OUTRAGE IN THE PARIS PANTHEON

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 187, 29 July 1908, Page 4

OUTRAGE IN THE PARIS PANTHEON

ZOLA'S STATE KUXJiIUI/. URIiVFCS WOUNDJ3D.

London, June 5. There was a time—ami that only lew .years ago—when our papers wordily after day, and month after montl filled with thrilling "copy" concerniu; " l>'All'airc Dreyfus!" But of late w hail almost forgotten all that history with its attendant seandals on the par of highly-placed ollicials in France. All however, has just been vividly recalled Six years have! passed since Zola' death. Inu the focliiijr toward the ;;o called " insulter of the French army entertained by French Nationalists nil military families lias lost not an atou of its bitterness in the intervening peri od, and the adoption by the Chamber ii March last of tlie proposal to place Zola': remains in the Pantheon aroused a pel I'eel fury of denunciation, which reaclie its climax as the ceremony ap|troachei To some of the great families of Franc ami to a small section of the Frcnc public, the admission of Zola, the " tra dueer of the French Army and Hi French people," to the Pantheon is a: aet of desecration. Further, it ha aroused once more all tile passions en gendered in the years of bitter conllic about tlie' Dreyfus case, with which th name of Zola will be for ever associate' However, always excluded from th Academy, he succeeded in conquering th Pantheon —and tlie State funeral too, place there yesterday. The events of tlie previous night seem eil to support tlie view held by mail Frenchmen us to the unwisdom of fo:i ing on the Parisian public a eereinon which was certain to be bitterly iiu actively resented by a large section o opinion. The conveyance of the "bod 11 to the courtyard of the Pantheon wa Jispuled by a determined crowd, an in unseemly struggle took place, wliie ivas hardly in keeping with the idea u t national tribute being paid to th lonoiired dead. Groups of demonstrai irs paraded the boulevards protests igaiiist the morrow's ceremonies. The actual ceremony was simple, co' listing largely of appropriate niusi< 'resident Fallieres was there with hi diiiislers, including General Picquart lie Presidents of both Chambers of th legislature, tlie heads of the Army ail v'avv, ami the members of the Diplo natiV Corps. Madame Zola was present nth her two softs, while not far aw::\ His -Major Alfred Dreyfus with some f his relatives.

When Beethoven's funeral march bad ended, and the" Minister of Public Instruction was about to pronounce his oration, a journalist named Grcgori was observed to leave his place- and make his way to the scats occupied by Dreyfus and his family. The discourse ended, and all present rose with the intention of witnessing the march past of the troops outside; the Dreyfus family and Madame Zola alone, remained seated. This was the moment selected by Uregori for his attempted murder, lie crept up to within a few paces of Dreyfus, and, driving a revolver from his pocket fired point-blank at him; the first shot struck his right arm. a second grazed the wrist. Dreyfus -foil back 011 his seat with a -sharp cry. exclaiming 1 am shot!" The shock was a terrible one for poor Madame Zola, who fell from her seat in a faint, believing that Dreyfus had been killed. If the Republican fiuards had nut ijuickly intervened, flregori would have been torn to pieces by the iniuriated crowd; an ugly rush was made at him. and he was wounded over the right eye. The panic-stricken crowd yelM "Seize him!'' "Death to the assassin!" "Vive Zola!* 1 . The President was the coolest man in the crowd; he sought out Madame Zola, spoke to her words of encouragement | and comfort, and took her home in his carriage. Needless to say. the "march past " did not come oft; Ministers enteri'd their carriages and drove away witii mounted escorts. Meanwhile the wounded man had been assisted from tlie scene of the shooting by his brother and a surgeon; his injuries were attended to., His condition is not regarded as serious. .Oregon >s described as having "a bee in bis bonnet." Later in the day, when brought up in court, he explained his act by declaring that he had lost control of himself on account of so much honour being rendered to Zola, w',ho. in bis opinion, did not merit it. yon like with ine/' he added. His colleagues attribute his act to the heat amf effects of a recent bereavement as much as to political passions.