A Political Prisoner
p. 28 · Read in the full issue
Who
Helped N. Caledonia
From Our Own Correspondent A DATE that went completely unnoticed in New Caledonia, —except for an article in a Free Thinkers’ paper—was the 50th anniversary of the death of Louise Michel. She was a heroine of the Parris Commune, had spent many years of exile in New Caledonia and died in Marseille, aged 75, on Jan uary 10, 1905.
Her body was taken back to Paris, where she was buried with the minimum of ceremony, but 20,000 people marched behind the hearse.
Paris has never known such a funeral since.
Louise Michel was the daughter of a domestic and the Marquis de Vroncourt. Though never legally recognised by the Marquis, she was tenderly cared for and educated by him. From an early age she de voted herself to the poor and never ceased her struggle till her death.
She fought fiercely the French Gov
ernments of the day, most of thi corrupt.
Louise Michel spent thirt years in prison, six of them “bagne.” She was deported Noumea and imprisoned at Ducos Peninsula, together v many other famous agitators Socialistic causes. Those who I across Noumea’s harbour towa Ducos, scene now of the Leper h pital (tourist ships generally anc just opposite) never ever think those who were once confined that unfertile spot. The nati of New Caledonia have cause to member Louise Michel for she 1 their very first benefactor. S founded the first school for nati in NC, and was much loved them.