Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/449

 Vincent, who commanded the barricades, denounced M. Conderc to a commissary of the Commune, who instantly arrested the unhappy man accused of having fired upon the Federals. M. Cassié was also arrested.

They were both immediately conducted to the guard-*house of the Marché Noir, and about to be shot, when a spectator obtained a delay of the execution, and hastening to the Committee of the Rue d'Aligre, affirmed the innocence of the prisoners, and demanded an order for their release.

He was answered that "moments were precious, the situation grave, and that they had no time to occupy themselves with such an affair."

By force of persistence, however, he finally obtained an order for the release of the two prisoners.

Vincent did not consider himself beaten. He remained at the barricade of the Rue de Bercy, and, aided by his wife, excited the insurgents, distributed cartridges, and fired himself upon the troops from behind the barricade.

When the barricade was carried, he succeeded in making his escape, ran to his home, dressed himself in civilian's clothes, and descending into the street walked straight up to an officer of the line and denounced M. Conderc as having fought until the last moment.

The officer immediately ordered the arrest of M. Conderc, and that of a poor young man about thirty-four years of age, beside whom an insurgent in escaping had thrown his gun, still hot from the last discharge. The wretched man was shot without being able to prove his innocence.

As for M. Conderc, he was about to suffer the same fate, when his wife, throwing herself at the feet of the officer, related the scene which had taken place that morning.

Vincent was instantly apprehended; a perquisition made at his abode proved his identity as delegate and combatant.