The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-02-28
GREAT RIOT IN SAVANNAH.

been the most exciting night in the
history Of savannah. For five hour.
the city has trembled on the verge OF
religious riots. The entire white mill.
tary force Of the city, except the artil-
lcry, has been on duty. There are ten
infantry companies and the Georgia
lIussars, the latter being dismounted
The city has been literally placarded
with notices that ex-Prie.t Slattery
and his wife, described a. an ex-nun
would lecture here. on Catholicism
Members OF the Ancient Order OF
liibernians, a secret Catholic organiza-
ton, at once took steps asking Mayor
Myers % refuse to permit the ex-
priest to hold his lecture. The petition
said that if SIatterly was allowed to
speak there would disorder and riot
About 800 signed the petition. When
II was presented to the mayor
by committee Of twelve Catho-
lies, including the presidents OF
two divisions Of the \. .. H., he
handed them a written opinion from
the corporation attorney to the effect
that a. mayor he had no power to
abrldge the rights OF free speech guar
ant"ed by the Constitution Of the
| nited 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
>lattcrly's remarks would stay away
from his lecture.
he committee stated that it was
their desire to avoid trouble and that
they would use their influence i'm that
direction. They did so but their efforts
utterly failed. 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 bowling mob of
over loo surrounded Masonic hall. In
the ball was an audience Of about 400,
including a number of ladies. The
lecturer had hardly begun before brick
on the windows.
Before 8 O'Clock the mob had grown
to probably between 5000 and 1000
people. Window after window in the
hall was crashed. Cries of Kill him ~
Down with Slattery. :" Down with the
renegade" We're heard. Chief McDer-
mott summoned the mayor. The lee
ture closed at 9 80 o'clock, and it was
apparent that it meant the loss of many
lives fer the lecturer and the audience
to leave the hall.
As the ex-priest was about to leave
with his friends, the chief of police
stopped them and refused to allow any
one To go down stairs. Outside, May
or Myers and Col. VIM. Garrard were
in consultation The mob Kissed at
the police and hooted at their orders
To disperse. The military alarm, elev-
en- taps on all fire bells in the city was
hut 4 4.
derided it.
Firing on your military" some of
the leaders shouted.
40 hell with them: they can't save
Slattery."
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 refused to break, and Oc-
casionally rocks were thrown at the
hall.
In the hall the audience was still
penned up, some of the women were
crying and those who ventured to
glance at the risk of broken head
and saw the mob found nothing to en-
courage them.
Nicar-Generai Catferty who is in
charge of the diocese, in the absence
of Bishop Becker, addressed portion
of the mob.
"This man Slattery," said he, "can do
your church no harm. You are bring
ing disgrace on your religion by your
conduct here tonight. 1t can meet
with nothing but condemnation. |
plead with you to disperse and go
home; do not render it necessary to
shed blood here this night
A few of those he addressed shook
the vicar general by the hand and left
but the ma jOrity stood still.
Four companies of guards were then
banked about the door of the hall with
the police and Slattery was brought
down. As he came out with eight po-
licemen and the mayor, there was a
howl from the mob, but the military
charging bayOnets, pushed it back in
all directions. Slattery was placed in
the centre of the military and headed
| by detachment of mounted police and
with foot police on the sides, the -four
companies of infantry, amid Kisses and
ieers, marched to the Pulaski House
/ followed by hundreds. Slattery was
so buried in the midst of the military
| that the mob could not see him. The
mob had got among them that any as.
sault would be promptly met with bull
| let.
| At the hotel about 600 had gathered
| The military made solid mass il
| front OF the entrance, presented bayO
nets and Slattery walked in injured
y large detachment of police was left
at the hotel to guard him over night
Every door of the hotel was locked an,
| guarded. At Masonic hall the OF hel
seven companies remained as a guart
for Mrs. Slattery, and to prevent fur
Their damage to property. Fi.din!
that Mr.. Slattery had gone. the moi
largely dwindled away, Mrs. Slater,
was placed in a carriage later anC
with a strong force of police wa
brought to hotel. Mrs. Slattery j
booked for a lecture to women tO-mOr
row afternoon and Slattery for a lee
ture to men tomorrow night. Threat
are made tonight that they will b
driven from the city tomorrow.