Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/76



'Brigands!' Some furious individuals seized their muskets, and an officer's sword was wrenched from him. The shouts were redoubled, and the affair became, instead of a manifestation, a veritable riot. In fact, a revolver shot wounded in the thigh Citizen Maljournal, Staff-Lieutenant of the Place, member of the Central Committee. General Bergeret, commander of the forces, hastened at the commencement to the front rank and summoned the rioters to withdraw. During nearly five minutes the roll of the drum was to be heard. Ten times the order was repeated, and was replied to by cries and abuse. Two National Guards fell seriously wounded; but, however, their comrades hesitated, and fired in the air. The agitators strove to break the lines and disarm the National Guard. Some shots were heard, and the crowd suddenly dispersed. General Bergeret instantly ordered the firing to cease, and his officers aided his efforts. However, other detonations were heard in the interior of the Place, and the fact is only too true that the National Guards were fired upon from the houses. Two of them were killed: the citizens Wahlin and François, belonging to the 7th and 215th battalions; eight were wounded: namely, Maljournal, Cochet, Miche, Ancelot, Legat, Reyer, Train, and Laborde.
 * sulted. They were called 'Murderers!' 'Cowards!'

"The first of the dead taken to the ambulance of the Crédit Mobilier was Viscount de Molinet, struck at the back of the head, in the front rank of the crowd. He fell at the corner of the Rues de la Paix and Neuve-des-Petits-Champs, on the Place Vendome side, with his face to the ground. The fact is clear that he was struck by his companions, for had he fallen in flying the body would have lain in the direction of the New Opera. On the corpse was found a poignard attached to the waist-belt by a chain.