WOMEN AND CHILDREN PRISONERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 1110, 29 July 1871, Page 3

WOMEN AND CHILDREN PRISONERS.

The Paris correspondent of the Illustrated London News writes — "Among the prisoners marched into Versailles were a company of the Amazons of the Seine, and a battalion of patriotic children. The former were dressed as vivandieres. Some, who had shown themselves restive, were handcuffed. One had a child slung on her back. The arm of another was in a sling. The habit-shirt of another pretty brunette was covered with fresh blood. Another Amazon was wounded. They all showed symptoms of fatigue, but still wore a defiant air, and did not seem to belong to the class with which the Magdalen Asylums are peopled. All were not young indeed, matrons were more numerous than maidens in this band of female warriors. They were forced to walk at a quick pace under the broiling sun, by a troop of mounted gendarmes. Their advent in the street of Versailles was the cause of much mirth among the people. One stout old woman, who responded to the smiles of the bystanders by disrespectful pantomine, was hailed as Mere Duchesne. In one detachment of 200 National Guards, ten of them were children not twelve years old. The young patriots seemed to feel that the eyes of Europe were upon them, and posed accordingly. They wore the uniform of the National Guards."