The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-20
TOWN HALL WRECKED
BY AN ENGLISH MOB
David Lloyd George Attempts
to Speak.
HE AROUSES The LIMOGES
They 0verpower the Police and Stone
the Hall.
He AROUSES The LIMOGES
THE DOORS BARRlcADED AGAINST THIN
Showers Of Stones Rain Through The Windows.
The Police Reserves Finally Disperse
the Mob Mr.George Escapes
in Disguise.
(By the Associated Press.)


London, Dec. 1S.--David Lloyd George,
NJ p, in speaking in Birmingham town
hall tonight, precipitated scene unpre-
cedented in that city since the Aston Park
riots.
The majority of the audience were hos
tile to the speaker and were enraged by
his pro-Boer and anti Chamberlain ut
terances They rushed the police corden
guarding the platform.
In the meanwhile the building was be-
sieged from the outside by a mob of
several thousand people, who smashed
windows and tried to force the DOORS
which had been barricaded. They fusi-
laded the audience with stones through
the windows.
The police reserves were turned out
and succeeded in dispensing the mob after
repeated charges. A number of persons
were injured and the town hall was COM
pletely wrecked. Not single window
was left whole.
The Birmingham riot is considered a
curious illustration of the varied career
of Mr.. Chamberlain, the Colonial Secre-
tary.
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 today was one
against an extreme Radical.
The feeling against Mr.. Lloyd George
has been SO strong during the past week
that tickets were forged to en-
able the jingoes to gain admis-
sion to the town hall. Crowds were
awaiting admission to the building long
before the doors of the town hall were
opened The building filled quickly and
1T was mmediately seen that trouble was
coming. While the organist was playing
the disSentists began to sing "Britons
never will be slaves and kept it up until
the organist was compelled to desist.
Then cheers were raised for "Josey." A
white flag was unfurled amid deafening
shouts OF traitor" as Mr.. Lloyd George
and his friends appeared on the platform
All attempts at speech making were
futile. owing to the continuous din of
kissing. hooting and singing. The speak
ers persorce had to content themselves
with debating a few sentences in the
ears of the reporters. These were mainly
Of protest against the agitation caused
by the lingo press.
In the meantime the enormous crowd
outside the building had become more
noisy and nenacing. Presently stone
came through window. This caused a
stampede among the occupants of the gal
lery. From this time forward pandemo-
MUM reigned in he building. and ugly
PUSHES were made for the platform. The
police were soon overpowered Mr.. Lloyd
George and his friends were compellei
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 =. :
Mr.. Lloyd George, disguised as chief
constable, left the town hall with q
posse of policemen. Many constables were
seriously injured in their attempts tC
clear the streets, which they did not
succeed in doing until heavy downfall
OF rain and sleet came to their assist
ance.
It is rumored that one civilian has
died of injuries received.
Several arrests for resisting the police
have been made. At meeting held out.
side the town hall resolutions of conf
dente in the government were adopted
This meeting sent the following telegron
to Mr.. Chamberlain
Lloyd George, the traitor, was not al
lowed to say word The citizens have
passed a resolution of confidence in thu
government and their admiration of youl
unique and fearless services for king
and country
Estimates of the numbers of the dem
constructors vary from 1000 to $4,000 per
sons.