Savannah morning news., 1886-06-12
BELFAST'S MAD RIOTERS.
AN ALL NIGHps CONFLICT IN
THE STREETS.

Of the Clergy OF No Avail-WOmen
LugginR OF the spons.
BELFAST, June u.-An Associated
Press reporter who was detailed TO re-
main on the scene Of the riots at D O'Clock
this morning reported as follows: ~ re-
NAMED among the rioters all night. The
greatest damage in tue way of wrecking
aud looting was done along Shank Hill
and York roads. The hghtlng in both
thoroughfaTes was desperate and continu-
Gus. The mob was composed of the low
est rutians. The bayouets of the police
had no terrors for them, and in
many cases | saw the mob IN
Overwhelming numbers press up against
the bayonets Of the police and drive them
back. The only instances in which the
police drove the mob at all, so far
as 1 observed, were those in
which the officers in compact lines
tred at close range rapid volleys
OF buekshot. These the rioters could not
stand against and they we're driven back.
But even under such Calling fire the riot
ers would drop to the pavements and rush
upon the police while they were reload
ing.
"Fighting OF this kind at such close
range as to be practically hand to hand
was continued until O'Clock this morn
ing when twilight began to dawn, and so
many OF tho rioters disappeared as to
leave the mob of Insufficient strength to
longer cope with the armed police who
succeeded in dispensing them. NY Obser-
vation shows that the mob of last night
was composed of the very scum of Bel
..1faN el
ing stones weighing fifteen and twenty
pounds. even saw the fends burling
rocks at gallant tiremen who were i'm
periling their lives in attempts to save
dwellings from destruction by incendiary
fires and the helpless inmates from hOrri-
bic deaths.
LOoTING WRECKED DWELLINGS.
"If anything else we're wanting to prove
the character OF the mob 10 would be fur
nished by dozens Of rufhans saw during
the night sneaking away from wrecked
or burning buildings laden down with
loot. 1t is impossible to describe the state
of terror huder which the respectable
Catholic people of Belfast areDoW living,
in consequence Of the prevalent anarchy
OF bigOtTy. The Drayest OF them hardly
dare TO venture out of doors in daylight
even. l know that scores Of people were
ehOt during last nights riot. / saw ten
taken to hospitals this morning. 1t is
feared that every funeral OF a victim of
the riots may provoke fresh outbreak.
The law-abidlng citizens demand OF the
government the appointment of special
commission to inquire into the causes OF
The whole disorder"
BEGINNING OF THE TROUBLE.
The rioting last night was less disas-
tTous than on Wednesday. Alter their
days labor had ended thousands Of work
ingmen gathered in the vicinity of the
Bowers Hill police barracks. They exc
Grated the police and cried out "We will
have ten lives for every one of the
murdered girls" The county police were
then Withdrawn, and some well-knOwn
local constables were sent to reason with
the mob. The latter demanded the with
drawal of all the police. ArchdeacOn
Lever and several Presby terian clergy
men after this implOred the mob to dis
perse. Their addresses proved altogether
useless, and even while the clergymen
were speaking the rioters kept up desul-
tory stone throwing at the police.
A CLERGYMAN STRUCK.
One stone struck a divine squarely in
the face and hurt him severely. Capt.
Lestrange, resident magistrate, who was
present to counsel order. was struck by a
brickbat in the head. When the preach
ers ceased the mob surged up to the gate
OF the barracks and de1ed the police to
come and take square fight. Things
went on in this way until about 10 O'Clock
when two troops of dragons gallOped
up. They were followed by three hum
dred infantry. These men had been
under arms eleven hours. The mob was
for the moment powerless with surprise
and dispersed. The runaways soon, how
ever. became ashamed OF themselves and
4 H.
the soldiers. Hbe latter had taken COM
plete possession of the streets around the
barracks, and cordOned them effectively.
The mob, realizing the mpregnabiltty of
the police position, nov departed in sec
tions, cursing the Pope, deaOuBcing home
rule, and singing "Orange Lily" aud
"Rule Britannia"
A TAVERN WRECKED.
While all this was going on at the Bow
ers Hill barracks mob had taken pos
session of York street. They first con-
centrated in front OF a.wine store kept by
Catholic named McKenna. The build
ing was soon seized and wrecked, and all
Of Mckenna's stock OF wines was emptied
IN the street. The mob then proceeded 10
McCloskey's tavern. The police
had taken warning and got there
first. A fight took place. II was
waged with desperation on both sides.
The police fred rs rounds Of buckshOt a
the rioters, but the mob finally drove them
away aud smashed McClOskey's tavern 10
pieces, distributing the liquors 10 all who
would drink or carry liquor away. Sew
eral Of the rioters were wounded in this
Ggbt aud were left helpless In the streets
by their comrades, VINO, maddened with
liquor and excitement, rushed 10 the
work Of wreck and pillage.
TERRIBLE SCENE.
A number Of taverns were destroyed
and all their stocks Of wine. whisky and
beer were thrown out TO the crowd in
tho streets, who drank it raYenOusly or
carried IL away mugs and buckets. In
the latter work scores OF women and
children were engaged all the time the
rioting lasted. Towards midnight the
mob, after having wrecked and looted all
the tayerns In the vicinity, returned 10
McClOskey's and set II on fire. The glare
attracted the police, who reformed aud
marched down there 70 put out the
fire and save the town from a cOnhagra-
ton. They had tO fight for every foot OF
the way. Al times. when the flames
fared high, the sight Of the uniformed
officers scattered among the mob nlling
the street from house 10 house,
each officer hghting on bis own
account and all IN the same direction,
every man shouting or curslBg. women
aud children a. tic Windows Bhrleking
and gesticulatlna, Was terrible. Finally
The police got together and carried On
their battle with buckshot This event
ualiV scattered the mob and the iiro al
McCi0skeyis was put oct before "a could