Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-03
BESIEGERS KEPT AWAY
BY FURIOUS FUSILLADE
Troops Called Upon to Aid in Cap.
ture of Band.
BUILDING IS SET ON FIRE
Shooting From Roof, Defiant De-
tenders Carried With It When
1t Collapses, to Incinera,
tion in Flames.

tion in Flames.
LONDON. January Sin broad day
light today not far from the heart of the
city band of suspected anarchists di-
rected a deadly fusillede from a build
ing temporarily converted into a fortress
against hundreds of armed policemen, re-
inforced by troops and guardsmen, mount
ed and on foot. and artillery.
The citadel of the outlaws was finally
the building the desperadoes were carried
To death in the seething flames below.
Fighting Is Desperate.
The affair took on the dimensions Of
battle. 1t began early today, and con-
tinued until afternoon. when the civil au-
thorities at last became masters of the
situation.
Vast crowds gathered in the narrow
streets leading to the scene of activities.
Word of the desperate character Of the
lighting ran throughout London causing
widespread excitement and alarm.
At one time the besieging force of
These were not brought into actual use.
member Of the ministry, Home Sec
retary Winston Churchill. visited the
scene when the fighting was at its height.
He assisted in the work of subduing the
remarkable outbreak.
Detective Sergt Leeson was shot and
seriously injured, two other policemen
received bullet wounds and several fire.
men were hurt by collapsing walls. Two
soldiers and three civilians were shot.
The wounds Of Lesson only are serious.
the burglary was attempted, when three
policemen were mortally wounded.
Owing to the intense excitement the
police reports of the extent Of the cas-
Ualues aie still lacking In exactness The
extent Of fatalities and injuries, great and
small. during the hours of continuous
fusillades is gathered slowly. as the in
Jured are carried away to widely sepa-
1t required 1900 policemen massed
about the scene to keep back the tens
Of thousands Of spectators who crowded
about the firing zone.
Outlaws May Have Fired Fort.
There 10 some doubt as to whether the
police fired the building This was the
first report. the step having been de-
cided upon, it was said. to save an un-
necessary loss of life, which was sure to
attend an attempt to take the place by
storm.
However. according to another version.
the occupants put the torch to their i'm
provtsed fortress when they realized that
Inc only alternative was their capture
Battling to the grim end against des-
peiate odds. Peter the Painter and
Dutch Fritz" reputed anarchists, wen,
10 their death shouting denance to the
laws of England 1t is beneved that
-our companions perished with them In
the flames that consumed their den on
sidney street.
Two Bodies Found.
This afternoon only the charred bodies
of the two desperadoes. wanted for tue
assassination Of three policemen two
weeks ago. had been recovered.
When their house had been riddled with
bullets from the guns of the police and
soldiers and set on fire, the trapped men
clambered to the roof and fired on the
crowds below. jeering their assailants,
until the upper supports Of the building
gave way and the outlaws were swal-
lowed up in the seething flames.
Such a battle between officers Of the
law and criminals seldom has been
waged- Discovered in their hiding place,
the handful of terrorists stood off the
two half companies of Scots Guards from
the Tower of London, several detach-
ments of armed police, a battery OF
horse artillery with three machine guns
and Gatlng gun and a fire brigade,
until their home was fired
Seven Hours Fighting.
The authorities sought to get the men
alive. 1t took them seven hours to get
hold Of their incinerated bodies.
The police had located the headquar-
ters OF the anarchists. Surrounding the
place, they planned to capture them be-
fore daylight.
Detective Sergt. Leeson was recon
noitering in the yard at the rear, when
there was fash from one of the win
dows and the report of revolver broke
the silence. The sergeant fell back in the
arms of his brother policeman, with a
bullet In the lungs
Police reinforcements were rushed 10
the place and a rain Of lead poured into
the windows OF the house. The occupants
responded.
For hours the fight continued, the
ponce being supported by the Scots
Ggards S,s and artillery. though the latter
aio not oring their guns into play. Sol.
by buildings and fired continuously al
the anarchists, who appeared reDea fediv
az the windows and returned hundreds
Straw Is Lighted.
Piles OF straw were lighted near the
house with the idea Of smoking ou,
its defenders. 1t IL thought likely
that the flames communicated with t,,.
building.
At any rate, soon after these fire,
were started the house was ablaze
The anarchists. driven from the tor
story to the roof. finally went down in
the ruins.
Only when the building collapsed die
the hremen venture an entrance TheT
they flooded the lower floor and recoy.
cred two bodies.
II Is believed thai other bodies viii
be found
Whether the besieged were wounded