The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-27
The CATHOLICS
Angry at Ex-Priest SIattery's
Utterances.
Military and Police on Guard to Pre-
vent Mob Violence.

has been apparent that grave trouble was
brewing here. The city had been libcr.
ally placarded with notices that ex.Priest
Slattery and his wife, described as an ex'
nun. would lecture here ~ Catholicism.
II cannot stop this man from lectur-
ing" said the mayor, in reply to remon.
strances from q delegation of Catholics.
'but can prevent disorder, and l will do
so. II the police are not sufficient TO do
so, the military will be appealed to. Riot
will not be tolerated"
The committee stated that IL was their
desire to avoid trouble, and that they
would use their influence in that direction.
They did so, but their efforts utterly
failed.
Threatened with Death.
All day il had been ruinored 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 raised
an intense feeling among Catholics. Flf
teen policemen were stationed inside Ma
sonic hall and 80 others were massed in
front
BY u o'clock several hundred had col.
lccted. When Slattery arrived, the mob
had not assumed large enough proper
tions TO cope with the police. BY So'clock
bowling mob of over 1900 surrounded
Masonic hall. In the hall were an audi
ence of about 400, including number 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 inside shutters; this saved
tho audience from injury, only two or
three being injured by flying glass
The rest Of the police force was called
ous and 81 officers were soon in front OF
the hall. The mob made rushes to secure
an entrance, but were driven back time
after time by the police. Before o'clock
the mob had grown to probably between
5000 and 1000 people.
The lecturer closed at $50, and it was
apparent that it meant the loss of many
lives for the lecturer and tho audience TO
leave the hall Upstairs a number OF
members Of secret organizations who had
cheered Slattery's declaration that he be-
longed to them, had gathered around the
ex-priest to defend him as they left the
hall A number, 1t was evident, had come
armed, in anticipation of such trouble
The Call For Military.
AS Lne cA-pTleSb was dDOuO I'd ledNb tnt
hall with his friends, the chief of police
stopped them and refused TO allow any
ono to go down stairs. Outside Mayor
Myers and Colonel Garrard were in con.
sultation. The mob Kissed at the police
and hooted at their orders to disperse. The
military alarm, IL taps on all fire bells in
the city, was sent in, but when IL sounded,
the mob dcrided 1t.
T.. III . n
Captain Dillon brought Vicar General
Cafferty TO the scene OF the trouble. The
vicar general addressed a portion of the
mob: "This man Slattery," said he, "cdn
do your church no harm. You are bring
ing disgrace upon your religion by your
conduct here tonight. 1t can but meet
condemnation. plead with you to dis
perse and go home; do not render it neees-
sary to shed blood here tonight"
A few left, but the majority stood still.
Major Mildrim and others urged the mob
to disperse, but TO no purpose. With o
double row OF soldiers block was formed,
and while the rest of the military kept
the crowd back nearly all Of the audience
passed out of the hall amid Kisses.
Slattery and his wife and "A few men re.
mained in the hall Mrs. Slattery was
told that the First regiment and the Hus.
sars would protect the hall, while the
Guards battalion escorted Slattery to the
Pulaski House.
Military Escort For slattery.
The four companies of guards were then
banked about the door OF the hall with
the police. and Slattory was brought
down. AS he came with eight policemen
and the mayor, there was n howl from tho
mob, but the military, charging bayonets,
pushed il back in all directions.
Slattery was placed i'm the center OF the
military, and, headed by a detachment OF
mounted police and with foot police on the
sides the four companies OF infantry,
amid Kisses and jeors, marched 30 the
Pulaski House, followed by hundreds.
Slattery was so buried in the midst OF the
military that the mob could not see him
Word had got among them that an assault
would be promptly met with bullets.
At tho hotel a mob OF 800 or 600 had
gathered The military made q solid mass
i'm front OF the entrance, presented bayon.
cts. and Slattcry walked In uninjured A
large detachment of police was left at che
hotel To guard him over night. Every
door Co the hotel was locked and guarded.
At Masonic hall the other seven com.
panies remained as guard for Mrs. Slat.
terry and Co prevent further damage C
property. Finding that Slattery had gone,
the mob largely dwindled away Mrs
Slattery was placed I'm "A carriage later In
the night, and, with strong force Of 20
lice. was brought 10 the hotel. The mill.
tary are still on duty.
Several policemen were so badly injured
that they had TO be sent home. Several OF
the military were wounded by being
struck by rocks Slattery's manager was
knocked senseless by sandbag