The Princeton union., 1895-02-28
RELIGIOUS RIOT.
AN INTERESTING DIT OF TESTING
NY IN THE HAYWARD TRIAL.
A Witness, Tcstifies That He Saw n
to stop Lecture by ex-Priest
Slattcry and His Wife, an ex-Nun,
which nearly Precipitntes II
bloody Fight. ".-a

Savannah, Ga, Feb. 2S.-Ihis city
has had the st exciting night in its
history. For five hours the city rren-
bled on the verge If religious riots
The entire white military force Of
the city, e: cept the artillery, was Oh
duty. There are ten infantry COM
panles and the Georgia hussars, th.,
latter being dismountcd. A mob est.
mated at from 1900 to 5000, the great
er part being Catholics, had challenged
their forbearance to the extreme But
for the GOODNESS Of Mayor Meyers and
the officers commanding the troops,
blood 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 build
1nSs Of the city and situated in the
heart Of Savannah, stubbornly refused
to retire.
The cause was the lecture Of ex-
Priest Slattery and his wife, an ex-
nun, on Catholicism. BY s o'clock
bowling mob of over 1900 surrounded
Masonic hall. In the hall were an
audience of about 400, including q
number Of ladies. The lecturer had
hardly begun before brickbats and
cobblestones began to rain on the win
doWs. 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 fifty men were soon in front
Of the hail. 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 5000
people. Window after window in the
Masonic temple was crushed. Cries
of "Kill him." "Down with Slattery,'
"Death to the renegade" were heard
Chief McDermott summoned the may
or. The lecture closed at 9:3O o'clock
and 1t was apparent that it meant the
loss of many lives for the lecturer and
the audience to leave the hall. UD
stairs a number of members Of secret
| organizations who had cheered Slat-
tery's declara ton that he belonged to
| them, had gathered around the ex-
| priest to defend him as he left the hail.
A number, it was evident, had come
| armed in anticipation of trouble. AS
the eX-priest was about to leave the
| hall with his friends the chief Of po-
lice stopped them and refused to allow
any one to go down stairs. Outside
| Mayor Meyers and Col. William Gar
rard were in consultation. The mob
| Kissed at the police and hooted at
their orders to disperse. The military
alarm, eleven taps of all fire bells in
the city was sent in, but when it
sounded the mob derided it.
| Bring on your military" some of
! the leaders shouted.
'"ro hell with them, they can't save
Slattery"
Prominent Catholics addressed the
mob, advising them to disperse. When
the militia arrived they charged the
mob, driving them back a short dis
tance Slattery and his wife were then
escorted to their hotel followed by a
howling mob. A detachment Of police
was left at the hotel to guard them
over night. Every door to the hotel
was locked and guarded Mrs Slat-
terry is booked for 4 lecture this after
noon and Slattery for one tonight
| Threats are made that they will be
driven from the city. Prominent Cath
olics and the priests are using their
influence to quell the riotous element
and to induce them to pay no attention
to Skaters attacks on Catholicism.
There is great fear that to-day may
bring further trouble Of even more
serious character.