The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-02 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 2, 1859

SERIOUS RIOTS IN GALWAY.

The visit of Signor Gavazzi to the town of Gal-
way, where the population is almost exclusively of
the Roman Catholic population, has been followed
by a very disgraceful outbreak of religious fana-
ticism, which at one time assumed a very alarming
aspect, and it appears that up to an advanced hour
yesterday evening the excitement had not al-
together subsided. The annexed account of the
riots is published in the Vindicator, a Roman
Catholic paper :
" The Italian lecturer arrived here yesterday. The nature
of his opinions, or assumed opinions, and mission may be
guessed from this fact—that he was received by the ultra-
Protestant saint, Brownrigg. He lectured in the evening at
the school in Merchants'-road. The subject, of course, was
Italy and the Papacy, and the usual ardent declamation
marked his discourse. His auditory was of the lowest class,
and a considerable number of boys who assembled in the
neighbourhood of the conventicle kept up a chorus of shout-
ing. This day the apostle of discord proceeded through the
city, accompanied by Mr. Brownrigg, and met with rather
a warm reception. This region is much too Catholic for
these brothers. The saints were roughly handled, and
Gavazzi was obliged to take refuge in the Police. barracks.
" 4 o'clock p.m.—The excitement has by this time risen
to a high pitch among the lower order of the populace, and
a number of Protestant clergymen and Scripture readers
who were assembled with Gavazzi were hooted and pelted at
with stones, sods of turf, and every description of missiles.
The Rev. Messrs. Ashe, Cardwell, Lewis, and M'Manus
received very severe treatment. A Scripture reader
named O'Connor received two blows from stones on the
head, from which he is bleeding profusely ; he took refuge
in a shop, but the cries of the mob were so violent that he
was ejected into the street, and under the shelter of a single
policeman ran for his life to the police-barrack, where he is
receiving medical attendance. The Rev. Mr. Caldwell, who
was with him, ran off through the crowd, and getting a
little in advance of them found shelter within the county
gaol. In the meantime, Gavazzi, who had taken shelter
somewhere that no one knew where but himself, issued
forth, and, accompanied by a clergyman, made a race out
towards the west for the residence of the Rev. Mr. Brown-
rigg, and was pursued by the great body of the infuriated
crowd; but he had made his appearance in retreat before
they had heard of it. As soon as they did, they rushed down in
that direction, but by the judicious arrangements of the
police authorities they were effectually cut off from pursuing
hini, which if they had succeeded in doing, the results
would have been desperate, if not fatal. Forty policemen,
with fixed bayonets, were drawn across the end of Domi-
nick-street. adjoining Bridge-street, one facing in the di-
rection of Claddagh, to prevent the wild denizens of that
locality from joining the populace in town ; the other facing
into town, to prevent the pursuit of Gavazzi. Fortunately,
the Wooden-bridge was closed of access to the west, the
drawbridge being out of repair, and it is thought Gairazzi is
safely housed at the hour we write. The Rev. Mr. Mansell
escaped without hurt, though he was obliged to be escorted
home by Sergeant Mulville. Where all the others have
taken shelter we have not ascertained, The disturbance,
seems now dearly over, at the hour we are going to press,
but thQ excitement 090,3A90 yerY