New-York tribune., 1920-11-26
Crowds at MacSwinev
Mass, Including Women,
Smash Windows With
Stones; Many dubbed
5fh Ave. Traffic
Blocked 2 Hours
Riot Before and After
Service as Emblem Is
Furled: Hoisted Again

Irish sympathizers, who objected
to an English flag hanging from the
Union Club during MacSwiDey
memorial service 1t st. Patrick
Cathedral, across the way. started !;
riot yesterday afternoon which T..
quelled only by the combined poiice
reserves of Manhattan. who used
their nightsticks freely, which TO.
suited in smashed windows of The
club and general tie-up of trafic
on Fifth Avenue for an hour and
half.
Immediately preceding the ne
mortal services a fight was precipi-
tated inside the club building, when
g delegation forced its way in, with
the avowed intention Of tearing dowN
the flag. They waged a lively battle
with club members until the police
arrived and elected the intruders.
Many Clubbed by Police
The riot was one of the worst e-eY
seen in New York, according to the
police. Several times it seemed to tie
spectators that the officers who were
forcing the crowd back from the cluh
building during the attack following
the services would be overwhelmed.
Men and women, many of them shrek
ing imprecations at the club and at the
officers, were thrust back by the blue
coats, and with the arrival OF reserves
and following a passionate exhortation
from the Cathedral steps by Monsgnor
Michael J. Lavelle the crowd sullenly
drew back, inch by inch, into the side
streets. Finally the space in front of
the club was cleared and only the lite,
of stones and broken glass and
smashed hats and torn umbrellas III ois
the pavement remained to tell of the
riot.
Many minor injuries were suffered
because of the free use of nightsticiSs
when the rioting was at its worst. Men
in frenzy of excitement were dubbed
into submission. Women who tried to
u1Sil pdol thC pOllCo WcIc BdEH
none too gently, sobbing hysterically,
waving Irish flags in spite Of thei-
hurts.
Four arrests were made by the
police, three men being charged with
throwing stones and one with carrying
sword cane. Ambulances were he'd
ready on side streets, and as last re-
sort it was planned to summon the
Fire Department and deluge The crowe
with &c ho y,o1ica limo 7arnrn:
unable to hold it's own.
French Tricolor Also Up
Testimony from both sides indicates
The flag was displayed, according to
official statements from the Union
Club. on account of the celebl alton OF
the Mayhower tercentenary. It fianked
an American flag on the Fifth Avenue
side of the club building, at Fiftyfrst
Street On the other side of the Amer
/ lean flag was French tricolor, dis
played, so club members assert, in
! honor Of the arrival of the French
Ambassador
Club members said last night that
they knew nothing of memorial services
! for Mayor MacSwiney at the Cathedral
The club superi Major Thomas
Murphy, however feared the flag might
make trouble and hauled it down at the
very moment the delegation at the door
/ had made its demands. immediately
preceding the service.
When the chairman of the house
committee, Arthur Weeks, arrived a.
the :lub and learned what had hap
pened and that the flag had been taken
/ in he ordered the emblem displayed
once more. The sight of the banner .
after the crowd had filed out of the
! Cathedral, about 1915 o'clock, was what
inaamed the mob to the point OF storm
ing the club.
The crowd outside did not know Of
the fight that had gone on inside the
combat were retaiIed last night By
! battered club members. Telfaif T.
Minton, who, by peculiar circumstances,
happens 70 be an authority on the
flags Of az nations and lectures or
that topic, bore visible evidence of the
! fight in the form of q broad white
strip of plaster which pretty we'll con-
cealed his upper lip.
Two Women Enter Club
~ was in the front room looking out
and saw d number of men gathering
opposite the Cathedral" said Mr.. Mir-
ton, "but there was nothing in the
paper about d MacSwiney meeting and
! had no idea that any trouble int
! PNsiOCQ OFCi tlC hoS VIC HbA dtSps8S GU.
l saw a parade, with some one carry
ing an American flag, and next to il
flag of the so-called Irish republic.
"There were about twelve men in
uniform, I judge, and one who wore
the chevrons of a nome commissioned
officer yelled: Take in that fag!
81 heard disturbance at the door
and went down to see what was the
matter. There was a crowd at the
door. Several had pushed by the door
man and some one said: We will give
you five minutes to take that flag down
or We'll pull it down
81 tried to explain that the flag was
there as part of the Nayfower celebra-
ton. but some one said: We're going
TO pull it down. and there was a rush
for the stairs.
II met them at the first landing
continued Mr.. Minton, "and told them
they must go no further. Just then
some one hit me - the mouth. | nj.
back and some o. the club member.