Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-07
FOREIGN.
FROn EUROPE.
The sread Riots I'm agl and-FenfaI
Trials aribaidps Battle

1 gives Tue iOilpHIuB aCCOuht VI Tue
riots at Exeter:
A riot of formidable dimensions oc-
Cured in Exeter last night and this
morning. The eOmmotion commenced
between 7 and O'Clock, when a large
crowd OF men aud boys the roughs of
the city, assembled in Bridge street,
some crackers aud other fireworks were
thrown against the shop of Mr.. Dam,
baker, at the corner OF Princes road.
Otner missiles followed, the glass of
the shop was smashed, and the shutters
having been hastily put up, some of
the upper windows were smashed, and
cries were set up demanding that the
price of bread should be lowered. A
strong body of police, under Mr.. Sup
erintendent Steel, made their appear
ance, and succeeded in separating the
mob, one part of which went to the
shop of Mr.. Norton, baker, and broke
some of the first floor windows with
stones, and also the windows of Mr..
Chown; the hoOting against the high
price of bread being continued, with
threats that others should be serve d
the same. All the bakers instantly
closed their shops, and the excited mob
wandered about apparently without
any definite object. About 9 O'Clock a
fire broke out in the corn stores of Mr..
Frood, ex Minister Whether this was
caused wilfully or not it is too early yet
to ascertain, but it is the general belief
that the fire ia an incendiary one, it be
ing remembered that some wears ago
when there were bread riots the same
premises were burned down, il being
then alleged that Mr. Frood accumu-
lated corn and would not sell it, but
let the rats devOur it,
Advantage was taken of the confu-
sion caused by the going out of the en-
gines, and the absence of some of the
police, 10 redouble the disturbance IN
the city. The mob which now number
ed between two and three Thousand
men, collected with menace around the
principal provision shops, and using
menaces of the most violent character.
The police authorities were paralyzed
in the presence of such mob, and the
militia staff CHARTERED In the city were
called out, bat any interference only
exasperated the mob, whose lawlessness
rapidly increased. One after another
the butchers and bakers were burst
open, the glass destroyed, the contents,
whether bread, meat, or money. alb
stracted, and every form of wanton
mischief INDUCED 10. After marching
through some OF the principal streets,
the ringleaders met abouJ midnight in
front of the Guildhall. in High street,
where the defensive force OF the city
was assembled. About dozen of the
militia were armed, and the police and
several special constables were sworn
10. The Mayor, Mr.. r. L. Head, who
behaved with great ccolness and courage
came forward, land addressing the crowd
from Guildba advised them to dlsperse
and go to their homes III their object
vas to bring down the price of bread,
he could assure them they were going
the wrong way to work; no disturbances
could do that, but he had of late been
in communication with certain parties
who, lie hoped, would bring cheaper
bread and meat to the city. Fish, as
they knew, had been brought from the
west and sold in the city at cost price.
The mob seemed staggered and I'M
decided, but large body of them, the
youths especially, continued their dis
orderly course, and went through the
districts of st. Thomas and Exwich, do
ing much mischief. At this hour the
whole city is in excitement and uproar;
the Riot Act has not yet been read, but
probably will be. Troops have been
telegraphed for from Plymouth, and
strong body of the Goth regiment, un-
der Captain Gethin, are on their way
thither from Plymouth by a special
train. The destruction of property al
ready is very considerable. 1t is said
that loaf STEPPED in blood was carried
through the low parts of the city this
afternoon, as a signal for a rising. A
disturbance on the 9TH of November
had been anticipated, owing to a de-
termination of the authorities to sup
press the usual fireworks and bonfres
in the Cathedral yard"
THE AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP OF FENIANs.
The London Times of 9Th, says:
There is one incident of the Fenian
trials at Manchester and Dublin which
deserves special consideration. 1t is
the fact that several of the prisoners
claimed the privileges of American cit
izensliip and the interference of Mr..
! Adams as the representative of their
adopted Government. After the YER
dict had been returned against him,
and before sentence had been pronounc
ed, Gould stated that he was citizen
of the United States of America. and
il Charles Francis Adams had done his
duty towards him, as he was paid for
doing, he would not be in that dock an
swering the questions. Shore declared
| that, las an American citizen, he had
of course expected to receive the pro-
| lection of the Ambassador of his own
| Government. Warren, on being in
dlcted before the Commission Court at
Dublin, applied through his counsel
for jury composed in part of Ameri-
can citizens, on the ground that his al
| legiance had been transferred to the
| United States. The Lord Chief Baron
rejected the application promptly and
decisively, "the law of England being
clear, and administered without varia-
ton from the earliest times--that the
man who was once British subject. as
the prisoner admitted that he was. re-
maiued so forever.
The moral aspect of the claims so
presumptuously advanced is too clear
to admit of moments doubt. If
there be one class of Fenian conspira-
| tors rather than another which deserves
no mercy at the hands of the Govern
ment, it is the class of American fill
busters who have long infested Dublin,
and are beginning to infest our own
great cities. IT is possible to feel some
compassion for the silly Irish youths
who are first seduced into playing at
/ hnx laH Nv lie -