The Wilmington daily Republican., 1892-01-05
THE SALVATIONISTS.
They Ignore the Authorities Of
Eastbourne, England,
AND RECEIVE SEVERE TREATMENT.

Officers and Civilians Pounce Upon
Their Meetings-The Salvation Sol
diers. However. Repeatedly Return
and Are An Often Attacked-Emi-
nent Opinions That Their Gather
ings Are Lawful.
LONDON, Jan. 5.-There is no doubt
that the Salvationists will obtain fair
hearing in parliament, for they are be-
coming body so important that the
government would not dare to deliber-
ately ignore their appeal. The Saliva
tionists all over the country are joining
issue with their brethren of Eastbourne
upon this point, and the Salvationists of
Middlewick have gone so far as to petit
tion the home secretary, Right Hon.
Henry Matthews, in behalf Of the East
bourne ''soldiers."
A correspondent at Eastbourne de-
scribes in the following manner an "en-
gagement" between the Salvation Army
and the local authorities of that place.
An Engagement at Eastbourne.
The tri-terraced parade was simply
gated on the beach, the latter forming
the more active section of the opposi-
tion. Little bands of Salvationists gath
cred at their appointed positions at an
hour previously agreed upon, and at
once commenced their customary SER
vices. They had no sooner done SO than
the police interfered, and drove them in
all directions. Both male and female
members of the army repeatedly re-
turned, and although hustled by the
constabulary in very unceremonious
manner they sang snatches of their fa-
vorite hymns, while individual members
harangued the spectators. The latter
jeered at the Salvationists and loudly
cheered the police.
Subsequently the members of the
army gravitated to a spot opposite the
center of the parade, and then followed
series of lively scrimmages. During
tho most violent rushes many persons
were knocked down or struck. The Sal
walton lassies were not apparently ter
rorized by the action of the crowd and
of the police. They continued with en-
thusiasin to rattle their tamborines and
sing hymns. Several, however, COM
planned of the brutal i'll usage, although
generally speaking when the young
women were struck it was in the un-
ayoidable crowding that occurred.
The Tumult Increases.
After patroling the shore in very
broken order for about quarter Of an
hour the Salvationists ascended to the
Brick Parade, Bnd there the tumult and
hustling was for time of an alarming
character. Several times the members
Of the army narrowly escaped being
forced over the sea wall, and the police
found the greatest difficulty in making
way for their advance. Every minute
or two there was an ugly rush on the
part of the crowd and not few lost
their feet and were trampled upon. The
color bearer, man named Elms, was
roughly handled by constable, who
grasped him by the hair of his head
and run him along to the delight of the
crowd, he being so i'll used that he was
In fainting condition. Another con-
stable was detected forcing the members
along by means of jerks with his knee
This the crowd resented, and called for
fair play.
The Fight for the Standard.
Later in the day they again started
out, and proceeded to the beach followed
by noisy crowd. While they were
kneeling in prayer on the sand the mob
twice rushed at them, the police mean
while standing by, and when they rose
10 their feet they were set upon and
roughly handled.
Then a squad of mounted police
charged the crowd, riding down men
and women of the army and the mob in
discriininatcly, serious injuries and loss
OF clothing resulting. The mob seized
the Salvation flag and the army made
an attack to recover it and succeeded.
The Salvationists finally got back to
their barracks, surrounded by police,
but nevertheless driven into several
times by rowdies in wagons.
The opinions of Solicitor General Sir
Edward Clarke and Sir Charles Russell,
that the mayor of Eastbourne has no
power to prevent religious professions
and gatherings, has filled the followers
Of General Booth with renewed enthu-
MaaIp