Year: 1871

The Massacre in the Place VcndOme-First


BlOOdshed of the Revolution.


Paris March 22) Cor. cfthe Pal Mall Gazette


j was breakfasting in the Rue St. Honore
when there was a rush down the street, and
cry that fighting had commenced ia the Place
Vendome. Repairing to the scene of action,
was just in time to witness the end of what must
be termed q massacre. An unarmed demonstra-
ton similar to that of yesterday had been or
ganiZed atIthe new opera; it was proceeding
down the Rue de la Paix when 1t met
two insurgents who were disarmed; these men
rushed back to their comrades; the manifesto
tion" continued its march, an officer of the line
carrying banner in front of the column. Cries
of ''Vive pOrdre !s."Vive lAssemblee!" were
raised and hats were waved. The tradesmen in
the Rue de la Paix had again to close their shut
ters, but the windows and balconies were
crowded. The insurgents threw line of troops
across the entrance to the Place Vendome in the
hope of stepping the procession, which, how
ever, marched straight on, and drove this line
back upon the main body. ltwas at this moment
that couple of shots were fired into the air,
occasioniDg a partial retreat but the officer
with the flag stood firm, and the unarmed
column pushed on, wishing to reach the centre
of the Place and parley with the leaders. How
ever there was fresh discharge OF musketry,
fired this time not into the air but into the thick
of unarmed citizens, and this discharge, of
course, sent the procession to the right about.
The distance to cover was fortunately not far,
and Rue de la PaiX was quickly deserted by all
but few plucky fellows, who foolshly wished





up a dropping fire, and soon there was
nothing TO be seen in front of their muskets but
the dead bodies of those who had fallen and the
wounded who were too severely hit to get out of
the way. By the side of one corpse there was
dog lying dead A tall man in black made his
appearance, holding aloft white pocket-hand-
kerchief. A National Guard took deliberate
shot at him, and the bullet struck the wall close
to the tall mans head. He retreated aud the
dead and dying were left in the street for nearly
an hour BY degrees the Inhabitants of the
Rue de la PaiX took courage, and began to
open their doors and peep out; and, as all was
quiet, humane persons ventured forth and took
the wounded into their houses, and shortly after
wards the dead bodies were also removed, and
few traces remained of the struggle beyond
few blood-stains on the pavement and some
broken windows. Several bullets entered the
premises of Mr.. Blount, our eX-consul, but for
tunately did little damage. AS far as can learn,
there were about ten people killed and twenty
wounded. Half dozen fell close to me in the
Rue Neuve des Petits Champs, but most of them
were uniDjured, and soon recovered the use OF
their legs. Admiral Saisset, one of the Deputies
of Paris and Commander-in Chief of the Ma
ti0nal Guard, was in the front rank of the pro-
cession and escaped unwounded; he afterwards
endeaVored to form a sufficient force to attack
the insurgents. Several explosive bullets were
fired and one may be seen in the shop of the
tailor Dusautoy. The firing was hardly over
when / went into tobacconist'i
for postage stamps; the shop-door alone was
open; small boy about seven years OF age
entered, and placing tcouple OF francs on the
counter, asked for two packs of cards and snuff
for sou. Great indignation is manifested q