Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-28
MOB OF 5000
Gathers, Sunday, at Paris With
out Serious Trouble.
About Equally Divided Between Gov
eminent and Clerical Supporters.
Many Fights During Day but No One
Seriously Injured.

Paris, July 27.-The demonstration
made. today, in connection with the de-
cree Of Premier Combes ordering the
closing of the congregationalists schools,
proved to be quite as much of mani
festation in support of the government
as of opposition to it's Anti-Cierical
measures. The crowd which gathered
in the Place de la Concorde numbered
1900 persons, while as many more
thronged the Champs Elysees. Inc
Clerical and Anti-Clerical forces about
equally divided the gatherings. The
former We're distinguishable by the red,
white and blue paper flowers which
they wore while the latter sported red
eglantines.
Though many fights occurred they
never became general, nor was any
person seriously injured. An imposing
force of police and mounted municipal
guards had much trouble in keeping
the manifestants constantly moving,
and at times they were forced to charge
to prevent the crowd becoming too
dense. On the whole the crowds were
good natured and mainly confined
themselves to shouting Liberty,
Liberty Long live the Sisters" and
1--WE want the Sisters" to which the
Anti-CIericaIs replied Long live the
republic" and Down with the
priests"
The occasional appearance of priest
was the signal for much hooting, ana
several fights We're due to their pres
ence.
A striking feature of the manifesto
tons was the large number of women,
many of them well dressed, who ac-
lively participated, nor were these all
Clerical in their Sympathies, for the
.Anti-ClericaI women were also out IN
strong force and they occasionally
made things lively for their Clerical
sisters whom the police had some diffi-
Guilty in protecting. In one instance
detachment of mounted guards had to
rescue three Well-dressed ladies from
the hands of a group of Socialist Wo-
men who were bent on mObbing them.
The Clericals made several attempts
to reach the Place Beauveda on which
the Elysee and ministry of the interior
are situated but were prevented IRON
doing so by the strong cordons of police
and municipal guards which were sta
toned at all the approaches in order 10
prevent demonstrations in front OF
these buildings. The demonstrations
eliminated when u group OF 80 ladieS,
some in carriages and some on foot,
headed by Mesdames Reille, De Nun,
Cibiei and De Pommerol, attempted to
reach the ministry of the interior, in
order to present to Premier Combes Il
petition on behalf il the Sisters. The
notice. however, refused to allow them
10 pass.
Subsequently the Clericals made an
angry rush in the Gordon guarding the
Avenue Gabrielle and the soldiers had
10 use the butts of their rifles to Keep
the crowd back.
Another nasty incident occurred on
the Champ E.lysees, where the crowd
began throwing the small iron chairs
bordering the sidewalks among the
feet OF the horses of the mounted
guards one horse fell, injuring his
rider.
A number of prominent Nationalist
including Deputies Millevoye and Auf-
ray and several municipal councillors
were conspicuous in the crowd ana
We're much ovated by their followers
and booted by the Anti-CIericnIs-
Hy o'clock this evening, the crowd
began to thin out and an hour later the
place De La Concorde and the Champs
Elvsees had resumed their customary
appearance. About 100 arrests were
made.
The fact that throughout the day
vehicular traffic was not interrupted
shows how we'll the police handled the
great, unrully crowd with which they
had to deal.