Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-09-09 00:00:00

RIOTS AND LOSS OF LIFE AT BELFAST.

In yesterday's "Day's News," -we alluded to the dis-
graceful scenes which took place in the Borough of Belfast.
We are now enabled to give full particulars from our co-
temporary, the Belfast Drury Mercury.—
On Sunday morning, at an early hour, the following
placard was extensively posted in the principal thorough-
fares and conspicuous places in the town—" Down with
open air preaching! Down with fanatic Drew, the squint-
ing divine, the enemy of tranquility and peace! Gather
to the Custom-house on Sunday, the 6th instant, at three
o'clock, and give the Orange bigot such a check that he
will not attempt open air preaching again. Catholics of
Belfast, Down, and Antrim, we see by the public placards
that our religion is again to be assailed, our public walks
obstructed, by that low and ruffianly fanaticism which
has been lately got up by our Evangelical neigh-
hours for the purpose of awing annoyance to
their Cetholic neighbours. It is now quite mans
fast to all rational minds that this outrage will be
persevered in for the sole purpose cf creating a quarrel,
and perhaps for the purpose of shedding Catholic blood.
since they have got our worthy member, Mr. Cairns,
installed with the high honour of the ranter's badge, we
therefore call up on all our Catholic neighbours and
brethren to come and defend their rights as loyal subjects
and peaceable citizens ; and we have not the slightest
doubt but we shall compel these disturbers of the public
peace to respect the feelings of those who differ from them
in religion—who, whilst they are never the aggressors,
know how to defend themselves when attacked." There
was no printer's name to this placard, which was most
conspicuous on the walls, from the size of its type and the
colour of the paper on which it was printed. It was
stated frequently during the day that the prig ste of the
Roman Catholic Church had announced from their altars
their wish that all their congregations should keep
within doors from three till five o'clock, p.m , yester-
day, but the sequel showed that these orders were
not well obeyed. From two o'clock in the after-
noon crowds, of men were seen coming towards the
Custom-house from the centre of the town, and lest they
might ba suapected of crncert in the matter, they filed off
in different directions around the structure hi question, and
met each other again on t're quay. This body of men,
whoever they ware, began to mix up with another party
who ware evidently residents in the vicinity of the dock;
and although there did not seem to be .a harmony of feeling
among them, no breach cf the peace occurred. For a time
the great object of attrac inn WB4 the Custom-house steps,
on which about one husdred young men had taken their
stand ; but shortly after three o'clock, p.m., a body of young
fellows, numbering about thirty, marched among the
masses in front of the Custom-house, and passing on mixed
with the crowd farther down on the quays, and which
ultimately concentrates beefy° the Harbour-office, Queen's
Quay. The crowd increased in- that direction, and about
half-past three, it amounted to several thousands. The
borough constables were marched in a body to this
point, and took up a position in front of the Duncrue
Salt Works office. From this time up till four o'clock
the crowd increased, until the whole space, from the
shed at Ciarendon-dock to Victo ia-street, was covered
with human beings. Tee great maj trite, were respectable,
and many women were present. At four o'oclock exactly,
the Rev. Hugh Harms, carrying an umbrella, walked down
Corporation-street, and into Queen's-square, and, mixing
among the crowd, gained the platform erected for his
accommodation at the side of the Harbour-office rails,
without attracting attention. Ogee there, he speedily
mounted the rostrum, and began to address his auditors,
but was stopped by Mr. J. Clarke, J.P, Chairman of the
Harbour Commissioners, who, as we are informed, ap-
pealed to his good sense whether he considered it prudent
to precaod. Mr. Hanna inquired if he prehibited him,
adding, at the same time, that he had a constitutional right
to preach, which right, he meant to exercise. Mr. Clarke
said he did not prohibit him ; bur, while admitting the
right, said it might be expo ?lent not to persist at present.
Mr. William Coates, J.P., (it has been also .slated,) then
remarked that he would hold Mr. Hanna responsible
for any consequences which might ensue; in reply
to which that gentlemen said he was determined to
vindicate the right of Protestants to preach the Gospel.
At the conclusion of this conversation, the Rev.
Hugh Hanna commenced the devotional services by
giving out a Psalm, which was sung, and praying. He
then took for his text the words of St. Paul, in Hebrews,
Ist chapter, 3d verse —" How shall we escape if ice
neglect eo great salvation ? " The reverend gentleman
proceeded to deliver a temperate evangelical address
from these words; but he was not long so engaged,
when a whistle was given in the crowd, toward.; the
Clareadon-dock, and a second iu another part of the
crowd, which immediately divided, each party taking its
own side. A volley of stones cme from the party next
the dock, accommpanied by a cheer, which was answered,
and in less time than it takes us to narrate it. the con-
flicting parties were fighting. Those next the docks
gave way, pursued by men, who, it afterwards appeared,
were princip rlly shipwrights, brandishing wooden blud-
geens, used in their trade. The fighting portion of
the mob went up' Donegall-quay, and in a short time
afterwards, about forty young men and boys ran
into the shipyards at the quay, from which they speedily
