The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-04-18
BELLICERENT BELCIANS.
The Strike for the Ballot Grows
u More Threatening.


give Of the Strikers Killed and Six Fa-
tally Wounded - Three of Fourteen
Wounded Soldiers Dying-strikers BAR
ricade the Streets at Antwerp.
BRUSSELS, April 1S.-The cowardly MS
sault on Mayor Bulls made by strikers on
Sunday gave rise to an excited discussion
at yesterdays meeting Of the municipal
council. Some of the councilmen ex-
pressed deep indignation at the outrage
perpetrated upon the mayor, and proposed
that delegation be appointed to wait
upon Mr.. Bulls and express the councils
sympathy with him. 1t was also proposed
that the police measures ordered by the
mayor be approved by the council. These
proposals were objected to by minority
ef the members of the council, the oppo-
nents Of the mayor holding that his orders
70 the police and his hostile attitude
towards the strikers were the sole cause
Of the attack that had been made upon
him. They claimed that everything the
mayor had done had tended to aggravate
the excited feelings of the workingmen,
and instead of pursuing conciliatory
course he had. by his stubbornness, caused
the trouble that had befallen him. After
. heated debate the proposals were adopted.
I The strikers at Mons have resorted to
the use Of dynamite to enforce their de-
mands for universal suffrage. A bomb
which had been placed close to the Petit
Washes church exploded with great vio-
lence, snattering the stained glass win
dows Of the church and doing other dam
age. This act seems to have acted as an
Incentive to the strikers to commit further
outrages The strikers filed the drinking
places, and indulged in all manner of
threats against the government, and as the
DAY wore on they became emboldened and
determined to take possession of the town
for labor procession. The intentions
were made known to the authorities, who
have many spies among the workmen, and
when the mob, singing the "Carmagnole"
Rnd the "Marseillaise," attempted to
march through the streets thay were met
By strong detachment of the civic guard.
The usual order was given for the
strikers to disperse, but no attention was
paid to it by the strikers. Hooting and
yelling, they attempted to march on, when
the order was given for the civic guard to
prepare to fire. The mob defied the guards
% fire upon them, and threw heavy stones,
bottles and other missiles at them. The
guard fired upon the crowd but this did
not effect their dispersal On the contrary,
h only infuriated them, and charge en-
masse was made upon the guard.
The battle was long and bitterly con-
tested, but finally the guard. finding them
pelves outnumbered and overpowered by
The 5000 rioters, charged without waiting
Tor orders. Five of the mob were killed on
kho spot and seven wounded, six of whom
viii probably die. The rioters at once bore
nn both the dead and the wounded, and
sumo hcartrending scenes took place The
whole town is in q state bordering on
fIenzy.
In the fight fourteen soldiers were
wounded, and three of them will not re-
spver. They were removed to the hospital,
where their ante-mortem statements were
baken.
The killing Of the five strikers has added
great ly to the excitement in the town, and
Sbsre is danger of a more serious out
break. Men and women from the adjacent
mining villages are fiocking into Mons,
Rnd the authorities are anxiously awaiting
Further events.
Mons is the center of the great Borinage
soal mining district. Three-fourths of all
Me miners in Belgium are employed in
kAis district.
Meetings in favor of universal suffrage
hfe being held throughout the country
pnd great excitement prevails at all of
them, The feeling of unrest continues 10
spread slowly but surely, and deeds OF
Violence are being reported from most OF
he industrial centers. There Is no deny
1ng the fact that the crisis is acute.
The army of the discontented has been
lmgely augmented. At Antwerp thou
nsnd dock laborers joined the movement,
md attacked the men who remained MT
work. When the gendarmcs came to the
ssscue the strikers used firearms, and the
Sf1cers replied with volley. Several Of
ths strikers were wounded and many ar.
essts made.
Dispatches from Antwerp this morning
hhow that the situation in that city has
grown more threatening. The strikers
gathered repeatedly in large crowds
throughout the northern districts, and as
ezten as the police dispersed them they
Summoned hundreds more to their aid and
tsassemblod. A squadron of police riding
with drawn swords against the working
men were overwhelmed with showers oi
pzones and timbers, and retired in con
fRsion. While the reserves were being
NMmmoned the strikers threw up barri
nades in the side streets, while women and
Hhildren hastened from the houses with
IRE arms When another squadron o.
police supported by II detachment of tn,
Aiyic guard tried half an hour later Il
Rive back the mob they were met with
Rolleys from the reyolyers and rifles o.
4hs men behind the barricades Many o
Me soldiers were wounded and were re
moved to the hospital. More militar!
were summoned, and after two charge
aarried the barricades.