The Express.
London, England, 1864-08-22 00:00:00

THE RIOTS AT BELFAST.

(From the PorthoW Whip of Baturday.)
Tlic tremendous force of military and police in
Ballast has had fortunately. the effect of temporarily quell-
rag ths riots; wed yesterday, although unsay disgraceful
seta took plain, and one minder was perpetrated in ow of
the meet frequented thoroughfares in the north-west
district-of the town, the out force opposed to the rioters
had theaffect far the time of quelling their hellish fury.
About 3 o'clock in the morning many of the police
and military on duty were permitted to go home. as the
"disturbed districts" appeared to be in • most tranquil
Mate. ,Luring the two or three hours which followed,
when there was comparatively little danger for pedes-
trians, many visited the scenes of lithe late diabolical
mirages, and the appearance of many of the streets
within • mile of radius was positively appalling. In some
Sues there are not oval the ruins of • house to be sem ;
is other places whole lie., of houses are gutted of every-
thing they ouotaioed—windows are smashed -doers broken
to atoms—furniture burned and lying in the streets; and to
those who have not had the coarse to visit the localities
we may is one word say that they present all the sr
moss which one reads of as the result, of • great civiearr.
If the day passed in comparative tranquillity—our-
awed and put to silence as the mobs were by the army
among them—we have the pain of recording one of
the most diabolical murders which has ever disgraced
our commuoity. It is intelligible to us by unhappy
exper.ones how two mobs can meet each other when is
say.ige fury, and slash and back each other till they are
weltering in their gore—it is easily oodenvood how hours
cao be wrecked and people maimed when the sectarian pas-
mimeo( the opposing mobs are lashed and written up into a
Mate of terrible excitement ; but that men should, like
demons, stand at the comers of streets and behind windows,
and in as instant launch into eternity their uooffendmg
fellow non—without a moment of warning, knock them
down by • bullet and run off —this is a state of things
which is absolutely horrifying in • Christian land, compared
with which even the dreadful riots are alight io point of
atrocity sad the wrecking, and maimiogs which have taken
=are thrown into the shade by the act, of diabolical
The following are the facts of the case. The
same of the victim is James Halliday. lie lived in
Tanen' Market, off Hercalesstreet, was aged 19, and a
satholic. A great row occuried about 11 o'clock in Liman-
street. Halliday was passing along Millfield, which is at
right angles to Brown.street, • few minutes after the row
had bees quelled, and when all was quiet. He was walking
peaceably Olathe footpath when a shut was fired out of an
entry close to Wilson-street, and he fell instantly, the
bullet having passed through the abdomen, entering at
ewe sale and tearing its way out at the other. He was
conveyed to the General Hospital, and died immediately
after admission. So far as it can be found out he was
taking neither act nor pert is the riots, and was walking ;
quittly along when an infamous ruffian deliberately shot
him down. We saw him last night lying in the
dead house of the hospital : be was smiling, as l
if in sleep—a strong young man of nineteen;
yea! s—with • bullet wooed through his body—shot down
in the pride of his strength, before he bad even time to
pray. Beyond comparison, this is the most terrible out- ;
rage which has as yet been committed, end the whole ;
power of the authorities should be brought to hear to bring
the perpetrator to condign punishment. Riots occurred in
fbuithilekl sod Milltield oboist midday, and two people were;
injured by gunshot wounds, and takes to the hospital. One
was a were's., and another a countryman who was atteod-
iag market. Nothing further of a serious nature occurred
till the afternoon, when it was rumoured that the navvies
were *gala out, and were about to make an attack on the ship
carpeoters at the Queen's lobed works. The rumour bevies
been conveyed to the island, the carpenters, to the number
of about 41.10, left work, and ia a body, marched to Bally-
macarrett armed with almost every conceivable instru-
ment of warfare. They presented a most formidable ap-
pearance, mid created tenor and consternation smug the
inhabitant& It was said their object was again to hunt out
the rep:minima navvies who live in the neighbourhood and
drive them from the town, and if their terrible determina-
tion had bulb accomplished, a most frightful riot would have
ensued. The news of this outbreak having been brought
to Belfast, about 30 Hussars, under the command of Mr.
Lyons, J. P., went to the spot, and by judicious iraterference
prevailed epos the island lima to return to their work. The
panic which existed in the asiglibeurhood ceased shortly
afterwards. James M 'Dowell, Brown-square, baker, when
coming to his work, was savagely attacked and beaten in
Yilltield. which it is said was the beginning of the row
in that locality. la Derby-street, off the Falls road,
where there is • mixed population, there was great
commetioe. In some 11141111016 furniture was carried to the
street and honied ; and the mob, rushing into backyards,
killed • number of pigs, The inhabitants not to the
authorities for protection, and twelve policemen were sent.
About Pinkerton's-row aid North Queen-street there were
formidable appearances of riot about two o'clock, but the
iahabitants of the locality obtained the assistance of some
police, and it was quelled. There was a rumour in town
yesterday that orders had been received from the execu-
tive to pot Belfast under the rigour of martial law, bat
en making inquiry we tied that the mayor has mooned
the requiiis authority to resort to this extreme if ne-
cessary. The authorities had all public-houses in the die-
sorbed districts closed frees six o'clock last night until ten
o'clock this monies. The special constables did roost
effective service yesterday. They paraded the town in
bodice of about twenty, and did all they could to restore
order.

