The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-01
Streets Filled with M0bs That Shouted
down with the OctrOi" and death
to the Municipal Authorities"
RUMORS FROM P~ERNAMBUCO
PeixOto's Cruiser America Re-
ported to Have Arrived.
BraZiPs President Said to Be Getting
His Fleet Together with the Object
of Ending the Rebellion.

PALERMO, Dec. 31.-It would seem that
the rioting and disorder which has pre-
vailed in several parts of Sicily for some
time past is not yet at an end, and the ar
rival of strong endorsements of troops is
anxiously awaited by all law-abiding citi-
Zens. At Trapani, not far from this city.
news has been received Of a fresh riot, and
1t is said that the reports in circulation
have SO excited the people of Trapani that
disorder is anticipated at that place.
The latest riot, according to the dis
patches from Trapani, occurred at Castel-
vetrano, a town OF 10000 inhabitants, stu
ated about thirty miles from Trapani. 1t
appears that at a given signal a body of road
makers left work and attacked the octroi
station. The men were evidently prepared
for the outbreak, as they had secured pos
session of a number of cans of petroleum
which they had hidden by the roadside
with a number of revoivers. Heavy sticks
or poles to make pixies or scythes were at
tached. The road makers organized them
selves into a column and. with shouts of
Down with the octrof' and Death to the
municipal authorities marched on the
octroi station. burned the sentry box and
two of the local octroi officers and then
set fire to the central octroi office, the tax
Offices, the record Offices, destroying all
the archives and doing other damage. The
whole town was soon in an uproar, the
peaceable citizens flying for their lives or
locking themselves in their residences,
which they promptly barricaded and pre-
pared to defend to the utmost with such
means as they had at their command.
The mob, in the meanwhile, had broken
into a number of wine shops, and, rolling
the barrels of wines and spirits out into the
streets, they soon drank themselves into a
state of madness and were ready for fur
Their acts of violence. AT a signal from the
leaders of the moi the column was re-
formed, and. shouting and yelling like mad
men, and greatly reinforced by the lawless
element of the town and its neighborhood,
the disorderly road makers LED the way tc
the prison, which they attacked with stone
and s-ledgehammers in spite of the gallar
defense made by the authorities of the pris
on and the guards and keepers of that es-
Enlistment. Finally the mob forced in the
doors, severely handled the defenders of
the prison and succeeded in liberating all
the prisoners, who soon Joined with the mob
in drinking the stolen liquors and acts of
violence. After celebrating ~thesvictory over
the prison authorities, the mob attempted
to destroy the residence of the Mayor, the
banker and the postoffice.
During all this time the town had been
practically in the hands of the rioters, the
local police force being utterly unable TO
cope with the mob. the houses of d number
of citizens who were obnoxious TO the rioters
were broken into and despoiled of their
most valuable contents, and their occu-
pants were compelled to fly for their lives.
In addition, much other property was de-
stroyed and a number of people were beat
Ell and otherwise ill-treated by the rioters.
TIL local authorities, however, had been
able to communicate with Trapani and
other towns, with the result that a force of
troops and police were sent to the scene Of
the riot. But though the troops and police
were able to save the bank and postoffice
from destruction, they were unable to re-
store order, though the mob was charged
several times and though a number Of ar
rests were made. Finally the officers in
m of the troops were Obliged to
send for additional reinforcements, which
were hurried to the spot as soon as pos
sible, but the rioters were dispersed.
Owing to the increasing disorder In Scilly
and the tardy action of the local authorities
in quelling a very serious riot which has oc-
Cured at Castlevetrano General Lavriano,
commander of the army corps at Palermo,
has been appointed temporarily project OF
Palermo. The present project of Palermo
has been removed, and his inact:on will be
made the subject of ar Investigation.