The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-05-22
Defeated in Effort to Pre-
sent Petition to King, Suf-
fragets Slash Paintings
SIX ART SPECIMENS
DAMAGED TO-DAY
Street Battle Was Fought
by Militants with the
London Police

London, May PA militant suffra-
gette to-day slashed and damaged five
pictures in the National gallery, includ-
ing four valuable paintings by Giovanni
Bellini. middle aged woman drew a
loaded stick suddenly and made several
vicious slashes at all the pictures within
her reach. Many students easles stand
ing about the room prevented more Sc
Tious damage.
About the same time picture hanging
In the Royal academy was badly dam
aged by another suffragette, who was ar
rested shortly afterwards.
The National gallery vandal left a
trail of blood behind her from cuts sus-
tanned by the fall of broken glass from
the pictures. The National gallery was
Immediately closed, all the students be-
ing turned out.
The scenes in the Bow street court,
when the women arrested yesterday in
the battle with the police were arraigned
to-day surpassed all previous efforts of
the militants. A blast on a cornet was
the signal for volley of bags of -four
and other missiles thrown at the magis-
trate. One woman removed shoe and
threw it at the magistrate, who caught
it deftly. Three policemen were required
to prevent another woman from throw
ing herself over the rail in the enclo-
sure.
The women were bound over to keep
the peace for six months but they unan-
imously refused to find sureties.
A Chicago woman was knocked down
by mounted policeman's horse in yes
terday's battle and was robbed of $3.50.
She bit the two men who went to her
assistance.
A Desperate Battle Last Night.
An attempt by suffragettes to present
petition to King George at Bucking-
ham palace last night failed, but not un-
til battle had been fought. which for
ferceness surpassed any previous mill
tant demonstration.
The crowd of onlookers suffered almost
as much as the fighters, as the people
waited in the hot sun for two hours for
an attack which eventually came from
totally unexpected quarter.
The police precautions had been direct
ed toward repelling an assault from the
direction of Westminster, where the suf-
fragettes had advertised that they would
form parade. Instead, q small body.
known because of their militant record
as "gun women" of the Women's Social
& Political union, burst from private
residence on Hyde Park corner and
forced their way through the archway
at the top of Constitution hill before
the small squad of police on duty there
had time to collect and resist them.
Headed by Mrs. Pankhurst and Miss
Sylvia Pankhurst, the flying squad of
women swept down Constitution hill to-
wards Buckingham palace but when half
way along met the most hated enemy of
the militants in the person of Inspector
Riley. who has charge of the suffragette
detail at the Scotland Yard police head
quarters.
The shock Of combat was short but
sharp ard resulted in the arrest of many
women who in the fighting used clubs
with a facility which betrayed long
training.
The roadway had Just been sprinkled
with water and many mounted police
men were thrown. Their comrades on
foot rolled with them in the mud, but
eventually the strength of the policemen
told and in few minutes over 80 wom-
en-, Including Mrs. Pankhurst, had been
placed under arrest, while the others had
been scattered into small groups.
One group headed by Miss Sylvia
Pankhurst reached point almost across
the drive from the palace, where mount
ed police surrounded the women and
placed Miss Sylvia and several of her
comrades in custody.
The crowds at this point were so dense
that the attempts of the police to clear
the drive were without success until re-
course was had to water sprinklng
carts, which ruined many of the fine
gowns of the fashionable women spec
tators who had gathered to watch the
expected battle. This caused the police
TO lose their popularity with the crowd,
which up to that moment had eheered
them on.
Several members of the House of Com
mons, among the spectators, denounced
the police for not adhering to their prom |
ise to treat the women with gentleness. !
The police retorted that the terrific on |
slaught of the militants had left them |
no other alternative.
For two hours after the conclusion of |
the main battle the police were engaged |
in breaking up small groups of women |
who had spread over the surrounding |
district.
ne GdsublItr Ntlt HbL NUMEROUS,
consisting of few broken heads. but |
much harm was done to the uniforms |
of the police and to the dresses of the
women.
At no time were more than a couple |
of hundred of women engaged in the !
battle, while opposed to them was
force of l,500 police.
Buckingham palace resembled more a |
mobilization center than the peaceful !
home of royalty.
Two ambulance corps were on the |
scene and both male and female nurses |
found plenty to do with cases of faint |
ing among the spectators
With the exception of few minutes |
when King George stood at a window
watching the preparations TO defend him !
from the attentions of the women the /
palace presented a deserted appearance. |
police inspector said that when Mrs. 1
Pankhurst was arrested he carried her
inside the park gate and she shouted: