The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-08-14 00:00:00

CONTINUED RIOTING IN BELFAST.

BELFAST, Sunday Night.
The most terrible disturbances have occurred at
Belfast during to-day and yesterday. Rioting broke
out yesterday afternoon of the most fearful nature,
and was continued with greater or less fury during
the whole of the night, and has been renewed to-day.
Property has been wrecked in the disturbed districts,
scores of people injured, and at least three killed.
Yesterday morning a meeting of magistrates was held,
when it was decided that no bands or processions be
permitted to pass through the town; that no crowds
be allowed to congregate at street corners, and if so
that they be dispersed by force, and that all public-
houses be closed from six o'clock that evening until
Monday morning at eight o'clock. An Executive
Committee was formed, consisting of the mayor, the
two resident magistrates, several of the local
magistrates, and the officers commanding the
military and police, to carry these arrangements into
effect. The military and police were stationed at all
clangorous points throughout the disturbed districts,
but in spite of the large forces in the town, the rioting
broke out with great fury, and still continues. The
greatest excitement prevailed last evening, when
desperate attacks were made by the opposing mobs
upon each other and the police. The encounters
were of the most furious description, and took place
generally in the streets leading from Shankhill-road
to the Falls, the Old Lodge-road, and the Crumlin-
road. Many of the crowd were armed with revolvers,
and in addition to the shots which they fired at the
police, against whom they entertain the greatest
antipathy, stones, bricks, and bars of iron were
hurled at them. The constabulary took up quarters
in the public-house of Mr. McKenna, Old Lodge-road,
in opposition to the wishes of the landlord, and from
the windows fired upon the mob, who assailed
the houses. The firing took effect in many instances
both here and elsewhere, and a number of persons
were carried to the surgeries of Dr. Stewart, Carlisle-
circus, and Dr. McMullans, suffering from gunshot
wounds in various parts of the body. A man named
Jackson, who was shot in the head, was in a dying
state, and he was sent to the hospital, where about
fifty persons have been treated. In the course of
another attack to-day upon McKenna the police again
fired on the mob, killing two (and it is feared three)
persons, and injuring very large numbers. William
Nelson, aged 50, and Mrs. Mellveene, who was stand-
ing at her own door, are both dead. Another little
boy was killed in California-street. Very great ex-
citement prevails. The Mayor has issued a pro-
clamation stating that all assemblies in' the streets and
all bands of music in the streets from which riot may
be apprehended will be arrested by the police.
The following communication relative to the present
disturbed state of Belfast, and the further measures
to be adopted for the preservation of the peace of the
town was received yesterday by the Mayor of Belfast,
Sir Edward J. Harland, Bart., from the new Chief
Secretary for Ireland, Sir M. Hicks-Beach, Bart.,
M.P. :

" Dublin Castle, August 6, 1886.—Sir,--I am
directed by the Lords Justices to state that their
Excellencies are seriously' concerned at the condition of
Belfast, and consider it imperative that the most
energetic measures should be taken with the view of
putting an end to the disturbances which have brought
discredit and disgrace upon the town. Every requisi-
tion of the magistrates for extra police and other
assistance has been pronsptly complied with. Further
aid of the same kind will be afforded should it be d esired,
but their Excellencies would earnestly impress upon you,
as representing the inhabitants of Belfast, that such
action on the part of the Government cannot secure
its object without the hearty co-operation of those
who are primarily interested in its success, and that
it is the first duty of all peaceable and law-abiding
citizens to afford their active assistance to the authori-
ties in their endeavours to restore order and maintain
the peace. Their Excellencies have, therefore, read
with great satisfaction the terms of the proclamation
which you issued yesterday, and every assistance and
countenance in their power will be given to make this
step effective. It is for the consideration of the
magistrates whether, looking to the gravity of the
present situation, it may not be desirable to extend the
prohibition of the assemblies likely to endanger
public peace to processions and bands, and they would
call your attention to a proclamation issued by the
Mayor of Belfast under similar circumstances on the
19th of August, 1872. It has further occurred
to their Excellencies that much advantage
might arise from the presence in Belfast at the
present time of a civil officer of high rank who
should be in supreme control of the movements
of the police, and they have therefore instructed the
Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary to
proceed at once to Belfast. . . Their Excellencies
do not intend in any way by this step to interfere
with the constitutional responsibility of the magis-
trates, but they hope it will tend to secure uniformity
of action in the work of restoring order and vindica-
ting the law, and they confidently rely upon the
magistrates, both local and resident, recognising the
advantages which may arise from this arrangement,
and upon their heartily co-operating with the Inspec-
tor General in carry out such measures as may be
required for this purpose. Their Excellencies have
communicated this arrangement to the military autho-
rities, whose cordial co-operation throughout with the
civil authorities they have much pleasure in recog-
nising.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
"M. E. McKs-BnAcn."

