The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-13

T6s Rfsts ' Il QysBss ssS Ts :s.s;;-'-T
Aisssandro Gavsssis fcommoai@s called .r.,h.~
Gavszxi,'') N Itala1m who rspsntly .c,ured in
the city of New YEA against ahe toctris.. .n =,
practices of the Roman Catholic Church. b,v;rr
undertaken to deliver similar lectures s. ou.hee
and Montreal, in Canada, has met with an inter.
rupton which bias resulted in disturbance of the
public peace ia both cities and dreadfoi loss AZ
life in the latter, telegraphic accounts Of which
were given to our readers on Friday and satur.
day. In regard to the interruption at Quebec.
Gavaszi hmsslf has addressed the following letter
published at New York:
QussEo, CANADA, June 8, 1853.
G.. F SsocHI DE CAsALI:
DRAR FRIEsD only write few particulars Of
the shocking case which happened the dav before
yesterday; you will perceive it more amply de-
scribed in the papers send you. will begin bv
saying that the appearance of the assailanta was
most despcable, for they came dirty, torn. and in
their shirt sleeves the better to show their origin
Ii was their aim TO secure me alive, in order To
murder me without the church; but not bav;nr
succeeded, they attempted to kill me within the
church Many were led to believ. it when th ,ae
had by repeated blows felled Paoli to the ground:
for, believing him to be me, they said one to ano
Their, ''this Is the very man,
Another scheme Of theirs was to blow ont the
Or
rom their concerted plan, they would hive moe
easily succeeded in getting possession of me- seiz
ing, at the same time, every one present rnostIv
ladies' and children! But man proposes and Cod
disposee II was not possible to turn the gas ley,
nor SO easily capture me. Having rid myself Of
my first assailant by throwing him over he mi.
pit, took off my cloak, and 6randishpg the chair
which bad served me as orator, defended NV
post as true Italian crusader. think that many
of this gang will remember for some time this
pas aOp of the Italian mil
ing pulpit about twelve feet wide with the stairs
exposed, facing the church, and compel ed to de.
fend against more than sixty savages, was rather
difficult task An artillery sergeant-who now
enjoys the sympathy OF all parties-to the great
shame OF the policemen. (who we're standing BY
as idle spectators,) ieaped from these stairs and
succeeded in defending with me nv citadel. After
the first attack, Pao, who was at the church door,
wac enabled to reach the stairs; and having
snatched stick from one of the assailant's hands
used it in every direction, and we were enabled to
retain the liberty of our platform for more than
twenty five minutes.
But again gang of outward assailants, to the
number OF more than seven hundred, rushed into
the church. This was owing to another unpar-
donable mistake of the police The stairs and
parapet were assaulted with renewed violence.
The artillery sergeant, feeling his equilibrium fail
chung to Paoli, who, amid the great throng of as.
sailants, could no longer maneuvre his stick;
meanwhile two of the savages had seized Paoli to
overthrow him from the stairs. He cried out to
me, "Gavazsi, help me-" ! abandoned the front
OF the pulpit, and, with desperate blow of the
bench which held in my hands, fell upon the
head of one of the two assassins which caused him
to bound from the stairs. was returning to the
front, while some other assassins having gained
the ground had abandoned to save my friend
lifted me from my feet and precipitated me head
long out of the pulpit, from height of more than
fifteen feet.
Tha was TO have been the hour of my dea tn, and
could have BEEN The falling with such violence
mig ut have suficed to crush my SKULL but God was
there TO protect his poor but confident servant. l
Tell on door OF enemies heads and shoulders, and
il was afterwards said that as was ofiron dsposi.
ton, weighed also iron itself, but sustained no
wound from my fall. The crowd then dispensing,
found myself stretched out on the ground, with
legion Of savages over me, overjoyed at being
,ble TO clay me; then received kick on nv chin.
witch has produced slight wound, and a contu.
sion on the jaw; as the great crowd prevented the
nse OF sticks. they endeavored to supply it with
heir feet 1perceived that nothing but gigantic
effort could save me, and employed it according.
". | rose in spite Of them, and by blows opened
passage to the staircase which leads to the SUBJ
place where the Sunday schools are, and
having met assassins the stairs overcome them;
The last, who from his size impeded my passage as
! were 6arrlcade, and threatened me with his
large stick calling me by the vilest names, very
coolly rolled down the stairs, and jumping over
him reached the entry of the Sunday school.
Fortunately the school was dark; having ex
,mined 1t in the morning became acquainted
" it'll its structure took the left path, among an
quantity OF benches, while the saw.
ages, who were still pursuing me, were obliged to
delay before they could reach the door. 1t was
hen heard the cry Of Paoli, Good help me-"
which led me to believe that be was assaulted and
lead. be would have been killed by the people had
iot unforeseen hand conveyed him to the sub
erraneous school, where he found himself, as it
were, miraculousy saved from a certain death.
A f. -
me of the police came. The lights were again lit,
out this did not prevent the assaants from break
ng all the Windows of the school, by throwing
ar atnnes, one of which hit Paoli on the breast
while DR.. Douglas was examining his wounds.
But fortunately the military arrived, and the as.
irsins were dispersed. Paoli the first to be led
homo. followed him in coach, with the Mayor
If the city, and all the streets we.e projected by
strong patrols. On examining our bodies, 1t was
discovered that poor Paoli bad received eight
wounds from sticks, one of which ia six inches
ong was found to have a wound my head
rom stone, and another on my occiput, from the
blow of club. They, however, gave me no pain,
IS contriyed to let them bleed much as possible.
However, have suffered nothing, and am as well
now as on nay setting out from New York.
But the sensation experienced from this brutal
assault results now contrary to what the assalants
had expected. There is no Catholic Canadian but
what does not disapprove Of this outrage. 1t is to
be observed that the assault had been organized;
Aggravated circumstances are, of having attacked
a church ip which women ard children
sembled, and to which the men had FASTENED IN
armed, But who, then, could have conceived, or
ganized, and led 40 infamous a scheme?
Sunday, please God, we will gather together at
our Italian service in New York, and shall feel
overioyed in seeing answ my brethren, after hay
ing escaped the death Of my assastins,
Meanwhile remember me to them all; and be
lieve me to be your very affectionate friend,
ALEssANDRo GAvAzzL
The riot at hionUsai is described in the Montreal
Herald Of the 9Th instant as follows
AZ assertaincd, signor Gavazz met numerous
audience in lions Church at half past six O'Clock
p m. yesterday. Many of our moot respectable
with their families, were present About
bal. past seven O'Clock went to the door Of the
cburth, where we iolnd Captain Ermatinger with
q strong asse Of police. some tgenty o. thirty-six
men. u4s
At this time, and for ABOUT half an hour after,
groups of wild, ragged looking men were as
sembled around the door of the church, and at
street. We mixed freely with those people, and
with more thap one of those who are
considered the leaders of the Irish Catholic party
We were assured by them that they had only come
to the ground to use their influence to prevent
bance, and that might rest satisfied the
lecture would pass off quietly.
We were not, however, satisfied with the aspect
Of affairs, and remained on the ground. At about
a quarter of eight O'Clock band of ruf6ans, we
learn, flor, although in sight, we were at too great
ofo to- mo han that, a rnoe