The Dickinson press., 1895-03-02
A RELIGIOUS RI0l
AN EXCITING OCCASION on THE
STREETS OF SAVANNAH. GA.
Several Thousand Catholics Attemut
To stop Lecture by e.x-Priest
slattery nnl His Wife, an ex-
Nun. Which Nearly Precipi-
tates n bloody Fight.
sLATTERY AND WIFE RESCUED.
Hut Threats Arc Made That They
Will De Driven From the,
City.

Savannah, Ga, Feb. 2S.-This city
mas had the M st exciting night in its
history. For tive hours the CIV ,rrn-
Died 0n the verge nf religious riots.
The entire white military force Of
inc city. e: ccpt the artillery, was Oh
duty. There are ten infantry COM
pahies and the G..Jrgia hussars, TIL,
latter being dismounted. 4 mob est
mated at from 5000 to 5000, the great
er part being Catholics, had challenged
their forbclrance to the extreme. But
for the coolncSs Of Mayor Meyers and
the officers commanding 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
Temple. one Of the prominent build
ings Of the city and situated in the
heart Of Savannah, stubl,ornly refused
to retire.
The cause was the lecture of ex-
Priest Slattery and his wife, nm ex-
nun, on Catholicism. By o'clock a
bowling mob of over 1,5OO surrounded
Masonic hall. In the hall were an
audience Of about 400, including a
number of ladies'. The lecturer had
hardly begun before brickbats and
cobblestones began to rain on the Win
dows. The police 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 We're soon in front
of the hall. The mob made rushcs to
secure an entrance. but were driven
nf I,r,
Before . o'clock the mob had grown
to probably between 5000 and 1900
people. Window after window in the
Masonic temple was crushed. Cries
of "kill him." "Down with Slattery."
''Deatli to the renegade" were heard.
Chief McDermott summoned the may
or. The lecture closed at 9:3O 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
stairs Il number of members of secret
organizations who had chccrcd Slat-
tery's declaration that he belonged to
them. had gathered around the OK
priest to defend him as he left the hall.
A number. 1t was evident, had come
armed in anticipation of trouble. AS
the cX-pricSt was about to leave the
hall with his friends the chief of pO-
lice stopped them and refused to allow
any one to so down stairs. Outside
Mayor Meyers and Col. William Gar
rard We're in consultation. The mob
Kissed at the police and hootcd at
their orders to disperse. The military
alarm. eleven taps of all fire bells in
the city was sent in, but when it
sounded the mob dcridcd it.
Bring OH your military" some Of
the leaders shouted.
''To hell with them. they can't save
Slattcry"
Prominent Catholics addressed the
mob. advising them to 1ispcrse. When
the militia arrived they charged the
mob. driving tllem back short dis
tancc Slattery and his wife were then
escorted to their hotel. followed by n
iowling mob. 4 detachment of police
was left ut the hotel to guard thea,
over night. Every door to the hotel
was locked and guarded. Mrs Slat-
terry Is booked for 4 lecture this after.
noon and Slattery for one tonight.
Threats are made that they will he
driven from the city. Prominent Cath
olics and the priests are using tneir
influence to quell the riotous element
and to induce them topay no attention
to Slatter's attacks on Catholicism
There is great fear that to-day may
bring further trouble of even more
serious character.