, 1866-10-25
ITALY.


l2SnPics toCLo0tE ~ AuFs I'1ll Mali baZcue.l
have delayed this letter in order to be
able TO give you some authentic details of
the Palermo commotions. Although we are
only eishtccn hours by steam from that port,
Il Is still difficult to get at the truth, but
think You mny rely on what follows: In the
early dawn Of the 10th Of Septem Der, armed
hands presented themselves ut the gates Of
Palermo and drove in the posts Of the Ma
tional Guards there stationed. At the same
time sfgnat shots were fired in all parts Of
the town, and armed men began issuing from
the houses: The rioters were chiefly Of the
few exceptions, the middle and higher
classes shut themselves up in their
houses and awaited events. The
call ta arms for the National Guard was in
stantly seconded; but ont Of ten Thousand
only from two TO three hundred made their
appearance at The municipal pnlacc, where
were also collected those driven iu from tic
gates, the Syndic, 4 company of grenadiers,
and several officers Of the National Guards,
&c. Two PATROLS were Instantly formed to
and it is thought that if these had presented
themselves In sufficient numbers, the loyal
portion Of the population wonld have taken
courage, and the fmetfs would hare been
crushed; but they were AFRAID to come out.
Tic patrols had soon to return, and, leaving
garrison in the municipal palace, the
syndic and others went 10 join the MILL
tary authorities, who, with few hun
tlrcd regular troops occupied the royal
palace. At this time the troops and M.
tional Guard held thu royal and municipal
llousc, ihc larbor Gostiacations, and one OF
two other small posts In the town !;
tic rest was a1l in the hands OF the
rioters. The latter had raised red na. with
two pictures Of saints on it-a fit tyre Of
themselves, bloudslcd and rupinc backed up
by priests nnd monks. They now ran riot in
tho Town; Mlny shops md houses were
sacked, many had to ransom their lives by
heavy contributions; meanwhile all the
| posts still held by theanthorities were yigor-
ously attacked. The municipal palace was
little garrison bad nothing to eat or drink
left, and only fifteen more ehots, they CT
Iccted sorfie and joined their friends in tile
| royal palace; other small forts were also
taken. At the prison.. the 200 soldiers in it,
aided by the guns of war steamer, re-
made most strenuous efforts to release
their friends inside, but without success. At
the royal palace, also, although the defend.
ers were reduced to eating the seudarmcs'
horses, nil assaults were unayailitg: 4 bat
TALON of troops arrived on the 18th from
Nessina, before whom the rebels ut first re.
tired, but they were ultimately rcpu1sed, and
things remained as they were. Help, how.
ever. was hurry!ng up from all sides, from
ee1 r SaE1s1 GenoEn Aqfona na he he
| ACNt ALVIN 4AEA1hs oAINt kAlAAtNA3t +NL
weather for n while was SO bad that ths
troo1e could not land, and 1t was only be,
tween the 10th and alss that they succeeded
Their 1anding was vigorously opposed: and
some sharp fighting occurred near the Mo@o
hut the rebels were driven back, and the ROYAL
palace relieved. That done there was paust
10 lct The troops get into position !; they
then advanced into the town. From all nc'
counts there WAS some hard fighting, for bar
ricades had been constructed, aud every con
vent was turned into fortress. Neverthe
less the troops oyercalne all resistance, ant
| hy the I'D order was restored. The arinct
bands fed to the mountains, their abcttor:
in the town hid their arms aud tried to lDol
pcaccable. Al night much Of the plundc
was thrown into the streets to avoid drtec
tion. All through the enyirons lsoIatct
sendarnles and policemen were murtlere.
wherever they could be found, some Wit
circumstances Of unheard Of atrocjty. It
crcdib1y asserted that one man was actual
hit rtl IN death }y fhns,. infttr;nf.Ad saynv,.s