicked across
the sidewalk. And the cops were lost
and absorbed in the fighting masses
IN the street.
Maxim's Becomes Hospital
I retreated into Maxim's for a
brandy. I could not stand any more.
Inside was temporary hospital. Tn
conscious men-mere boys, most Of
them-were lying all about on the
floor. on the bar. in seats and on
tables. Waters were trying to band
age them. Even the dignified head
waiter was taking the role OF q doctor,
working In q frenzy. And the little
girls, the tarts, the fallen women"
whom society affects to scorn and
despise. were working like made, cut
ting up napkins and towels, bandag-
ing terribly beaten heads, stopping
blood. caressing the suffering. They
made good nurses, those girls.
One man was dead. The only mark
on him was q small brown stain on
his coat and blood trickled from under
his sleeve onto his still fingers. That
was . victim Of the gunfire.
Frankly, ! was sick and frightened.
I had . nights work ahead Of me,
covering" this tragic story, but
wanted to 80 to bed and forget what
! had seen.
At eleven o'clock the battle was still
raging IN the Concorde. but the rue
Royale was possible. I got out OF
Maxim's, crept past the Royal and
Weber's-two more hospitals. More
French citizens being carried or
dragged inside. The tables Of the
Terrasses were covered with limp,
stretched-out bodies.
! wondered II the metro Subway
Was running. At the Madeleine got
to the entrance through the confus-
ion. Yes, It was running. ! got q
nearly empty train that carried me
past the Chamber Of Deputies, past
6olferino, and did not stop until 1t
reached the Care Montparnasse
~ 900 49,. ~kAk&>sH- s,,>~~ t. &an> 1900