Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-10-07
RIOT IN MONTREAL.
AN characterization Mob on the Rampage
Health Offices and Police Stations
Wrecked-The Disturbers of the Peace
Dispersed by Police With Fixed Raw
onets-TwO Men Reported Killed

One OF the most disgraceful riots
known In that city occurred in Mont
real on the night of the 28th. Nine
hundred or l, 900 French Canadians.
enraged at the compulsory vaccination
law, gathered at 422 st. Catherine
Street, where the branch health office
for the east end of the city is situated.
and broke in the windows, tore down
the doors, smashed the counter, and
generally demOralized fireplace. After
completing the ruin of the building, the
mob, now greatly augmented in num-
bers, proceeded to the drug store Of
Beridon Brothers, at the corner Of St.
Denis and St. Catherine Streets, which
they mistook for the store of Aid.
Gray, the medical health officer. In
twenty minutes the ruin of this store
was complete. Windows were mashed
and doors destroyed, counters inside
were ruined and the furniture was
broken. The mob proceeded to the
city hall, where they evidently in
tended mischief from expressions ut
tered. "Kill the vaccinators," Burn
the town." were heard on every hand.
Arriving at the city hall the crowd
began O. furious onslaught on the pub
lie buildings. The central police sta
ton IS here located, but few policemen
were present, the most being at the
east end Of the town, where riot had
been anticipated. Stones were thrown
and soon every window In thespacious
structure was broken. Revolvers we're
drawn and some shots were fired, when
the police appeared, they at once re-
turning the fire. The mob now num-
bered several thousand, and it was
not until the entire police force OF the
city had arrived that the mob were
| driven off. The officers surrounded
the building and prepared to defend it.
The mayor In the meantime had been
sent for and was busy detailing special
policemen to protect the lives and
property of citizens.
The crowd now left the vicinity of
the city hall and proceeded down St.
James Street to Victoria Square, where
the Daily Herald is situated Here
some 1900 or 2, 800 roughs had gath
cred, and in a tWinkling the windows
OF the establishment we're smashed in
| with stones and stubs. The volley was
returned by the pressmen. A squad
Of fifty police under Chief Paradise
came to the scene, and after a
hard fight dispersed the mob, who
went up the. street voWing vengeance
on Ethe English paper which favored
vaccination" Then the crowd went
to Aid. Grenier's house. The alder
man had always been firm support
er Of the vaccination theory. Them
demolished everything about the
| premises which was breakable Then
they went to DR.. La Chappelle's house.
He IS amember of the provincial board
Of health. They broke his windows,
and repeated their riotous acts at the
house Of La Berge, medical health off
GER, and at that Of DR.. La Roche,
public vaccinator. Their windows
were smashed and their premises de-
| spoiled. Col. Stephenson's field bat
terry was ordered under arms and he's
orders to clear the streets of the pop
ulace at any cost Of life, but the guns
were not used. It is reported that two
men were killed in the crowd in the
fight which occurred at the city hall
The mob was led by number OF
characterization fanatics, several Of
whom are said to be members OF the
city council. It is claimed that there
are 1000 cases Of smallpox IN the
| city. The opening Of the Theater Roy
al has been indefinitely postponed on
account OF the prevalence Of the dis
case