The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-07 00:00:00

" The first symptoms of what was about to ap-
proach occurred in High-street. Shortly after 7
o'clock, a body of ship-carpenters, ,walking in a
massive column, numbering about 150 or 265, pro-
ceeded through that street en route to Sandyerow.
At this time the constabulary bad not been called,
on duty, nor had the usual pt event ive zneasur. s been
taken for. the suppression' of disturbance, as the
authorities entettaine I the belief that the struggle
would not be resumed at that hour of the evening.
Immediately on the appearance of the ship-carpen-
ters' demonstration the magistrates were commu-
nicated with, and the constabulary paraded in full
strength at their several depots. While this move-
ment was being executed by the authorities a large
body of one section of the rioters had assembled
in great strength and made their arrangements for
attack. In the neighbourhood of Great Victoria
street, and in the adjoining passages leading from
Sandy-row, some 800 or 900 of a crowd mustered.
Mr. Lindsay, attended by one or two of the local
force, here entreated the parties, when passing down
towards the U 1 ter Railway terminus, to remain in
their then position, mentioning that the constabu-
lary had received orders to fire upon any person_
found throwing stones or with mi'siles in his posses- ,
sion. Several of the party returned to the neigh-
bourhood of Sandy-row ; about 200 of them rejected
the advice, and rushed to the fo it of College-
square East, then passed through College-street,
Fountain-street, Fa un tairi-lane' and into Donegan-
place. The windows of Mr. B. Hughes's establish-
ment were smashed, and the party rushed into
Castle lane, cheering with considerable vehemence..
The authorities had been taken by surprise, and
the passage of the crowd was totally unobstructed.
A bo ly of the party had passed Calender-street,
when one of the ringleaders called out, To the
Whig !to the Whig office !' The movements of the,
mob were at price reversed, and, in a body, they
proceeded through Calender-street. When they
came in front of the Whig office one of the r ing-
leadere attired insome of t he habiliment s of a sailor,
who was a few yards in adiance of the party,
threw up his arms—a sort of signal to his concede-
rates—and exclaimed, 'Now.' The response was
a volley of stones. A.- second and third volley en-
sued, by which they succeeded in demolishing some
20 panes of glass in these premises. Immediately
after leaving Calender-street, the mob, strengthened
by another party, proceeded towards St Malachi's
Chapel. Toe gathering there was principally come-•
posed of able-bodied men. Two persons, evidently
mill operatives, were dilocting the plan of assault
on the chapel, each having prepared himself with
missiles for the onslaught. When they arrived at Mr
M.‘liavana's timber yard, a MAL, who apparently
rushed from that place, directed at' the mob what
appeared to be a blunderbuss, for the purpose of,
stopping their progress. The crowd retired for a
few perches, uttering loud yells. They once more
mustered, and ran Cowards the chapel, directed a
sho suer of stones towards the edifice, and scampered
across the fields. By this time intelligence hal
reached the Roman Catholics in that neighbour-
hood of what was going on, and a crowd of people
from Cromac street and the New M irket appeared
on the grounds. A struggle immediately ensued,
Both parties, as if by mutual consent, concentrated
their respecive forces on a road contiguous—
the Orange par y occupying the field on the
west side of the Old Dublin-road and their oppo-
neuts the field on the other side, which is protected
by a brick wall, running from the Covenant ng
Met tingehouse to Adelaide place. When eassieg
Mr. M'Kevane's timber yard the Roman Ca holies
arme I themselies with bludgeons, which these ere•
raises readily provided. A terrific struggle en-
sued, more resembling the faction fights for which
the south and west of Ireland are 11-,t
than anything that has hitherto occurred in
Belfast. The road was covered with stones,
and a better opportunity the rioters could not
have had for tes,ing their prowess. For
forty minutes this battle raged with terrific
vigour. S ones fell as thick as hail in the midst of
the rioters ; men fell as if struck by gesnelaet ; and
women too—for the softer' sex—if the term is
appliettble here--;weressantorig_the most prominent
leaders on both sides. In fact, the women supe-
rintended the ammunition di:partmeut of the re-
spective parties. At one time the R mean Cath 'lie
body retreated ; at another period of the contest
The Orange patty gave way, with all the stratagem
and manoeuvring of a military campaign, for the
purpose of entangling their foe. Once the Orange
party appeared as if defeated, in order that the
Roman Catholics might pursue them over the well
which divided them, taking ca• e to leave some
sharp stone-throwers in ambuscade ready to pick
down any one who had the dazing to mount the
dreaded wall. This contest lasted for about half
an hour, when the combatants determined to come
to close quarters. The Roman Catholics, as we
have mentioned, were well armed with blielgeons.
