Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-07
LISBON'S RED NIGHT
WORST TERROR SINCE ASsASSI-
NATION OF CARLOS.

LISBON. April Five persons were
, shot to death and fifty others wounded
by soldiers during the 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 mis-
taking infantry who had been called out
for members of the mob fred a volley
into their ranks, seriously wounding three
Of the soldiers.
/ The night was one Of terror for LIS
bon. which seemed suddenly afiame with
seething revolt. Bands of men ran wildly
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.
Republicans Feared Fraud.
! The principal riotins was the result Of
a dispute between the republicans and the
monarchists regarding the counting of
votes. The republicans who had been
fearing fraud at the various Lisbon poll
ing places. made a determined stand for
(, their rights at ST. Dominique's Church.
which Ia in the center OF the city. a dis
. trict that IS practically the stronghold Of
republicanisnl. Both the republicans and
the monarchists kept a sharp watch
throughout the day. AS the voters were
following tie ancient custom of voting in
the churches. they filed steadily. but
slowly. into historic ST. Dominique's and
deposited the.- ballots in the Official vot-
ing boxes. When the polls closed the
| rnonarchist election officers declared that
1t was too late to count the votes and
proposed to keep the list in the church
and count them today. The republican
tellers refused to assent to this. insisting
upon an Immediate count, followed by the
sealing Of the boxes.
Church Was Cleared.
The difference between the officials
spread to the crowds that filed the
church. and In moment blows were
struck and then a general fight followed.
Suddenly the municipal guard arrived and
cleared the ediice of the struggling COM
hstants at the point OF the bayonet
In the meantime the crowd outside OF
the church had been greatly augmented
and the guardsmens appearance at the
doors after they had forced The people
into the streets was the signal for a.
shower OF stones. under which they were
forced TO retreat to the interior of the
edif1ce. AS they retired they fired a vol
ley from their rifles. bringing down sew
erai OF the rioters. The mob steadily
increased. and shouts and imprecations
and cries OF anger were heard on every
side. The rioters armed themselves anew.
and soon the edifce was literally sur
rounded and besieged by maddened mob
Battle by Night.
The guardsmen fired Internationally
through the doorways but the volleys
we're feeble and Intellectual. Eventually
the commanding officer placed detail on
the balcony orer the main portal, from
which point Of vantage the guardsmen
fred repeatedly into the surging populace,
wounding a large number. Still the mob
did not give way. but only attacked the
church. in an attempt 20 reach the guard
the more furiously. Several OF the guards
men were wounded. but they were re-
placed on the balcony by others and for
three hours the fight continued. then
three companies of infantry and a troop
ot cavalry. with one battery, appeared,
driving all before them.