The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-03-05
GREAT RIOT IN SAVANNAH.
Catholics Grow Wild Over the Lecture Of
IN. ex-Priest- Violent Mob Law
in Evidence-An the Military in
the City on Duty.

history of Savannah. For five hours
the city has trembled on the verge OF
religious riots. The entire white mill
tary force of the city, excepting the ar.
tillery, has been on duty. There are
ten infantry companies and the Geor-
gia Hussars, the latter being dis
mounted.
The city has been literally placarded
with notices that ex Priest Slattery
and his wife, described as an ex.nun,
would lecture here on Catholicism.
Members of the Ancient Order of Hi
bernians, a secret Catholic organiZa-
ton, at once took steps asking Mayor
Myers to refuset to permit the eX priest
to hold his lecture. The petition said
that If Slatterly was allowed to speak
there would be disorder and riot.
About 500 signed the petition. When
1T was presented to the mayor by a
committee of twelve Catholics, includ-
ing the presidents of two divisions Of
the A. 0. H., he handed them a written
opinion from the corporation attorney
to the effect that as mayor he had no
power to abridge the rights of free
speech guaranteed 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 Stat
terly's remarks would stay away from
his lecture.
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. By 2 o'clock several
hundred had collected. When SIatterly
arrived the mob had not assumed large
enough proportions to cope with the
police. By 8 o'clock a bowling mob of
over 1, 500 surrounded Masonic hall. In
the hall was an audience of about 400,
including a number of ladies. The
lecturer had hardly begun before brick
bats and cobble stones began to rain on
the windows.
Before 9 o'clock the mob had grown
to probably between 5000 and 1000
people. Window after window in the
Down with Sfatterly u Down with
the renegade" were heard. Chief NC
Dermott summoned the mayor. The
lecture closed at $3.50 o'clock, and it
vas apparent that it meant the loss of
many lives for the lecturer and the au-
dience to leave the hall.
49, SA4S "a PA4OSV a O9OOA0 w OC1N
with his friends, the chief of police
stopped them and refused to allow any
one to go down stairs. Outside, Mayor
Myers and Col. VIM Garrard we're in
consultation. The mob Kissed at the
police and hooted at their orders to
disperse. 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.
ITO hell with them; they can't save
Slatterly."
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 occa-
sionaIly 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 a broken head and
saw the mob, found nothing to encour-
age them.
Vicar General Cafferty, who is in
charge of the diocese, in the absence of
Bishop Becker, addressed a portion of
the mob.
'This man S~latterly," said he, "can
do your church no harm. You are
bringing disgrace on your religion by
your conduct here tonight. It can
meet with nothing but condemnation.
/ plead with you to dispense and 20
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 majority stood still.
-Four companies of guards were then
banked about the door of the hall with
the police and Slatterly was brought
down. As he came out with eight DO.
licement and the major there was
howl from the mob, but the military,
charging bayeaets, pushed it back il
all directions. Slatterly was placed IL
the centre of the military and headed
by q detachment of mounted police
and with foot police on the sides, the
four companies of infantry, amid Misses
and jeers, marched to the Pulaski
House, followed by hundreds. Slat
terry was so buried in the midst Of
the military that the mob could not
see him.
At the hotel about 900 had gathered.
The military made q solid in
'front.' OF 6a0 presented OayO-
nets and Slatterly walked In uninjured.
A large detachment of police vas left
at the hotel to guard him over night.
Every door of she hotel was locked and
guarded. At Masonic hall the other
seven companies remained as a guard
for Mrs. Slatterly, and TO prevent fur
Their damage to property. Finding
that MI. Slatterly had gone, the mob
largely dwindled away, Mrs. Slatterly
was placed in a carriage later and with
q strong force of police was brought to
the hotel. Mrs. Slatterly is booked for
|a lecture to women to morrow after
noon and Slatterly for q lecture to men
tomorrow night. Threats r made
to night that they viii be driven from
tho 0fku ka. mOHP0w