The Daily Telegraph correspondent on Aug. 9th
says: Matters are still in an excited state, but the
day has so far passed over much more peaceably than
either Saturday or yesterday. From an early hour
there were signs of coming disturbances, although
with the great force of mil;tary and police in Belfast
it was almost impossible that they could develop into
large proportions. Several revolver shots were fired
from the upper windows of the houses in Collingtree-
road, where there is abundant evidence of great
bitterness of feeling: and Murdoch-street, which is
behind the Albert-crescent Barracks, was also in
a very disturbed condition, though no violent out-
break took place. Shots were fired from the windows
of houses in Pound-street and the by-roads lead-
ing to it. The Protestants in not a few cases
had to make a speedy retreat for personal safety. A
very sad case occurred shortly after eight o'clock
this morning in College-square North. It appears
that a young man was proceeding to his work down
that street, when, it is stated, a person coming out of
Killen-street, which runs off College-square North,
raised his gun and fired at the unfortunate youth.
The bullet took effect upon one of his hands, the
fingers of which were completely blown off. He fell
to the ground in a very weak state in consequence of
great loss of blood, and was afterwards conveyed by
some persons, who witnessed the occurrence, to a pri-
vate house in Durham-street, where his injuries were
attended to. At 5 o'clock the public-houses were closed,
and will remain so until 10 o'clock to-morrow morn-
ing. A meeting of the Magistrates' Executive Com-
mittee has been held, and arrangements were made
for the preservation of the peace as far as possible for
the evening. The following resolution was passed:
'That instructions be issued-to the constabulary, that
in the disturbed districts all crowds of persons be
warned to disperse, and if they refuse to leave, that
they be arrested and charged with obstructing the
public thoroughfare.' Several deputations were
desirous of waiting upon the magistrates relative to
the condition of the particular localities they repre-
sented. One from Sandy-row had a long interview
with the Mayor and a number of magistrates with
regard to the peace of the district about Sandy-row and
Durham-street. One of the objects this body had in
view was to protest against the Orange Hall in Sandy-
row being used as a place of lodgment for the Royal
Irish Constabulary. The gentleman who introduced
the deputation mentioned that they were unable
to form any conclusion as to what authority the
mayor or corporation had in given sanction for the
use of a building which had been declicated to other
purposes. The interview was regarded by the
deputation as of a very unsatisfactory characters
and the Rev. Dr, Kane left the room in ill..
dignation for the purpose a ttl6'graphing to
Dublin, to Sir Michael Kinks-Beach, the nature
of the interview with the authorities. A second
deputation, from the Shankhill-road, waited upon
the meeting for the purpose of handing in a
sworn information touching the riots, a copy of
which had been transmitted to the Lords Justices
today. An intimation was conveyed to the members
of the deputation that the borough magistrates de-
clined to receive them, inasmuch as it was thought by
the magistrates that the mayor should have been pre-
viously apprised of the nature of the document to be
transmitted. A deputation from York-street attended,
and explained the necessity there was for the preser-
vation of the peace of the district which they repre-
sented. A young woman, whose name at present
cannot be ascertained, was proceeding to her work,
when she was wounded in the head by some small
shot fired from a revolver.
At the police-court a great many persons were
charged with taking part in the riocs, and were sent
to gaol for various periods, ranging from two to six
months. Over 1200 soldiers, horse and foot, arrived
to-day from Dublin and the Curragh. The men were
shortly afterwards marched to the disturbed districts,
where they have largely taken the place of the police.
A company of the Royal Engineers and some cannon
have also arrived. The constabulary to-day appear
to be thoroughly fagged out and wearied. They have
gone through most arduous work, and they have
been subjected to rough and harsh usage, and
had little opportunities for days and nights
past for either rest or refreshment. A. tele-
gram sent yesterday to the Irish Executive in Dublin
announced that they were completely dons up, and
asked that military should be sent down to take
their place. The return home of the Islandrnen
from their work at six o'clock was generally looked
forward to with almost painful anxiety and interest.
Upon their being permitted to pass peaceably through
North-street, and the dangerous disturbed districts
which abut upon it, depended in no slight degree the
subsequent peace of the town. If they met with no
aggression they had determined to give none, and as
the Shankhill-road, and other streets in which
they reside, had been comparatively quiescent both
yesterday and to-day, peace so far as this por-
tion of the town was concerned might have been
regarded as assured. As a proof that the Island-
men had no disorderly intention, it may be stated
that their body, passing up North-street, was far from
being so large a demonstration as on previous even-
ings. Not more than between 200 or 300 came up
as far as Royal-avenue. and when there a considerable