The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-04-15
Seven Persons Shot to Death and
Many Wounded in
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 Arrives.-Great
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 end
ed. The rioting was widespread and
such was the confusion during the
violent conflict between the ropulace
and the municipal guard that the
guardsmen, mistaking infantrymen
who had been called out for members
of the mob, fired a volley into their
ranks, seriously wounding three of
the soldiers.
The night was n of terror for
Lisbon, seemed suddenly aflame with
seething 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
~peaceable citizens fled to their homes
Just as they did on the night after
assassination of King Carlos and the
Crown Prince.
The principal rioting was the result
of a dispute between the Republicans
and the Monarchists regarding the
counting of votes. The RepuDilcans,
who feared fraud at the various
Lisbon polling places, made a 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 n
Monarchists kept a sharp watch
throughout the day. The voters, fol-
lowing the ancient custom of Vot-
ing in the churches, they filed stead
lly, 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 10
count the votes and proposed to keep
the list in the church and Dur 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 in a moment blows were
struck and then a general fight fol-
flowed. Suddenly the municipal guard
arrived and cleared the edifce OF the
struggling combatants at the point
of the bayonet. In the meantime
the crowd outside of the church a
been greatly augmented and the
establishments appearance at the doors
after they had forced the people into
the streets was the signal for a show
or of stones, under which they were
forced to retreat. AS they retired
they fired a volley from their rifes'
bringing down several of the rioters.
The mob steadily increased n
shouts and imprecatiops and cries OF
anger were heard on eVeryslde
The rioters armed themselves anew
and soon the edihce was literally sur
rounded and beseiged by a maddened
mob.
The guardsmen fred internationally
Through the doorways, but the Volleys
we're feeble and Intellectual. Even
finally. the commanding officer placed
a detail on the balcony over the
main portal, from which point OF
vantage the guardsmen fired repeat
edlv into the surging populace, and
wounded a large number. Still the
mob did not give way, but only at
tacIed the church the more furiously.
Several of the guardsmen were
wounded, but they were replaced on
the balcony by others and for three
hours the fight continued.
Then three companies of infantry
and a troop of cavalry, with n bat
terry appeared, driving all before
them.