The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-07
Seven Persons Killed and
Fifty Wounded in Lisbon
Election Riots.
FIERCE WAR is WAGED
FROM CHURCH BALCONY
Unable to Drive Crowd
Away by Shooting Through
Doors and Windows, Seek
Higher Point-Troublc
Outgrowth Of Fear
of Fraud.

ISBoN. April e.--seven persons
were shot to death and fifty
others wounded by soldiers last
evening after the voting In the
elections in this city had ended.
The rioting was widespread. and such
was the confusion during the violent
conflict between the populace and the
municipal guard that the guardsmen.
mistaking infantrymen who had been
called out for members of the mob.
fired volley into their ranks, Sc
riously wounding three Of the soldiers.
The night was one of terror for Lis
bon, which seemed suddenly aflame with
isecthing revolt. Bands of men ran
wildly through the streets. brandish-
Ing weapons, while the sharp crack OF
rifles was heard In various sections of
the city. Thousands of the most peace
able citizens fled to their homes, just
as they did on the night after the as
sassination OF King Carlos and the
crown prince.
Dispute Over the Count.
| The principal rioting was the result
OF dispute between the Republicans
and the Monarchists regarding tho
| counting of votes. The Republicans.
who had been fearing fraud at the va
rious Lisbon polling places, made a
| determined stand for their rights at st.
Dominique's Church, which is in the
centre of the city. district that IL
practically the stronghold of Repub.
| lIcanism. Both the Republicans and
| throughout the day. AS the voters
! We're following the ancient custom of
voting in the churches they filed stead
\ lily but slowly into historic St
Dominiques and deposited their bal
| lots in the official voting boxes. When
! the polls closed the Monarchist elec.
| ton officers declared that 1t was toe
late TO count the votes. and proposed
to keep the list in the church all nigh,
and proceed with the counting in the
! morning.
/ The Republicans insisted upon an i'm
mediate count, followed by the sealing
| OF the boxes. The difference between
the officials spread to the crowds that
filled the church. and In moment
blows were struck and then a genera
fight followed. Suddenly the municipa
| authorities arrived and cleared the
church of the struggling combatants
at the point Of the bayonet.
In the meantime the crowd outside
of the. church had been greatly aug.
mented and the guardsmen's appearance
at the doors after they had forced the
people Ihdod into the IS streets was the sigma
| they were forced to recoll.
Several Shot Down.
AS they retired they fired volle,
from their rifles. bringing down sew.
eral of the rioters. The mob steadii,
increased. and shouts and imprecation.
\ and cries OF anger We're heard on every
side. The rioters armed themselves
anew and soon the edifice was literal.
i ~ surrounded and besieged by mad
4 dened mob. The guardsmen fired into
the crowd through the doorways. bu
7 the volleys We're feeble and Intellectual
i Eventually the command placed de
tail on the balcony over the mar
portal. from which point of vantage
the guardsmen fired repeatedly into til,
i surging populace, woundinS a larg,
4 number. Still the mob did not give
I way, but only attacked the church tn.
more furiously. Several Of the guards
. men were wounded, but they were re
Z placed on the balcony by others. anc
! for three hours the fight continued.
4 Then three companies of infantry ant
J troop of cavalry, with one battery
/ appeared, driving all before them.