Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-02-18
AN INFURIATED MOB.
Starving workmen of London Demand Bread

The starving mechanics Of London held
mass meeting in Trafalgar Square around the
Nelson monument on the Sth inst, and 1t re-
suited in a riot. The proceedings were opened
with an assemblage oil 10000 men. The police
were present in large numbers. Conspicuous
among the leaders Of the multitude was MIR.
Burns, who ran as the socialist candidate in
nottingham in the recent election. lie as
cended the pedestal of the Nelson column for
the purpose of delivering harangue. The
police requested him TO desist, but he refused,
and the officers removed him by force.
By this time the crowd had vastly augment
ed, and the streets were packed with surging
MODS
Burns quickly reascendcd the pedestal, ac-
complained by number OF other socialist
leaders. He bore red flag, and he waved II
to the assemblage as signal Of his triumph
over the authorities, and was greeted
with deafening shouts, repeated again and
again.
He then read fercely worded resolution,
denouncing the present distress in England
and demanding that parliament start public
works to give employment TO men who are idle
through no fault of their own. The resolutions
also demand the immediate appointment OF
minister of commerce and minister OF agri-
culture, and concluded with the resolve that
copies should be forwarded TO Mr.. Gladstone,
Lord Salisbury Mr.. Parnell, and the board of
public works.
The reading of resolutions was accom-
panied by fierce comment and short aud eX-
planatory speeches by the various orators who
stood with Burns. Burns himself, in one OF
these side speeches, denounced the present
house of commons as body of landlords and
capitalists for whom hanging was too good.
All this so aggravated the excitement OF the
huge mob that the police reformed with in
creased force and made another assault The
officers at once ordered the proceedings to be
discontinued on the pedestal and commanded
Burns and his colleagues 10 come down. This
they refused to do, and the officers thereupon
dragged tuem down by force and drove them
from the pedestal. The men composing the
mob were not yet in fighting humor, anu CON
tented themselves for the time by hooting the
police and smOthering them with Hour, dirt
and garbage.
Alter their election Burns aud his colleagues
proceeded TO the wall Of the National gallery.
They mounted this wall, pointed TO the doors
and windows and bitterly denounced the in
mates. The mob was excited, but not up TO
the point of violence. Burns and his col
leagues seeing this vacated the National gal
lery wall apd poceeded 10 the CARTON eluD,
where they repeated their tactics. BY this
time the mob was tremendous IN numbers and
y2rgug on desperation. Stories OF what the
police had said and done at the Nelson column
nad been circulated from mouth to mouth, eX-
aggcrated with every repetition until the me
Cnunlcs were convinced that the authorities
had actually dared them to conflict.
At : O'Clock in the evening part OF the mon
started Oh its wa, to Hyde park to hold
meeting On its way an effort was made 70
ente the war Office, but was turned away
when the sentinel at the entrance confronted
the intruders with his bayonet.
Ii was that part of the mob which was
drawn east through st. James street to
Regent that attempted TO enter the war
Office opposite It. James square. Arnold
Morley's residence which was formerly occu-
pied by John Bright, was forcibly entered and
ransacked. Scarcely whole pane OF glass was
left in the building. very great number OF
other houses along the route Jared worse than
did John Brights old residence. Deyonshire
club house was raided, and Hatchett's hotel
was sacked Of food and drink. AS the men were
leaving the hotel they saw carriage, which
was pressed up against the curb by the
passing procession and abandoned by its
frightened occupants. Ii was seized and in an
instant broken up,and the wheel-spokes, shaft,
and other pieces carried away for clubs. The
Turf. Clubs house presented temptation TO
the rioters as they went by and they smashed
all Its front doors and windows with stones.
All along Regent and Oxford streets, between
Plcadllly and Clyde park, houses were attacked
indiscrminately and the windows smashed in.
After Burns had been driven away from
Nelson. monument by the police and had
spoken from the national gallery wall and
Carlton club steps, a savage fight took place
between his adherents, socialists and anti
socialists. The battle ragged some time, but
the socialists proved victorious and lifted
Burns TO their shoulders and bore him aloft
TO Regent street, where, with him, they sue
ceeded in leading the crowd towards Hyde
Park, Burns leading the whole way. At the
park, when the mob had all collected,
Burns again addressed them The speech was
even more violent than the others he made.
| Burns was followed by several other socialistic
speakers all of whom did all In their power to
stir up the strife. When the speaking was
over the mob broke up into sections. The
main body went back east along Oxford street.
They had the thoroughfare to themselves and
smashed every sound window they noticed.
Beer and wine saloons were entered and their
wares dist .buted to whoever wished TO drink.
Policeman were powerless. The mob finally
dsbursed soon after dark. No lives are re-
ported as having been lost. 1t is estimated
that 10, 900 persons were engaged In the Trafal-
gar square demonstration. Probably 200 shops
and dozen club houses were seriously dam
aged. About 80 shops were pllaged, including
jewelers., bakers, butchers and wine shops.