Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1908-04-16
Seven Persons Shot to Death and
Many Wounded 10
The CITY OF LISBON
Dispute Regarding Counting of Votes
in Municipal Elections Starts Riot
in Church, from Which Guards
Fire on Beseiging Mob for Three
Hours Until Aid Arrjves.-Great
Excitement Prevailed

~ Osa sSSoSAthhks NAOo iOE
Hours Until Aid Arrives.-Grea,
Excitement Prevailed.
AT Lisbon. Portugal. seven persons
were shot to death and fifty others
wounded by soldiers afte rthe voting
in the elections in that city had ent-
ed. The rioting was widespread aid
such was the confusion during lie
violent conflict between the popuhce
and the municipal guard that the
guardsmeu, mistakfng Infantrymen
who had been called out for mefbers
Of the mob. fired volley into their
ranks, seriously wounding thee of
the soldiers.
The night was one of tefor for
Lisbon, seemed suddenly aflahe with
seething revolt. Bands of men ran
wildly through the streets, randish-
ing weapons, while the sharIcrack of
rifles was heard in various sections
of the city. Thousands ofIthe most
peaceable citizens fed to tleir homes
just as they did on the fight after
assassination of King Cados and the
Crown Prince.
The principal rioting'was the result
of dispute between the Republicans
and the Monarchists regarding the
counting of votes. The RepuDIcans,
who feared fraud at the various
Lisbon polling places. made deter
mined stand for their rights at st.
Dominiques Church, which is In the
centre of the city, the district that is
practically the stronghold OF Repub-
licans. Both the Republicans and
Monarchists kept a sharp watch
throughout the day. The voters. fol-
lowing the ancient custom OF vot-
ing in the churches. they filed stead
lily. but slowly, into the historic Dom
iniques and deposited their ballots In
the official voting boxes. When the
polls closed the Monarchist election
officers declared 1t was too late to
the list in the church and count them
the next day. The Republicans tel
lers refused to assent to this. insist
ing upon an immediate count, fol-
lowed by the sealing Of the boxes.
The difference between the officers
spread TO the crowd that were in the
church and I'm a moment blows were
struck and then a general fight fol-
flowed. Suddenly the municipal guard
arrived and cleared the edifice of the
struggling combatants at the point
of the bayonet. In the meantime
the crowd outside of the church had
been greatly augmented and the
guardsmen's appearance at the doors
after they had forced the people into
the streets was the signal for show
er of stones, under which they were
forced to retreat. AS they retired
they fired a volley from their rifles
The mob steadily increased anC
shouts and imprecations and cries o.
anger were heard on everysida
The rioters armed themselves anew
and soon the edlfice was literally sur
rounded and beseiged by maddeneC
mob.
The guardsmen fired intermittent!
through the doorways. but the volleyi
were feeble and Intellectual. Even
tually, the commanding officer PLACED
detail on the balcony over thu
main portal, from which point o
vantage the guardsmen fired repeat
edly into the surging populace, ant
| wounded a large number. Still tn
mob did not give way, but only at
tackled the church the more furlously
Several of the guardsmen wer'
wounded, but they were replaced ol
] the balcony by others and for thre
hours the fight continued.
Then three companies Of infantr,
and troop OF cavalry. with one bat
terry appeared, driving all befor
| them.