The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-05
BEATEN And BRUISED.
Rough Treatment Of the Salvation Army in
an English Town.

LONDON, Jan. 4-The troubles between
the Salvation Army and the authorities at
EasbOurne, on the Sussex coast resulted
yesterday in a riot of unusual violence. For
a long time there has been open war be-
tween the Salvationists and the police. The
former assert the EastbOurDe officials have
displayed a feeling of religious intolerance
in their treatment Of the army, and so deter
mined were the members of the Salvation
Army to maiutain what they deemed their
judicial rights that they propose to Introduce
q bill in Parliament TO repeal or amend the
EastbOurne Improvement Act, by which the
town officials prevent the SavatiOnistS from
holding meetings on the streets. Yesterday
the EastbOurne contingency Of the Salvation
Army was divided into four sections, and
stationed in different parts of the town.
The police broke up these meetings with
some trouble, but in the afternoon sixty of
the army again sailed from the barracks
aud proceeded to the beach, followed by an
immense crowd, who menaced them
with all manner of ill-treatmenL Once
upon the beach the SalYatiOnists
knelt down on the sands in prayer.
AS they did so they linked arms, the better
to repel the assaults of the irTeligiOus mob
should the latter take 1t into their heads TO
charge. The mob hooted ami yelled, and
finally made an ugly rush. Some Of the
SalVatiOuists were thrown TO the ground,
but Immediately resumed kneelins posi-
ti0n, and continued praying Several times
the rushing was repeated, but the Saliva
ti0nlstS paid no more attention than was
necessary TO avoid being seriously hurt. A
number Of police were present, and the
mob Teyiled them for not dispensing the
Salyati0nists. AS soon as the praying was
concluded the SalvatlOnlSts rose 10 their
feet This seemed the signal for a prec0n-
ceTted attack, for the mob Immediately
sw00ped down upon the band, scattering
them in wild disorder Many were struck,
kicked and otherwise ilt-treated. The muSi-
cal instruments used by the SalvatlOnlsts
seemed especially to excite the ire of the
mob, and persons bearing them were sin
gled out for more than the usual brutal
treatment. The mob got possession OF the
instruments and, after smashing them,
threw them into the sea-
TRAMPLED BY MOUNTED POLICE.
Then a detachment of mounted police
charged the crowd. They made no distinc-
tion between men and women. They rode
down upon the crowd, trampling the mob,
male and female alike, under the feet OF the
horses. Many Of the crowd were severely
hurt The Salvatl0niStS declare that the
police, instead OF protecting them, dellb-
erat-ly struck them ana rode over them.
Their clothes were torn and their hats lost.
A number Of women lost their skirts and
jackets in the wild rush following the
Charge Of the police, their garments being
torn of in the desperate struggle to escape
being trampled en- by the horses. During
the melee the standard Of tile Salvation
Army fell into the hands Of the enemy.
Some of the SalyatiOnlsts charged to
regain their flag, and a fierce fight
resulted. Finally the Salyationists re-
gained their standard. and under a rain Of
blows succeeded in getting away from the
mob with the fig in their possession. After
some little time the Salyatl0nistS, their
clothing bedraggied and their faces show
ing the marks of Il-treatment, rallied
around their standard. They formed in
regular lines and surrounded oy the police,
marched back TO the barracks. Despite
this protection, they were not safe from at
tack, Tor the mob several times charged
upon them, AMI the police were almost
pOwerless to prevent injuries being in
flcted. Some Of the more rab.d Of the mob
got possession Of vehicles, and paying no
attention to the police drove deliberately
into the SalvatiOnists' ranks with the in
tentiOn of running over them.