The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-05-26
CUSTOM HOUSE At
DUBLIN IS BURNED
BY S|NN FE|NERS
Petrol Is Poured Over Interior
of Beautiful Structure and
Fired-Many InCendia-
ries Captured
BY Associated Press

Dublin, May 25.-The Dublin Gus
tom house is in ruins tonight and all
the most important documents of the
government relating to Ireland, to-
gether with papers and records, the
value of which cannot be estimated,
have been destroyed. This, Dublin
Castle officially announces, is the
work of Sim Fem forces, which, at
an early hour this afternoon made the
most formidable attack against the
government property that has been
engineered since the present rebellion
began.
The employees of the various de-
partments housed in the building were
made prisoners. vast quantities of Pc
troll were poured over the interior of
the building and the light was APP
piled. Soon military lorries crowded
with soldiers arrived and a pitched
battle ensued. The Sim Feiners oc-
cupied the custom house and from the
windows met the soldiers with
heavy fire. Machine guns and rifles
responded, and a strong Gordon was
thrown around the building.
MANY ARE CAPTURED
When the flames became too hot,
the raiders attempted to make their
escape through the various DOORS but
several were shot down and killed and
many were wounded. According to the
official statement, seven civilians
were killed, IL were wounded and Ill
captured. Four of the auxilaries were
wounded.
Crown forces in sortie entered the
building and made many captures,
Some of the raiders were saturated
with petrol, and it is said that several
met their death in the raging flames.
The destruction of the Dublin
custom house constitutes the
most serious damage since the re-
bellion. The building, of which Moth
ing remains but the shell, was erected
during the Irish Parliament, and was
one of the most beautiful in Ireland.
1t had little to do with the customs,
but housed many of the chief admins
tration departments. and it's destruc
ton Is more disa bling to the ordinary
machinery of the government than if
Dublin castle had been burned.
The local government board, whose
function it is to control all Irish rep
resentative bodies, had its offices in
the building. This board has been in
constant conflict with various bodies
repudiating allegiance to it and ally
ing themselves with the Dali Eirenn
and its records now are completely
destroyed
All registrations and lists or share
holders Of public companies were kept
in the building, which was occupied
by the stamp office and the stationery
nf in tr hoip a nj "a
revenue department
STAFF MADE PRISONER
Shortly before O'Clock in the morn
ing numerous young men, heavily
armed, entered the customs house and
held up the staff, assembling them in
the vestibule under guard Two dozen
boxes, each containing four tins of
petrol, and four bales of cotton waste
were passed into the building.
The invaders are said to have num-
bered about so some of them carry
ing two reveolvers each. Three police
men came in to see what was happen
ing; they were promptly seized, des
Drived of their weapons and placed
with the other prisoners. Petrol was
poured over the most important docu-
nients and the building was set on
fire in number of places. The fire
brigade was prevented from reaching
the scene by armed bands. Auxiliaries
soon arrived and the raiders fired on
them from the building and eventually
made = sortie. A regular battle en-
sued.
Reinforcements OF crown forces kept
arriving and, under their protection the
lire brigade got to work but their task
was hopeless. Troops poured into the
district; Lewis guns and machins guns
from armored cars were levelled on
the buildings and every effort was
made TO hem In and capture the in
cendiarles. BY four o'clock about SO
men had been arrested.
Early estimates OF the casualties
Continued ON Pare rwo,