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NEW YORK COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER
September 7, 1835
Attempt upon the King's Life by an Infernal Machine
Paris, July 29 -- It is with the deepest concern that we lay before our readers the details of the above horrible event, that took place at the review yesterday. After having passed along the Boulevard to the point at which the National Guards and the troops were drawn up, his majesty, accompanied by the duke of Orleans, the duke de Nemours, the prince de Joinville, and a numerous and brilliant staff, was returning along the same line to the Place Vendome, where the troops were to file off before him.
At twelve, at the moment when he had reached the Boulevard du Temple, a little before the Theatre des Funambules, a tremendous explosion, resembling irregular platoon firing, was heard. At first it was supposed to be a discharge of fire-works, but the falling and cries of the victims soon revealed the reality, and excessive confusion ensued -- an infernal machine had just poured forth a shower of balls upon the cortege that surrounded the king! Marshal Mortier, duke de Trevise, fell and expired without uttering a word. Several other officers and some of the National Guards were also killed, and a considerable umber of persons wounded. The falling of some horses, among which was the Marshal Mortier, and the capering of others, added to the tumult, which it would be difficult to describe.
During this scene, the king, whose arm had been grazed by a bullet, and whose horse had received a wound in the neck, maintained the calmness by which he is distinguished, and displayed remarkable courage by riding up in the direction of the house from which the explosion came. After the first emotion had passed, the cortege continued its route amidst shouts of joy for the preservation of the king's life, and threats of vengeance against the assassins. The bodies of the slain and the persons who were wounded were immediately carried to the Café Ture opposite, where medical assistance was immediately afforded to such as were still alive.
Smoke was seen to proceed from the third story of the house No. 50, on the Boulevard du Temple, of which the ground floor and first floor are occupied by a wine dealer name Parault. Each story consists of one chamber, which is lighted by a single window in front. The house was immediately surrounded; and all the persons found in it arrested. The room in which the machine had been constructed is very small, its dimensions being only six and a half feet by seven.
The machine was made with great skill, of wood, with iron braces, and extremely solid. Two uprights supported two cross bars of wood, placed parallel to the window, and in these were formed grooves, in which were laid twenty-five gun barrels. The front cross bar, placed at about a foot from the window, was rather lower than that behind, so that the balls might reach the body of a man on horseback in the middle of the Boulevard. The charge was so heavy, that five out of twenty-five barrels had burst, notwithstanding they were very substantial and new. The assassin was immediately taken into custody. About there months ago he hired the rooms of the second and third stories of M. Dallemagne, the proprietor. He gave his name Girard, a mechanician, and appears to be about twenty-four years of age. His room had a window in front and another behind, and he had taken the precaution to fasten a rope to the latter, to assist him in making his escape. By the bursting of some of the barrels at the moment of the explosion, the assassin was wounded in the forehead, the neck, and the lip -- Notwithstanding his wounds, he rushed out of the window.
Some Polish officers, having ran into the inner court, and seeing Girard slipping down the rope, oneof them exclaimed: "Ah wretch! We have you." Girard, who was at the moment at the height of a wall, threw himself over it into an adjoining court, and there a police officer apprehended him. He was placed upon a hand-barrow, and conveyed to the Conciergerie. The minister of the interior, the prefect of police, and several magistrates went to the house, and in the assassin's chamber they found the remains of the infernal machine still smoking, a straw bed and a fire lighted. A delay of half a second perhaps in the explosion saved the life of the King. The cortege advanced in the following order: The King, the Prince de Joinville, the duke of Orleans, the duke de Nemours, Marshal Lobau, and Marshal Mortier. All those in the cortege who were wounded were nearly on the same line as Marshal Mortier. The news of the attempt was rapidly propagated through the capital, and produced a powerful sensation. General de Rumigny, aide-de-camp to the King, set off full gallop to inform the queen that his majesty and the princess had escaped danger, fearing that she might be seriously alarmed if she had heard of the event from anyone that had not witnessed it. In passing along the lines he mentioned to several officers what had occurred, and soon there was not a soldier that remained ignorant of it. As the troops of the line did not extend to the Boulevard du Temple, they were ordered to shift in that direction, that they might be ready to act in case of attempt at disturbance.
At the moment of filing off before the king, the National Guards shouted, "Vive le Roi!" which was answered by the troops of the line. The guards of the 8th legion, which had lost some of its officers and men, added cries of, "A bas les assassins!" The king returned to the Tuileries about five o'clock; evidently deeply affected by the scene he had witnessed. During the whole of the afternoon and evening, crowds flocked out of curiosity, to the melancholy spot, in consequence of which a strong detachment of municipal guards was stationed there to keep the peace. The following are the persons whose lives have been ascertained to have been sacrificed. Marshal, the duke de Trevise, struck in the heart by a ball; General de Lachasse de Terigny, struck on the forehead by a ball; Captain Villate, aide-de-camp to Marshal Maison; Lieut. Col. Rieussee, of the 8th legion, struck by three balls; Messrs. Prudhomme, Richard, Leger, and Benetter, grenadiers of the 8th legion; a colonel in the army, two citizens, a woman and a child, whose names we were unable to learn.
