New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-30
COERCION IN SLIGO.
SCENES RARELY MATCHED EVEN IN IRISH
HISTORY
NATIoNALsTs CLEvKRLY oUIwIr THE POLICE AND
HOLD A RovsiNG MEETING AT BALLYMoTE.
TBY CABLE TO THE TefBUNE.1


rBY CABLE TO TerBUSEl
DUBLIN, Nov. 20-1he scenes in Sligo yesterday
and Saturday have hardly ever been matched
even in Irish history. Tie Government had by
PROCLAMATION prohibited meeting which the peo-
pie had resolved to hold in Sligo on sunday Inc
object OF TINT meeting to protest against the
infamous manner in which the jury panel for the
approaching assizes has been packed by the Crown
officials This panel is worthy of the ancient days
of Irish jury packing. Although there are ten
Catholics TO one Protestant in the population OF
Sligo the panel contains a strong majority OF
Protestant jurors. an Catholic and Protestant in
Sligo are only other names for Nationaliss anu
Ioyalists The Government attach great lmpor
tance to these asszes because it is at them that
tfe Woodford tenants who forcibly resisted evic-
ton at Saundcisfort. to be tried ana the
charge AGAINST "1he Roscommon Herald" is to be
heard on Saturday.
William ORrien. j. j. OKely. NJ r., and the
High Sheriff Of Dublin, who is Member OF Parlla-
ment for Sligo County arrived in the town ana
ATTEMPTED TO address the people from the hotel,
but an immense force Of police and military DIS
pcrscd the crowd, although meeting was pro
cnimed for SATURDAY. Tie Mayor of Sligo there
upon offered the leaders the of the Town Hall,
but lust as thcy~weie entering the building the
police CHARGED ferocousy on the Mayor, Ii1gh
Sheriff. Member of Parliament and the people
FEATURING the skull of one OF the men, who Is
Mayor of the neighboring town. The Town Hall
was entered successfully, however. and an indig-
nation meeting was held. Mr. O'Biien and his
colleagues then resolved that on Sunday tiey
would elude tile authorities, and instead of one
meeting in Sligo County they would hold several
throughout the county Accordingly they left the
hall by back way at in the morning dis atched
messengers in all directions, and by a series of
l,ill nd an,il N StIntaCpmS
aged to hold some dozen mcctIn,s in spite OF the
horse foot and artillery concentrated in Sligo by
the Government.
One man9uvre deserves to become historic.
The Natonalists had hired special train TO run
between Carrick and Sligo. 1t took in cOntin-
gents at every station till it came to Baliymote,
where large body of police drawn up on
the platform. AS the police had a shrewd sus
picion that it was at Balynrote the Nationllists
intended to hold their meeting, the Balymote
Nationalists ostentatiously bought tickets
Tor Sligo. and when the train
drew up and made break to board it Seeing
this the police rushed aboard also and distributed
themselves through tie carriages where they were
locked in by the guard, whereuNon the Nation
alists, at signal from Mr.. Mccain, their leader
jumped from the train, including the bands AMI
the contingents taken up on the way, as well aS
the Balymote men, and the train moved on with
mono but the police on board. Those officers
stuck their heads out of the windows and yelled
frantically to stop but the engineer, obeying the
orders of Mr. McCann never halted until he
landed them at sligo. A great meeting was then
held in Ballymotc, and when it was all over the
police were returning from Sligo on special
train of their own. Meanwhile Dr. Tanner,
NJ F., in Sligo, finding the attention of the police
and military attracted to the outskirts managed
90 hold meeting in the centre of the town, AMI
when this was interrupted he led the police
dance across the hills and down to the shores
of Lough Gill; where he entered boat and was
pulled few feet from the shore. From that
platfor safe from the reach of the police, he
addressed the enthusiastic crowds that followed
him.