Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-14
FIRED ON MOB.
Brussels Police Have Stopped
Pooling With Rioters.
Several Killed and Many Wounded If
Saturday Nights Encounters.
Disturbances Took Place in Worst
Parts of the City.

Brussels, April 13.-The bloody re-
preston of the disorders of yesterday
evening has created a painful impress
sion among all classes here. although
it is appreciated that the majority Of
the victims Of the encounters do not be-
long to the better class Of wOrkmen.
Yesterday, for the first time the police
really fired their rifles loaded with ball
cartridges. Previous to yesterday they
had used their swords and their revol-
vers and the latter usually loaded with
blank cartridges. Saturdays rioters
were composed of the dregs of the
population with a sprinkling Of what is
mere boys, with little regard for the
orders of M. Van Der Velde, the leader
of the Socialist movement in Belgium
and the Socialist committee.
1t must be explained that the Maison
Du Peuple is situated on the upper
slope Of hill, that the Central boule-
ward and most Of the business portion
Of the city lies at the foot Of this hill,
while the royal palace, the law courts.
the Chamber of Deputies and the min
listers stand upon the ridge of the hill.
The quarter around the MaisOn Du
Peuple is the worst in the whole city.
1t is a perfect rookery Of low class
dwellings, intersected by steep and
narrow streets and murderous alleys.
In the vicinity of the Maison there are
a few small squares in which the riot
ers gathered, yesterday evening, until
they were dispersed and the squares
occupied by attachments of civic
guards.
The serious troubles began when a
number Of rough from a safe distance
fired revolvers in the direction of the
cordons. The gendarmes then charged
with drawn swords. After firing at the
crowd with revolvers loaded with blank
cartridges they were greeted with a
hail Of missiles, such as stones, bottles
and heavy iron rivets. This happened
in several streets. 1t was in the Rue
Haute, where the occupants of the
houses rained missiles upon the heads
of the gendarmes.
One officer of the gendarmes then
shouted to the crowd to dispense. No
notice was taken of this order. Then
for the first time in many years. the
gendarmes fired their Mauser carbines
loaded with what are called strike car
tridges. The gendarmes fired only one
volley but when the mob scattered
several bodies were lying in the street.
Two Of the wounded were MORALLY hurt
and died while being conveyed to the
hospital.
over 20 narrow streets and blind al
leys lead into the Rue Haute, and
when the gendarmes charged after the
mob other rioters issued from these al
leys and fired revoivers at the backs of
the policemen until the latter were
obliged to leave three Of their number
at the mouth Of each alley they passed.
These guards stood with their rifles
pointing down the alleys, ready to
shoot. Other gendarmes, who were
stationed every few feet. covered the
windows in the Rue Haute with their
rifles.
1t is impossible to ascertain the exact
number of the victims Of yesterdays
rioting. Many who were slightly in
jured had their wounds dressed in
pharmacies or went home. The direc-
tor Of the hospital Of st. Pierre. how
ever, told a representative of The As
ISOLATED Press this afternoon, that
three rioters had died in the hospital
and that another one there was believ-
ed to be mortally injured. Thirty
others who are badly hurt were re-
ceived at the hospital, last night.
Among the injured are many impru-
dent spectators of the riOting, who
were caught between two fires, as the
gendarmes frequently combined their
movements and charged the mobs front
and rear at the same time.
A doctor, who was returning home
after having visited a patient. was
caught between two bodies of charging
gendarmes and had his nose cut off
with a sword. A woman was also
among the injured. One of the men
killed was the assistant secretary of
the socialist Jewellers Union. Only one
or two policemen were hurt.
The threatening aspect of mob
near the Maison Du Peuple at II o'clock
tonight, caused the police and gen
darmes to charge it. with the result
that five of the demonstrators were
wounded. One of the injured men will
die. He received a bayonet thrust in
the back. Sixteen arrests were made
during the course of the evening.
From the gay aspect of the city. to-
udy, uo oHc Wouiu SUSPECT thC olOoby
scenes which were enacted, Saturday.
Except for a furled red flag, tied with
crepe. over the Maison Du Peuple.
nothing was visible to recall the events
of yesterday evening. In the same
square where the cavalry charged, yes
terday. a dozen workmen were, today.
playing ball.
In order to avoid collisions between
the strikers and the police, the Social
list committee has countermanded the
orders for the monster meeting which
1t was intended to hold, tomorrow.
The authorities are anticipating to-
morrow with anxiety. as the Socialist
committee has definitely decided to pro-
claim general strike in Brussels and
its environs.
A thousand Civic Guards were mobi-
lized, this afternoon. There was no
snow of military or police upon the
streets. however. until late this even
ing. when body of police and gem
darmes assembled in the vicinity of the
Maison Du Peuple and prevented gath
erings. An extensive ambulance SER
wee has been organized to be in readi-
ness for emergencies