Galigani's Messenger of the 30th says -- The number of victims is much more considerable than was a first believed. Several persons wounded were immediately taken to their own homes, and therefore were not included in the list before published. The number of killed and wounded is said to be thirty-four, including sixteen who died immediately, or subsequently perished from their wounds. Among them was M. Labronste, aged seventy, a member of the legion of honor, one of the oldest receivers of taxes of Paris. His wounds are very serious, but hopes are entertained that his life may be saved. Out of eight persons carried to the hospital St. Louis, four have undergone amputation.
Later From England:
The following are additional particulars that we have been able to collect on the attempt of yesterday:
Girard has confessed his crime, but maintains that he had no accomplices; two white hats of different sizes, were, however, found in his room, which would indicate that at least two parties were cognizant to the construction of the murderous engine.
The assassin concealed his preparation by Persian blinds, and did not unmask his machine till the moment the king was passing before the house. It is presumed that he had not made his calculations of distance with sufficient precision, and that the time required for opening the winded caused his project to fail. All the barrels that were discharged were fired at the same moment, by mean of a train of gunpowder running to the touch holes. Each barrel contained at least six balls, and the charge filled eight inches; this had been ascertained by an examination of those that missed fire. The five that burst, did so with such force that the walls of the room were much damaged. A journal of this morning states the death of the assassin last night, but we have ascertained that this is not the fact, and that it is fully expected he will survive the effects of the wounds.
The queen, with the princesses, was at the residence of the minister of justice, in the Place Vendome, to witness the filing off of the troops, when General de Rumigny brought here the news of what had taken place on the Boulevard du Temple. It was at first thought that it would be prudent to conceal it from her till after the review, but her majesty could not help seeing, from the countenances of all those who approached her, that some very serious misfortune had happened, and M. Guizot and the keeper of the seals acquainted her with what had occurred. As the king had resolved to continue the review, and, consequently, did not make his appearance in the Place Vendome for some time after, it was impossible to convince her majesty that he and her sons were uninjured, and it is impossible to describe the agonies of mind she endured. The duchess de Broglie coming in, the queen threw herself into her arms, and having found relief in tears, became sufficiently calm to listen to the assurances given her that they were safe; and then she lamented sincerely the losses that had been really sustained. As many of the wives and daughters of the officers, who were in attendance on the king, were in the same saloon, and as it was known that several of the officers had been mortally wounded, a melancholy scene continued till several aides-de-camps arrived with particulars, which put an end to the misery of suspense, and made known the misfortunes which each had sustained. On leaving the queen, General de Rumigny went to the family of Marshal Mortier to announce the great loss they had sustained. It would be in vain to attempt to describe the affecting interview. It is a singular fact that the Marshal's family, fearing the consequences of heat and fatigue, had endeavored to induce him not to attend the review; but the Marshal, who was remarkable for his stature, and alluding to that and the reports of intended attempts on the king's life, which had been current for several days, said, "No! no! I must go; for I am tall, and may perhaps cover the king."
When Marshal Mortier was struck, M. Thiers was so close to him that he was covered with the blood of the illustrious victim.
General Pelet's wound is an inch and a half wide, and down to the bone. Speedy bleeding has had a beneficial effect, and he is doing well. The form and dimensions of the wound show that the barrels of the infernal machine were not only loaded with bullets, but also with slugs.
General Blin had two fingers amputated at the Café de la Gaite. Two gendarmes, named Roussel and Royer, were wounded and had their horsed killed under them.
Colonel Raffe, who belonged to the gendarmerie of the Seine, received a ball in the left side, but was able to keep his seat in the saddle for some time, when he fainted and fell from his horse. He was taken into the restaurant of the Cadran Bleu. After about two hours he was visited by colonel Feisthamel, to whom he said, "You are the first of our friends who has come to me. I know I have not more than two hours to live, but tell me whether the king is wounded or not?" "No! neither he nor any of the princes." "Give me your word of honor." "I swear it." "Well! Vive le Roi! The bad luck is mine." Colonel Raffe died, we regret to state, in the course of the evening.
An immense number of persons of all ranks pressed to the Tuileries, at which all the ambassadors and foreign ministers were present. At dinner and throughout the evening the king displayed the utmost calmness. He frequently expressed in affecting terms his regret at the death of Marshal Mortier and the other victims of the day.
After the review, the king paid a visit to General Heymes, who had been carried to the Tuileries.
