Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-30
BRITISH TROOPS WELCOMED
WILD ORGIES IN LONDON OVER
THEIR RETURN.
Eight or Ten People Killed and Hun
dreds Injured in the
Streets.

dispatch from London yesterday says:
The homecoming of the City Imperial Vol
unteers today was attended with the wild
est scenes of enthusiasm, and the greatest
crush OF crowds ksr witnessed in London.
The list of ca res among the well
coming multitude Mais longer than that of
the whole corps int ITS twenty-six engage
ments in South africa Partial returns
from the hospitals and police stations
indicate that more than 200 were badly
hurt, eight and possibly ten being killed
outright.
There were 1890 police and 22,oOo troops
on duty along the line of march. but
they were unable to manage the crowds.
Women and girls tainted and were tram
pied under foot. Stands overloaded with
sightseers fell in. Twelve persons out
Of thirty, who were riding on top of a
mail wagon, whose wheels gave way, had
their bones broken. Two children were
killed. A man. who was leaning over the
parapet of the roof, of a four-story build
irg, lost his balance and fell upon a
group of women, killing one and hurting
two others. but walked away himself APP
parently uninjured.
The crush of the populace became so
terrible at the marble arch that the peo-
pie broke through the Gordon and when
the field was again cleared forty persons
requiring the tilu Vi ambulance surgeons
were left lying on the ground, several of
them suffering from serious injuries.
In narrow Fleet street the crowds broke
down all the barriers, and sight-seers, SOL
dierS, police and City Imperial Volunteers
were mixed in confused mass, from which
the volunteers had to be finally extricated
in single file.
A fractions cavalry horse stampeded the
crowd at Ludgate circus. and fifty persons,
who were injured had to be attended to by
the ambulance corps.
Along the whole length of Fleet street the
scenes could be only likened to continual
foot ball scrimmage but it was even more
exciting. Shrieks and groans filled the air,
people were hurled to the ground and tram
pied upon. Life guards on horseback, were
swept off and lost in the struggling mass of
humanity. after impotent struggles to stem
the pressure of the semi-panic-
mob,
Many of the soldiers on the line of march
were hurt in combats with the crowd AL
together, London had a wild day, with much
run, ana, unfortunately, deal of grief in
many households because of the accidents.
Indeed. the only surprising feature is that
the casualties were not twice as numerous,
for when night fell the streets of London
was a scene of unchecked saturnalia that
met the eye Fighting and swearing
throngs fought vafny among themselves
for the right of way Half an hour was
needed to make a hundred yards progress
along the Strand, and the feat could only
De De accomplished at the risk of life or limb.
lie lie" Isolated policemen in evidence
We're borne helpless upon the tide of pa
tuotlc enthusiasm. whose invariable char
acteristic was drunkenness, partial or com
plete.
The night was rehetition Of "Mafeking
night without the Ndeeming excuses Of
that celebrated orgy. p London was turned
over to the worst elements of its popula-
tion- Women were Sinsulted, kissed, or
thrown down with impunity in street fights.
Pursued at the sweet will OF inebria ted
DRAWERS from the sidewalks, they streamed
along historic thoroughfares shouting sob
ping and brandishing peacock feathers with
lnane depravity. Many of them offered no
exception to the VIE of drunkenness Babes
In arms could frequently be seen Count
less different uniforms of soldiers of the
empire. regulars, Volunteers and colonials,
added vivid color toSan extraordinary spec
tacle, the like of'wftch was never Witnessed
in any American eitS.
In justice to- the heroes of the demon
stration it should be said that few of them
participated in the HfDht's celebration. In
deed, they seemed tot be almost forgotten
in the general desire to take advantage of
the opportunity of unbridled debauch and
the defiance Of all law. sorder and decency.
Early In the day Queen Victoria sent
message to the returning troops, Ewelcom-
ing them and inquiring as to their health.
viewed the procession from Marlborough
house. The other royal personages watch
ing the little band of men in khaki uni
forms were Princess Louise. the Duchess
of Argyle and Prince Edward of SAKE
Weimar, who. with many other dlstin-
gushed people. had taken up positions Of
vantage,