returned with a further supply of the weapons already
noticed. In the meantime, their opponents were re-in-
forced, and came towards the scene cf action, driving
the stragglers before them in no vary tender mode,
when a ceallict ensued, which ended in their retreat in all
directions. The treatment some men then received was
dreadful. When the Catholic mob sought safety in flight,
thy were knocked down in all directions, and brutally
treated. One maim, especially, received such abuse, that
if he survives, it inky be said a man's skull can resist
anything. The belligerents again :rent up the quay,
but were stopped about Gamble street by the
constabulary, under cub-Inspsetn Bindon. The two
parties were then separated, and woe to the unhappy man,
whether Protestant or Catholic whose business or pleasure
left him within the power of either mob. Many innocent
persons of both sides, who knew nothing of the disturbance,
have been the sufferers, and it will be welt if loss of life
does not result from the brutality of these miscreants.
While all this was going forward, the reverend gentleman
was discoursing to a congregation if some three or four
thousand people without molestation. At the conclusion of
the service, he said that he had been in communication with
several respectable men of the industrious classes, who
were arxicus that the right of their ministers to opea-air-
preachiog should be vindicated lie had consented to
vindicate that right ; and he hoped they would submit to
insult or injury rather then retaliate. The authorities
were their legal protectors—the authorities of the town
were quite adequate to maintain the peace; and he hoped
they would now let all see that their conduct accorded
with their prefessioa as Christian men. He would ask
them, therefore, to retie to their own homes and net to
be seen on the streets, lest they might render a tumult
probable. He had maturely considered the matter, and
was prepared to vindicate their tights. He believed that that
day would have a mighty influence He made it manifest that
he would unflinchingly maintain their rights ; and he hoped
they would offer no o ?position to any one that would lead
to a breach of the peace, but, by their peaceable demeanour,
disarm all opposi ion, and leave to their enemies no opaor-
tunity of finding fault. He would maintain their rights,
but it was possible for men, right thinking men in other
respects, so to act as to make thir cause such as he could
not defend, and thus frustrate the objects he had in view.
Mr. Hanna concluded by advising all who heard him to go
home peaceably—an advice wh eh was generally taken.
While this was going forward in one pinta, -the Riot
Act had been read elsewhere, and the constabulary, under
the supreme command of Mr. Hunt, R.M , and the military,
under the command of Colonel Adair, appeared upon the
scene, and measures were taken to clear the streets. But
despi e their vigilance, fighting was going on elsewhere,
till the rain set in. Heavy an almost incessant showers
drove the ruffians under cover; but, as an obnoxious
person passed a door or entry in which they were located,
they rushed out and pelted' him mere mercilessly than the
pitiless storm. Nine prisoners were taken for that offence.
About seven o'clock, p.m., six men were marched up the
quay handcuffed. and when at the corner of Victoria-
street, a cry of " rescue " was raised, but the hussars
speedily put an end to the movement. Milled at the
quays, the mob retired, and, when at Denegall-place, a
young man named D etridson was brutally attacked, and
beateu from the corner of Castle-place to Messrs.
Lindsay's warehouse, in which he sought refuge, One
fellow held hint by the neck, and beat the pool
young fellow on the head with a paving stone. A
' surgeon dressed his wounds, but his life is in great
danger. At this place, the rioters had the stones
arranged in order for throwing along the side paths, and
non-combatants were unsparing'y pelted, without respect
to persons. Mobs gathered at the head of Rosemary-
street, and in Smithfield, but they were dispersed by Mr.
Lyons, J P., aided by the police. In Don egall-square
stones were thrown, but when this portion of the rioters
gained their old hold of the Pond, fresh disturbances
occurred, and some persons going to Dr. Draw's church
were assailed. This provoked retaliation, and the Protes-
tants of Durham-street and Purple lane joined in the
melee. The women, as usual, were busy breaking bricks,
and carrying stones into the streets, which were speedily
used. Ihere wasa large congregation in Mill-street, Mill-
field, and the districts adjoining, and here it was that the
contest of the day was fought. Gentlemen who came in
by one of the late trains on the Holywood line, heard the
firing, and they judged that it could not have been the
irregular firing of a mob, and their judgment was correct,

as the result showed. A gentleman who was proceeding
to his own residence. tells us that he saw Mill-street
filled with a "good many " people, which, in his
acceptation, means a large crowd; that he then saw'
these people running into corners and entries,
and balls ploughing th streets, knocking up the mud
and stones. About this time, it is not clear whether it
was be'ore or after the ball.firing, our informant heard
and saw people calling to the drivers of cars who drove
by to stop lie heard the people interrogate those car"
drivers ' • and, if :their answers were satisfactory, as be
supposed they were, they were allowed to drive oe•
It was impassible, in passing through the districts
that were enfiladed, to gather anything like reliable
information. Maoy risks wore run; but the search after"
truth was especially difficult, and, if all the stories told
were to be stated here, Their verification would be very
arduous.