At the moment the explosion took place, the king had inclined slightly on one side to receive a petition.
The duke de Broglie received a bullet through the collar of his coat.
Girard, the assassin, was employed as a dealer in second hand articles of all kinds, and was more particularly engaged in cleaning and repairing old fire arms, and is a very able and skillful workman. He was known among his companions to entertain legitimate opinions, and it was even believed that he received a pension from the duchess of Augouleme. He is 39 years of age. Notwithstanding the serious nature of his wounds, he is expected to recover, and is now able to converse. Being questioned as to his motives for committing such a crime, and urged to declare whether he had any accomplices, he fully admitted his guilt, and said he knew his fate was inevitable; but as to his motives, he confines himself to saying that he disliked the king, and farther declared, that were he even put to the torture, he could not name his accomplices, for in fact, and in truth, he had none. Nevertheless, a woman who resides behind the house, has deposed that an instant after the explosion she saw two men, both wounded, making their escape. In the room of Girard, two white hats of different size were found, which would indicate that at least two parties were cognizant to the construction of the murderous engine. Upward of two hundred arrests, it is stated, have already been made.
From the Monitor
The government has decided that one funeral shall be formed of all the victims of yesterday, instead of taking place separately. The day fixed was tomorrow, but it is thought that the necessary preparation will not allow the melancholy ceremony to take place before Friday.
The melancholy feeling produced by the lamentable event of yesterday is forcibly expressed by most of the shops in the capital being closed this morning.
Several officers of police went about six o'clock yesterday afternoon to the office of the Reformateur with a warrant to arrest M. Raspail, the principal editor of that journal, and orders to search for and seize everything which was susceptible of examination. M. Raspail was however in the country, but the officers carried away all the papers, letters, and books they found on the editor's table. At midnight the officers returned with another warrant, and arrested M. Eugene Raspail, the nephew of the principal editor, who is employed upon the journal, and was taken to the prefecture of police.
A commissary of police went last night to the printing office of the Charivari, and ordered the compositors not to finish the journal.
CHAMBER OF PEERS
Wednesday, July 29.
Extraordinary sitting:
M. Pasquier, president.
Although one o'clock was the hour fixed for the attendance of the noble peers at this special sitting, it was past two before the president took the chair. In the meantime, the few noble peers who had arrived were collected into groups, engaged in earnest conversation, no doubt upon the unfortunate events of the preceding day. Marshal Maison and admiral Duperre were on the ministerial benches at the commencement of the sitting; about a quarter past two. M. Persil, (the minister of justice) arrived, and immediately the president entered the chamber, and opened the sitting.
After the reading and adoption of the minutes of the last sitting, M. Persil, Minister of Justice, ascended the tribune for the purpose of delivering a communication from the government. The minister said that he had received the king's orders to present the following ordinance to the Chamber of Peers:
Louis Philippe, &c.
"Upon the report of our minister secretary of state for the department of justice and public worship, considering the 28th article of the charter, which gives the Chamber of Peers the right of taking cognizance of all crimes of high treason and plots against the life of the king or royal family.
In consequence of the crime which has this day been attempted against our person and against the princes of our family, and that we have had the misfortune of witnessing the fall of some of our best citizens, whose lives have been sacrificed by this shocking act, and particularly that of one of our most illustrious warriors, so great an honor to France!
We have decreed and decree as follows:
Article 1 -- The chamber of, constituted into a court of justice, shall precede without delay with the inquiry into, and the judgement of, the crime which has been this day committed.
Article 2 -- The court of peers shall follow in this proceeding the same forms which it had previously adopted in such matters.
Article 3 -- The keeper of the archives of the chamber of peers shall perform the duties of register to the said court of peers.
Article 4 -- The keeper of the seals is charged with the execution of the present ordinance.
Given at the Palace of the Tuileries, this 28th of July, 1835.
LOUIS PHILIPPE
The president calling on the chamber to decide whether they would proceed forthwith to constitute themselves into a court of justice, and on receiving an unanimous answer in the affirmative, he said that the legislative sitting was terminated, and that the court would retire to the council chamber, for the purpose of immediately hearing the procureur general's communication on this subject.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the court proceeded to the council chamber.
The Moniteur contains the following royal proclamation:
Frenchmen! -- The National Guard and the army are mourning -- French families are in a state of desolation; their heart has been rent by a frightful spectacle. An old warrior, an old friend -- who has been spared by the fires of a hundred battles, has fallen at my side, from blows which assassins destined for me. In order to reach my person, they did not hesitate to sacrifice glory, honor, patriotism, peaceable citizens, women and children, and Paris has seen blood of Frenchmen shed on the same spot, and the same day on which five years ago, it flowed for the maintenance of the laws of our country! Those whom we have now to regret have fallen in the same cause. Again, it is the constitutional monarchy and freedom of the laws, the honor of the nation, the safety of families, the welfare of all, are once more threatened by my enemies and yours; but the public grief, which answers mine, is at once a homage to the union of France and her king. My government knows its duties and will fulfill them.
