The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-02-28

SAVANNAH, GA, Feb. 25.-This
afternoon q committee of twelve lead
ing members of the Ancient Order Of
Hioernians waited on Mayor Myers
and presented him with a petition
signed by about five hundred members
of that order and other Catholics. The
petition stated that it had been learned
that ex-Priest Sl&ttery and his wife,
who is an e1-nun, wanted to lecture
here tomorrow night on Catholicism,
and the signers were satisfied that II
thev were allowed to speak that trou-
bic, disorder and riot would prevail.
In the interest of peace and order they
consequently appealed 10 him not to
ALLOW them to lecture. Mayer Myers,
in reply, presented the committee
from a. D II. with written opinion
from city attorney Adams, who held
that there was no st2tnte or city ordl-
nance which would uphold an order
by the Mayor preventing the lecture:
No breach Of the peace can ensue, said
Mayor Myers, if those who VIII be
offended by Slattery's remarks will
stay away, and the Mayor canrot an
ticipate that he will violate the law in
his expressions. Mayor Myers then
told the committee who were disSatis-
fed with the decision that he was de-
termined to do everything in his
power to prevent disorder at the meet
ing. He advised the committee to
counsel members of the Catholic
churches to remain away from the hall
if they did not care to hear the lecture
peaceably.
The committee stated that it was
their desire to avoid trouble and that
they would use their influence in that
direction. They did so, but their ef-
forts utterly failed. All Of to-day it
has been rumored that mobs would
come from different sections 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 wild fire and raised
an intense 1eeIng among Catholics.
Mayor Myers issued Instructions to
Chief McDermott to have the entire
available police force on hand at Ma
sonic Temple. Fifteen policeman were
Stationed inside the hall and thirty
others were massed in front.
BY O'Clock several hundred had
collected. When Slattery arrived the
mob had not assumed large enough
proportions to cope with the police.
By O'Clock a howling mob Of over
fifteen hundred surrounded Masonic
Hall In the hall were an audience of
about four hundred, including num-
ber of ladies. The lecturer had hardly
begun before brickbats and cobble-
stones began to rain On the windows.
The police had closed all the heavy in
side shutters This saved the audience
from injury, only two or three being
injured by flying glass. The rest of
the police force was called out and
6ftY officers were soon iii front of the
hall.
The meb 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 prob
ably 5000 or 1000 people. Window
after window in the Masonic Temple
was crashed. Cries of "Kill him?"
"Down with Slattery!" "Down the
renegadc!" were heard.
Chief McDcrmelt summoned the
mayor. The lecture closed at $50
o'clock aid j: was apparent that it
meant loss Of many lives for the lee
turer and the audience to leave the hall.
Upstairs a ndmber of members of the
secret organizations, who had cheered
Slattery's declaration that he belonged
to them, had gathered around the ex-
priest to defend him as they left the
hall. A number, it WAS evident, had
come armed in anticipation of suca
trouble AS the e1-pricst was about
to leave the hall with hi, friends, the
chief Of police slapped them and Il
fused to allow any one to g. down
s.airS Outside Mayor Myers and
Gel. Wm. Garrard were in consulta-
ton. The msb hissed at the police
and hooted at their order. 10 disperse.
The military alarm, eleven taps oil all
fre bells in the city, was sent in, bnt
when it sounded the mob dcrided it.