The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-02-28
BIG RELIGIOUS RIOT
Savannah, Ca, Experiences q
Night of the Widest
Disorder.
STATE MILITIA CALLED OUT.
Lecture by Ex-Priest Slat-
ter the Cause of the
Trouble.

hours last night this city yctrembled ON
the verge of religious riots. The entire
white military force of the city, except
the artillery, was ON duty. A mob.
estimated at from 5000 to 5, 900, the
greater part being Catholics. challenged
their forbearance to the extreme. But
for the GOODNESS of Mayor Meyers and
the officers commanding the troops
bloodshed might have been the result.
Bayonet charges were made several
times to clear the streets, but the mob
which had gathered about Masonic
Temple, one Of the prominent buildings
of the city and situated in the heart of
Savannah,
stubborniy Refused to Retire.
For three days it had been apparent
that grave trouble was brewing. The
city had been literally placarded with
notices that ex-Priest Slattery and his
wife, described as an ex-nun, would
lecture here on Catholicism. Members
OF the Ancient Order of Hibernians at
once took steps to prevent their appear
ance here. Petitions were circulated
asking Mayor Meyers TO refuse pernis-
sion to the ex-priest to hold his lecture.
When it was presented to the mayor by
q committee of 12 Catholics he handed
them q written opinion from the corpo-
ration attorney to the effect that he, as
mayor, had no power to abridge
The Right Of Speech
guaranteed by the constitution of the
United States and Georgia.
All day it had been rumored that
mObs would come from different sec
tions OF the city and that Slattery would
be killed. The fact that he was to put
on the garb Of priest in the course of
his lecture spread like wildfre and
raised an intense feeling among Cath
olics. Mayor Meyers issued instruc-
tions to Chief McDermott to have the
entire available police force on hand at
Masonic Temple.
BY 8 8o'clock howlilg mob of over
1900 surrounded Masonic hall. In the
hall were an audience Of about 400. in
Guiding number aof ladies'. The leo
turer had hardly begun before
BFfckbafs and CObblesG@mea
began to rain ON the windows. The
police had closed all the heavy inside
shutters, thus saving the audience from
injury, only two or three being injured
by falling glass. The rest Of the police
force was called out and so men were
soon in front of the hall. The mob
made rushes TO secure an entrance but
were driven back time after time by the
police. Before 8 o'clock the mob had
grown TO probably between 5000 and
1000 people, Window after window
in the Masonic Temple was crushed.
The lecture closed at $50, and it was ap-
parent that it
Meant the Loss Of Many Lives
for the lecturer and the audience To-
leave the hall. AS the ex.priest was
about TO go ont on the street with his
friends the chief .of police stopped them
and refused to allow anyone to no down
stairs. Outside Mayor Meyers and
Colonel William Garrard were lin con-
sultation. The mob Missed at the police
and hooted at their orders 10 dispense.
The military alarm, 4 | taps of all fire
bells In the city, was sent In. The
Georgia Hussars, dismounted, under
command of Major Mildrem, were
The First 20 Respond.
The organization contained so men In
all The mob evidently believed that
was all there were to be brought cut
and laughed at them as they drew M in
front of the hall. Soon after the traann
Of other military was heard and four
companies of the Savannah Volunteer
Guards under command OF Colonel
Garrard, swung into position in front Of
the hall with fixed bayonets and rifles
loaded with ball cartridges. BY order
of the mayor the guards formed In tsro
single lines and charged the mob with
fixed bayonets i'm hope of breaking ii
The mob was
Showed hack sIowIy.
but refused 10 break, and occasionally
rocks were thrown at the hall. Six
companies from the First regiment. m.
der Lieutenant Colonel Reilly. came m
soon afterwards, making Ill companies
In all ON ths ground. While consul
tation of the commanding officers and
mayor was held, Captain J. 81. Dillon.
one of the most prominent Catholics al
the city, rendered his services as 4
peacemaker. He brought Vicar General
Cafferty, who is IN charge OF the diocese
in the absence of Bishop Becker. TO the
scene or trouble. The vicar general ad-
dressed d portion of the mob, requesting
them
To nisperse and Co Hesns.
"a few Of those he addressed left. INIT
the majority stood still Major Mildrern
and others urged the mob to disperse.
but to mo purpose.
With q double line of soldiers block
was formed, and, while the rest of the
military kept the crowd bach, nearly Iii
Of the audience passed out OF the hall
amid hisses. Slattery and his wife and
. few men remained In the hail. The
four companies IL guards were TN
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