St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-27
MOBS AND GUNS
Savannah, Ca, Experiences a
Wild Night Of Mad
Riot,
ALL OVER AN EX-PRlEST.
Slattery's Criticisms of the
Catholic Church Cause
the Disorder.
STATE TROOPS CALLED OUT
But Eleven Companies Of Mil
itary Fail to Overawe
the Rioters.
STATE TROOPS CALLED OUT
HALL BADLY WRECKED.
The Audience Penned Up for
Hours Before Being
Rescued.

SAVANNAH, Ca, Feb. 26.-This
has been the most exciting night IN
the history of Savannah. For nVe
hours the city has trembled on the
verge of religious riots. The entlre
white military force of the city, eX-
cept the artillery, has been on duty.
There are ten infantry companies
and the Georgia huSSars, the latter
being dismounted. A mob estimated
at from three to five thousand, the
greater part being Catholics, has
challenged their forbearance to the
extreme. But for the GOODNESS OF
Mayor Meyers and the officers COM
manding 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 arem-
pie, one of the prominent buildingI
of the city, and situated in the heart
of Savannah, stubbornly refused to
retire. For three days it had been
apparent that
GRAVE TROUBLE WAS BREW
ING.
The city has been literally pla-
carded with notices that ex-Priest
Slattery and his wife, described as
an eX-nun, would lecture here on
Catholicism" Members of the An
cient Order of Hibernians at once
took steps to prevent their appear
ance here. Petitions were circulated
asking Mayor Meyers to refuse per-
mission to the ex-priest to hold his
lecture. The petition said that if
SIattery was allowed to speak there
would be disorder and riot. About
800 signed the petition. When it
was presented to the mayor by
committee of twelve Catholics, in
cluding the presidents of the two di
visions of the a. O. H., 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 guaran-
teed by the constitution of the
United States and Georgia. In his
opinion, the city attorney said that
there could be no disorder or trouble
if those who would be offended by
Slattery's remarks would stay away
from his lecture. He urged all to do
so. Mayor Meyers aIS5 asked the
committee to advise all Catholics to
keep away from the lecture.
II cannot stop this man from
lecturing," said the mayor, but L
can prevent disorder, and l will do
so. If the police are not sufficient to
do so, the military will be appealed
to. Riot will not be tolerated"
The committee said it was their
desire to avoid trouble, and that
they would use their influence in
that direction. They did so, but
their efforts utterly failed. All of to-
day it had 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 a priest in the course
of his lecture spread like wild fire,
and raised an intense feeling among
Catholics. Mayor Meyers issued in
have the entire available police
force on hand at Masonic Temple.
Fifteen policemen were stationed in
side the hall, and thirty others were
massed in front. By Z o'clock sew
eral hundred had collected When
Slattery arrived the mob had not
assumed large enough proportions
to cope with the police.
By 8 o'clock a bowling mob of over
$500 surrounded Masonic hall. In
the hall was an audience of about
400, including number of ladies.
The lecturer had hardly begun be-
fore brickbats and cobblestones be-
gan to rain on the windows. The DO
lice 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 hall. The mob hade rushes tC
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 4,OOC
people. Window after window in
the Masonic Temple was crushed.
CRIES OF "KILL HIM."
Down with Slattery," Death tt
the renegade" was heard. Chief Nc
Dermott summoned the mayor The
lecture closed at $50 o'clock, and it was
apparent that it meant the loss Of
many lives for the lecturer and the
audience to leave the hall Up stair.
q number of members of secret or
ganiZations who had cheered Slattery':
declaration that he belonged to them
had gathered around the ex-priest to
defend him as he left the hall. A num-
Der, 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 police stopped
them and refused to allow any one t.
go down stairs. Outside Mayor Mey
ers and Col. William Garrard were il
consultation. The mob Kissed at tn
o1 @laos,, !,