The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-27
AngriIy Shouting "Hang Himv,
1DOwn with Slattcry?' and "Denth
to the Renegader'
SEVERAL BAYONET CHARGES
AND A SPEECH BY A PRIEST NECEs-
sARY TO QUIET THE RIOTERS.
Slattery, Under Strong Guard, FinaI~
Iy Reaches His Hotel-His Wife
Also Escapes Injury.

SAVANNAH, Ca, Feb. 26.-This has been
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, and there are ten infantry companies
and the Georgia Hussars, the latter be-
ing dimounted. A mob estimated at from
three thousand to five thousand, the great
er part being Catholics, has challenged their
forbearance to the extreme. But for the
coolness of Mayor Herman 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 PROM
inent buildings of the city, and situated
in the heart Of Savannah, stubbornly re-
fused 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 Slatterly and his wife, described
as an ex-nun, would lecture here on Cath
olicism. Members OF the Ancient Order Of
Hibernians at once took steps to prevent
their appearance here. Petitions were circu-
lated asking Mayor Meyers to refuse, to
permit the ex-priest to hold his lecture.
The petition said that If Slattery was al
lowed to speak there would be disorder
and riot. About five hundred people signed
the petition. When it was presented to the
Mayor by committee of twelve Catholics.
including the presidents OF two divisions
of the A. o. H.. he handed them written
opinion from the corporation attorney, to
the effect that he as Mayor, had no power
to abridge the right Of speech guaranteed
by the Constitution Of the United States
and Georgia. In his opinion, the city at
torney said, that there could be no dis
order or trouble if those who would be
offended by Slattery's remarks would stay
away from his lecture. He urged all to
do SO, Mayor Meyers also asking the COM
mittee to advise all Catholics to keep away
from the lecture. "I cannot stop this man
from iecturing,'' said the Mayor, who is a
Hebrew. "but I can prevent disorder. and
I will do so. IL the police are not suffi-
cient in force to do so the military will
be appealed to. Riot will not be tolerated"
The committee stated that it was it's de-
sire to avoid trouble and that ii would
use its influence in that direction. The COM
mittee did so. but its efforts failed.
THE MOB GATHERS.
All of to-day it had been rumored that
mobs would come from different sections OF
The fact that he was to put the garb OF
a priest in the course of his lectures spread
like wildfire and raised an intense feeling
among Catholics. Mayor Meyers issued in
structions to Chief McDermott to have the
entire available police force on hand at Ma
sonic Temple. Fifteen policemen were sta-
toned inside the hall and thirty others were
massed in front. BY o'clock several hum
dred people had collected. When Slattery
arrived soon after.
BY s O'Clock a bowling mob of over 1,500
surrounded Masonic Hail. In the hall was
an audience Of about four hundred, including
a number of ladies. The lecture had hard
ly begun before brick bats 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 flying glass;
The remainder of the police force was called
out. and fifty men were soon In front or
the hall The mob made rushes to secure
an entrance but was driven back time after
time by the police. Before o'clock the mob
had grown to probably between 5000 and
1000 people. Window after window in the
Masonic Temple was crashed.
Cries of xiii himr' Down with Slat-
tervr, death to the Renegade!" were
heard.
The lecture closed at $50 o'clock, and it
was apparent that it meant the loss of many
lives for the lecturer and the audience to
leave the hall Upstairs number of me1n-
bers of secret organizations who hadcheereo
Slattery's declaration that he belonged 10
them. had gathered around the ex-priest 10
defend him as he left the hall. A number
II was evident had come armed in anticipa-
ton of such trouble.
MILITARY CALLED OUT.
AS the ex-priest was about tc leave the
hall with his friends the chief Oh poiice
stopped them and refused to allow any one
to 90 down stairs Outside Mayor Meyers
and Col William Garrard were in. consulta-
ton. The mob hissed the police and hooted
ar 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 Gerided II.
Bring on your military" some of the
| leaders shouted.
"To hades with them. They can't save
| Slattery." yelled others.
T. The Georgia Hussars, dismounted, under
command of Major Mildrem were the first
to respond. The organization contained
| thirty men in all. The mob evidently be-
ueved that this was all 1t was intended to
| bring out. and laughed at them they
drew up in front of the hail. Soon after
| the tramp of other military was heard, and
| four companies of the Savannah Volunteer
| Guards, under command of Colonel Car
rard, swung into position in front OF the
hall with fixed bayonets and rifles loaded
|. with ball cartridges
BY order of the Mayor the guards formed
| In two single lines and charged the mob
with bayonets in hope Of breaking IT, Tbs
mob was showed back slowly, but refused
to break and occasional rocks were thrown
at the hall. The mob was sullen aud de-
fiant and apparently determined. Six COM
panies from the First Regiment, under