New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-18
SERIOUS RIOTS IN BELFAST.
A FIERCE FIGHT CAUSED BY Ma
TIONALIsT PROCESSION.
DEMONSTRATION IN FAVOR OF FREEING IRISH
POLITICAL PRisoNERs-TRooPs ORDERED

POLITICAL PRrsoNERs-TRooPs ORDERED
TO GET READY.
Belfast Aug. IA large Nationalist demon
stration in favor Of granting amnesty to all irish
poltical prisoners took place here to-day. and
was the cause OF serious rioting.
An immense procession OF Nationasts marched
through the streets Of the city and proceeded TO
Hannastoun. a suburb OF Belfast headed by
bands OF music and displaying numerous pah-
ners bearing inscriptions indicating the purpose
of the movement The streets were llned Win
spectators who hooted. groaned and jeered the
rrocessionists and finally threw few stones az
the paraders Some Of the paraders were armed
with spears and these men made an attack upon
their tormenters despite the efforts OF the pohce
who were out in full force. to prevent them
fierce fight enshed. and the police made sew
eral charges with drawn batons upon the COM
batants a. the result of which there were great
number Of broken heads. dozen or ~'ore OF the
rioters on both sides were taken to the hospitai
after order was restored All of this occurred De-
fore noon.
Later the city magistrates held meeting
and ordered that the troops be in readiness TO
put down the disturbances which it was feared
would occur when the paraders returned from
Hannastoun In the evening. Every prepara'ion
was accordingly made to suppress any a'tetuP'
al riOting, and tor time the quarter vi ,i'c
city to which the disturbances OF the morning
were confined was quiet although the streets
were alive with excited people.
The procession returned TO Belfast IN tle
evening. when ii was soon seen that the niis
givings of the authorities were not unfounded
AS the procession approached the city the great
est excitement prevailed A number or oppos,,
tion mobs had gathered along the intehoeu
route OF the procession on its return, WIN the
object of making an attack upon the pdrauei''
and to prevent roting of the most active char-
acter the police barred the route when hao
been laid out for the return march or the pro
cession and turned the parade off into another
direction In the mean time a heavy rain began
falling, but this had rot the slightest enect IN
diminishing the size Of the crowds WHICH
thronged the streets. nor in allaying the eA-
element OF the people. .o
The crowd was not aware OF the exact route
taken by the paraders until II was 700 n.e "
make an attack upon them. and the procession
broke m without there being any further hgHl-
ing The outlook however. continued 10 ne men
acing until quite a late hour. but, despite the
threats that were made. there was no furtner dis,
order The rain continued to fall heavily anu
this finally had the effect of causing tne mop "
disperse The incident called to mind the serious
troubles between the Catholics and Orangemen
that occurred some years ago, When huHlpSI vi vi
persons were killed by the troops VINO hau peei
called to restore order
London. Aug 17-Thomas Devaney. one OF the
Irish "dynamiters" who in Edinburgh in 1851
was sentenced to penal servtude for life, was re-
leased from Portland Prison this morning.
Great precautions were taken to prevent his
being recognized. as 1t was believed that the
Irish and Irish svmI athZers might attempt 10
make n demonstration. Immediately after his
release Devany took train for Glasgow.