And in this fashion :—Their execution had been put off
till the Saturday (27th May), when the troops from Versailles were appro- aching the heights of Pere la Chaise, and accordingly an order was. given to shoot all the priests, soldiers, and sergens de vile still left in the prison. At half-past three the superintendent of execu- tions issued an order to the prisoners on the second and thircb doors to come down, when one of the warders called Pinet, open- ing all the cell-doors, told the prisoners that, if they were willing to do anything in their own defence, he would help them, as the murderous business revolted him. The prisoners on the third story, seizing bars of iron, made a hasty barricade at the end of the corridor, and breaking through the floors, communicated their purpose to the sergeus de rifle confined in the second story. Pinet the warder and a Zouave directed their operations so ably that this. part of the prison became a real fortress. The Communist warders tried to set fire to the barricades and smother the prisoners, but the fire was soon extinguished, and the warders making off to Belleville, the prisoners got complete possession of the prison, and closed it against the mob. A crowd again assembled,. however, and tried to entice the prisoners out by crying " Vive la. Ligne !" and saying they came to effect the release of the pri- soners; and twenty-two of their number took the bait and were immediately executed. The others held the prison till the- Versailles soldiers carried the barricade across the street on Sunday afternoon, when they were finally rescued.
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