The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-10-08
MONTREAL'S MOB.
The Canadian City the Scene Of
Fearful Anti-vaccina-
ton Riot.
A HOwIing Mob Wrecks Health Offices
and Public Bulldings-Resi-
dences Fired.
Montreal special.l

Montreal special
Montreal was the scene Of violent not
this evening as the result Of the movement
for compulsory vaccination. The French
Canadians have shown strong opposition to
compulsory vaccination since the start, and
trouble has been feared. The English
were determined, however, that no moro
delay would be allowed, and decided at
once to carry compulsory measures into
force. A branch Office was started in the
East End, and orders were given to-day to
begin the thorough vaccination of all per-
sons in the French Canadian quar-
ter. At an early hour this morn
ing the Office was opened. A
crowd at once began to assemble,
and the building was soon surrounded.
Several French Canadian citizens adj
dressed the gathering, which was becoming
more and more riotous, and advised pacific
measures. A squad of police was called
out, and toward afternoon the mob dis
persed, threatening, however, to return in
the evening. They kept their word.
At seven o'clock tonight the building
was surrounded by noisy, threatening
crowd of French Canadians, who began
operations by storming the Health Office.
smashing oil the windows, and creating
general havoc.
The mob next went to the residence Of
DR.. Laberge, of the Medical Health Office,
stoned il, and shouted defiance On marched
the mob, gathering in numbers as it went,
its objective point being the City Hall.
The authorities had by this time got wind
of the mobs intentions, and the fire. bells
sounded a general alarm, calling the whole
police force from the various stations to
the Central Station at the City Hall. The
mob arrived. however, before the police
had mustered and took possession of the
utreets around the hall. Showers of stones
were rained upon the building, and many
windows were shattered. The police were
still in the stations, and, as usual, delay
occurred before they were ordered out.
When they first reached the street they had
only their small wooden batons, which were
utterly useless ON the mob, which con-
tinued its work Of destruction, moving
completely around the building.
An order was given to arm the force with
muskets, but the men, strange to say, were
kept standing in the station while the mob
continued its work outside. Several Of
the policemen and tho Mayors brother
armed themselves with revolvers and
blazed away from the door of the station.
siencing the mob on that side. On the
other side, however, the work was kept up,
and the health officer got q severe hand
ling. A large number of people were here
undergoing vaccination, and had to fly
from the mob.
In the midst of the din cry
was raised, "To the newspaper oficel"
and in a few minutes the crowd, now
numbering several thousand, had formed
into line and were on the way The
mob marched down the principal streets,
singing and shouting, and made for the
Hoo Of tlo e.
story building on Victoria Square. Their
number was considerably increased on their
way, and they surrounded the newspaper
Office several thousand strong. The build
ing, which occupies prominent position,
was brilliantly lighted up, and formed good
mark for the rioters. The windows were
soon smashed, and the rioters took full
vengeance upon the paper, which has been
the most active and plain spoken about the
French Canadians.
For over half an hour the mob had it all
their own way, the police remaining in
active in the station while the work of de-
struction was going on. While engaged at
the newspaper Office the rioters gave ex-
preston to various threats, and said they
would show the English whether it was
they or the French who would rule the city.
The English were roundly abused and q
number OF violent scenes occurred. When
the police did arrive on the scene
the mob again formed and marched
back through the streets to the East End,
where they held mass meeting, and after
several infammatory speeches proceeded
to the homes of several of the doctors and
stoned them.
The rioters before dispensing went down
to one of the Objectionable vaccinator's
houses and fired it. The fire brigade were
hastily and ha
fire before any damage was done. When
the riot was at its height the cries were
frequently raised. Burn the ethyl" and
Down with the English"
That such thing as the smallpox should
serve to awaken race hostility is indeed re-.
markable; but the facts that it has been the
cause of more bitterness than even the
most serious subject of quarrel. To
state the case very simply, the French in
Montreal have been harboring and breed
ing the smallpox with apparent indiffer-
ence to the loss of life it was causing. and
complete indifference to its effects upon the
English population. The English have
suffered to small extent from the ravages
Of the disease-poor Sir Francis Hincks
fell victim to it through infection carried
TO his house by servant-but their bust
ness losses as the result Of the prevalence
of the epidemic have been most serious.
The French would not vaccinate, were re-
luctant to lend themselves TO any sanitary
measures. but preferred to fight the dis
ease, if at all, by pious observances and
ceremonies.
A gentleman on the Citizens Committee
day proclaimed that there were at least
1000 cases of smallpox in the city. The
opening Of the Theater Royal has been in
definitely postponed ON account of the cpl
demic The health officials are encounter
ing the most determined opposition in
their work of placarding. especially in the
East End of the city, and several arrests