The evening times., 1901-05-17
Thc RIood.hcd Ia AIbnnv.

By a strange fatality it generally hap
pens that in riots when the firing be
gins innocent people are the first to
suffer. So it occurred in Albany yester-
day when a squad Of soldiers on Il
street car, under strong provocation and
quite within their orders. shot into
mob Two citizens of standing and re
pute were wounded, one fatally
This teaches not that troops are
wrong in firing upon rioters. but that
peaceable persons ought to be on no
tice and keep away from places where
violent demonstrations against law and
order are in progress, or are liable to
occur, even if to do so it is necessary
to shut up house or shop Everybody
in Albany deeply regrets the occur
renee, but the action Of the young Of
ficer commanding the squad is com
pletely endorsed 1t was his duty IN
the circumstances to fire.
Another regiment has been ordered
up from New York This ought to have
beer done two days ago. Mobs should
be met with overwhelming force in
the interests of humanity. In that way
there is always the probability that the
disorderly elements will be overawed.
If they be not. it is stin useful to have
soldiers enough TO picket disturbed dis
tricts thoroughly, and to prevent
crowds from gathering. In the Albany
case we think the general commanding.
who is a West Pointer. and presumably
Knows his business, erred in not call
ing out at least a brigade instead of a
single regiment.
The events of yesterday ought to con-
vince the rioters that they will greatly
endanger their lives by assaulting the
troops again. If they do not take the
hint we shall expect TO hear of more
bloodshed before tomorrow morning.
The residents Of the north shore of
Long Island, including Oyster Bay. of
course, under the auspices of Dr. How
ard. of the Agricultural Department, are
preparing to engage in campaign
against the mosquitoes which infest the
region Their organization is not yet
complete, but no doubt It will be perfected
under the command OF Vice President
Roosevelt. whose craftsmanship and
hunting. experience will come handsomely
and strenuously into play in connection
with the enterprise
We are happy TO announce that the sea
serpent has made his annual appearance
off the New England coast The state
ment may be regarded by some people as
more OF less apocryphal. but as it rests
upon the word. of the mate of a Maine
coasting vessel whose name is D-inkwater.
We think it safe to assume that it was a
real snake
King Edward VII apparently is not
nearly done giving the world surprises.
he acts as If he meant to be every inch
a King, with old Cnut as model. Being
dissatisfied with the date Of his birthday,
which formerly happened in November. he
has changed it to May Next we expect
to hear that he has taken thought and
added several cubits TO his stature They
would come In mighty handy in his case.
unless mis- Majesty has grown consider
ably since ascending the throne.
It is pleasant TO note the sympathetic
and fraterna1 tone Of the London press TO-
. day in their comments OF the illness of
Mrs Mckinley. Little things Of this sort
60 long way toward healing political
bitterness and drawing separated peoples
Of q common race near to each other.