The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-03
Thousand Officers Surround
Criminals, Who Fight
to the Death
STREETS OF BRITISH
METROPOLIS TURNED
INTO A BATTLE FIELD
Many Killed and Injured in
Conflict-Houses Demol-
ished andMachine Guns
Used in Fight

LONDON, Jan. 3.--The greatestfgft
In the history of London between the
police and a gang of Anarchists took
place to-day in Sidney street. Stepney.
In the middle east slum section of this
metropolis,
On one side were the Anarchists two
at the first and seven at the last who
were wanted by the police for their
participation in the Houndsditch fight
on December 3. when three policemen
were shot to death. All of these were
killed IN days battle.
Attacking the Anarchists In their
Sidney street retrsat were frst 900 po-
licenen and then 700, thsn 1000, and
finally 1900. led by Home Secretary
winston Churchill, and reinforced by
three companies of Scots Guards from
the Tower garrison, machine guns. ono
battery OF field artillery. including three
1876 Founders, and a company OF
mounted infantry.
The apparently unequal struggle be.
gan early In the day and was only end
ed when six hours later the Anarchists
were burned to death In their retreat.
the house having caught fire from the
operation OF the machine guns.
Full List OF Casualties.
The full list of casualties includes
the seven dead anarchists. two fire.
men shot dead as they entered the
anarchist retreat. seven firemeu and
two police sergeants injured. one Scots
guard sergeant injured. one police
man and two bystanders shot. OF the
injured at least three are believed to
be fatally hurt
In addition to the dead Anarchists,
Sergeant Lesson was fatally shot. Ser
geant Chick OF the Scots Guards dan.
gerously wounded, Police Sergeant
Chesham and Policeman Dyer slightly
injured. and two private citizens shot.
One Of tese was a brewery workman
near the scene Of the fighting and the
other a man named David Williams,
who was struck by a stray bullet while
in his home several blocks away from
the center of the trouble.
There were undoubtedly other per-
sons injured. as Thousands of shots
were fred.
One report said that the anarchists
who had engaged In the fearful fight
against such overwhelming odds eS-
capped at the last minute from an ups
per window of their house to an adj
Joining house. where they entrenchsd
themselves.
AZ the firing ceased. however. with
the collapse of the stronghold. this
report was disproved In favor OF that
that he charred bodies of the six de-
tenders were found in the ruins Of the
bestesed house. ~ - 4445ssa.a
Just as the police entered the burn
ed house and reported the finding Of
the bodies. the mounted infantry and
the field guns arrived on the scene.
This led to the report that the an.
archists had escaped. and that the
new retreat was to be raxed by can.
non FIRE. 1t developed, however. that
the infantry and field artillery came
in response to an earlier call for re-
Endorsements.
How the anarchists. who numbered
| but two at he outset, known an
Fritz" and Peter the Painter" but
were Joined by pals from an adjoin-
ing building. called the "anarchistss
club" were enabled to hold back such
an army Of attackers as long as they
did Is almost inexplicable They were
In house that was practically inac-
cesstble and were armed with auto>
matte pistols with which they con.
fstantly swept the approaches to their
retreat. But making all allowances
1t seemed to the thousands who watch.
ed the struggle that the desperadoes
led charmed lives
The condition of the bodies of the
dead anarchists indicates that they
committed suicide raher than permit
the flames to end their lives One OF
their number attempted to make .
dash for liberty just an the police
swarmed into the building. but ne fell
pierced by a score of bullets
Story Of the Conflict.
One thousand armed London police
reinforced by sixty Scots guards
from the Tower garrison. are now
engaged in a battle with two Of
the Houndsdttch anarchists and
burglars who are besieged IN =
house in Sidney street Many per-
sons have been injured. Including
Sergeant Lesson, s who was fsta1lYs
shot. The anarchists are known -
Peter. the Fainter" and F,rits.
There were only 500 policemen in-
volvSd when the fighting began and
these were unarmed. as is usual With
entire block In themiddle east Lou-
don slum district and began q HOUSE
to house search OF Peter. the
Fainter" and Fritz" who were -,
ueved to be hiding In the block.
Nusic Of Bullets Begin.
suddenly the two men for whom
the police were looking opened m
with automatic pistols from an attto
window of q house overiooking SidnSx;
street. A rain OF bullets fell AuaunS
the police, who temporarily retire
when the desperate nature Of tho IT.
became apparent. the policemen arTn
themselves and renewed the attacl
their number being reinforced NJ thl
time TO TOO. ~ a
Tho police sought rafugo NJ doa1
ways. behind wagons and n any Ell Y
way possible ~ they approached k
anarchistS' fortress but 1hAtx ut1l5 ~ 3
care could not save them fk01S r q
rafting Ore Of the pair Or despef0i4 i
Within : Ten minutas Ssr6NAnk ~ ~ :!
had fallen with I w0nnd fAkn& r
heved to ~ fatal. netectiye + 90
CheshAm and Pnlie0u6am L0of ~
TO- IT, - 49, "a!