The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-19
ENGLISH IN A RIOT
LLOYD GEORGE NEARLY MOBBED
AT BIRMINGHAM.
PRo-BoER TALK DIDN'T GO.
IMMENSE CROWD GATHERED IN
OPPOSITION.

Mob Went Determined to Prevent
Speeches and JingOes Even Forg-
ed Tickets of AdmissiOn-The
Audience FusiIaded with stones
and the POiice Soon OverpOwered.
Speakers Compelled TO Hide in
Inner Room and Several Consta-
hIes Injured-Mob Endorses Gov
ernment.
London, Dec. 1s.-David Lloyd
George, M. p. in speaking in Birm-
ingham town hall tonight, precipitated
a scene unprecedented in that city
since the Aston Park riots.
The majority of the audience were
hostile to the speaker and were en-
ragged by his pro-Boer and 2nti-Cham-
berlain utterances. They rushed the
police Gordon guarding the platform
In the meanwhile the building was
besieged from the outside by mob of
several thousand people, who smashed
windows and tried to force the doors
which had been barricaded. They
fusiladed the audience with stones
through the windows.
he police reserves we're luIISu Vul
and succeeded in dispensing the mob
after repeated charges. A numher
of persons were injured and the town
hall was completely wrecked. Not
single window was left whole.
The Birmingham riot is considered a
curious illustration of the varied ca
reer of Mr.. Chamberlain, the colonial
secretary.
The Aston Park riots of 1884, it is
pointed out. were demonstrations on
the part of the Chamberlainites
against the so-called Tory intruder,
Lord Randolph Churchill, while the
riot to-day was one against an extreme
Radical. The feeling against Mr.
George has been so strong during the
past week that even tickets were
forged to enable tn "Jingoes" to gain
admission to tn town hall. Crowds
were awaiting admission to the build
ing long before the doors of the town
hall were opened. The building filed
quickly and it was Immediately seen
that trouble was coming. While the
organist was playing. the dissentists
began to sing: Britens never will
be slaves and kept IL, up until the
organist was compelled to desist.
Then cheers were raised for Joey.
white flag was unfurled
amid deafefing shouts of
Traitor" as Mr.. Lloyd-George
and his friends appeared on the plat
form. All attempts at speechmaking
were futile, owing to the continuous
din of kissing, hooting and singing.
The speakers had to perforce- content
themselves with debating a few SEN
tences in the ears of the reporters
Thse were mainly of protest against
the agitation caused by the lingo"
press.
In the meantime enormous crowds
outside the building had become more
noisy and menacing. Presently a
stone came through a window. This
caused a stampede among the occu-
pants of the gallery. From this time
forward pandemonium reigned in the
building, and ugly rushes were
made for the platform. The
police were soon overpowered.
Mr.. George and his friends were
compelled to retreat to an inner room
for safety They were unable to leave
the building for fear of mob violence
and were thus kept prisoners until
late hour, when Mr. Lloyd George, dis
guised as a chief constable. left the
town hall with posse of policemen.
Many constables were seriously injured
in their attempts to clear the streets,
which they did not succeed in doing
until heavy downfall of rain and
sleet came to their assistance.
1t is rumored that one civilian has
died of injuries received. Several ar
rests for resisting the police have been
made. At a meeting held outside
the town hall resolutions of
confidence in the government
were adopted. This meeting sent
the following telegram to Mr.. Cham
berlain:
Lloyd George, the traitor. was not
allowed to say a word. The citizens
have passed a resolution expressing
confidence in the government, and
their admiration of your unique and
fearless services for King and coun-
try"
Estimates Of the numbers Of the dem
onstrators vary from 10000 to $4,000
persons.