The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-08-24 00:00:00

THE BELFAST RIOTS.

"Oar On Correspondent "of The Times sent the follow-
ing from Dublin on Monday evening

- -
The Hots in Belfast show no signs of abatement. On
the contrary, they ere beconduir' more formidable.
Durieg the wholevf last night Fall and Shan'shill roads,
and the district ariund, were thronged with people who
were afraid to go to bed lest their houses should be
attacked. In spite of the efforts of the police and the
military, the hostile mobs frequently hod encounters
with stones, bludgeons, and firearms. The Mayor and the
magistrates remained on duty all night. On Monday
morning the aspect of affairs was so threatening that
welldlieposed persons were afraid to venture out to go
to tin ir work, and several of the mills and warehouses
were left without their usual hands. The ship
carpi nters on the Queen's Island, to the number of
1,500 from one firm, were not allowed to go tow rk in
a body, and, fearing to go singly, remained idle.
The rioting went on incessantly in the disturbed dis-
tricts, the mob shifting their position to chide the
authorities and renew the contest as opportunity was
offered. soy stragglers who happened to pass through
some localities were attacked. Many persons were
severely beaten, and some, it is feared, fatally injured.
But, numerous as the casualties are, the wonder is, ,
considering the natnre of the weapons used and the
savage temper of the mob, that more lives have not
been loot.
The women during the riots have been in a state of
frantic excitement, and have incited the men by en-
couragement or by taunts and imprecations upon their
cowardice. They piled the stones in the streets like
cannon balls, and assisted in throwing missiles. The
publichouses have been rifled, and the mob, stimulated
by what they drank, became more reckless. The shops
in the greater part of the town were closed during the
day. Hooves of prominent members of the two parties
were attacked, and lives were endangered.
Five persons are revorted to have been shot in
Townsend-street, and violent encounters recurred in
Northumberlard street, Millfield. and Smithfield, as
well £43 on the Shankhill and Fall Roads.
"'

The rioters were dispersed by charges of the mili-
tary and police, but reassembled at these points, and
so kept harassing and evading the authorities.
At a meeting of magistrates to-day it was resolved
to adopt more stringent measures and swear in special
constables. The stipendiary magistrates have been re-
inforced, and more troops and police are required. The
town has been divided into military districts, and
magistrates have been appointed to each. A strong
guard is kept on the police courts to prevent a
rescue of prisoners. . . The Mayor has issued
a proclamation requiring the inhabitants in dis-
turbed districts to keep within their houses. Per-
sons found in the streets and obstructing the thorough-
fares will be treated as riotets. The publichouses are
to be kept closed until twelve o'clock on Friday next.
The houses of persons who sell tire-arms are to be
kept closed until further orders. The military are
authorized to disperse by force all assemblies in the
i streets; to enter all houses from which fire-arms shall
be dischareed, and arrest all parties found within, and
to fire ou notous mobs.
There was a serious riot in Lisburn on Saturday
night. A body of members of the Good Templars
Society were returning from an excursion to Slanes
Castle, when they were fired upon from the hose of a
publican named Donnelly. Their friends assembled
and wrecked two public-houses owned by Donnelly,
as well as those of several other persons, and a man
named Bell was severely wounded. The town has be-
come comparatively quiet since,

" Our Own Correspondent " of The Times, waiting from
Dublin, the 20th, also gives the following additional partic-
ulars
The authorities seem to have been bewildered by the
multiplied difficulties which surrounded them, and have
as yet been unable to restore order, though the town
is garrisoned by an unusually large force of military and
polide. It is hard for persons at a distance who do not
understand the irreja,sibie obstinacy of the popniace,
who -e stern fanatical spirit is aroused, to account for
the foot that, in the face of such a force as the Govern-
ment 11%4 concentrated in the town from other parts
of the country, the riots still continue with unabated
riereenesss. The loss o casioned by the wrecking of
houses and the suspension of business, to shy no-
thing :rf the personal injuries connived by many of
the combatants, most be considerable, and it will be
some time before Belfast recovers from the effects of
this sudden and brutal convutdon. The action of the
wnaisitsatrgireesrh,Dast
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to beplerpiititwooinzileilru.atsVyhtizgyhe
been quite sufficient to restore order. Proclamations
have been issued, and the police and military have
been actively employed in endeavouring to prevent the
assembling of maiwes of people in the streets, but the
warnings have been disregarded, and mobs are no
sooner dispersed by armed force than they re-form in
other planes and renew their work of destruction. . . .
The papers are filled with details of the riots in
various parts of the town. In their r eneral outlines ,
they are mere repetitions of scenes already described.
The intervention of Sunday produced no tranquilizing
effect upon the hostile factions, though both are ani-
mated by a strong polemical zeal and profess to have
deepreligions convictions. But their piety only consists
us "hating each other for the hive of God," amid they
had frequent occasions during the day of proving their
devotion by throwing brickba's, felling each other with
bludgeons, and discharging loaded firearms indiscrim-
inately hit° the ranks of their opponents. The
' worst riot occurred on Sunday, about fur o'clock, in
the brickicilds which divide the Shankhill and Fuller
roads, thou lying between two hostile and adjacent dis-
tricts. I ie stated that it originated in a personal

encounter between two men, one of whom, when chal-
lenged, avowed himself a Fenian. Partisans of each
joined in the fight, and gradually it increased in propors
dons until at length mawr thousands were assembled.
The field extends over about 12 acres, and WAR well
adapted for a battle ground, being strewn with half.
formed bricks. rubbish, and missiles of various kinds.
Women and girls collected these into convenient heaps,
and AK the contest progressed they became wild with ex-
citenient, and running about among the combatants,
without any regard to the danger, urged mere spectators
or half-hearted rioters to enter more earnestly into the
encoonter. Their shrieks were heard over the field,
and with taunts and imprecations they stimulated the
tourage of the respective parties. Other sources of
excitement were not wanting. The publichouses were
emptied of their liquors, and bottles of champagne,
brandy, and whisky were c tcried off in triumph. In
FA me instances the bartAs of cle and wiiiiky were spilt
in wanton mischief in the middle of the streets. A
small patty of psi ice which were stationed in the '
• quarter where the slot began attempted, by charging
with fixed bayonets, tr) quell it, but both parties
turned upon them, and they were obliged to run for
their lives tor about 100 yares, when, becoming
exasperated at the treatment they received, they
turned and fired open tittle pursuers. As no one
fell it was inferred that their cartridges were
book, and the mob again pursued them ; but,
toning again, they tired a second time with
effect, two persons receiving wounds' one in the
neck and the other in the shoulder. At this criti-
cal moment the 4th Dragoons and 7tith High-
landers, under the command of General Warre; came
up, adding a new feature to the exciting scene.
The dragoons charged into the centre of the crowd and
scattered the mobs on every aide. The Highlanders
were then drawn up,in line to prevent thim again
occupying the ground. The dispersed rioters formed in
other places anti became centres of fresh mobs, and the
disturbances spread in various directions. Attempts
were made, with partial success, to ext. nd the area of
disorder into the leading streets in the centre of the
town, and the intention, though defeated on Sunday
evening, was, with characteristic pertinacity, adhered
to en yesterday, anti in some places carried into effect.