Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/386

 *doche, a manufacturer of fire-engines in the Rue de Bondy, placed all his machines at the disposal of the inhabitants, who rivalled each other in their endeavors to extinguish the conflagration.

This was the more praiseworthy, as to the danger incurred from the fire were added those of shot and shell, which fell almost without intermission in the Rue de Bondy and the Boulevard Saint Martin.

The Federals also, by an ambush at the corner of the Rue Bonchardon, fired on any one who entered or left the building in endeavoring to save it.

Every effort was made to prevent the fire from catching on the opposite side of the Rue de Bondy, but about two in the morning this fear was realized, and the buildings, being of light construction, the flames made rapid progress.

An appeal was made to all the inhabitants, who hastened—men, women, and children—to the pumps and chain. A passing band of firemen were hailed as deliverers, and entreated to aid in subduing the flames; they, however, replied in the most brutal and abusive manner to all such requests, and hastened onward to continue a very different task. These were the men, disguised as firemen, who were employed by the Commune to penetrate everywhere, and set fire to the entire city.

Notwithstanding all efforts, the theatre of the Porte St. Martin was entirely destroyed, while a great portion of the Rue de Bondy became a prey to the flames.

The block of houses situated between the above mentioned theatre and that of the Ambigu-Comique was also invaded by a band of insurgents. The Restaurant Deffieux was first entered, and the cellars pillaged, when the invaders announced their intention of occupying every story, and firing from the windows on the Versailles troops. The inhabitants of the house, mostly women and children,