New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-18
BELGIUM ALL ABLAZE.
vORKINGMEN FIGHT BEHIND BARRICADES
IN THE STREETS OF ANTWERP.
.,J. THE MILITIA OF THE KINGDOM ORDERED
oIT-DESPERATE RIoTING AT GRAMMoNT
AND AT MONS WHERE DYNA-
MITE WAS USED

AND AT MON> DlNA
MITE WAS USED.
rrussels. April 1.-THE industrial revolution
.ca;nst the Chamber of Deputies is in full prog
,ass and deeds of violence are reported from
most of the centres Of industry in the kingdom
Tho Government has issued q decree calling out
al, the militia for the defence of the State. This
means the mobilization of about $4,000 troops
AGAINST the workingmen Extraordinary mill
,arv measures will he adopted tomorrow to pre-
serve order in this city. Strong reinforcemcnts
NJ chasseurs and carbineers are arriving with
every train this evening. Every officer has
cevcd city map which is marked neutral
zone from which the crowds are to be excluded
In this zone are the Palais de la Nation, where
Parliament meets all the Ministerial bureaux
and the Royal Palace.
A thousand dock laborers in Antwerp joined
the universal suffrage movement to day.
The strikers cut off communication with
the vessels lying at the quays by
throwing their eangways into the river. They
at length became so threatening that the military
had 10 n, called out 10 preserve order Many of
the men employed about the wharvcs continued
their work as usual and this fact influenced the
strikers against them In the course of the
morning the strikers many of whom had been
drinking freely. made attack the workers
The latter made a weak attempt to defend them
Selves but they would in all probability have
been driven away had it not been for the gen
darmes. Some of the attacking party were armed
with revolvcrs, and when the police intervcned
10 protect the non-strkers the strikers showed
no hesitancy in using their weapons. The gen
darmes, who also had weapons, were quick to
respond to the fire directed against them, and it
Is thought that several of the strikers were
wounded A number of the ringleaders among
the strikers were captured by the gendarmes ami
locked up.
Dispatches from Antwerp tonight show that
the situation in that city has grown more threaten
ing hourly since noon. The strikers hal gathered
repeatedly in large crowds throughout the north
ern district before o'clock. As often as the
police dispersed them they summoned hundreds
more to their aid and reassemblcd little after
o'clock squadron Of police, riding with Drawn
swords against the workingmen, were overwhelmed
with showers of stones and timbers. The police
retired in confusion. While the reserves were
being summoned the strikers threw mp barricades
In the side streets. Women and children haSten
from the houses with firearms
When another squadron of police, supported by
q detachment of the Civic Guard tried half an
hour later to drive back the mob. they were met
with yolleys from the revovers and rifles of the
men behind the barricades. Many of the soldiers
were wounded and were removed to the hospital.
More military were summoned, and after two
charges carried the barricades. The strikers re-
treated firing. Crowds still gathering IN the
northern district tonight, and more lighting Is
expected. The concert halls of the city are
empty. Several theatres are closed The petro-
leum reservoirs are guarded by militia
The strikers at Mons nave resorted TO the
+bnir nd uui-
versal suffrage bomb which had been placed
close to the Petit Washes Church exploded this
morning with great violence, shattcring the
stained glass windows of the church ana dong
other damage There is, of course, no clcw - the
perpetrators but the act is generally ascrlbed 10
the Socialists. many of whom are among the
strikers
The strikers at Mons filed the drinking places
and uttered all manner Of threats against the
Government and as the day wore on they be-
came emboilened and determined to take pos
session of the town for a labor procession Ihelr
intention was known TO the authorities, who nave
MANY spies among the workmen, and when the
mob. singing the Carmagnole and the MarSeli-
laise attempted TO march through thc streets
they were met by strong detachment OF inc
Civic Guard The usual order was given Tor
the strikers to disperse. but no attention was
Maid 70 il by the strikers. IIootng and yelling,
they attempted TO march on, when the order was
given for the Civic Guard to prepare to hTe.
The mob defed the guard to fire .pon them, anu
threw heavy stones. bottles and other missiles
st them The Guard fired upon the crowd, Dut
the act only infuriated the strikers ana th@r
Umpathizers and a charge was made upon 'he
Guard -
A desperate handto-hand conflict ensu"' Inc
main body Of the strikers was broken up "u'
groups of them could be seen in the slde she.s
leading from the main thoroughiare' Inc o''u'
was long and bitterly contested. but finally the
Civic Guard were victorious 1t is known 'ha'
four Of the miners were killed Many of the
rioters were wounded, and several were taken u
the hospital. II is thought that the exact mum
Der of the wounded will never be known as soiii'
Of them were carried away by their friends to
prevent their falling into the hands OF the au
thortjes Fourteen soldiers were wounded in tins
fight, and three Will not recover. They were IT,
moved TO the hospital, where their ante-mortcn
statements were taken for tie Public Prosecutor
The killing OF the four strikers has addeo
qreatlv TO the excitement in the town, and there
IA danger Of a more serious outbreak. Men ano
women from the ad jaccnt mining villages are
hoching into Mons, and the authoieles aro
anxiously awaiting further developments MON
is the centre of the great Borinagc coal-mlnihs
district Thrce-fourths of all the miners III Del
GUM are employed in this district.
Meetings i'm favor of universal suffrage ar
being held throughout the country, am
great excitement prevails at all OF then'
Everywhere the speakers declare that 'h'
time has come for the down-tro1den worKingma'
to assert his right 10 voice in the governn'h
Of the country, and imprisoned apIral' are m''
to those who live by toll 10 leave their worF
and TO joia the great demonstration now II
progress.
The cotton yarn. lace. linen and woollen mi'
and factories in GrammOnt. in East Flanders, arr
affected, largo number of the operatives in th"s'
Industries having joined in the strike movement
Some OF the enthusiastic and hot-boodc'
strikers at Grammcnt assembled in the Cai'