The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-02-26
BERLIN'S BIG RIOT.
Dissatisfied Workmen March to
the Imperial Castle.
SEVERE CONFLICTS WITH POLICE.

hungry NoD.
BERLIN, Feb. Yesterdays riot is
the all absorbing topic of conversation.
But for the vigorous action of the police
the affair would have been converted
into revolution. 1t started at meet
ing of some four thousand workingmen
who had gathered at Lips brewery to
hear the report Of a delegate sent to the
burgomaster, Herr Forlenbeck. asking
him to see the emperor in behalf of Ber.
Inns unemployed workingmen. and to
intercede with his majesty in their be-
half. Though the burgomaster is an
extreme Liberal, he felt that he dared
not receive a deputation representing a
body of men who We're violating the low
against public assembly, and he sent
messenger advising them to disperse
quietly. When the deputation reported
to the meeting there was a scene of
widest excitement Some proposed to
march to the reichstag in u body and de-
mand redress. This caused a howl that
must have been heard for miles.
ITO the Cas,Ier
Then some one shouted: "To the
castle! Lets tear down the gates, ii
necessary, and see the emperor"
ThereupOn asteps were Immediately
taken to gather the great body Of work
men into some sort OF order, the social
ist portion of those present showing
themselves to be admirably ready to
convert an unweildy body of shouting,
yelling, excited men into parade shape.
Amidst the uproar Il number of the
cooler heads aud more thoughtful of the
If
vain, to be heard. In loud, piercing
tones they implored the men not to lose
their heads, and to remember that they
were but a small handful when measured
against the garrison and police of Ber-
lin. No attention was paid to the plead
ings of the peaeemakcrs, and the cry
was repeated again and again, ITO the
cttstle!'
Insults to the Emperor.
The mention of the emperor's name
was received with howls of derisiun on
all sides, accompanied by perfect hur-
ricane of grossly insulting remarks adj
dressed to his majesty, who must have
trcmbled for the security of his throne
had he been present. The real senti.
ments of the German mass seemed for
time to have expressed the bitter curse
and fearful insults hurled by 5000
tongues ut the young grandson of the
great Emperor William. All the recent
ntteranc ces and doings of the present
emperor of Germany seem to have
struck deep and dangerous root in the
hearts of the people, for upon this occa-
sion, as if resolved to give free vent to
the long pent up feelings of Indignation
and WRATH the workmen, the Socialists
and their sympathizers recalled and
jeered at everything recently credited
to their monarch. The uttcrance at
Brandenburgh about causing everybody
III Germany who did not support him to
shake the dust of Germany from their
feet was particularly referred TO with
deep curses, as was the other aud simi.
lar remark, credited to his majesty to
the effect that he would .igrlnd 10 pow
der those who opposed him."
The Police Active.
In the meanwhile the police had not
been idle. Even before tho rioters
had started for the castle the police had
been at work among them In addition
to the calming utterances of the more
level headed leaders there had been de-
livered a number of heated and most
selitious addresses by socialist and other
agitators, who urged the men who at
tended the meeting at the brewery to
strike blow for their liberties. Almost
unknown to the rioters three Of the
most pronounced speakers We're quietly
and deftly arrested On the charge of lese
lnajeste.
1t is now estimated that fully 6,000
persons marched through the Unter
Linden and almost to the castle gates,
the "Marseiiles" roaring its echoes
into the sacred apartments OF the EN-
peror. The officers i'll command of tho
Tl1ifprnOt nF fhn
communicated with by mounted riders
and by wire. From every available
quarter detacmnents of police We're hur.
riedly sent for, arriving at the palace on
trot and completely armed By this
time the rioters had reached II point out
side OF the castle gates, and there they
halted, sang the "Marsaill.s" in thnn-
dering tones, and wildly shouted t0f the
emperor to appear.
Charged by the Police.
So soon as the force of police on the
spot had been sufficiently reinforced Il
charge upon the rioters WAS ordered,
and then began II series Of the mosi lea-
perate hand To hand fights ever wit.
messed i'll the streets Of Berlin. The po-
lice, it was evident, had received strict
order to avoid bloDdsied but they bit
right and left with the fiat of their
PH9AAsi IpdIltiiA alti -iiit EEliJEh
of their rifles or hammered at the riot
ers with batons. During the melecs tile
police made abent 100 arrests, but each
arrest seemed to be the signal fot an at
tempt ut rescue upon the part Of the
mob, and in SOME cases they tore their
comrades from the grasp of the police
and carried them away in triumph.
Though it is said that more than 6 900
men We're gathered around about the
statue of Frederick the Great when the
"Marseillese startled the good people of
that neighborhood ii is now estimated
that fully 10000 people took part in one
way or another in the rioting OF. the
day. The men We're not alone i'll resist
ing the charges of the police-the women
and even children took part in the fray
with as much desperation as the hus-
bands fathers and brothers, and as n re-
suit a number of woman are now locked
up with the male rioters. The exact
number of prisoners made and people in