River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-04-17
FRESH RIoTING.
Clash Between Mob and Police In
BRUSSELS Results In Three Deaths
Many Are wounded.


Brussels. April 1.-THE gendar-
merle and the rioters fought a battle
IN the streets just before midnight
Saturday. 1t is known that at least
so persons were wounded. Three died
later at the hospital. The fighting
is described as worse than any of the
disorders and riots in 1898 and 1899.
The mob, which had assembled in the
Rue Haute, near the Maison du Peu-
pie, pelted the gendarmerie with
bombs containing sulphuric acid and
attacked them with butcher knives,
shouting at the same time Long live
the revolution and the republic!" The
gendarmerie fired at will into the
mob and the fire was returned from
revolvers in the hands of people liz
windows.
1t must be explained that the Mai
son du Peuple is situated on the up
per slope of hill, that the central
boulevard 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 ministeries stand upon the
ridge of the hill. The quarter around
the Maison du Peuple is the worst
in the city. 1t is a perfect roollery
of low class buildings, intersected by
steep and narrow streets and mall
odorous alleys. In the vicinity of the
Maison there are some small squares
IN which the rioters gathered Satur-
day evening until they were dispersed
and the squares occupied by detach-
ments of the civic guard. The mob
was mainly composed of the rough
population of the quarter, who
ieered and reviled the police when
they were forced along the streets
by the cordons of officers.
The serious trouble began when n
number of roughs from n safe dis
lance 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 hail of missiles,
such as stones, bottles and heavy
iron riyets. This happened in several
streets. 1t was worse in the Rue
Haute, where the occupants of the
houses rained missiles upon the
heads of the gendarmes. An officer
of the gendarnes then shouted to the
crowd to dispense. No notice was
taken of this order. Then, for the
first time in many years, the gend-
armies fired their Mauser carbines
loaded with what are called strike
cartridges, which contain ball, but
a minor charge of powder The
gendarmes fired only one volley. but
when the mob scattered several
bodies were lying on the ground.
Two were mortally wounded and died
while being conveyed to the hospital.
1t is impossible to ascertain the eX-
act number of the victims of Satur-
days rioting. Many who were slight
" injured had their wounds dressed
in pharmacies or went home. The
director of the hospital of ST. Pierre,
however, told representative it
was said Sunday afternoon that three
rioters had died in the hospital and
that another one there was believed
to be mortally injured. Thirty 9TH
ers who are badly hurt were received
at the hospital Saturday night.
Brussels, April 14.-The threaten
ing aspect of a mob near the Maison
du Pcuple at II o'clock Sunday night
caused the police and gendarmes to
charge it. Five of the demonstrators
were wounded. One of the injured
men will die. He received a bayonet
were made during tho evening. This
big casualty list for a comparatively
insignificant encounter is taken as ev.
idence that the gendarmes who in
hicted the injuries are disposed to
handle the groups without mercy.