Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-02-03
Rioting in Paris.

a q Hrt tSoHis " ySoNN'NaJ ~S
in Paris, though the inventory was taken
in but one church, that OF st. Pierre du
Gros Gallon, over 80 persons were
seriously injured and further consid-
erable number slightly hurt. The latter
included number of police an firemep,
who we're almost blinded with cayenne
pepper. Fifty arrests were made. The
stormiDg of the building was greatly
protracted owing TO the use by the "de-
Tenders" of red perper. After repeated
efforts the police and fremen only suc-
ceeded in entering the church by EN-
ploying chairs as shields. The first two
who go. through the doors were knocked
unconscious. Those who followed, al
though they we're thoroughly exssper-
ated. refrained from violent retaliation.
1t is said that the c'ergy have done
their best BY advice to their congrega'
tions to remain calm, but without avail,
the militant Catholics being firmly re-
solved to resist what they term the
spoliaiion of the many p iris churches,
containing many millions of francs
worth of iewely, military medals and
decorations. given by devotees as thank
offerings. 1t is charged that the blame
FIR the present conflicts attaches to the
Minister of the Int, rlor, because Of his
order that the inventory Of the churches
should be carried out before The regula.
tious under the separation law are def
inilely drawn up. This leave the
Catholics uncertain regarding the event.
ual fate of church property, and their
doubts on this subject have brought
about their resistance to the order and
its results. The authorities are deter
mined, however, that the law shall take
its course, and the disorders be sup
pressed with the utmost vigor.
Twenty-Five hundred inventories al
ready have been made thronghUut
France, many without incident, but
Paris contains 90 Romar> Catholic
churches, OF which but half have been
visited by the officials Proceedings
will continue today, and in order TO pre-
vent renewal Of the disturbances the
authorities have kept secret the hour at
which the commissioners will visit the
churches.
Az the result Ct the vigorous measures
10 repress disturbances and the threat
ened nter.demonstration by socialists
against the militant Catholics vino gath
cred at the Church of st Pierce, the
Rue St. Dominique, on which the church
is situated, had the appearance OF street
in besieged city. A the shops in the
neiehborhood OF the edi6ce were closed,
cordons of armed municipal guards on
foot we're stationed at intervals along tie
street and squadron of mounted mu-
nicipal guards with drawn swords pa
trolled The tborOugbfare and kept the
crowds moving.
When the prefect Of police, NJ. Le-
pine, arrived, the bells were tolled aud
the people inside the church, num-
bering about 8, 900 persons, began sing
iug Psalms, while outside the rowdy
element shouted revolutionary songs.
NJ. Lepine thrice summoned the congre-
grafton to open the inside gates, which
the people refused to do, and then ire
men were ordered to force an entran ce,
using their hatchets.
As they mounted ladders in order to
break in the windows of the Chapel OF
the Virgin, an annex of the church, re-
voIyer shots rang out and the firemen
retired. Later fire engine arrived on
the scene, and amidst shower of mis-
siles the fremen scrambled up to the
roof with a hose, the water was turned
on, and the interior of the building was
soon flooded.
In the meantime the doors had been
battered down, but the municipal guards
found barricades inside and met with
fierce resistance. Numbers Of the guards
and the congregation were severely hurt
but the authorities eventually obtained
the mastery and the demonstrators were
captured one by one and let to the near
est statiOn.bouse.
In the meanwhile the unruly crowds
outside bad broken through the cordons
of the municipal guards and attempted
to reach the church and engage in the
| fight With its defenders, bul the mounted
guards dashed through them in time.
Disturbances 10 the vicinity of the
church continued. The crowds increased
around the edifce to the number of about
Is, 900 people. All the officers who en-
tered the church emerged covered with
blood, and their clothes torn and soaked
to the skin.