The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-03-31
THE RIOT.
Fearful Scenes in the Disturbed Bel
gian Mining District.

correspondent oil the Dutty SttCs
sends the first account of the troub-
les in the Charleroi mining district
that has been furnished by an En-
glish speaking journalist. The en-
tire district is under strict martial
law. No citizens q stir abroad
without a pass from 4 staff officer.
Resistance to arrest means death.
EveIy group of five men or over Is
defined in general orders as a mob,
and is fred upon with ball cartridge
after ~neglecting onesummons to dis
perse. Houses from which the
troops are habitually attacked are
raided and all the inmates arrested.
If they resistIarrest too viciouslv the
house is blown up with gunpowder.
Yet with all these stern measures OF
repression, the military force is so
small and the points to be guarded
are so many that rioting, pillage,
arson and rapine ge on apparently
unchecked.
The damage to the property in
the disturbed district is now estima-
ted by moderate men at 25,0OO,O00
francs. The number Of troops in
the field exceeds $4,000. and should
be doubled with twenty batteries OF
artillery, to be placed at intersec-
tons of streets in the cities, to mos
down mobs with grape that are I'M
comfortable by infantry. Every
lewelry store and gun shop in Char
leroi and nearly every liquor WHARF,
house and drinking-saloon has been
looted and more or less completely
wrecked. Churches have been rob
bed Of all articles of precious metal.
More than 100 collieries, foundries
and residences have been burned.
The latter were the property OF the
" bourgeoise generally, the rioters
not discriminating in this respect
against employers. Hundreds OF
citizens have been robbed in the
streets in daylight. One young lady
who wore a diamond ring that was
tight upon the finger had her finger
amputated by the r%utfans with
chisel and mallet. Scores of virtu-
Gus women have been outraged. In
two cases mothers who fought to
preserve their honor had the brains
Of their babies dashed out before
their eyes.
BRUSSELS, March 2S.-Dispatches
from Charleroi say that there has
been further rioting in that town, re-
sulting in the killing of several per
sons and the wounding of several
Others. The rioters IN Jumet, upon
the approach of the troops sent TO
dispense them, placed 200 women in
the front ranks. The troops opened
fire and many of the women were
wounded.
The strike is extending to Namur.
Additional troops have been called
from Brussels to quell the disturb
ances.
Later advices from Charleroi re-
port that the town is calmer and
that there will probably be no fur
Their demonstrations by the strikers
as a body. The strikers are desti-
tute, and are compelled to beg for
food. The men are desperate and
threaten personal violence if their
wants are not supplied. A number
of men Will go to work tomorrow.
They will be armed with revolvers
with which to defend themselves in
case of an attack by strikers.
The authorities have prohibited
the sale of the newspaper Peupte OF
this city. Two classes of the militia
have been called out for service. A
circular signed by the Governor OF
Hainault is placarded throughout
Charleroi proclaiming a state OF
siege throughout the district of the
strikes, and authorizing troops to
cut down and fire upon all rioters
who refuse to disperse. Strikes are
threatened at Flenu and Quaregnon,
and troops have been sent TO those
places.
CHARLERoI, March 2S.-The stu
alton is assuming a serious aspect.
Appeals for troops have been receiv-
ed from Chatelet, Chatelineau, La
Louviere, Gilly and Couillet, where
several factories ana mines have
been wrecked, and where several
persons have been killed and woun-
ded ia collision with the local troops.
Only the civic guards remain here,
and they are now exhausted from
their incessant vigilance. The burg
omaster has been compelled to call
for volunteers to defend the princi-
pal streets.
News of disorder comes from all
directions. There was a sharp en-
counter last evening at Sebastopol
Trench with a crowd of rioters who
were trying to enter Charleroi. Two
of the rioters were killed and sever
al wounded and the rest fled. The
strikers defy the troops at Cbatelet,
Couillet and Chatelineru, and serious
fighting is expected.