After capturing this, the daring French charged into the city in
the face of the fire from the forts on the surrounding hills, to which the
governor's troops had been withdrawn.
The very boldness of the assault, and the failure of the governor to guard
the streets with troops, nearly led to success. Little resistance was made
by the few soldiers in the city, and the French traversed the narrow
streets until the central square was reached. Here they met their first
check from a party of fifty students, who had entered the palace of the
governor and fired upon them from the windows. The first French assailants
who forced their way in were taken prisoners and tied to the furniture. In
the custom-house adjoining was the magazine. Here, as the storekeeper was
hastily giving out ammunition, a fellow with a lighted match approached
and carelessly set fire to the powder. In a moment the building was blown
into the air, and the palace, which the French were still assailing, was
set on fire.
The people were now rising, and the several detachments into which the
attacking force had divided found themselves fiercely assailed.
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