Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-04
ANGRY AT TINE TROOPS.
Fourmies workmen Deuouncs Them q
Wantou Firing.

Fourmies workmen Denouncs Them for
Wanton Firing.
| A dispatch from Paris says regarding the re-
cent trouble ON May day In Fourmies
The details of the labor trouble at Fourmies
immensely heighten the political importance
Of the incident. The fact that six women,
several children and eight men were killed on
the spot. while twenty were seriously wounded,
several fatally, gives the affair the character
of a massacre. The soldiers were merely OK
posed to stone throwing, bu. they replied With
successive vclleys from their new Lebcl rifles,
inficting frightful wounds on the victims. The
houses exposed to the fire we're riddlcd and there
| is every sign that reckless and wanton inhuman-
ity was shown by the troops. The local popular
! commotion ia intense, and it finds response in
the growing excitement in every working center.
| Fourmies tonight il practically in a state OF
siege. Cavalry patrol the streets, and are
everywhere greeted with yells OF reprobatlon
| fTom excited groups OF men and women. The
tension of feeling may be judged from the fact
tina, the military arc hailed with cries Of Viva
Prussia The funeral OF the victims was fixed
for today. but the enormous number OF work.
men arriving from other industrial centers
caused the government to send for reinforce
ments and to order the postponement OF the
funeral until tomorrow Tho project today
refused 10 receive a deputation asking for
the removal Of the regiment that hred
upon the crowd. A section OF tho left and
the socialist and Boulanger deputies joined
III demanding vote OF censure against NJ
sible for the slaughter. motion to that
effect will be made in tho chamber OF depu-
ties tomorrow. A majority OF the right and
left approves generally the measures OF re-
preston taken by NJ. Constans throughout the
country, but will advocate an inquiry into the
conduct OF the troops at Fourniss. Parlia-
mentary circles view the affair as shaking the
position of the ministry. Labor centers
throughout France arc profoundly moved and
public meetings in Paris and at Marseilles,
Lyons and elsewhere being organized to
protest against the precipitate action OF the
authorities.
1t is learned that the subprefect of Fourn,ies
ordered the firing on the crowd. 1t would
have been still worse had not the mayor risked
his life and rushed between the combatants
ana lmplored them to stop fighting. This is
the first time that The Lebel rifle mas been used
against human beings.
QUIET IN OTHER CONTINENTAL COUNTRIES.
From various dispatches it is ascertained |
that, in general, quiet prevailed in continental
countries yesterday. A number of labor meet |
inSs were held in Berlin, and passed resolutions
favorlng the compulsory eight-hour labor day.
They were conducted in an orderly manner |
The city was guarded by mounted infantry.
The principal towns Of Germany, Holland
and Switzerland were scenes Of demonstra-
tons of workmen in favor of the eight-hour
movement In Hamburg $4,000 persons, q
tenth of whom were the wives and swee thearts
of the workmen. paraded through the suburb
OF Horn delegates from the workmen's sOcie-
ties keeping excellent order. In the line were
many bands and banners, and a number of
chOrai societies took part in the procession.
After u short meeting III the public park. at
which appropriate resolutions were adopted
the crowd dispersed and devoted the remainder
OF the day to music and dancing. No disorder
was reported anywhere.
IN BELGIUM DISORDER.
In the Belgian mining districts disorder still
prevails and many telephone wires have been
cut and windows smashed. Meetings were held
at Liege. Seraing and other places to de-
nounce the action of the Brussels labor union, |
lay or prevent strikes. At these meetings it |
was decided to disregard the advice of the |
union and commence general strike today. A |
state of siege has been proclaimed in the |
villages around Liege.
Considerable disorder prevails at Barcelona. !
Five petards exploded Saturday night, causing |
great alarm and doing much damage. A con- |
fiict between the police and strikers took place.
Pistol shots were exchanged. Tho ringleaders |
among the rioters were arrested.
DIsoRDERLY SCENES RENEWED.
The scenes of disorder of Friday were re- |
newed Saturday at Charleville and st. Quentin. |
In France. and at Seraing, Mons and Liege, in |
Belgium. There were conflicts between the |
strikers and the police and military. Many |
woIkmen were wounded seriously. Four Of the |
rioters who were wounded by the troops Fri |
day night at Fourmies. France, have died.
Thirty thousand miners and 4. 900 iron workers !
In the ICharleroi mining district of Belgium |
went on strike Saturday. Two hundred per- |
sons have been placed under arrest at Rome in |
connection with Friday disorders. One gend- |
arme has died of his wounds. A number of |
men engaged in the building trades at Rome |
struck Saturday. In the chamber Of deputies |
at Rome Signor Nicotera. minister OF the in |
terror, amid many interruptions, recounted the |
events Of Friday and read kilograms to show |
that the country was tranquil. Signor Imbri- |
ami persisted in the face OF Signor Nicotera's |
denial that an officer was brutally attacked at |
Barzelai and the president djourned the sitting
until today, when the government will demand |
an explicit vote of confidence. |
ATTACK ON A MAGISTRATE.
Daring the riot on Friday at Bekas in Hun
gary, number of enrased peasants made a |
savage attack on the chief magistrate Of the |
place for prohibiting the people from holding
May day demonstrations. The magistrate was |
thrown to the ground and the peasants trampled |
upon and kicked his PROSTATE FORM inticting |
terrible INJURIES. The military charged the |
crowd and two OF the rioters were pierced with |
bayOnets. The place was declared in state of |
siege.