Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-09
LONDON ATA MOB'SMERCY
JEWELLERY AND OTHER SHOPS
SACKED BY THE RIOTERS.

Broken - Private Carriages Taken
from their Owners and Driven At the
Head OF the Only the Alb
sOlute Inability OF the Police to Offer
Opposition Prevents BlOodshed-SO-
cialists the Instigators of the Turmoil
Order Returns 1T Bed Time.
LONDON, Feb. S.-The "starving me-
chanics" OF London to-day held a mass
meeting in Trafalgar square around the
Nelson monument, and it resulted in a
riot. The proceedings were opened with
the assemblage of 10000 men. The po-
lice were present in large numbers. They
at once saw that the socialistic element
Of London greatly predominated in the
crowd, which was also managed by we'll
known socialists and extraordinary Wig
lance was ordered to preserve the peace
at all hazards.
At O'clock this evening all that part
of the city in the neighbOrhOOd of the Ma
tlonal Gallery, the Carlton Club and the
Reform Club was in possession of the
mobs. Several faction fights had already
taken place among the rioters, and a
furious mob was then marching through
ST.. James street and Picadilly on its way
to Hyde park to hold a meeting. Inc
mob was cursing the authorities, attack
ing shops, sacking saloons, getting drunk
and smashing windows,
THREATENING THE WAR OFFICE.
On its way to Hyde park the front OF
the mob made an effort to enter the war
office, but turned away when the sentinel
at the entrance confronted the intruders
with his bayOnet. Conspicuous and among
the buildings attacked by the mob was that
occupied by the DevOnshire club and that
occupied as a residence by Arnold Morley,
the newly appointed Patronage Secretary.
The police along the route to Hyde park
were brushed out OF the way by the rioters
as so many men of straw, and many OF
the officers were terribly whipped for
their Interference.
BURNS BRAGGADoCIo.
Conspicuous among the leaders Of the
multitude was Burns, who ran as So
cialist candidate I'm Nottingham in the re-
cent election. He sneered at the police
and acted generally as if he wished to
bring about conflict between them and
the people. Finally he asceuded the
pedestal OF the Nelson column for the
purpose of delivering "A harRngue. He
was well aware that this act
would not be tolerated, and the
police politely ordered him to get down.
This be refused to do, appealing to the
crowd to resist ''interference with the
exercise Of popular rights" The officers,
however, were determined, and they
pushed their way through the excited and
resisting mass OF humanity, and by force
removed Burns from the pedestal. BY
this time the crowd had vastly aug
mented, and the streets adjacent
were packed with surging mobs. The
stir in the elevated spot where the
Burns incident took place was easily per-
ceptible over almost the entire area COW
cred by the concourse, and the sight Of
helmets and uniforms in the struggle was
accepted as visible proof of the COM
mencement of a eight against the law"
Burns appeal was responded to with a
general and fearful howl and an attempt
to rush from all directions to the point Of
interest.
BURNS REGAINs HIS PLACE.
Burns was soon removed some distance
from the position he had attempted TO
occupy. He became emboldeDed by the
cries Of the throng and made q desperate
effort to recover his lost ground. He was
so effectively helped by the mob that the
officers on the spot were brushed out OF
the way and the latter was soon pressed
up against the monument. He quickly re-
ascended the pedestal accompanied by a
number of other Socialist leaders. Burns
bore red flag and he waved II to the as
semblage as a signal Of his triumph over
the authorities. He was greeted with
deafenlng shouts repeated again and
again. Burns now leisurely finished bis
address. He then read fiercely wOrded
resolution.
DEMANDS OF THE LEADER.
This denounced the authors OF the pres
in EpuIanHs aapH1H
Parliament start public works to give
employment and bread to tens Of thou
sands OF deserving men who were out Of
work through no fault OF their own, but
because OF pad government; declared that
it was the duty of the government TO
afford every facility for the employment
OF British capital at home for the benefit
OF the British people, and TO give British
enterprise the preference over foreign,
ana asserted that the time had arrived for
Parliament 10 earnestly legislate for the
relief Of the depression In the English ag-
ricultural industry. The resolutions also
demanded the immediate appointment OF
a Minister Of Commerce and a Minister Of
Agriculture, and concluded with a resolve
that copies should be forwarded 10 Pre-
mier Gladstone, Lord Salisbury, Mr.. Par
nell and the Board OF Public Works.
VIOLENCE THREATENED.
The reading OF the resolutions was ac-
cOmpanied by fierce comment and short
explanatory speeches by various orators
who stood with Burns. Some Of these Or
atOrs vent 50 far as TO warn the gov
ernment that although the starving
mechanics" of London were now attempt
ing TO draw attention TO their needs by
quiet and peaceful agitation, they were
bound % get bread and would get It by
attacking the bakers' shops next,
IL the government did not come 70
their reliei. Burns himself in one
Of these side speeches denounced the
present Rouse Of Commons as a body OF
landlords and capitalists, for whom hang
ing was TOO good. he also declared that
the people had assembled 10 summon Par
lament to Immediately relieve the dis
tress OF British wOrkingmen, that the peo.
pie wanted the question settled at once.
and peacefully II possible. Otherwise a
revolution was inevitable.
DRAGGED FROM THE PEDESTAL.
All this so aggravated the excitement
Of the huge moo that the police reformed
with increased force and made another
assault. They succeeded in forcing their
way up 10 the pedestal. They reached
this point just as the resolutions which
had already been offered and seconded
we're about 10 DO submitted 10 the mob for
approval. The officers ~ once ordered
the proceedings TO be discontinued on
the pedestal, and commanded Burns
and his colleagues to come down. This
tnau waftgaa Nn tho nOtuara