Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/456

 *tentions, and of the necessity under which they might find themselves of destroying everything for the execution of their plans. The latter decided unanimously that they would remain in the house, notwithstanding the danger, and that they would live for the time together and watch for the safety of all.

On Wednesday morning Citizen Gambon, member of the Committee of Public Safety, arrived at the house, after having inspected the defences, and informed the inhabitants that the commandant of the barricade had over them the right of life and death; that he would use this right according to the necessities of the defence, and that their furniture would be sacrificed if it was judged useful.

The Versailles troops, having occupied the Boulevard Ornano, opened at long range a quick and well-directed artillery fire against the barricade, whose defenders were decimated during two days and nights, but whose guns never ceased for an instant to reply.

On the 25th, early in the morning, the troops advanced, and continued during several hours to cover with their fire the barricade and the insurgents who still defended it. The ground around was covered with muskets, grape-shot, and pieces of shell.

Finally, on Friday, the 26th, at noon, the soldiers left Saint-Laurent, the Mairie of the 10th Arrondissement, and, advancing in single file, gun in hand, along the houses of the Rue du Chateau-d'Eau, they concentrated in the Grand Café Parisien. At the end of a few moments they approached the barricade, opening a rapid and efficacious musketry fire on the insurgents. Two hours later they carried the position, and hastened to plant the tricolor in the centre of the fortification—a sight which filled with joy the entire population.

The brave soldiers then attacked the Place du Chateau