Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-05-28
Attempt to Present Petition to
King George Ends in Clash
with Police.
FLYING SQUAD or GUN WOMEN"
Fashionable Gowns of Bystand-
ers Ruined-200 Women
Oppose 1,50O Uniforms
king Looks On.

London, May 2l.--An attempt by mill
tant suffragettes to present petition 10
King George at buckingham palace TO-
night failed, but not until a battle had
been fought which for flercencss sur
passed any previous militant demonstra-
ton.
The crowd of onlookers suffered almost
as much as the fighters, as the people
waited in the hot sun for two hours ioF
an attack which eventually came from
totally unexpected quarter.
The police precautions had been di-
rected toward repelling an assault from
the direction of Westminster, where the
suffragettes had advertised that they
would form parade. Instead small
| body known because of their militant
record as gun women of the Women
Social and Political Union, burst from
IA rrivato residence on Hyde Park corner
and forced their way through the arch-
way at the top of Constitution MIL pe-
fore 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 Oh
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
suffra gette detail at the Scotland Yard
police headquarters.
SHOCK IS SHORT AND SHARP
The shock OF combat was short bu'
sharp and resulted in the arrest of many
women who in the fighting used clubs
with a facility which betrayed long train
Ing.
The roadway had Just been sprinklet
with water and many mounted police
men were thrown. Their comrades or
foot rolled with them in the mud, bu
eventually the strength Of the policemen
told and in a few minutes over 30 women
including Mrs. Pankhurst, had beer
placed under arrest while the Others haC
been scattered into small groups
One group headed by Miss Sylvia Pank
hurst reached a point almost across tn
drive from the palace. where mounted
police surrounded the women and PLACED
Miss Sylvia and several of her comrades
In custody.
The crowd at this point were so dens
that the attempts of the police to clea
the drive We're without success until re
course was had to water sprinkling carts
which ruined many of the fine gowns o
the fashionable women spectators VII
had gathered to watch the expected bat
/ tie This caused the police to lose thei
popularity with the crowd. which up t
that moment had cheered them on.
Several members of the House of Com
mons. among the spectators. denounce
the police for not adherng to their prom
se to treat the women with gentlenes
The police retorted that the terrific or
slaught Of the militants had left ther
no other alternative.
>, SOME BROKEN HEADS
: For two hours after the conclusion {
i the main battle the police We're engage
= In breaking up small groups OF wome
i who had spread over the surroundin
district.
Tho casualties were not numerous, col
eisting of a few broken heads. but muo
harm was done to the uniforms OF Il
= police and to the dresses OF the wome
, At no time were more than couple
r hundred OF women engaged in the battl
t. while opposed to them was a force
= 500 police.
If buckingham palace resembled more
"a mobilization center than the peacef
home of royalty.
Two ambulance corps were on Il
scene and both male and female nurs
=, found plenty to do with cases of faintil
among the spectators
With the exception of a few minut
when King George stood at windo
2 watching the preparations to defend hi
L. from the attentions of the women I
o. palace presented a deserted appearanC
ot police Inspector said that when Nj
a. Pankhurst vas arrested he carried h
p inside the park gate and and she shoute
THAT is right, Arrest me at the CAT
:" Of the palace. Tell the King"