Where are these men going with hurried steps, and with lanterns in
their hands? Their uniform is that of the National Guard, and
consequently of Federals, but the tricolour band which they wear on the
arm would seem to indicate that they belong to the Party of Order. They
are making their way by one of the entries of the sewers, and preceded
by an officer are disappearing beneath the sombre vaults. Calling to
mind the sinister expression of a Communal artillery commander—“The
reactionary quarters will all be blown up; not one shall be spared,” it
is impossible to avoid feeling a shudder of terror. What if the
incendiaries all wearing the badge of the Party of Order, be about to
set fire to mines prepared beforehand, or to barrels of petroleum ready
to be staved in! The wild demons of the Commune are capable of
everything; an invention of incendiary firemen is quoted as an example
of the diabolical genius which presided over the work of destruction;
individuals wearing the fireman’s uniform were seen to throw
combustible liquids by means of pumps and pails on the burning houses,
instead of aiding to extinguish the flames.
[Illustration: Paris Underground]
[Illustration: The Enemies of Progress.
Corps de garde de l’armée de Versailles]
Fortunately, the fear is unfounded, the object of these men, on the
contrary, is to cut the wires which connect all parts with inflammable
materials, torpedoes, and other atrocious machines. They have already
passed several nights in destroying this underground telegraphic
system. The duty is not without danger; for not only are they exposed
to the terrible consequences of a sudden explosion, but also to the
risk of being taken and shot without trial, as traitors to the Commune.
That is, should they chance to fall in with hostile bands, or appear in
unfriendly quarters. It appears that these determined and devoted
citizens have already lost two of their companions in the execution of
this perilous duty. The intention of the Commune was to charge the
whole of the main sewers and subways with combustibles; but luckily
they had not time to mature their schemes, the advance of the
Versailles troops being too quick for them. The Catacombs were included
in the arrangement; for did not the able Assy direct his agent Fossé to
keep them open, as a means of escape? Alas! these subterranean passages
that underlie so large a portion of ancient Paris, what stories could
they not tell of starved fugitives and maimed culprits dragging their
weary limbs into the darkness of these gloomy caverns, only that they
might die there in peace! Men and women, whose forms will in a few
short weeks be unrecognisable, whose whitened bones will be crushed and
kicked aside by the future explorer, who may perchance penetrate the
labyrinths, and whose dust will finally be mixed up and
undistinguishable from that of the bones and skulls taken from ancient
cemeteries and graveyards with which this terrible Golgotha is
decorated in Mosaic.