The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-03
SERIOUS RIOTS
CZECH POPULACE OF PRAGUE
ATTACK THE GERMANS
Windows OF German Theatres, Schools, Res
taurants and Residences Broken-Houss 8
and shops in the German Quarter PLACED.
Troops Necessary to Dispense the Mobs.
The Rioters Resist and are Fired Upon.
Traffic Suspended

Traffic urpended
Prague, Bohemia, December l.
There was a renewal of the rioting
here last evening. The windows of the
German theatre, German schools, res
taurants, residences and newspaper Of
fees were broken. The troops clear
ed the streets. Many people were in
jured and a number of arrests were
made. During the afternoon the riots
increased The synagogue windows
were smashed as we'll as the windows
of the houses of Jews displaying Ger
man trade signs in several streets of
the Jewish quarter.
Since 6 O'Clock this evening the
streets have been held by twelve bat
talions of infantry and squadron of
hussars. All traffic is suspended and
the shops and business houses are
closed.
In spite of the military, large Czech
mob made descent during the even
ing upon the German quarter and
pIundered houses and shops in several
streets. The furniture of a Well-knOwn
German cafe was piled up in the street
and set on fire. When a detachment of
troops approached to disperse the riot
ers the soldiers were greeted with
showers of stones. broken glass and
other missiles The officer in command
ordered his troops to prepare to fire,
but at the urgent request of a police
official the order was not carried into
effect.
Shortly before o'clock mob at
tempted to storm a cartridge factory
at ZiZhkow, a suburb of Prague, on
the other side of the Moldau. The
troops stationed at the factory poured
a vOlley into the crowd. 1t is known
that ait least two persons were killed
outright and it is feared that others
were killed or wounded. The same
body of rioters set fire to a house at
ZizhkCw. but the flames were soon
Quenched. In various other parts OF
the city and the suburbs windows were
smashed and German signboards de-
molished. 1t is said that the mob was
melted by articles in the Czech news
papers and by a false report that the
German students had organized an at
tacl. upon the Czech national theatre.
AT a late hour threatening crowds
made repeated rushes and attempts
to storm the German newspaper offices,
nut by IL O'CLOCK the town was Qu1eC
and the troops had been Withdrawn ex-
cept patrols at threatened points.
In Smichow, the southwest suburb Of
Prague and a thickly populated indus
trial quarter, at a late hour in the ev-
ening riOtous mob attacked and plum
dered the German national school, The
rioters fired shots at the police detach-
ment which arrived on the scene to
disperse them; whereuDon the COM
manding officer, acting with great
promptitude, drew his revolver and
fired at one of the ringleaders, the
bullet piercing his arm. He then ar
rested the man, and the result of this
energetic action was the dispersal Of
the mob without much further diff
Guilty.
The German gymnasium in the All
staedter- Ring, in the centre of the city,
was plundered by mob which was
finally dispersed by a combined charge
of soldiers and police.
AS a result of the riots and disorders
of the last twenty-four hours, the au-
thorities have proclaimed the city un-
der martial law. The chief Of police,
who is a Czech. was discovered en-
couraging rioters, and has been sus-
pended from office. 1t Is now known
that the number Of injured Germans
reaches 800. The disturbances today
have amounted almost to a rebellion.
Thounsands of Czech miners Streamed
into Prague tonight from the surround
ing villages to assist the rioters. 1t has
been dangerous for Germans to VEN
ture into the streets, as any use of the
German language meant certain as
sau1t.