New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-13
The Marne Dotted with Blazing
Wine Cellars. Kindled by
Ri0t0uS Growers.
DESTRUCTION MENACEs Ay
Troops Unable to Cope with the
Mobs - Sharp Fighting at
Epernay - Moet e. Chan
don Presses Ablaze.

e hich followed the action o. the Senate
an the champagne question Through
ont the dav and during the early hours
of the evening the situation was eN-
tremely grave. Tut at midnight o""h
IN the presence - formidable forces ot
troops conditions had become somewhat
settled.
An official list Of the damage prepared
at late hour tonight shows that ~
rnornav four establishments were
wrecked AT Az six large wine houses
were burned At Damery hve wine
houses were pillaged and destroyed. Tho
residence of the Mayor OF Mareun "aS
pillaaed. Wine cellars were wrecked Ak
pierrv and a wine house at Dizzy. Tne
Moet G. Chandon wine presses outside
! Of Epernay were burned In ADDITION
the straw coverings for the protection or
the vines against frost were set on nre
and all the vines in the region were de-
stroyed.
The frenzy Of the rioters exceeds all
bounds. and il is feared that they will
usc dynamite. a large quantity OF which
djsappeared from the quarries last week
News comes from the town Of Ay that a
homb was thrown at the cavalry. wound'
ing three troopers and killing horse.
Altogether five ESTABLISHMENTS "
Enernav have been practically burned 10
tho ground after having been pillaged.
| The safes IN these Establishments "e''
forced. and the furniture and httinss
were piled in heaps in the streets anu
CO, IN fire. The firemen were poweriess'
being driven off by the rioters.
| All around Epernay the coun't!
dotted with blazing cellars and the
,,ho,e civ is aglow. At Cusnieres Moet
& Chandon's great wine presses are
hlazing. as we'll as another large estao'
Iishment at Pierry. At Ay two more
establishments were wrecked to-h'e"''
The cavalry charged repeatedly ou' INC
moh showed stubborn resistance. huri-
iny broken bottles and stones at the men
and horses.
Troops continue To pour into this "'
trict. Already six battalions of infantry
and four squadrons Of cavalry nave ar
rived. and brigade Of cavalry IS on "s
wav here from Paris. 1t is estimate"
that there will be 1000 troops IN ser
vice by tomorrow morning.
Immediately on their arrival inc So
diers are dispatched to the danger cen
tres. The Prefect plans TO occupy prao-
ticallv every town and village In the aus
trict with the military, believing th''
ANYTHING less than this will have no ei-
feet. The soldiers have strict orders ~
arrest pillagers and 10 use the'r arms J"
case of resistance.
| An important division of the seven
thousand persons who marched ITO"
Damery this morning succeeded IN eNao'
ing the troops and reached Epernay this
afternoon in snail groups. Then tns
senarate hands refomed and sacked sew.
eral depots Of champagne. troopers
l,cbarsed the rioters with drawn sabres'
and several persons were wounded.
The remaining force of the wine grow
ers column was stopped by troops at
the town Of Ay but later escapeu
through the Gordon of soldiers ana
sacked and burned two wines houses.
Az April ia confagration fed BY
incendiaries threatens at midnight 10
engulf the whole village. The inhao-
,tants have abandoned their houses. tab-
ing their most precious possessions win
them.
4 regiment Of ravalry arrived here to-
night from Epernay. and Is stationed
~tnfarC
fed i'm the direction of Montreuil. pur-
sued by troopers In one Of the collisions
q lieutenant was severely wounded by
paving stone.
Damery, Franco. April 12.-This town
to-day is a picture of desolation. The
streets are literally running with dark
mass of champagne mixed with mud.
Within n stones throw Of the red ban
ner floating over the City Han stand tne
ruins OF six houses of wine merchants
which were demolished by the mob last
night.
The riots. which began IN this depart
mont Yesterday. were continued this
morning by the excited people. The dis
order spread III spite VI tHe PioSehNe W
troops.
Seven thousand wine growers lcft here
this morning. marching on Epernay the
=. cntrep5t for champagne. four miles dis-
tant. TO destroy the wine cellars there.
The crowds were admirably organized,
and were aroused 40 "A pitch OF fervor
bv a sense OF the justice of their cause.
During the march they sang revolution
; arv HYMNS and waved red standards.
tins disowning the government, which.
they say. has abandoned them To ruin.
They add that the government acted az
result OF the steps taken by the makers
OF inferior grades of wine.
The column reached the town OF Ay
. at noon Cooperating with another
band which had reached Ay from diff
ferent direction, the rioters proceeded to
Venteuil. where they destroyed the great
wine presses Troops which had hur-
rledly been sent - Venteuil charged
and dispersed the mob. but not until the
rioters had accomplished their purpose.
The Attorney General went To Venteuil
nv automobile Today. with the object of
investigating the situation. but was un-
able to advance through the streets be-
cause they were piled high with broken
} champagne bottles.
Paris. April l2.-The storm raised by
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