Yet let the fetes, which were intended to celebrate the last of these days, give place to ceremonies more in conformity with the sentiments with which our minds are impressed -- let all due honors be rendered to the memory of those whom the country has just lost -- and let those veils of mourning, which yesterday shrouded the tri-colored flag again be put over that faithful emblem of all the sentiments of the country. Given at the palace of the Tuileries, this 28th July, 1835.
LOUIS PHILIPPE
The president of the council, minister of foreign affairs, V. BROGLIE
This proclamation is followed by a royal ordinance of the same date, to the following effect —
The fetes of the celebration of the anniversary of July, 1830, shall not be continued. A solemn funeral service shall be performed in honor of the victims of the attempt of this day.
M. Calmon, one of the vice presidents of the chamber of deputies, hastened to the king last evening, accompanied by such of the members as were in Paris, and delivered to his majesty a short but impressive speech, expressing the sentiments of the chamber on the execrable attempt of which the king had been the object; to which the king replied with great emotion, as follows:
"I am sensibly affected with the eagerness of the chamber of deputies to afford me a new testimony of devotedness. It has never lost sight of an opportunity of proving its affection. I thank you for it. Yes! I have seen perish by my side an illustrious marshal and brave Frenchman, whose loss would be less afflicting had they not fallen by the hands of other Frenchmen.
Last night the commissioners of police read, at the different theatres, a letter from the prefect on the horrible event of the day, and at all of them it was received by cries of Vive le Roi, the audiences testifying the utmost indignation at the atrocious attempt. All the theatres will be closed this evening.
The officers of the national guards were to assemble today at 1 o’clock, and go in a body to offer their homage to the king.
Extract from a letter, dated Paris, July 29, Wednesday afternoon:
The inhabitants of Paris adapt themselves today, with their wonted facility, to the altered circumstances in which they find themselves. Deprived by the treason of yesterday of their free admissions to the theatres in the morning of their joustings on the water, and of their illuminations and fire-works at night, the crime and the privations it has brought with it seem to sit equally light upon them, leaving everyone to return as naturally as possible to his ordinary occupations. The sufferers who excite the greatest sympathy among the middle and lower classes, are the good people who had provided their stores of perishable comforts for the entertainment of the flocks of idlers with which the streets would have been thronged had the town enjoyed its expected holiday.
A little higher in the social scale, it is the king and his family, his incessant cause of apprehension, and his present fatigue, which call forth expressions of sympathy. At the Tuileries, it appears as if a general muster of all the private carriages in Paris had been summoned for this morning in the Place du Carousel. Every citizen who has ever been at court, (and who in Paris has not been there?) thinks it necessary on an occasion like this, to pay his respects to the king, in person. The officers of the National Guard are admitted by legions and battalions, and when to these are added the officers of the garrison, and the crowds of civil functionaries from the public offices, it will readily be understood that, after the exhaustion of yesterday, the king must be sufficiently worried with his levee of this morning.
Those who do take the trouble to reflect on the probable consequences of the success of such a crime as that which no engages the public attention, are evidently filled with alarm for the future destinies of France, some looking forward to a state of anarchy, and others to an invasion and partition of the country, as consequences all but inevitable. Among republicans themselves, however, much they may detest the present order of things, it can scarcely be imagined that the indiscriminate slaughter of the king and his family would be likely to promote the realization of their utopia. As little can the legitimatists flatter themselves that crimes like these would be calculated to reconcile the people of France to a third restoration. Let us hope then, for the credit of human nature, that the wretched assassin, Girard, has not been backed by any accomplices, but has acted on the originality of one wicked heart, or one disordered imagination.
At the residences of the wounded, in the course of the morning, the answers to inquiries are generally favorable, so that it is to be hoped tat this sad bill of mortality is already complete.
The principal prisoner, Girard, was last night removed from the prison of the Conciergerie, where he had first been carried, to the place of confinement attached to the prefecture of police, for the greater convenience of the magistrates employed in conducting the preliminary investigation. On making inquiry there as to the probability of his recovery, I have just been informed that he is at this moment, to all appearance, in the agonies of death, so that the justice of Heaven has anticipated the hand of the executioner, and deprived the offended laws of their victim; the public avenger of his prey.
The Morning Herald (London) of the 31st July, says; "The miscreant who fired the train has been taken, but his lower jaw was blown off by the explosion, and he is unable to speak. By signs he has made it to be understood that he has no accomplice in the actual perpetration of the act. Traces have been found of the conspirators, and an active search is on foot."
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-Napoleon Bonaparte
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