Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/303

 At the same time the contribution boxes were robbed, the church was despoiled of all its ornaments, without exception, and the fury of the miserable creatures only ended when the sanctuary presented an aspect of complete ruin.

Then commenced an orgie not less revolting than the other. The money found in the church was divided between these pillaging heroes, and served to pay the expense of a bacchanalian feast, at which the cantinières and other women of doubtful habits took part Then returning to the revolutionary habits of '93, they clothed themselves in the sacred vestments of the church, and went through the religious ceremonies, such as administering the sacrament, etc. This saturnalia only ended when, overpowered with drunkenness and fatigue, they fell asleep on the floor of the sacred edifice.

The next day they made an exhibition of the remains found in the vaults, showing from a distance, to the people in the Place, a wax head of St. Aurelia, covered with hair, which they pretended was the head of a young girl lately murdered by the priests, and, to complete the hideous spectacle, they administered the communion to one another, using the bread not consecrated found in the sacristy, and scattering the rest to the winds.

An arrangement had been entered into between the Government at Versailles and four members of the Commune, viz., Billioray, Cerisier, Mortier, and Pilotell, to open the gate at the Point-du-Jour, for which service they secured 25,000 francs each. These honest Communists were to appear at the gate at half-past one o'clock at night, disguised as National Guards; but, in the meantime, Cerisier took fright and refused to act, and when the troops appeared, they were forced to beat a precipitate retreat under a murderous fire from mitrailleuses.

The cannonading raged along the whole line on the evening of the 18th with a violence hitherto unequalled