The morning call., 1895-02-27
EX-PRIEST SLATTERY SURROUNDED
BY AN ANGRY MOB AT
SAVANNAH.
BAYONET CHARGES ARE MADE
ALL THE WHITE MILITARY ON Duty
TO PREVENT ACTS OF
VIOLENCE.


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 companies and the
Georgia Hussars, the latter being dis
mounted.
A mob estimated at from 5000 to 5000
the greater part being Catholics, has chal-
lenged their forbearance to the extreme.
But for the GOODNESS of Mayor Meyers and
the officers commanding the troops, blood
might have been shed. Bayonet charges
We're made several times to clear the
streets, but the mob which had gathered
about Masonic Temple, one of the promi-
nent buildings 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 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 Cath
olicism. Members of the Ancient Order of
Hlbernlans at once took steps to prevent
their appearance here. Petitions were cir
culated asking Mayor Meyers to refuse per-
mission to the ex-priest to hold his lecture.
The petitions said that if Slattery were
allowed to speak there would be disorder
and riot.
About 500 persons signed the petition.
When it was presented to the Mayor by
committee of twelve Catholics, including
the presidents of two divisions of the
Ancient Order of Hibernians, he handed
them written opinion from the corpora
ton attorney to the effect that he, as
Mayor, had no power to abridge the
right OF speech guaranteed by the consti-
tuition of the United States and Georgia.
In his opinion the City Attorney said
there could be no disorder or trouble if
those who were offended by Slattery's
remarks would stay away from his lee
ture. He urged all to do so. Mayor
Meyers also asked the committee to ad-
wise all Catholics to keep away from the
lecture.
~ can't stop this man from lecturing,"
said the Mayor, who is a Hebrew, "but
can prevent disorder and will do SO. If
the police are not sufficient force to do so
the military will be appealed to. Riot will
not be tolerated"
The committee stated that 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 the Mayor was to guard the ex-
priest in the course of his lecture spread
like wildfire and raised an intense feeling
among Catholics.
Mayor Meyers issued instructions to
Chief McDermott to have the entire avail
able police force on hand at Masonic
Temple. Fifteen policemen were sta
toned inside the hall and thirty Others
were massed in front. By o'clock sew
eral hundred had collected. When Stat
terry arrived the mob had not assumed
large enough proportions to cope with the
police. By 8 o'clock bowling mob of
over 1900 surrounded Masonic Hail. In
the hall were an audience of about 400, in
Guiding number of ladies.
The lecture had hardly begun before
brickbats and cobblestones began to rain
on the windows. 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 were soon in front of the hall The
mob made rushes to secure an entrance.
but were driven back by the force Before
8 o'clock the mob had grown to between
5000 and 1000. Window after window in
| the Masonic Temple was crashed.
Cries of "Kill him!" "Down with Stat
teryW "Death to the renegade!' were
heard Chief McDermott summoned the
Mayor.
The lecture closed at $50 P. NJ, and it
was apparent that it meant the loss of
many lives for the lecturer and audience
to leave the hall
Upstairs a number of members of secret
organizations who had cheered Slattery's
declaration that he belonged to them had
gathered around the ex-priest to defend
him as he left the hall.
A number, 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 to go
downstairs. Outside Mayor Meyers and
Colonel Gerard were in consultation. The
mob Kissed at the police and hooted at
their orders to dispense. The military
alarm, eleven taps on all fire bells in the
city, was sent in, but when it sounded the
mob derided it.
Bring on your military" some of the
leaders shouted "To with them,
they can't save Slattery."
The Georgia Huzzars, dismounted, under
command of Major Mildrem, were the first
to respond. The organization contained
thirty men in all. The mob evidently be-
lieved that this was all it was intended to
bring out and laughed at them as they
drew up in front of the hail. Soon after
the tramp of other military was heard and
four companies of the Savannah Volun-
teer Guards, under command of Colonel
Gerard, swung into position in front of
the hall with fixed bayonets and rifles
loaded with ball and cartridges.
By order of the Mayor the guards formed
in two single lines and charged the mob
with fixed bayonets, in the hope of break
| it up. The mob was showed back slowly,
but refused to break, and occasionally
rocks were thrown at the hall. The mob
was sullen and apparently determined
Six companies from the First Regiment,