The following case" were admitted into the General Hos-
pital yesterday :—James Halliday, shot through the abdo-
men, dead ; Fanny Garland, wounded in arm with a ballet;
John Leery, Bellyeastoo, shot through the leg with a
bullet; James Kelly, bullet wound in arm. There are now
fifty new in hospital. and ire wards are occupied with
those injured in the riots. Four of the awes will be fatal.
A correspondent, under the signature of " Peace," gave a
most important warning in the Wary of Thursday morning
lapwing the probability of a party demonstration at the
funeral of M'Connell at the Knock that day. and the prompt
sttestion paid to it by the authorities bad the effect of pre-
venting a most fearful encounter, as the result only too
plainly showed. The mice well-meaning correspondent gave
an yesterday's Whig • somewhat similar caution regarding
the possibility of a counter demonstration at the
funeral of Heyborn. The warning thus gives was
pron.ptly noticed by the Catholic clergy, from what
we yesterday forenoon received the following intimation "To the Editor of the Northern Wkig.—Sir,—The earning
given is your issue of, this morning regarding the fusers]
of F. Heyburn would have been worthy of every attention,
but that the catholio clergyman who wee to have °dictated
at the interment yesterday refused to accompany the beans
to Friar's Bush unless the niouracre were limited to the
immediate relatives of the deceased. Hundreds instantly
bowed to his wishes ; and the numbers, thus reduced to Ice
—the clergyman and four relatives of Heybers—were
shoat to proceed, when it was intimated to them that an
inquest should precede the interment. The same gen-
tleman Du arranged for • second funeral to accompany
Heyburn's this day (Friday). The arrangements of
yesterday will be scrupulously carried out; sod though
the second person died from natural causes, relative, only
will be allowed to go with it. For precaution sake, a military
moon has been applied for, and as the numbers attending
cannot be looked upon as a demonstration, it is lobe hoped
that the remains may be buried in peace.—l remain, he.,
yours truly, J. R. M'Auter, C.C. 8, Reward-street,
Belfast, Friday morning, August 19,1864."
We are informed that, in aeoordanoe with this most male-
tary and commendable regulation, the funeral of Hey.
burs took place yesterday ia the quietest possible
manner—so quietly that very few even of the catholic
party were aware of the fact. The interment of an-
other person, deceased from natural causes during the
period of the riots, took place at the same time. The
appearance of the Rev. Mr. M'Auley's letter is oer
Krona edition of yesterday elicited from men of all parties
sad creeds as expression of warm approbation. The lawless
sal reckless spirit which pervades the community in many
tut/ores is hardly credible. For ao example : —Yesterday,
in the centre of llooegall-place, io the afternoon, whoa all
was quiet, a gentleman who was standing at the door of ocie
of the large establiahments saw a man balling a pistol. He
told him that he ought to put Out weapon away, and that
if be were a special coostable he would take it from him.
The man instantly presented the pistol at the gentle-
maw who spoke, sad swore be would shoot him if be said
another word. Apprehensive of violence the gentleman
retired into the house, and on returning with assistance,
hoping to capture the fellow, be had disappeared. A gen-
tleman who lives in the Windsor district informed us yes-
terdey that is broad daylight a party of ruffians bad pur-
sued • man who took refuge in his house which at the
time was occupied only by females. The door was shut to
when the fellows came up, but th instantly forced it in,
and demanded that the man should be given up to them.
The unfortunate fugitive was meanwhile making his escape
by the back door, and his pursuers observing this wit off
after bim, and fired several shots at him during the chase
In hopes of bringing him down. The terror of the inmates
of the house was escemive. The ruffians absolutely hunted
the man and Sired at him ma if he were a wild beast.

DiertaßANct IN IRWRT.
The riots which have for the past fortnight been going on
is Belfast are likely to be repeated io Newry. On Thurs-
day night groups of mss were observed by the police
suspiciously loungirg in various parted the town. Coder
cover of midnight darkness they managed to meet at a pre-
arranged rendezvous with the view of committing mischief,
sad, if poasible, bringing upon Newry the ootoncty which
attache., to Belfast. About one o'clock on Thursday night
a party of six polies, under the command of Constable
Edgawas stationed at the bridge between Sugar Island and
oansbetrees. Rumours were floating through the town
during the day that disturbances of a very serious nature
would take place, and when the hour of twelve came
it was thought that nothing of the kind would corn, to
pees. At half-past twelve or one o'clock the police were
startled by the tread of men approaching in the direction of
the bridge from North-street. In a short time a large
drowd appeared, marching in military order, armed with
Idedgeona and other equally auspicious weapons. Constable
Edgar, seeing the party approach in military order, ordered
the men to file across the bridge, and on no account to let
them pass. When they mme up he advanced to the front
of his men and ordered the mob to stop. The leader, a
person who is well known in tows, cats forward and
jailed against the coostable, who acted in a very praise-
worthy manner under the insulting treatment which he rr
esived at the hands of the leader. The mob, who no doubt
led some malevolent purpose in view, marching in regular
'military order, apparently under the commandof chosen
bedews, on beteg foiled in crossing the bridge turned beak.