The Irish standard., 1917-11-10
NEAR RIOT At ENNISkILLEN
RALLY OF SlNN FEM.
POLICE REQUIRED TO PREVENT
DISORDER.
Leaders Griffith, MacNeili and Figgis
Calm the Excitement Of the Crowd
MANY Priests in the
Gathering.

An extraordinary display of mill.
tary and police force marked the hold.
ing of Sim Fein meeting in Ennis,
killen Sunday A procession through
the town was prohibited by proclama.
ton, and to enforce it 100 police
many of them armed-paraded the
| streets, while a squadron of Inniskill-
ing Dragons, with drawn sabres, held
possession of some of the side streets.
The meeting was to have been held
IN the Old Jail grounds at the eastern
end OF the town. Contingents coming
from the western portion of the coun-
ty. with bands, and carrying Sim Fein
flags, were met at the Western Bridge
by double lines of police drawn across
the roadway. District-lnspector Mar
rinan, who was in charge, refused to
allow the contingents to pass through,
remarking that it was IAN organized
procession He was asked hv some
Of the organizers of the meeting if he
would allow the assemblage to pass
through in small groups. Head Con-
stable Garland, who accompanied the
District-lnspector, said they would al
low them through in groups of 20 or
single contingents. The District-m-
spector demurred from this. and stat
ed that the crowd would have to dis
perse. Rev. Fathers Caulfield and
Cullinan We're refused permission to
pass through the lines.
Place of Meeting Changed.
The crowd was. by this time, grow
ing impatient, and urged toward the
police. The latter were ordered to
draw truncheons. A man named John
Mcguire was struck on the head with
a blackthorn stick
The idea was then abandoned of
holding the meeting in the Jail
grounds, and the Sim Fein leaders
being appraised Of what had occurred,
the crowd held up by the police formed
in professional order and marched
back to the Gaelic Football grounds,
where the meeting was held.
At the conclusion of the proceed
ings there were some exciting Incl
dents in the town. Some of the con-
tingents, carrying huge Sim Fein ban
ners, and accompanied by bands,
marched through the main street.
They were allowed to pass the points
most strongly guarded by police and
military, but when the end of the pro-
cession was passing the offices of the
Impartial Reporter" police, to the
number of about 20, came along be.
hind them with drawn truncheons,
and proceeding to strike out" took
possession of the banners, jumping on
one of them in the roadway. Behind
the baton party came the Dragons at
the trOt with drawn sabres, and they
were followed by about 20 more police
with rifles.
Sim Fein Leaders Intervene.
Arthur Griffith, MacNeill, and Fig
gis rushed bareheaded out of the
Royal Hotel, accompanied by mum.
Ter of priests, to calm down the anger
of the crowd, and succeeded in pre-
venting what promised to be serious
conflict. The Dragons were boohed
as they rode back through the crowd
ed streets. The contingents dispersed
soon afterwards without further Incl
dent
The meeting was attended by a
large number of clergy, and on the
motion of Edmond Corrigan, D.V.C.,
Guardians, seconded by
John M'Elgunn, Chairman Lisnaskea
Guardians, Rev. Father Caulfeld,
&C., Belcoo, took the chair and in his |
address observed, amid laughter, be-
fore Sim Fein became known in Fer
managh they had the Irish Nation
league, which was regarded as a place
Of state of punishment, where some
Parliamentarians suffered for time |
before they joined Sim Fein.