The herald., 1897-07-03
Are Stopped by Shots From
Police Rifles
MOHAMMEDAN MUD MOSQUES
FURNISH A PRETExT FOR A
RELIC IOUS WAR
The Situation Still Grave, and Euro
peans Are Making Ready to
Defend Themselves
Associated Press Special Wire.

CALCUTTA. July 2, 2 a. m.-The situ-
alton in the suburb of Chitpore is now
much more reassuring, but the police
patrols were compelled to fire on the
rioters 1t is estimated that at one time
more than 5000 were holding the north
east portion of the town. The number
of killed and, injured is not yet known,
but it is said to be considerable.
A compromise on the plague measures 8
having been arrived at between the au-
thorities and the rioters, the disturb
ances have ceased.
The absence of rain Is causing the
greatest anxiety throughout India. The
rioting arose out Of the growing practice
Of the Mohammedans of seizng and re-
fusing to pay rent for certain so-called
mosques, built contrary to the tenets of
the Mohammedan religion on ground be-
longing to inf1dels. The demolition Of
a mud hut, a so-called mosque, led to
the outbreak The rioters were contin-
ually reinforced in response to kilograms
sent up the country appealing to all true
Mohammedans to come to the aid Of
their coreligionists.
For forty-eight hours the police and
| military were repeatedly obliged to clear
the street. Detached parties of-Moham-
medans stoned Europeans wherever
they found them, in some cases dragging
them from their glarries.
All the telegraph lines were cut and
the buildings containing Europeans
were besieged. There were many mar
row escapes. The rioters sounded war
cries, shouted vile epithets and grossly
insulted the European women.
In several parts of Calcutta 1t is still
dangerous for Europeans to go about.
and it is likely to remain 50, owing to the
nature of the compromise by which the
riot was brought to an end.
The trouble Is greatly increasing by
the absence of the higher officials, most
of whom are now in the hills. Those who
remained behind hesitated to under
take the responsibility of extreme meas
ures. The result was that the troops
were not allowed to fire or to take the
offensive, even when exposed to every
kind of indignity and insult. Their be-
havior and self-restraint under the cir
cumstances were admirable.
| 1t is understood that the compromise
| is based upon the unconditional surren-
der of the lands, but it is believed that
this concession will prove a standing
menace to the safety of every European,
as the rioters will celebrate the victory
| throughout all India.
| In spite of the cessation of the riots
| the situation is regarded as extremely
| grave, and it is felt that unless some
al
during the absence of the governing au-
| thorities, European citizens will be COM
PEELED to act on their own responsibility.
| AT BOMBAY
| BOMBAY, July 2.@The assassins of
Lieutenant Ayerst of the commissariat,
who was shot and killed by concealed
natives while leaving the governors
reception on the evening of June 22d,
| Jubilee day, Plague Commissioner Rand
being dangerously wounded at the same
time, are still at large. The aggressive
attitude of the natives prior to the shoot
| ing was remarked. There were whisper
ings of impending disaster to Europe
ans and it is thought that the whole
native community, including the police,
had foreknowledge that something was
going to happen. On jubilee night a
! delayed anonymous letter arrived at
Commissioner Rand's bungalow, say
ing: "You will die today and the queen
will die two days after Many others
will follow, and the soldiers will all be
killed.
Threatening letters have been received
by other Europeans. During the pro-
gress of the plague promir ent Hindoos
made violent accusations against the
British soldiers, charging them with
ravishing the women ami ill-treating al
who came in contact with them.
The allegations that tie Brahmins are
responsible for the mul de--s rr'iHiiicn nave
recently occurred are repudiated Wig
orously.
There is the gravest disquiet in officia
circles.