New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-10
FIERCE RIOT IN BOMBAY.
SUPPRESSED BY THE MILITARY AFTER
SERIOUS LOSS OF LIFE.
ATTACK ON PLAGUE PARTY STARTED THE
TRoUBLE-soLDIERs STONED TO DEATH

ATTACK ON PLAGUE PARTY STARTED ihh
TRoUBLE-soLDIERs STONED TO DEATH
BUSINESS SUSPENDED IN THE CITY
Bombay. March 9.-Serious plague riots have
occurred In the native quarter. Several persons
were killed or wounded. Troops and bluejackets
were dispatched to the scene Of the disturbance
The trouble arose through a plague party in
quiring into the cause of the sickness OF Ma
hometan woman. An enormous crowd Of caste
men gathered and stoned and mobbed the party.
which retired for an escort of armed Pol;Se' ana
then returned and redomanded the surrender or
tho patient which was refused. Parsee mag
istrate who exhorted the populace not to resist
the police himself struck, whereupon he
ordered the police to charge. They did So and
four MahOmetans were killed and several were
wounded.
The disturbance spread with alarming rapid
ity. until the whole quarter around the Bhendi
Bazaar presented spectacle similar to that OF
the riots of 1898. The Mahometans. who were
joined by the Hindoos, assaulted every European
or Eurasian they met, and hysterical mob at
tackled the European dwellings In the suburb OF
Bycaulla. The residents barricaded themselves
in their houses and fred blank cartridges from
their windows which drove the rioters on.
In the mean while troops were hurried to the
scene. and battery OF artillery is now patrol
ling the Bhendi Bazaar.
The outbreak was specially directed against
Christians. 1t Is reported that two European
soldiers nearly killed but 1t is difficult ow-
ing TO the excitement. TO obtain correct details
The excitement has partially subsided this
evening, but the situation is still regarded as
serious Cavalry have been ordered from POO
nah to assist in patrolling the streets, ana the
volunteers have been called out. The city Is In
the hands OF the military.
The two members of the Shropshire Regiment
who were killed were walking unarmed The
mob battered in their skulls.
Many European officers and many pohcemen
were severely handled and seriously injured In
several instances Europeans who were traVers-
ing the native section of the town alone we're
beaten or stabbed. Some were dangerously In
jured.
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 es-
corted TO a place OF safety by the troops.
The mob attacked the Jamsetjee Hospital and
badly wounded Mr. Gillespie. the house surgeon.
but II was repulsed by rife volleys, and several
of the rioters were killed
The total losses Of the rioters are as yet un-
known but the outbreak Is regarded as the most
alarming that has occurred in India In many
years
London March Especial dispatches from
Bombay say the riot broke out at noon among
the low-caste Hindoos and Mahometans, against
the Europeans Two soldiers, as these dispatch
es were sent, had already been killed. and the
pol,ce had fired on the mob, killing six persons
and woundng many others
Other special dispatches from Bombay say
that a plague inspector and three men OF the
Shropshire Regiment were stoned to death
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 the latter Detachments Of police. of the
Shropshire Regiment and of artillery were hur-
red to the scene. a volley was fired into the mop
and seven persons were killed.
In the mean while, the dispatch adds, two SOL
diers of the Shropshire Regiment and one artl-
leryman were stoned to death.
The riot is described as causing tremendous
sensation All the available troops and artillery
have been called out and business is suspended