The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-10
RIOTS AGAIN IN BOMBAY
ATTEMPT TO REMOVE PLAGUE Pa
TENT CAUSES BLOODSHED.
Russia Gains Her object i'm the East
After Lii Hung Chang and the
Emperor Confer.

BOMBAY, March 9.-Serious plague riots
have occurred in the native quarter. Sew
eral persons have been killed or wounded.
Troops and blue jackets have been dis
patched to the scene of the disturbance The
riot broke out at noon among the low caste
HindooS and Mohammedans against the
Europeans. 1t had it's origin in an attack
upon a plague search party. Two soldiers,
as these dispatches were sent, had already
been killed and the police had fired on the
mob killing six persons and wounding many
others. A plague inspector and three
men of the Shropshire regiment were stoned
to death.
The trouble arose through plague party
inquiring into the cause of the sickness of
Mohammedan woman. An enormous
crowd of castemen gathered and stoned and
mobbed the party, which retired for an es-
cort of armed police and then returned and
re-demanded the surrender of the patient,
which was refused. A Parsee magistrate
who eXhorted the populace not to resist the
police was himself struck, whereupon he
ordered the police to charge They did so,
and four Mohammedans were killed and
several wounded.
The disturbance spread with alarming
rapidity until the whole quarter around the
Bhendi Bazaar presented a spectacle similar
to that of the riots of 1858. The Moham-
medans, who were joined by the Hindoos,
assaulted every European or Eurasian they
met, and hystercal mob attacked the
European dwellings in the suburb of BIZ
caulla. The residents barricaded themselves
in their houses and fired blank cartridges
from their windows, which drove the rioters
off. In the meantime troops were hurried
to the scene, and a battery of artillery is
now patrolling the Bhendi Bazaar The out
break was specially directed against Chris
tians. 1t is reported that two European
soldiers were nearly killed. but it is difficult,
owing to the excitement, to obtain correct
details.
evening, but the situation is still regarded
as serious. Cavalry has been ordered from
Poonah to assist in patrolling the streets,
and the volunteers have been called out.
The city is in the hands of the military.
The two members of he Shropshire regi-
ment who were killed were walking un-
armed. The mob battered in their skulls.
Many European officers and many police
men were severely handled and seriously in
jured. In several instances Europeans who
were traversing the native section of the
town alone were beaten or stabbed. Some
were dangerously injured. In various parts
of the city plague ambulances were seized
and burned. Attempts were made to burn
the hospitals, and the European nurses had
narrow escapes. Finally they were escorted
to place of safety by the troops. The mob
attacked the Jamsetjee Hospital and badly
wounded Mr.. Gillespie, the house surgeon,
but was repulsed by rifle volleys and sew
eral of the rioters were killed. The total
loss of the rioters is yet unknown, but the
outbreak is regarded as the most alarming
that has occurred in India in many years
A still later dispatch from Bombay says
the mob attacked the hospital burned the
offices and stores and savagely assaulted
the doctors, killing one of them. Detach-
ments of police of the Shropshire Regiment
and of artillery were hurried to the scene
volley was fired into the mob and several
persons killed. Before, this, the dispatch
ment and one artilleryman were stoned to
death. The riot is described as causing a
troops and artillery have been called out
and business is suspended.