The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-03-06
AssAlLED BY A MOB.
Ex-Priest SlatteTy Attempts to Lecture In
Savannah, Ga, and Riot Is Only Pre-
vented by Calling Out the Military.

vented by Calling Out the Military.
SAVANNAH, Feb. 81. tuesday night
was the most exciting night in the his
tory of Savannah For five hours the
city trembled on the verge of religious
riots. The entire white military force
of the city, except the artillery, was
on duty. There are ten infantry COM
panies and the Georgia Hussars, the
latter being dismounted. A mob esti-
mated at from {, 1000 to 5000, the greater
part being Catholics, challenged their
forbearance to the extreme.
For three days it had been apparent
that grave trouble was brewing. The
city had been liberally 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 ap-
pearance here Petitions were circu-
lated asking Mayor Meyers to refuse
permission to the eX-priest to hold his
lecture. The petition said if Slattery
was allowed to speak there would be
disorder and riot. About 500 signed
the petition.
Mayor Meyers issued instructions to
Chief McDermott to have the entire
available police force on hand at Ma
sonic temple. Fifteen policemen were
stationed inside the hall and thirty
others were massed in front.
When Slattery arrived the mob had
not assumed large enough proportions
TO cope with the police, but by o'clock
bowling mob surrounded the hall.
The lecturer had hardly begun before
brickbats and cobble stones began to
rain on the windows The police
closed all the heavy inside shutters,
thus saving the audience from injury,
only two or three being injured by fly
ing glass. The rest of the police force
was called out and fifty 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 po-
! lice. Before o'clock the mob had
grown to between 1900 and 4,OOC
! people Window after window IN Ma
sonic temple was smashed. Cries OF
"I[ill him." down with Slattery,"
Death to the renegade, were heard.
Chief McDeruott summoned the
mayor just before the lecture closed at
$50 and it was apparent that it meant
the loss of many lives for the lecturer
and audience to leave the hall. The
mob hisscd at the police and hoOted
at their orders to dispersc. The mill
tary alarm was sent in, but when 1t
sounded the mob deridcd it.
The Georgia Hussars were the first
to respond. The organization con-
tanned thirty men. The mob evidently
believed this was all 1t was intended to
bring out and laughed at them as they
drew up in front of the hall. Soon
after four companies of the Savannah
Volunteer Guards, under Col. 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 two single
lines and charged the mob with fixed
bayonets in hope of breaking it. The
mob was showed back slowly, but re
fused to break and occasionally rocks
were thrown at the hall. Six com
panies from the First regiment came
up soon afterwards. making clever
companies on the ground.
In the hall the audience was still
penned up, some of the women crying
and those who ventured to glance ou
saw the mob and the long lines of mill
tary in all directions, but found moth
ing to encourage them. The militar.
was deployed so as to drive the mol
back and form hollow square, abou
the hall. While consultation OF tn
commanding officers and mayor wa
held Capt Dillon, one OF the mos
prominent Catholics of this city, ten
dered his services as peacemake1
! He brought Vicar General Caffert
to the scene of trouble. The vica
general addressed the mob. "Thi
man, Slattery," said he, 'can do you
church no harm. You are bringin
disgrace upon your religion by you
conduct 1t can meet with but cor
demnation. l plead with you to di:
=. perse and go home" A few OF thcs
. he addressed shook the vicar genera
y by the hand and left, but the majorit
stood still. Maj. Mildrem and other
\ urged the mob to dispersc, but to Il
purpose With a double line of so
diers block was formed and while TIL
!, rest Of the military kept the crow
: back nearly all of the audience passe
Q out of the hall.
Slattery and his wife and few me
remained in the hall. w. w. Gordol
n of the First Georgia cavalry informe
J. Slattery's wife that it was his intel
, ton to leave the First regiment ar
Il the Hussars to protect the hall whi
N the Guards battalion escorted Slater
a- to the Pulaski house.
a Slattery was so buried in the mid
le of the military that the mob could NJ
J. see him. At the hotel a mob of 500
10 GOO gathered. The military made
solid mass in front Of the entranc
le presented bayonets aud Slattel
10 walked in uniniured. At Masonic hs
,e the other companies remained as
Mt guard for Mrs. Slattery and to preve
n, damage to property. Mrs Slate
as was placed in carriage, and with
ds strong force of police was brought
~ the hotel.
op Several policemen were so injur
es that they had to be sent home. s.
to eral Of the militia were wounded
ye being struck by rocks Slattery's ms
of arer was knocked senseless with