The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-07
ANARCHISTS DEFY POLICE.
TWO IN BARRICADED LONDON
HOUSE FIGHT TO THE
DEATH
AFTER "A Fierce Conflict, Which Stirs
Whole OF Metropolis, Desperadoes
Die I'm the Flaming Ruins of Strong
hold.

London, Jan. 3.-All London has
been stirred by terrific battle waged
today between anarchists on the one
side and hundreds Of police and in
fantry from the tower and artillery
men on the other. How many of the
anarchists band took part in the
engagement. which was fought in and
around barricaded house in Sidney
street in the east end is not definitely
known. but so far, after a search of
the debris Of the burned structure.
portions Of only two bodies have been
discovered. The remains consist of
the trunk and part Of the head Of
one man, and few charred bones
Of another.
1t is the opinion of some that two
desperadoes alone for SO many hours
held the police and military at bay.
thousands, fiocking from all parts of
London, witnessed the thrilling spec
tacle-a steady rain of bullets, flashes
or fire, smoke pouring from the WIN
dows, the house in flames and fina,;v
men on the roof, shouting defiance
and falling into the seething mass
below.
police sergeant searching for the
burglars. who only few nights ago
killed four policemen, was recon-
noitering the Sidney station in the
early hours Of the morning. Suddenly
shot was fired and the sergeant fell
with bullet through the lungs.
call for police was sounded and
the entire neighborhood VI as cordoned.
People were driven from their houses
and a pitched battle began between
those fortressed in the house and
hundreds Of policemen. The Scots
guards from the tower were hastily
dispatched to the scene and later
battery of artillery with gattling guns
arrived at doublequick
Their pieces were placed in posi-
ton but they did not open fire.
steady stream of bullets played
between the coltending forces and
the guardsmen took up sheltered
positions, hring volley after voIey
into the house
Piles of straw were cast in all di-
rections and lighted in the hope that
the desperadoes would be smoked
out At last sparks were observed
shooting from the windows, accom-
panied by clouds Of smoke and here
and there jet of flame. A detach-
ment Of firemen stretched their hose
and threw water on the adjoining
structures. 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 perceived admist the driving
smoke. Then the roof collapsed and
with it the men.
Not since the news of the British
disaster at the opening of the South
African campaign has the country
been so aroused as by today's scene
at Stepney. The newspapers call
loudly for a more effective means Of
dealing with the growing terrors Of
alien immigration. no doubt being
held that the desperadoes who fell
today were anarchists. A search of
the besieged house after the ruins
had cooled little revealed in a cup
board a large number of what ap-
peared to be metal dynamite bombs
in an unfinished state At present
there is no evidence that the house
had any ether occupants than the
two whose cnarred bodies were found.
Several policemen and civilians re-
ceiVed minor injuries. Immense
crowds Of sightseers invested the
neighborhood until late hour to-.
night, but a strict police guard was
maintained and ii was impossible for
those without authority to get close
to the half-W"cckod buildings. Two
families who occupied the lower
floors of the building were withdrawn
by the police before the fighting be-
gan and they professed to know uoth-
ing OF how the dospcradoos gained
access TO the house. The latter APP
pear TO have been in rooms rented
by a Russian woman, Bessie Gcrshon.
who is now under arrest with other
suspects, against whom, however, no