The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-02-27

Only Thing That Saved Great
BIoodshed
Savannah, Ca, Feb 2e-This has
been the most exciting night in the
history of Savannah.
For five hours, the city has trembled
on the verge of religious riots.
The entire white military force of
the city. except the artillery, has been
| on duty. There are ten infantry COM
panie5 and the Georgia huSSaTS. the
| latter being dismounted.
A mob, estimated at from 3, 600 to
! 5000, the greater part being Catholics,
has challenged their forbearance to the
extreme.
But for the GOODNESS of Mayor Mey-
ers and the officers commanding the
| troops, blood might have been shed.
BayOnet Charges Neoeggary.
Bayonet charges we're made several
times to clear the streets. but the mob
which had gathered about the Ma
I buildings of the city and situated in
! the heart of Savannah, stubbornly re
| fused to retire
For three days it had been apparent
I 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
I of the Ancient Order of Hibernians at
once took steps to prevent their ap-
! pearance, Petitions were circulated,
! asking Mayor Meyers to refuse permits
sion to the ex-priest to hold~1lis lee
ture, The petitions said that if Stat
terry we're allowed to speak, there
would be disorder and riot. About 800
persons signed the petition. When 1t
was presented to the mayor by q COM
{. mittee Of IL Catholics. including the
I presidents of two divisions of the An
cient order of Hfbernfans. he handed
them a written opinion from the cor
poration attorney to the effect that he,
as mayor. had no power to abridge
the right of speech guaranteed by the
Z constitution of the United States and
Georgia. In his opinion. the city at
4 torney said, there could be no disorder
or trouble if those who we're offended
! by Slatterys remarks, would stay
4 away from his lecture He urged all
committee to advise all Catholics to
keep away from the lecture.
Need Not Listen.
: Il can't stop this man from leCtur-
| ing" said the mayor, who is a Hebrew,
but can prevent disorder and will
do 80. IF the police are not sufficient
, force to do SO the military viii be ap-
; pealed to. Blot will not be tolerated"
The committee stated that it was
their desire to avoid trouble, and that
J they would use their influence in that
direction, They did 50, but - thei i
I "a
come from different sections Of the
. city and that Slattery would be killed
, The fact that he was to put onsAthe
garb of q priest in the course of his
lecture spread Ike wild fire and raised
7 an intense feeling among Catholics.
: Mayor Meyers issued instructions te
Chief McDernott to have the entire
available police force on hand at the
Masonic temple. Fifteen policemen
we're stationed inside the hall an6
thirty others were massed in front
E BY o'clock several hundred had col
: mob had not assumed large enough
1 proportions to cope with the police.
a HovIinS Mob,
BY s o'clock a bowling mob Of oyel
a 1900 surrounded Masonic hall In Eht
/ hall were an audience Of about 400
= including a number of ladies. The
: lecturer had hardly begun before
/, brickbats and ,cobblestones began t.
j rain on the windows. The police haC
closed all the heavy inside shutters
e thus saving the audience from injury
9 only two or three being injured b,
4 falling glass. The rest of the police
f force was called out and fifty mel
= were soon in front of the hall. TIL,
mob made ruSheS to secure al
entrance but We're driven back by tn
force. Before 8 O'Clock the mob hat
grown to between 5000 and 1900. Win
:. dow after window in the Masonic TEN
+ pie was crashed, Cries of ''kill him.
/ ''Down with Slattery, Death to TIL
: renegade" were heard.
l. Chief McDermott summoned tn
!, mayor. The lecture closed at SO
Il o'clock and it was apparent that /
= meant the loss Of many lives for tn
y lecturer and audience to leave the hal
/, Upstairs a number Of members O
secret organizations who had cheere
!. Slattery'S declaration that he belOnge
! to them, had gathered around the ca
:, priest to defend him as he left the hal
/ A number, it was evident. had com
! armed in anticipation OF trouble 4
the ex-prieSt was about to leave tn
!, hall with his friends, The chief of DC
= lice stopped them ana refused to a
low any one to so down stairs. Cut
; side, Mayor Meyers and Colonel Gel
o. rard were in consultation. The no
Kissed at the police and ilolted at thei
( orders to dispense. The military ainrn
a. eleven taps on all fire bells in the cit!
\, was sent in, but when it sounded tn
4, mob derided it.
d, The Law DeHed.
+ "gring on your military" some c
/ the leaders shouted.
~ 14To hell With them; they cant say
Slattery"
y The Georgia Hussars, dismountet
- under command of Major Mildren
T. I were the first to respond. The organ
L zation contained 80 men in all. Th
e. mob evidently believed this was all
= was intended to bring out and laushe
at them as they drew up in front
* the hall. Soon after, the tramp Of otht
military was heard and four companie
Of the Savannah volunteer guard
g under command of Colonel Gerrar,
sr swung into position in front Of the Ia
With fixed bayonets and rifles loade
with ball cartridges. BY order of til