Year: 1871

The story of General BcrEcrst.


From the lips of General Bergeret himself,
one of the boldest, most determined and ener-
getic soldiers of the Paris revolutionists, have
we learned the story of the last hours of the
Commune. To many no doubt, the fact Of
Bergeret being alive will be a surprise. 1t
was generally thought that in the general ruin
which overwhelmed the desperate men who
led on and were led into the bloody excesses
of the second Reign of Terror Bergeret had
fallen. For weeks no trace of him, save to
his most devoted friends, could be found He
now appears, safe and in good health, in the
little Isle Of Jersey, where other refugees from
France ere now have found welcome and hos
pitaity. In the little, od-fashioned town Of
st. Heller the capital of the isle, a HERALD
leader. The meeting was q cordial one. The
last time they met was during the last bloody
days of the short reign of the Commune in
Paris. Bergeret looks but little changed by
the terrible scenes through which he has
passed since then, and he stin entertains the
belief that he will live to see the Commune
successfully established in Paris


In the interview which our correspondent
had with Bergeret the substance of which we
print elsewhere in the HERALD to-day, he told
the story of the struggle with the Vcrsaillists
and the manner of his escape with that char
acteristic unrestraint for which he is noted.
The burning of the Tuilercs, the saving of the
Louvre-an act which Bergeret claims was his,
and in the accomplishment of which his life
was nearly sacrificed-the struggle in the Rue
after the occupation by the French troops, he
recites with candor which attracts interest to
the recital, while reflection brings up the sad
memories of those terrible days. Bergeret
claims that no petroleum was used to hasten
on the confagration; that women and children
were not engaged in pouring the inAammable
material over the places doomed to destruction
by fire. For the sake Of our common human
ity let us hope that this assertion Is true, and
that the Odium attached to such deeds may
be raised from the poor misguided wretches
who, in seeking to destroy Paris. foolshly
believed they were striking a blow for liberty
and equality.


When we remember the vigilance Of the
Versaillists, after Paris had fallen into their
hands, in hunting down the Communists, we
marvel at the escape of so prominent and
well-known character as Bergeret. Yet for
six weeks, according to his own account, he
was within the walls of the city and was
shielded by those who still sympathize in the
doctrine Of the Commune, and who no doubt
would again, if the opportunity was afforded
them, embark their all in its fortunes From
Bergerets own story we might learn, if we had
not already ascertained it, that the spirit
which caused the tricolor to be torn down
and its place supplied with the red flag,
caused innocent hostages to be murdered in
cold blood, and which caused the lairest city
of Europe to be mutilated and disfgured, is not
dead, and that among those who fought and
bled and periled life, bright hopes and honor
able ambition for this dream of liberty and
equality there exist numbers who would
again undergo the same trials. aim at the
same accomplishments and hazard again life,
fortune and friends in an attempt TO Secure
for their country government based upon the
foundation offered by the Paris Conlmuna