The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-02
TWAS A HOT
TIME IN THE
OLD TOWN.
Prague in the Hands of Riot
GUS MObS.
German Houses and Stores
Wrecked by Czechs.
Turmoil in theAustrian Reichs-
rath is Spreading
ALL OVER AUSTRIA.
Common People Raise as Big a
As Their Betters, Who Set
Them the Example.
Turmoil in theAustrian Reichs-
rath is Spreading
ALL OVER AUSTRIA.
Common People Raise as Big a
Row
As Their Betters, Who Set
Them the Example.

Prague. Dec. 2.-Rioting was resum-
ed here at o'clock this morning, when
stores and houses in two streets of the
old town were pillaged. Seven bat
taIions of infantry and two squadrons
of cavalry were called out to disperse
the mob.
Two additional battaHons of infantry
from Koenfgsgratz and three battalions
of infantry from Theresienstadt, have
arrived here The rioting last evening
was especially violent
During the afternoon the synagogue
windows were smashed and the win
dovvs of the houses of Jews displa ying
German trade signs in several streets
of the Jewish quarter. The streets have
been held by u battaHons of infantry
and a squadron of hussars. All traffic
is suspended and the shops and busi-
ness houses are closed.
In spite of the military. a large Czech
mob made descent upon the German
quarter and pIundered houses and
shops in several streets. The furniture
of a we'll known German cafe was piled
up in the street and set on fire. When
a detachment of troops approached to
disperse the rioters 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.
A mob attempted to attack a cart
ridge factory at ZiszhcOw. suburb of
Prague on the other side of MOldau The
troops stationed at the factory poured
a VOlley into the crowd, two persons
We're killed outright
The same body of rioters set fire to
a house at ZishcOw, but the flames
were soon quenched- In various other
parts of the city, and the suburbs, win
dOws were smashed and German sign
boards demolished It is said that the
mob was melted by articles in the
Czech newspa pers and by a. false report
that the German students had organ
lied an attack upon the Czech national
theater.
Threatening crowds made repeated
rushes and an attempt to storm the
German newspapers Offices was made.
In SmichOW, the southwest suburb of
Prague. and a thickly populated indus
trial quarter, riotous mob attacked
and plundered the German national
school. The rioters fired shots at the
police detachment which arrived on the
scene to disperse them. whereupon the
commanding officer acting with great
pTOmptitude drew his revolver and fired
at one of the ring leaders, the bullet
piercing MS arm He then arrested him
and the result of this energetic action
was the dispersal of the mob without
much further difficulty.
= a
staedter- Ring. in the center of the city,
was plundered by q mob which was
finally dispersed by a combined charge
of soldiers and police.
Already Tesenting the German iubila-
tions and 1uuminatiOns of the clubs
and beer halls over the fall of Count
Badeni, the Czech population was still
further melted by the speech of the
Czech burgomaster, delivered to the
town council.
Two special sufferers from the riots
sentative of the German land owners
in the Reichsrath. and Count Won Salm.
Baron Aerenthals palace is on the
WerTzels platz. The mob smashed the
windows and tore out the window
frames on the ground floor. Some out
RACES were committed on Count SaIn' s
palace. which is the editorial Office of
the German paper, Bohemia" "
The AerenthaI palace was boarded up
but the rioters soon removed the planks
and threw large stones into the lux
uriously furnished rooms, smashing
valuable objects of art and costly fur
niture. Damage to the amount of
many thousands of dollars has been
done to German firms, clubs and 9TH
el institutions having German pro-
p1 '-fnrS or patrons. No performance
wa~ gwen at the German theater last
ni9nt.
The constant cry of the rioters was.
Down with the Germansl" Down
with the JeWs!" Ladies Venturing on
the street We're obliged to wear the
SSlaN Tr1-COlOr IN order to avoid being
attacked German sign boards are be-
ing hastily removed by their owners
and replaced with Czech inscriptions.
Nobody dares to utter a word in Ger
man. The Kinszy palace was plum
dered of it's furniture. which was
thrown through the windows, heaped
in the street and set on fire, the mob
preventing the fire brigade from ap-
preaching.
The Wenzels platz, where the revo-
luton of lS4S began, has been the chief
center of excitement It is about so
yards in width and $50 yards in length
and will hold 100000 people The no.
lice and the military have made 200 ar
rests, and it is reported that altogether
80 persons have been injured.
1t is said that the riots were organ
lied by a secret society animated by
hatred of Germans and Jews.
Disorders are reported in various
other suburbs. At Weinberg the riot
ers sprinkled a shop with petrole1m
and set it on ire At Lfberen u armed
rioters were arrested.
Another gang plundered a LIQUOR sa
loon and shortly afterward the patrol
found 20 persons lying drunk in the
street
The burgomaster and the municipal