Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-04

A correspondent of the New York Herald
gives the following account of the origin and
early progress of the riots in Belfast, of which
the telegraph has told us something:
1t is impossible to exaggerate the scenes OF
bloodshed, riot and destruction which have dis
graced this town for now four daysi That all
parties are to blame, and the executive most of
all, is undeniable. Thousands of cavalry and
infantry line the principal streets, and patrols
of police are stationed all over the town. And
yet the rattle of nushetry is ceaseless; vehicles
of all kinds are careering TO the general hospi-
tai; houses are falling in, sometimes by fire,
sometimes by cutting, and universal shudder
palsieS the energies of the population. The dis
aster which has once more made Belfast the
disgrace of ireland is directly attributable to
the violent malevoence of the lower class of
Orangemen and indirectly to the repeal by the
government of the party professions act. 1t Is
now lawful for all parties to have professions,
and the 18th OF July was celebrated by the
Orangemen in great state and in great peace.
The Catholics made no sign whatever On Au-
gust 18th they celebrated the religious festival
of Lady day by forming enormous professions,
carrying flags with historical notices, bearing
portraits Of Robert Emmett, and holding meet
ings in favor of home rule. The leaders of the
Orangemen addressed their followers on the
14th by placard and advertisement, called upon
them to abstain from all violence, referred to the
peaceful demeanor of the Catholics on the 18th,
and entreated for them a quiet day in return.
These addresses were wholly dsregarded, and
on Friday morning Sandy row wore its ancient
appearance and soon threatening knots of men
formed into riotous multitude.
The Catholics with equal prOmpttude took
up a defensive positions and before night closed
a couple of men were dead, score were wound
ed and hundreds were drunk. On Satiifdav the
contest was renewed with extraordinary fury.
While troops were fastening from every quar-
ter, while special trains were flying from the
capital, while beseeching telegrafIlS were flashed
from the local authorities, the ship carpenters
had pitched their camp and calmly awaited the
arrival of the foe. These warriors have local
reputation of fiercest import in the riots of
1864, which lasted no less than twenty -one days,
they sacked whole streets, tore down shutters,
ranSacked shops and fought with desperate
fury that appalled, the country On this occasion
the challenge as not thrown down in vain but
happily the battle was averted. The constabu-
larry in their utmost force stood between
the angry hosts, and at length, when they them
selves were beaten with bludgeons and stones
they charged the mob with the bayonet and sue
ceeded in breaking the sort of square which had
been not inartistically formed. They wounded
several men and received several wounds them
selves. They now hurried at rapid pace through
the principal streets of the VIGOROUSLY disturbed
quarters, and, as reinforeements arrived, they
were able to keep the two parties each on their
own ground. But the failure of Saturday but
the more inhamed the murderous passions of
the mobS, and since that evenings work it has
been siuipfy absurd to inquire who is the aggreS-
scr. On Sunday morning an omin0uS quiet
reigned throughout the town, and those who
knew Belfast rioters best foretold deadly battle
before long.
All day preparation was made on either side,
and all day troops and police were pouring in
from quarters outside Ulster. One thousand
constabUlary were IN town in the afternoon, and
Gen. Ware, commanding the military, had
tremendous force at his disposal. The mayor
issued proclamation warning the people that
mobs or knots of more than six persons would
be dispersed forcibly if necessary; but the proc.
lamatioD had no effect whatever. The riots had
gone too far. Violence had felt its own strength;
and now when half u dozen public houses had
sbeen sacked and liquors of all kinds consumed
in the street with astounding rapidity, mob law
was the law of the hour. At length they issued
from their respective quarters to the number of
about five thousand. They proceeded to a large
brick field and commenced the bloodiest con-
hict ever remembered in Ulster. Now the Catho-
lies were driven from the field and now they
turned with renewed courage and swept the
Orangeme7 away. The fight had lasted for
more than half an hour when the military were
attracted by the incessant ball firing, and imme-
diately fastened to the spot. The cavalry
charged right between the mobs, and the High
landers dashed into the thick of the crowded
street. Men fell on all sides, and in fifteen min
utes there was a tremulouS peace. Thewounded
were carried 10 the hospital, and 100 rioters were
conveyed to the cells. But while this battle was
being quelled, almost fiercer one was being ar
rayed The town, as have said, was up all
night. Men and women feared TO 90 to bed,
and the suspense was tempered considerably by
intoXicaton. Every Protestant house in the
Catholic districts Lad been sacked and SINH
lar savagery had found devotees in the Protest
ant quarters. So there were hundreds compelled
TO be in the streets, and the quarrel was easily
renewed. From hour to hour circumstances
delayed the conflict; but at about FIVE in the
afternoon band ofruffians deliberately smashed
in the shutters of two public houses, and for the
next hour the furies of Pandemonium ragged
unchecked.
Barrels of porter and ale were opened, and
huge draughts were handed out in vessels of
every conceivable kind. Brandy bottles were
smashed at the neck, and men drank from them
unit they reeled into the cutters. In al few
minutes drunken men and women lay about
and made new companion picture for the
fearful frescoes of the French revolution. Cham
payne was despised as not affording iacile means
OF ready consumption, and the savages lost
most of the WINE as they smashed the necks of
the bottles. AT one moment there were 5000
people bowling like demons, drinking furiously
of all drinks, reeking and swearing and stag
gerlng and getting into beastly helplessuess. In
that quarter there was not one whole pane of
glass. The sashes of the windows were gone.
The furniture lay on the upturned 6agway in
hideous debris. The streets were torn up, the
stones were piled in hundred heaps, and
women and girls wrought at this fearful prep
aration until their hands were Scared and
bloody.