Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-14
OFFICERS FIRE ON RIOTERS
Open Their Mauser Rifles on Disorderly
Strikers with Fatal Results.
MANY PEOPLE KILLED IN BRUSSELS STREET
VI. Won der veIde, Leader of Socialists
in House of Deputies, is Unable
to Restrain Younger Mem
bers of His Party.

BRUSSELS. April 13.-The bloody repres-
sion Of the disorders Of yesterday evening
has created a painful impression among all
classes here, although it is appreciated
that the majority OF the victims OF the
encounters do not belong to the better
class OF workmen. Yesterday for the first
time the police really fred their rifles
loaded with ball cartridges Previous to
yesterday they had used their swords and
their revolvers, the latter being usually
loaded with blank cartridges.
Saturdays rioters were composed of the
dregs Of the population, with a sprinkling
OF what is called the young socialist
guard, composed of mere bows with
little regard for the orders OF
M. Van Der Velde. member of
the Chamber Of Deputies and 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
| boulevard and most Of the business por-
tion OF the city lies at the foot Of this
hill, while the royal palace. the low
courts, the Chamber of Deputies and the
ministries stand upon the ridge OF the
hill.
Worst Quarter of City.
'hS HudiNCi Tue mdlSOn Du feu-
pie is the worst in the city. 1t is a per-
feet rookery of low-class dwellings inter-
sected by steep and narrow streets and
malodorous alleys. In the vicinity OF the
| Maison there are some small squares In
which the rioters gathered yesterday even
! ing until they were dispersed and the
squares occupied by detachments OF the
civic guard. The mob was mainly COM
posed Of the rough population Of the quar-
ter. who jeered and reviled the police
when they were forced along the streets
| by the cordons of officers.
The serious trouble began when a num-
ber Of roughs 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 we're greeted with a hail OF missiles
such as stones. bottles and heavy iron
rivets. This happened in several streets
1t was worse in the Rue Hauete, where
the occupants OF the houses rained mis-
siles upon the heads Of the gendarmes.
| Defy the Omcer.
An oflcer OF the gendarmes then shouted
to the crowd to disperse No notice was
| taken OF this order. Then for the hrst
time In many years, the gendarmes fired
their Mauser carbines loaded with what
are called strike cartridges, which contain
a 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.
| over twenty narrow streets and blind
alleys lead into the Rue Hauete, and when
1 the phaPOad ofh
| rioters issued from these alleys and fired
revolvers at the backs OF the policemen
until the latter we're obliged to leave three
| OF their number at the mouth Of each al
! ley they passed. These guards stood with
| their rifles pointed down the alleys ready
| to shoot.
Other gendarmes who we're stationed
| every few PAGES covered the windows In the
Rue Hauete with their rifles.
Exact Number of Dead Unknown.
! II is impossible to ascertain the exact
number Of the victims Of yesterdays riot
| ing. Many who were slightly injured had
| their wounds dressed In pharmacies or
went home. The director OF the hospital
| of st. Pierre, however, told a representa-
tive OF the Associated Press this afternoon
| that three rioters had died in the hospital
| and that another one there was believed
to be mortally injured. Thirty others who
are badly hurt. we're received at the hos
pital last night.
Among the injured are many imprudent
spectators OF the rloting. who we're caught
between two fires, as the gendarmes fire.
quently combined their movements and
charged the mobs from the front and the
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
| Nut OF with a sword. A woman was also
among the injured. Among the injured
was the assistant secretary OF the Socialist
jewelers. union. Five policemen we're