MAIL NEWS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1053, 27 June 1871, Page 2

MAIL NEWS.

Paris, May 16.—JEvening.—There was a tremendous scene at the fall of the Column Vendome this afternoon. The fall was announced for two o'clock, and all the balconies in the Place Yendome were thronged with ladies. The Rues de la Paix and Oastiglione were orowded. Three bands of music played while the workmen were engaged in chopping the base of the column. M. Abadie arrived and inspected the windlass. The excitement was intense. Rochefort next appeared, and the people crowded around him, giving him loud cheers. Soon all the arrangements were completed, and the bugles sounded, as if the Column, like the walls of Jericho, was to fall from a blast. The cable was stretched and tightened, ihe Column stood firm, the windlass broke, and the pulley flew into the air and then descended, striking a sailor and WQimdr ing him. After this accident Abadie declared that he needed two hours in which to repair the tackle. The report having spread that the Column would fall at a quarter-past five o'clock, the word was given out that the Column would not fall before seven o'clock. A general expression of disapprobation then went through the ci-owd. Abadie was accused of complicity with the Versailles Government, and threatened with the guillotine. At twenty minutes past five o'clock the cable was again stretched for the work of demolition. Suddenly, to the surprise of the spectators, the vast column moved and and then swept magnificently down, bursting into fragments as it struck the earth. It fell lengthwise in the Rue de la Paix, exactly on the manure cushion prepared for it, splintering with a dull, heavy, lumbering sound, while a thick cloud of dust and crushed powdered masonry rose in the air. The crowd, as soon as the Column fell, gave tremendous shouts of " Vive La Commune," and the bands played the "Marseillaise Hymn." When the dust cleared away there lay the glorious Column, splintered to pieces, its bronze and masonry in two masses together in the middle, and the statue of the Emperor several feet from one end of the Column, with the head knocked off.

The crowd rushed forward to collect fragments as relics, md the guards were unable to resist the rush. Next the orators commenced their speeches, and indulged in all sorts of extravagant language. The statue of the. Emperor was treated as if it were the Emperor himself; the National Guards spat into its face, and struck it with their rifles.

After the ceremonies were concluded, the crowd dispersed, and the soldiers moved off waving their red flags, and giving expression to their joy by coiir tinual shouting. Parjs, May 17. —Afternoon, —The Auteuil and Versailles gates have been destroyed by the bombardment, and neighboring bastions are sjlent under the terrific fire. Paris, May 19.—Twenty-one mem-, bers of «he Cqmmiyne no longer attend but remain in the arrondissements. Four hundred Versail lists are said to, have deserted yesterday. Batteries are established at the Pauphine gate, and new barricades are placed at the small fortresses. The Commune claims that its forces recaptured the Lyceum at Ls*y yesterday, and that the Versaillisjjs have been driven from Vanvres. New York, May 22. —A. special correspondent at Versailles last night, telegraphs full, particulars of the man-, ner in which the Government forces entered Paris. Captain Troga of the Navy went from the trenches and ramparts at Pont du Jour, and finding the insurgents had retired, called three hundred sailors and took possession of the gate. Other troops followed and before any one was aware the entry had commenced. Not a rifle was fired nor a man wounded ; the whole thing was, unexpected. A wh|te flag was hung out at Auleuil, Another brigade of Versailles had entered Porte Montrouge and the troops are pouring down on both points. It is reported that the Arc de Triomphe has been reached and that the insurgents made but slight resistance. The guns on the ramparts, have been turned on the Communists, 20,000 men are under Fort Issy and 40,00.0 are moving on. the open gates, A special correspondent telegraphs, frqm T o-clock last evening:— This afternoon three squadrons, of cavalry, were received amid tremendous; excitement. Gens Henri and Fortune, presented them with standards and they shouted "We w\ll defend them till death." Soon after the awards Petit Vanvres was evacuated in order to, shelter the troops in Montrouge.

FATAfc EXPLOSION ON B04I&D, THJ& ; MOSES TAYLOR. SIX PERSONS KILLED, We extract the following from the Ha,waiian Gazette, June J :—?. For the first time since the organisation of the steam lines between San Francisco and this port, we are called upon to. record a most painful and fatal accident. The Moses Taylor left San Francisco op, the 24th May, and when but a few miles, outside of the Heads, at the entrance of the a flue of the starboard boiler collapsed % and the escaping of steam ans water from the boiler instantly killed four firemen, and so seriously injured the first, assistant engineer and a water-tender, that they survived but a few hours. The. following are the names of the unfortunate victims of the disaster;—-.Thomas Harrison, first assistant engineer, a native of New York ; Nicholas |*rendergast, fireman, Ireland ; Hugh Mooney, fireman, Ireland; Paul Nicholas, coal passer, Ireland ; William Young, coal passer, NewYork ; Oliver Hayes, water-tender., Wa are unable to give any particulars as, re* gards the cause of the disaster. We understand that the vessel was thoroughlyoverhauled and her machinery repaired during her stay in San Francisco, although nothing had been done to her boilers, which had been in use for some time, but which were considered to be in good condition. Great credit is due to Capt Bennett for continuing the voyage after the disaster, notwithstanding that the vessel, was only within a fem hours' sail from. San Francisco. We are informed that it was with the utpiost effort that the crew —particularly the foremen —rcould be induced to undertake their duty for the passage all of them desiring to return to San Francisco. By his prompt and energetic action, Capt. Bennett had been enabled to deliver the inaHs to the Nevada, in time to cause but little or no delay in their transmission to, the Colonies,