Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/346

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

In the court of the Hotel, Dombrowski's remains were taken from the carriage and carried into the building, where they were exposed until midnight. His portrait was taken in crayon by Pilotell. At midnight the body was transported to Père Lachaise, under the direction of Brigadier Chéron, of the 254th battalion, where it remained unburied until Thursday morning, forgotten by the Commune in the confusion and terror of that time. On Thursday morning, however, one of the members, accompanied by the Colonel, brother of the General, and several officers, repaired to the cemetery.

The body was exposed on a litter, dressed in a Polish jacket, with the limbs enveloped in linen. An oaken coffin had been prepared; the blankets of two National Guards present were folded in the bottom of the coffin, and the body placed upon them wrapped in a red flag.

Commandant Brunereau then called in the artillerymen, marines, and all who were on guard in the cemetery. Each kissed in turn the forehead of the General, and the coffin was closed.

It was then carried to an empty vault, in which it was placed, after the brother of Dombrowski had written a few words in pencil on the lid.

Citizen Vermorel then delivered an address, in which he expressed himself with great rage, not against the regular army, but against the horde of drunkards and cowards who had deserted their chief, leaving him to die alone on the barricade.

While the corps of Generals Ladmirault and Clinchant were engaged in taking Montmartre, the Place de la Concorde had been the scene of a strange struggle. The Versailles troops were in possession of the Palais de l'Industrie, and of the Palais Bourbon, seat of the Corps Legislatif, which stands on the other side of the river, facing the Ministry of the Marine, which was held by the