Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/437

 Dominicans, Fathers Captier, Cothereau, Bourard, Delhorme, Châtaigneraie; two civil professors, MM. Volant and Gauquelin; and several domestics, three of whom were fathers of families, whose wives had been taken as prisoners to Saint Lazare.

Having fired upon their victims, the Federals finished the terrible work with their bayonets, or with blows from the butts of their muskets; the bodies were so terribly mutilated that it was afterwards impossible to recognize their identity.

On Thursday morning the insurgents had commenced the pillage of the College of Arcueil, but were interrupted by the arrival of the Versailles troops. In this college, early in September, an ambulance had been established which remained open during the siege, although situated at the very outposts, and exposed to Prussian shells and balls. This hospitable house was well known to the soldiers, and the only one that remained open in the midst of the abandoned and deserted villages.

There was no one who, more than Father Captier, joined to the Christian faith an ardent feeling of patriotism, together with all the qualities which make a great citizen, too worthy, alas! to draw down the hatred of those who proved themselves enemies to all country, all liberty, and all religion.

Retribution, however, had overtaken during the day several members of the Commune.

Millière had taken refuge at the house of his father-in-law, No. 38 Rue d'Ulm. On Thursday morning a sergeant of the line, breakfasting at a small café in the neighborhood, overheard a woman who was speaking of the Commune, say, "Ah! there is a good capture to be made, but the individual is in safety in the Rue d'Ulm." The sergeant shortly after took his departure, and, joined by several of his comrades, searched carefully the Rue