Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/71

 *dered of all their contents. Several officers of the National Guard attempted to introduce some order in the appropriation of the objects belonging to the state; but each individual took the article he pleased, and carried it off to sell or give away, and then returned to the depot to make a fresh selection. Boys of thirteen or fourteen were seen marching off with pistols, revolvers or muskets. On the Avenue de Latour-Maubourg, in the building of the Invalides, which lately served as the arsenal for the Garde Mobiles, the chassepots left by a regiment of the Line were taken, and might be purchased in the evening for from one to ten francs each. The stock of arms was soon exhausted, and the late-comers had to content themselves with belts, cartridge-boxes, and other articles of equipment. A serious danger of explosion existed for a long time, as many of the people who had made the irruption did not take the precaution of putting out their pipes or cigars, while open cases of cartridges were lying about in all directions. The rush was so great that one National Guard had his leg broken, and several were almost squeezed to death.

The forts on the south of Paris being all in the possession of the National Guards, they sent a deputation of three thousand men to demand the delivery of Mount Valerien, the greatest stronghold in the vicinity of Paris, situated at the west, and dominating nearly the whole city. The regular troops in the fort were much irritated at the demand. The colonel in command having consented to parley with three of the National Guard, declined their advances, ushered them through the gates, and the 3000 men returned to the city. Had the insurgents gained possession of Valerien, the situation of Paris would have been much more grave.

On the following day, March 22d, a large mass of people belonging to the party of "Order," many of whom were probably the same persons who had paraded the