In a moment's time they rushed at the Orange
party with their cudgels, and a band-to-hand fight
ensued. The Orange brigade having wrested some
of the sticks from their opponents, both sides were
about equally matched. For a short period the
scene which occurred almost baffles deacriptioo.
Broken heads and bloody noses were the order of
the fight. • Several men fell down senseless, and
were carried off in that condition, to be replaced
by more able combatants. During all this time,
'not 'a member of the constabulary, not a "local,"
nor soldier was near the spot. t. bout three-quar-
ters of an hour after the fighting commenced Mr.
Lyons, J. V., Dr. M'Gee, J. P., and Sub-Inspector
Bindon appeared on the ground, accompanied by
ab nit 4') peace, mounted police, and a company
'of soldiers. As soon as this force appeared, the
rioters made a hasty retreat, the Roman Cath
retiring towards St. Malachi's Chapel, and the
Orangemen in the direction of Sandy-row. Mr.
Lyons read the Riot Act, and posted a detachment
of soldiers at various corners of the scene of
this desperate contest, unequalled in fierce-
ness in recent times in Belfast. Shortly after-
wards the Roman Catholic mob again made
their appearance in M'Clean'e-fields, marshalled
their forces, and effected a sally through Denegall-
square. As they passed through the latter they
(brewed a volley of stones at the windows of the
Methodist Chapel, amegall-square East. They
proceeded through Donegall-place, shouting,
were
`Now
boys, for Roaring Hanna's.' As the military
stationed at the corner of Castle place, further pro-
gress that way was impossihle. They turned and
ran yelling through Fountain-lane, believing that
Berry-street could be reached by tint way ; but a
detachment of police was stationed at the corner of
Chapel-lane, so that their intentions were fins-
-trated. They then went up to Barrack-street, and
mingled with the Pound mob. The depot bat-
talions in garrison, to the number of 700 bayonets,
commanded by Col. Adair, and accompanied by
Lieut.-Col. Smith, C. 8., Captain and Adjutant
Charter, Major Hardy, and the other officers, were
under arms in a surprisingly short time after re-
ceiving the magisterial requisition, notwithstand-
ing that the greater part of the garrison had been
called out for marching and exercise during the
day. They came down Donegan street at a quick
march, and hearing some cheers when the head of
the column reached the Belfast Bank, it was sup-
posed by the officer in command that a conflict was
raging, and the order was given to advance at the
run. The entire bodrthen ran up Bridge street,
turning into High-street at a quick run, the men
fixing bayonets to their muskets as they went. The
spectacle was tiarlike in the extreme. t Imthe wide
space opposite the Bank beiildings the forces were,
drawn up in sections. The Riot Act was read at
Hammond's-court, and the crowds who had col-
lected in large numbers warned to withdraw un
der the threat of being fired at. A cordon of neil.
tary was drawn across Castle-place, another
or;:p at
Hercules-place, another at. Bank-lane, eu
Castle street, and sentinels write station; dplong
L
the footpaths. At 10 o'clock Mr. Yiens:' rode' into
companied by two mounted constA
bation with the
Donegall-place, and held a con
sulllsttridden around
y-
Mayor and Mr. Tracy.
ll
Durham-street and Sanderovhascl fast
the streets
log a pacific aspect.
deserted, and every siesit
The -Mayer short! ehaard encountered an as-
h were apparently acing in
yptirevoio;
as-
semblage of persons.rwas
ed them, begging them to
concert, and he add e
repair to their bowe?' and his exhortations had the
remarkable effect of inducing the crowd to follow
High-stall down Bridge-street, and dis-
him up
Perse up Doneg-street and Waring-street to their
respective homes. The military were ordsied to
respec
barracks at half-past 10, and there was no other dis-
turbance during the night."

CRYSTAL PALACE.—HALF-CROWN DAT, Saturday,
June 5.---Admissions on payment, 1,432 ditto by Bea
son ticketp, 1,009; total visicorp, 2,441.