The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-06-14
CHALLENGED THE CROWD.
The Parnellitss Promptly Tread on
1.-THE Tail Of His Coat
AND THE SHILLELAHS THEN SANG
POLITICAL DITTIES.

The P1easantries of Political Campaign
in Ireland-Opposing Factions. After
Smashing Each Others Heads, Make
Common. Cause Against the Police
Billies, Handouts and Discipline,
However, Win the Day.
DUBLIN, June 13.-The rival factions
of the Irish Nationalists had severe
conflict at Limerick Sunday. The battle
began in an attempt by ti-Parnellites
to break up Parnell meeting. The lat
ter had heard rumors of the intended
attack and were fully prepared with
shillelahs and other weapons for their
antagonists. The Parnellites had band.
which occasionally played various patri-
otic airs, which were, however, inter-
spersed with howls of defiance for the
enemies of Mr.. Parnell. One enthusias-
tic Parnellite shouted that he wanted a
Haley to come on so that he could
settle with him then and there. The
anti-Parnellites howled back defiance at
the opponents, and one individual, wear
ing long-tailed coat, stepped in front of
the Parnellite crowd and swung the tail
in their faces, crying out that there was
not Parnellite in the whole lot who
dared to tread on it. The coat tail was
seized by a dozen hands and wrenched
away from the owner, and the excited
Pornellites proceeded to execute war
danceton the garment the band at the
time setting up triumphant flourish.
This Was the Signal for Battle.
The -Parnellites rushed forward to
rescue the coat tail. Others dashed at
the band, while the main body with shil-
lelahs fourishing and howls of rage, in
termingled with cries of pain, were soon
mixed up in confused mass of strue-
Cling, painting, bruised humanity. The
whack of the shillelahs could now and
then be heard above the din of the COM
bat, and occasionally stones would be
thrown, causing ugly injuries, although
stone-throwing was rather risky, owing
to friend and foe being so mixed up to-
gether. There was not much left of the
band. What remained of the instru-
ments was seized for weapons. and the
combatants could be seen belaboring
each other with trumpets and drum
sticks. AS the fight grew more furious.
the police assembled and charged the
mob. At first, neither side paid any at
tentlon to the police, but kept up their
lighting, and the struggle was at such
close quarters that the police could hard
ly make any impression Suddenly
voice was heard in the crowd: Here's
Balfour's bulldogs, boys, let's give it to
them" Then was witnessed singular
scene. The two factions suddenly stop.
ped lighting each other and turned with
equal
Fury Against the Police.
Stones were thrown in volleys at the con-
stables and rush was made at them
with shilellahs The police, however,
were firm. They piled their batons with
out mercy, and at the same time kept
regular front to the mob. Every now
and then one of the foremost of the mob
was seized and quickly passed to the rear
and handcuffed. The firmness and dis
cipline of the police soon told in the
struggle, and the mob, tired of punish
ment, at length broke and scattered in
all directions. On taking account of the
injured it was found that two men had
IneI skuiis fractured, DuJ Whether by
the police or the mob does not appear.
This is the third fight of the campaign
preparatory for the general election, the
first or opening fight having occurred at
Navan, in the county of Meath, few
days ago. when the anti Parnellites held
convention to select delegates to oppose
Messrs. Mahoney and Shiel The con-
vention was attended by large number
OF the clergy, who are conspicuous on the
anti-Parnellite side. IN that fight as al
ready cabled, Mr.. Davitt was injured and
number of,the clergy and others came
in for rough usage. All indications
point to a very lively struggle between
the two factions during the summer.
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