The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-11-26
BR|TlSHFLAG
STARTS RIOT
Irish Mob Attacks N. Y. Club
Flying Union Jack-Priest
Makes Vain Appeal.

NEW YORK, Nov. 26.-rhe usual
quiet observance Of Thanksgiving
Day here was violently interrupted
sortly after noon yesterday when
crowds who had attended a high re-
QUEEN mass in memory of Terence
McSwiney, former lord mayor Of
Cork, rioted at the sight of Brit
ish flag decorating the facade Of
the Union Club across Fifth ave-
nue. from st. Patrick's Cathedral.
SMASH WINDOWS.
After a night participated in by hum
dreds Of Irish sympathiEers. in the
course of which plate-slass windows
or the club were shattered by missiles
hurled BY members of the mob, order
was restored when a Gordon OF 700
police established itself around the
. beleaguered building.
Tho Union Jack. which was the
cause OF the assault, although taken
| down at the first demand of the
crowds and subsequently, replaced
still was drapcd over tho sidewalk
with the emblcms or France and the
United states. when the fracas ended
When the Clamor of the first rush
/ On the offending banner was at it,
height, the RI Rev. Michael j.
Lavelle, rector Of st. Patrick's, clad in
his ministerial robes. rushed out ~
1.-the church and pleaded in vain with
leaders to quelI the disturbance.
After mounted and motorcycle
( police had dispersed the sssaulting
! forces a survey OF the field of battle
revealed casualties including a dozer
| or more slightly injured who had been
{ struck by hying' brickbats. All
, windows on the lower floor OF the
! club had been mashed.
Before the beginning Of tho Mac
Swiney mass, the attendance at which
taxed the utmost capacity Of the great
Cathedral, a delegation OF Irish re-
! questcd that the British flag b.
removed. The club superintendent
F., complied. but later. on instructions
, from club officials, the flag was re-
placed
POLICE OVERPOWERED.
When the service was over, the
nag again caught the attention Of
belligerent members of the congrega-
tion who were angered at the reap
pearance OF the emblem. Stones and
bricks were procured from a nearby
building under construction and the
attack began.
a riot call at first brought only fifty
police, all on foot These fought
desperately, using their nightStlcks
freely, but were powcrlcss against tho
! keavy odds. Only after the arrival of
3reinforcements of three times the
original number did the officers sue
coed in driving back the attackers
who had been prevented from enter
ing tho building itself by determined
club members and employees who
manned the doors. Several women
effected an entrance at one time but
were driven out before any damage
was done to the interior Of the
building.
Four arrests on charges or maiici-
Gus mischief were made.
The MacSwincy memorial service
was attended by many prominent
Irish here including Eamonn De
Valera. President of the Irish Re-
public" who occupied place in tho
front pew.
Mgr. Lavelle paid tribute to
the former Mayor Of Cork, who died
after a. hunger strike in Brixton
whose high record proclams him Just.
whose deeds make him a hero among
his fellows and whose name will live
IN the memory of the world
The Union Jack, along with the
French tri-color and the Stars and
Stripes, still flew defiantly from the
upper windows of the club today.
club officials explained they were
ignorant of the MacSwiney memorial
service, and said the British flag was
flown in honor of the tercentennary
Of the landing Of the Pilgrims.