Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/388

 The chiefs of the Commune felt that they were in possession of a magnificent prey, and that the assassination of such eminent persons would be for them a triumph. The writers of the Commune who had shown the most fanaticism in pushing the orgies of the people were those who first demanded the execution of the heads of the Parisian clergy. Rochefort, in his Mot d'Ordre, and Vermesch, in the Père Duchesne, both called loudly for their assassination.

As the checks experienced by the battalions of the Commune became more frequent, these threats increased in violence; and on Monday, the day after the entry of the troops into Paris, about forty of the hostages were conveyed from the Mazas prison to that of the Roquette. Among these were Monseigneur Darboy, Archbishop of Paris, and M. Bonjean, President of the Court of Cassation. On Tuesday fifteen more were removed to the same place. Out of the fifty-five persons transferred from one prison to another during the two days, not more than ten belonged to the laity. All the others belonged to the regular or secular clergy—Jesuit Fathers, the Fathers of Picpus, missionaries, vicars and curés of the parishes of Paris, and functionaries of the archbishopric.

The transfer from one prison to another was effected in the middle of the day, in an open wagon, which was followed by an infuriated multitude, calling "A mort!" "A mort!" These menaces produced little effect on victims who were prepared for anything.

The fate reserved for them was only too evident from the appearance of the cells into which they were thrust. Neither tables nor chairs, mattresses, nor sheets, but a simple bed of straw, with a blanket for covering. It was quite sufficient, they were told, for the short stay they would make there.

Forty-three of the prisoners were placed in the fourth