The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-04-07
Portugal TROOPS CHARGE PRO-
TESTING REPUBLICAN
ELECTORS.
RIOTS R Q IN LISBON
Dispute over Counting lof Ballots in
Church in Republican Stronghold
. Causes Riot-Troops Drive Combat
ants From Church and Charge the
PopuIace-seven Killed.

Lisbon, April G.-seven persons
were shot to death and 100 others
wounded by soldiers last evening after
the voting in the elections in this
city had ended. The rioting was vide
spread and such was the confusion
during the violent conflict between the
populace and the municipal govern
ment that the guardsmen mistaking
infantrymen who had been called out
for members Of the mob, fired volley
into their ranks, seriously wounding
three Of the soldiers.
The night was one Of terror for Lis
bon, which became suddenly afame
with seething revolt. Bands of men,
ran wildly through the streets brand.
ishing weapons while the sharp crack
of rifles was heard in various sections
of the city. Thousands Of the most
peaceable citizens fed to their homes
just as they did on the night after the
assassination of King Carlos and the
crown prince.
.~.. Cause Of the Riot.
The principal rioting was the result
of dispute between the republicans
and the monarchists regarding the
counting OF votes. The republicans
have been fearing fraud at the various
Lisbon polling places and made a de-
termined stand for their rights at st.
Dominique's church, which is in the
center Of the city. district that IL
practically the stronghold OF repub-
cans. Both the republicans and mon
archists kept q sharp watch through
out the day. As the voters were fol-
lowing the ancient custom Of voting in
the churches. they filed steadily but
slowly into historic st. Dominique's
and deposited their ballots in the ON.
cial voting boxes. When the polls
closed the monarchist election officers
declared that 1t was too late to count
the votes, and proposed to keep the
list in the church and count them to-
morrow. The republican teller re-
fused to assent to this, insisting upon
an immediate count, followed by the
sealing ofgthe boxes.
Guard Cleared Office.
The difference between the oficials
spread to the crowds that flied the
church and in moment blows were
struck and then general fight fol.
lowed. 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
the church had been greatly augment.
ed and the guardsmen's appearance at
the doors after they had forced the
people into the streets was the signal
for shower Of stones, under which
they were forced to hTesa volley from
their rifles, bringing down several Of
the rioters. The mob steadily In
creased and shouts and cries OF anger
we're heard on every side. The riot
ers grew more violent and soon the
ediflce was literally surrounded and
besieged by q maddened mob.
Attacked the Church.
The guardsmen fired internationally
through the doors. but the volleys
were feeble and Ineffective, Eventual.
ly the commanding oft1cer placed a
detail on the balcony over the main
portal from which point Of vantage
the guardsmen fired repeatedly into
the surging populace, wounding a
large number. Still, the mob did not
give way but, only attacked the church
IN an attempt to reach the guard the
more furiously. Several guardsmen
were injured but they were replaced
on the balcony by others and for three
hours the fight continued.
Then three companies of the infan'
try and a troop Of cavalry with one
battery appeared driving all before
them.
BY this time many had fallen and
there, ensued in the darkness a des
perate and uncertain hand to hand en-
counter between the, soldiers and riot
ers. The latter now numbered thous
ands. They wrenched paving stones
from the streets and rushing into the
nearby houses, where they snatched
all sorts of missiles which they hurled
at the troops. Some Of the rioters
we're armed with revolvers which they
did not hesitate to use in the attack
Newspapers Attacked.
One observer says the streets wer,
literally red with blood. No oficia
statement OF the number of the killet
and Wounded had been issued toda.
CONTINUED ON Fifth Page)