Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-06-18
THE RELIGIOUS RIOTS IN CANADA.


quent upon the Att Catholic lectures of sgnor GAvAzz
converted priest and late immigrant from Italy We
extract SO much As relates to the riot:
About halfpst nine o'clock, Father Gavaz having in
the course Of remarks made ausion Irand which
the ire person the lower paro church
he exclaimed IFS ep whereupon there instant cry
him outp from several OF those pretent This ap
peared to be the signal for general outbreak for in few
sacred edfce became the of the greatest
confusion. The fearful violence resorted sticks
and budgeons put into immediate requisitiOn,
lister of ST. Andrews Church. got tie precenors desk
and unsucceuly attempted to addres the angry multitude
deavorcd in order Bibles and psalm books
were taken from the and desecraed by being as
missiles thrown the head of Father Gayaz An effort was
now made by of his asaan who had ascend
ed the steps Of the pulpit drag him from The Padre
had previously stood undismayed but when the villain LAID
hands upon him he Immediately feed him to the ground
The stone throwing, which had smashed all the beautiful
stained glass windows of the church demolished many Of
the lamps, continued for time.
Those who engaged this forced their way
into the building and Father Gavaz made the targefor
about dozen fire at This mode of attack was speediIv
superseded by another attempt hur to the ground
but without He armed with chair and drove
down his assaans one after another they up the
pulpit steps Having at this moment by means which
could not perceive lost his hold Of the chair Gavazz
seized the pulpit STOOL and with that defended himself in the
bravest and most manly manner knocking assai
ants as they continued to in upon him. sergeant
the royal artillery got into the pulpit and behaved most
vaorously in protecting Gayazzi.
Someof the Padres succeeded after efforts
and despite the powerful and daring of this soldier
in sezing him by the legs. and threw him of the pulpit
height Of about fifteen feet TO the ground Fortunately there
happened be crowd of his assaants others collected
beneath him. and he aghed upon their heads thereby pro-
badly saving his life Had his head struck the ground
such height his skull certainly have been fractured
The battle still continued amongst the crowd in the lower part
of the church. and the greatest prevailed among the
adiss Some faintaf and fell senseless the while
the of the others truly ishtul Tho hmnt
noise, and hows from the rioters without terrific
Those who had remained in the galleries of the church
the greatest excitement Cries of only inter-
rupted by those of Z where the troops?
{. w fool Ia,
present in order to form idea of The police Who
stated, anticipating the riot, stationed outside Of the
building but did not prevent the voys of stones that
cast it, about this period forced their way into the church,
and general melee ensued Though evera Of them were
struck, and informed seriously hurt in the conflict
they at length succeeded in driving nearly all the rioters
side division of the military consisting some of the
ley snd 66h regiment called by one of the city
ae arrived they together with the police about
10 O'Clock restored ORDER enable the citizens who had
hitherto remained in church to depart their homes without
endangering their lives
In the time Gavazzi, rescued from his antagonists
placed in in the basement of the church, without
providenaly having received any other injury few
slight bruises the face After the riot was
moved Russes Hotel which he reached in safety Father
Gavazz Secretary received blows the head
est position in society very severely hurt but under
stand that has been dangerously injured The military
still remaining the ground renewal Of the disturbance
took place. The mob proceeded to the Lower Town. and
they passed the Parliament Buildings in which the Assembly
was still sitting, told called for George Brown, the
member for Kent to them, which invitation it
need not be said, he declined"
signor GAvAzzl proceeded from Quebec to Montreal,
where another lecture from him Thursday evening
was the cause of another disgraceu riot by which
ten twelve persons lost their lives and many
sustained serious injuries The following account of
this riot is derived from the Montreal Herald of Friday
the 10th instant;
As advertised, Signor Gavazz met audience
in Zion church at 81 o'clock r. NJ many of respect
able citizens with their families being present. About II
o'clock the door of the church, where
Capt Ermauger with strong posse of police twenty
thirty number At this time, and for about half
afterwards groups of Wild ragged ruan looking
assembled around the door Of the church and different
points between the church and c We mixed freely
among these people, and conversed with than of
those who considered leaders Of the Irish Catholic party
We assured by them that they had only the
ground to theiyinauence TO prevent disturbance
Abou quarter TO o'clock, band Of rufans-we learn,
although sight we were at too great distance to see
than that general melee had taken place-aacked
and overpowered the police Capt ger receiving Sc
we're wound on the head and proceeded 10 forco tbar
into the church. from which body of fifteen or twenty re-
pulsed them, several shots from being fred
on both sides The assaulting party were eeuay
and two or three their number left dead wounded the
ground and shortly afterwards removed in cabs by their
aceomplices
romans marched from Craig street. and drawn up be-
tween the engine house and that All seemed perfectly
quiet, and remained SO until o'clock.
When the lecture concluded the audience began to
leave the church The troops then marched Craig
street. and took their position in lines Radegonde
street one nearly opposite Zion Church. and the other
hundred PAGES Craig good deal hooting
noise prevailed at this time and the McG street side of
Craig street difficulty with the lowest line of roops
Cured and two three shots fred In other
all seemed peaccabe.
We the time the corner of ST. James and Nc
Gill street. and had clear and distinct view the troops and
of the people in their immediate vicinity There saw no
for such neasuefor there absolutely otne
and the people huryng from the church-but
astonishment the troops fired two distinct running voeys
among the citizens time own safety
We beat rapid etres from this apparent
uncaled- for slaughter.
q This feel is the time to express the indignation
with which the British deliberately shoot down
peaceful and nofendng fellow We were
of speak personally Of the conduct Mayor and Of the
officers by whose orders the firing DONE But we are
correctly informed by those who were on the spot there
nothing whatever to justify rash cowardy proceed
ing We must not however, PREJUDICE their conduct on the
OCCASION"
MONTREAL, JUNE 11.-Almost every hour records some
new victim whose corpse manned body has been found
by friends So far learn after careful INQUIRY
the number Of persons shot is about fifty and Of those kill
ed outright or MORALLY wounded from ten to twelve
AIarge meeting of citizens held in St. Georges
Hail. at o'clock p. NJ yesterday, for the purpose con-
siderng the safety Of the city They passed resolutions
commencing the police, &c. The sixth resolution was as
follows:
Resolred, That the opinion this meeting the Mayor
ought all occasions take sufficient for the pro-
lection Of life and property the city, resign his into
other hands and having failed this duty Wilson
is not fit person hold the Office Of Mayor which he
occupies"
The city in state Of intense excitement the whole
day yesterday The lecture postponed last evening
and Sgnor Gayazz left this morning for New York. to be
gone day two. He is to return and finish his course
The Mayor, Mt an informal meeting of the City Coun-
sellers yesterday denied that he had ordered soldiers
to fire, that the officers had applied to him for orders
do Who it who ordered the soldiers fire he
could not say.
DAMAGES FOR QUAcKERY-An action for want Of skill