Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-01-07
ANARCHISTS AT
BAY DIE IN FIRE
Made Desperate Resistance
Against London Police.
BURNED m THEIR FORTRESS
Cornered Murderers Battle With Po
lice and Soldiers to the End Amid
Showers Of Bullets.

showers OF Bullets.
Fighting to the grim end against
desperate odds. Peter the Painter
and Dutch Fritz" reputed anarchists,
went to their deaths In London. Eng
land. shouting defiance to the laws.
IL Is believed that four companions
persisted with them in the flames that
consumed their den in Sidney street,
not far from the heart of London.
Only the charred bodies OF the two
desperadoes wanted for the assassina
ton Of three policemen at Hounds
ditch two weeks ago had been recov.
cred.
When their house had been riddled
with bullets from the guns of police
and soldiers and set on fire. the trap
ped men clambered to the roof and
theer made their last stand, firing at
the crowds below and jeering their as
sailants until the upper supports OF
the building gave way and the out
laws were swallowed up in the seeth.
ing flames.
Such battle between officers Of the
law and criminals seldom has been
waged Discovered in their hiding
place, the handful of terrorists stood
off two half companies of Scots Guards
from the Tower OF London. several de.
tachments of armed police. a battery
OF horse artillery with three machine
guns and Calling gun and fire brl'
gade, until their home was fired.
The authorities sought TO take thG
men alive. II took them seven hours
to get their incinerated bodies.
Detective Sergeant Lesson was shot
and seriously wounded. two other Off
GERS received bullet wounds and sew
eral fremen were hurt by eollapsing
walls. Two soldiers and three civilians
were shot Lesson was the only one
seriously wounded.
The scene of the battle was near
where the burglary was attempted
when three policemen were MORALLY
wounded The police had found the
headquarters of the anarchists and,
surrounding the place, planned to cap.
tuer them.
Detective Sergeant Lesson was re
connoitering in the yard at the rear,
when there was a flash from one OF
the windows. the report of revolver
broke the silence and the sergeant fell
back In the arms OF brother officers,
with bullet in the lungs.
Police rcinforcements were rushed
20 the place and rain OF lead was
poured into the windows of the house
The anarchists responded and fol-
hours the fight continued. the police
being supported by the Scots Guards
and artillery. though the latter did not
bring their guns into play.
Soldiers we're posted on the roofs OF
nearby buildings. and fired continu.
ously at the anarchists. who appeared
repeatedly at the windows and return.
ed hundreds Of shots
The outlaws were armed with maya,
zine revolvers and had good supply
OF ammunition. as was shown by sew.
eral explosions which marked the pro.
gress Of the flames
Piles OF straw were lighted near the
house. with the idea Of smoking out
its defenders. and il Is thought likely
that the flames communicated with the
building
At any rate. soon after these fires
we're started the house was ablaze
and the anarchists driven from the TOT
story TO the roof. aud finally went
down In the ruins