Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-02-09
A GREAT RIOT IN LONDON.

the GAZETTE, riotous proceedings were en-
acted in London yesterday. Mr.. Burns
who ran as the socialist candidate in the re-
cent election, assembled the pedestal of the
Nelson column for the purpose of delivering
a harangue, when the police ordered him
down. This he refused to do, appealing
TO the crowd to resist interference with the
exercise of popular rights" The officers,
however, pushed their way through the re-
sisting mass, and by force removed Burns.
By this time the streets were packed with
surcing mobs. Burns became emboldened
by the cries of the throng, and made desper-
ate effort to recover his lost ground. He reas-
cended the pedestal, accompanied by a
number Of other socialist leaders. he bore
a red flag, and was greeted with deafenlng
shouts. He then read resolution denounc-
ing the authors of the present distress in
England" demanding that Parliament start
public works to give employment and bread
to the tens of thousands of men out of work
because of bad government and declared
that it was the duty of the government TO
afford every facility for the employment OF
British capital at home for the benefit oil
the British people.
The reading of the resolutions was fol-
lowed by fierce speeches warning the gov
eminent that the starving mechanics" oil
London were bound TO get bread, and would
get it by attacking the bakers shops next il
the government did not come to their relief.
Burns denounced the House of Commons as
ID body of landlords and capitalists, fol-
whom banging was too good. He also de
clared that if Parliament did not Immediate
ly relieve the distress of the British work
iUgmcn, revolution was inevitable.
This 90 aggravated The excitement
that the officers ut once ordered Burns and
his colleagues to come down. This they
refused TO do, and the officers dragged them
down, and drove them from the pedestal.
The mob then started Oft, hootiug, howl.
ing ana challenging the authorities. The
police along the route TO Hyde Park Were
brushed out of the way By the rioters ds SC
many men OF straw, and many Of the officer
were terribly beaten for their interference
The mob attempted to enter the war Office
opposite, but was scared away. When the
rioters approached the house of Mr.. Morley
he loudly called for help. The police were
swept aside like chat, and hest of deeper.
ate men rushed up Mr.. Morley's STEPS. He
had locked and FABRICATED hs door, but ii
was burst open and the house overrun, de.
spite his protests. The invaders left scarce
ly sound pane of glass in the building. A
great number of other private houses along
the mob's route Jared much worse.
Hadethett's Hotel was sacked of food and
drink and the building badly wrecked. A
carriage, which had been abandoned by its
frightened occupants, was seized, and in al
instant broken up and the spokes and shafts
were carried away for clubs. All along
Regent and Oxford streets, between Picca-
dilly and Hyde Park, houses were attack ed
Unfortunately and their windows broken
At Hyde Park Burns again addressed the
mob. This speech was even more violent
than the others be had made. When the
speaking was over the mob broke up into
sections, the main body going back along
Oxford street, smashing every sound win
dow they noticed. Wine shops were bro
ken into and their contents distributed
Beer saloons were similarly treated. Tailor
shops were broken into and the clothes and
rolls of cloth thrown into the street. Every
person met who looked like a foreigner was
beaten from the street. Scores of times pc.
icemen attempted to save assailed property
aud to make arrests, but were every time
beaten and compelled to surrender their
prisoners.
In the meantime several thousand row.
dies remained in Trafalgar Square, making
rushes al the constables and other obnoxious
persons. In one of these rushes the mob
overthrow two heavy granite pillars, which
fell across Charing Cross and blocked the
traffic. The police made desperate exeriions
TO clear away this obstruction, but the mob
held their ground so we'll that the entire
power of the police proved insufficient to
clear way.
Some time after dark the mob gradually
left Trafalgar Square. They went away sat
isfied that they had won the day. As they
dispersed, its sections made havoc in the
streets until they dwindled away. Every
street they entered was surrendered to them,
and at midnight the police reports concurred
in stating that never before in the present
generation has such tremendous disturb
ance occurred in London with SO little loss
of blood. Some officials declare that up
wards of fifty thousand N en- must have been
rioting for at least six hours, with absolute
possession of every thoroughfare they chose
to invade, yet no life is reported to have
been taken.
Probably 200 shops and dozen club
houses were seriously damaged, and about
SO shops pillaged, including jewelers., bakers,
butchers and wine shops. Hundreds of in.
offensive people were maltreated. The pc
lice were powerless at first, but they ulti-
matelv succeeded in restoring order. The
military were kept under arms all the even
ing while policemen patrolled the streets.