Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-01-04
Desperadoes Barricaded in
Dwelling Battle for Hours
With Civil and Military Forces
of City of London,
MULTITUDES WITNESS
THRILLING ENCOUNTER
Struggle Ends When Building
Is Fired and Besieged Perish
in Flaming Structurei Char
red Bodies Taken From Ruins.

IN tanning OlfuClufei OIldf-
red Bodies Taken From Ruins,
IBy Morning journal Special Leased wirel
London. Jan. 3.--All London has
been stirred by the battle waged to-
day between anarchists on the one
side and hundreds of police infantry
and artillery men on the other.
How many of the anarchists band
took part in the engagement which
was fought in and around barricad-
ed house in Sidney street, in the east
end, is not definitely known. After
a search of the debris of the burned
structure. portions OF only two bod
les have been discovered. They con-
sist9of the trunk and part of the head
of one man. and few charred bones
of another.
II Is the opinion of some tnat two
desperadoes alone for many house
held the police and military at bay.
Thousands flocking from all parts of
London. witnessed the spectacle:
steady rain of bullets. flashes of fire
smoke pouring from the windows. the
house in flames and finally men on
the roof shouting defiance and falling
into the seething furnace below
A police sergeant, searching for the
burglars who only q few nights ago
killed four policemen, was reconnoi-
tcring around the Sidney street house
In the early hours of the morning
Suddenly Il shot was fired and the
sergeant fell with bullet through the
lung. A cali for police was sounded
and the entire ncighborhood was cor
doneu. 49,.
Persons were driven from their
houses and pitched battle began
between those 'fortrrssed in the house
and the police. The Scots guards
from the town were hastily despatch
ed TO the scene and later battery
of artillery with gatling guns came
at double quick. Their pieces were
piled In position but they did not open
fire. 4 steady stream of bullets play
ed between the contcnding forces.
The Guards took up sheltered po-
sitons, firing volley after vollcy into
the house. Piles OF straw were cast
in all directions and lighted in the
hope that the dcsperadoes would be
smoked out AT last sparks were OBJ
served shooting from the windows,
accompanied by clouds of smoke and
here and there flames.
Firemen stretched their hose and
threw water on the adjoining struc-
lures. Soon they directed their
streams against the stronghold of the
desperadoes, which was now burning
fiercely. Driven from the lower floors
the anarchists made their way to the
roof, where it seemed to the watch
ing thousands, several forms could be
seen amidst the smoke. Then the
roof collapsed and with it went the
men.
Not since the news of the British
disasters et the opening Of the South
African campaign has the country
been so aroused as by todays scenes
at Stepney The nawspapeis call
loudly for>e-fhore effective means OF
dealing with the growing terrors of
alien immigration, no doubt being
held that the desperadoes who fell to-
day were anarchists.
At present there is no evidence
that the house had any other occu-
pants than the two whose charred
bodies were found. Several others. po-
lice and civilians, received minor in
juries.
Immense crowds of sightseers In
vested the neighborhood until late
hour tonight, but a strict police guard
was maintained and 1t was impossible
for those without authority to get
clos to the half wrecked building. Two
families who occupied the lower floors
of the building were withdrawn by
the police before the fighting began
and they pfofess 10 know nothing OF
how the desperadoes gained access
The latter appeared to have been in
rooms rented by a Russian woman,
Bessie Gershon, who is now under ar
rest with other suspects against
whom. however, no charge has been
made.
The police officials show aggrava-
tion az the calling out Of the soldiers.
They express confidence that they
could have handled the affair without
The help Of the military. The last oc-
casion on which the military was so
employed was at the time of the no.
torious Trafalgar Square riots, when
john Burns was arrested Even then
the soldiers did not fire.
II Is difficult to establish the iden-
uty of the dead desperadoes. but ac-
cerdlng 10 reports Il is practically
certain that one Is Dutch Fritz and
,hat The other Is Peter the Painter, "
6ng.
II seems that when detectives got
fhe inmates of lower rooms out of the
.Stase the difficulty remained OF how
TO remove the woman. Gershon. who
was sleeping on the upper floor. FL
n"iiS ruse Was adopted. A woman
rum lower floor went up and awak-
eheo the Gershon woman and begged
"ef 10 descend es the womans hus-