Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-02-09
The Starving Workingmen Of London
Terrorlze the City in Their Unor-
!. gained Strength.
~ wshed Ont Of the Way as so
q Men OF straw-The Multi.
tude Demands Bread.
Appeals and speeehes Fan Rlotous DE.
monstrations and Destruction Of
Property Rcsorted TO-
A Riot In London.

chanics OF London to-day held 4 mass
meeting in Trafalgar square, around the
Nelson monument, and IL resulted in
riot. The proceedings were opened with
an assemblage OF 10000 men. The po-
lice were present in large numbers. They
at once saw that the Socialistic element of
Londongreatlyp redomlnated in thecrowd,
which was also managed by wen known
( Soclalists,and extraordinary vigilance was
ordered TO preserve the peace at all haz-
ards. Conspicuous among the leaders OF
the multitude was Mr.. Burns, who ran as
Socialist candidate in Nottingham
In the recent election. lie as
cended the pedestal Of the Nelson
column for the purpose OF deliver
iDgan harangue. He was well aware that
this would not be tolerated and the police
politely ordered him to get down. This
he 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
Mr.. Burns from the pedestal. BY this
time the crowd had vastly aug
cent were literally packed with
a sureing mob. This act was easily per-
ceptible over almost the entire area COW
cred by the concourse, and the sight was
accepted as a visible proof of the COM
mencement Of fight against the law A
fearful howl was set up, and the mob at
| tempted TO rush from all directions 20
] the point of interest. Burns became en-
/ boldened by the cries of the throng and
made a desperate effort to recover his
lost ground. He was 30 effectually helped
| by the mob that the officers on the spot
were brushed out of the way and the
orator was soon pressed up against the
monument. He quickly reasceuded the
| pedestal accompanied by 4 number OF
other Socialist leaders, Burns bore n
red flag and he waved It to the assem-
blage as signal Of triumph over the au-
thorities. He was greeted with deafen-
ing shouts. Burns now leisurely finished
his address. He then read iiercely
worded resolution denouncing the gu
thors of the present distress in England,
/ He demanded that parliament
start public works to give employment
and bread TO the tens of thousands OF
deserving men who were out OF work
/ The resolution demanded the immediate
appointment OF minister of commerce
and a minister OF agriculture, and con-
cluded with a resolution that copies be
forwarded TO Mr.. Gladstone, Lord Sails
bury, Mr.. Parnell and the board Of public
works. The reading OF the resolutions
was accompanied by fierce comment and
short explanatory speeches by the
various orators who stood with
Bras. Some OF these orators went
so far as to warn the government that al
though the starving mechanics of London
were now attempting to draw attention
to their needs by quiet and peaceful agi
tatlon, they were bound to get bread and
would get 1t by attacking the baker-shop
next, II the government did not come to
their relief 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. He also declared
that the people had assembled to su,n-
mon parliament Immediately TO relieve
the distress of the British worklngmeni
that the people wanted the question set
tied at once, peacefully II possible, other
wise revolution was inevitable. This
so aggravated the excitement Of the
huge mob that the police reformed with
increased force and made another assault,
They succeeded In forcing their way up
to the pedestal. They reached this point
Just as the resolutions which had already
been offered and seconded were about 70
be submitted to the mob for approval.
The officer at once ordered the proceed
ings TO be discontinued on the pedestal
and commanded Burns and his colleagues
to come down This they refused to do
and the officers thereupon dragged them
down by force and drove them from the
pedestal. 1t was evident that Burns
expected that the application OF
force TO him would precipitate
riot and Il was apparent that the Off
GERS Immediately engaged in removing
the orators feared an attack, but the men
composing the mob were not yet In a
lighting humor and the mob contented
itself for the time by hooting the police
and smothering them with Hour, dirt and
garbage.
Alter their election neither Burns nor
any OF his colleagues made any further
attempts to get back. They at once left
the scene and proceeded TO the Reform
club building, They mounted the steps,
pointed TO the doors and windows and
bitterly denounced the inmates. This
looked like an attempt to set the mob on
the building. The mob was excited, but
was not worked up TO the point OF vl0-
lence vet. Burns and his colleagues see
ing this vacated the Reform club steps
and proceeded 10 the Carletdnclub, where
they repeated their tactics. BY this time
the mob was tremendous In numbers,
and was verging on desperation. Stories
OF what the police had said and done az
the Nelson column had been circulated
i from mouth To mouth, exaggerated with
every repetition, until the starving met
chanics,i were convinced that the au-
i thoritIes actually dared them 10 CON
aIct. Such IRE as was ready for ignition
and within touching distance was To-
famed by speeches delivered on tne
| Carleton clubs steps. The MOB was
split up into many divisions by oeipg
fnnreh down different streets bl