The Washington herald., 1921-05-26
Especial Gable 70 The Warrington Herald
and United N~~tD

Especial Cable 20 The Warrington Herald
and United N~rE.)
LONDON. May 25.-The most
spectacular outbreak Of the Irish
rebellion since the Easter uprising
of 1916 threw central Dublin into
Panic today as a rebel band. work
ing swiftly. daringly and efficiently
burned the $1,000. 900 customs house
in the heart Of the city to the ac-
compartment Of gasoline explosions,
and the firing Of small arms and
grenades.
Seven men are known 70 have
been killed and Ill men were cap
tured. The majority are known TO
be rebels and the others suspected
of completely in the plot Rebel
sentries who had been lettering
near the fire stations sprsng alert
at the hour Of the fire and others
armed with revolvers controlled the
streets near the customs house.
preventing the firemen from re-
spending to the alarm until IL was
far too late to save the building.
Battle with Police.
Many pedestrians were wounded
in the desperate battle with ths
police and soldiers VINO rushed TO
the building. The rebels were Just
in the act Of escaping from the
building when they arrived.
The telegraph service was inter-
rupted for several hours. causing a
confusion Of reports. This may
have been a part of the elaborate
plan Of action. The Irish office here
believes the wires were deliberately
cut before the attack was made.
Attack In Lunch Hour.
The customs house, which con-
tained many important governmental
offices. was almost emptied Of its
employees who had gone out for
lunch. The sidewalks were crowded
with civilians taking the air dur
ing the lunch hour.
suddenly a band Of $50 rebels
appeared. conveying a truck loaded
with cans Of gasoline and four bales
of cotton. They rushed into the
building. ejectinE the few remaining
clerks. dragged in the cotton bales,
saturated them with gasoline,
poured gasoline over the walls and
/ floors of all the rooms and then set
the place afire. The building
seemed TO move with flames. and
the astonished crowds in the streets
stood almost stupefied with smass-
ment .r
soldiers In Trucks.
II the rebel sentries were able TO
| intimidste the hremen. not so the
soldiers and the auxiliary police.
An armored car and two truck
loads of black and tans dashed up
to the building In time TO intercept
the rebels as they were leaving the
building By the rear exit All the
rebels were armed. They opened
fire first with pistols and hand
grenades and three black and tans
fell wounded. Instantly the black
and tans replied with rifles, pistols
and machine guns and four Of the
rebels were killed. Others faltered
| in the face of this fire and were
driven back into the burning build
ing. They may have escaped later.
Pedestrians in the line OF the fire
were dropping. wounded. and two
are known to have been killed.
Crowds Ia Panic.
After a moment. as the resliza-
tion OF what was going on came
| over the crowds. they began 20
run at outlet streets, in panic
Business in the central portion
Of town stopped dead. soldiers ar
rived a few minutes later to rein
force the black and tans, coming in
srmored cars and lorries. They de-
ployed in a Gordon about the huge
building. hurting grenades and fir
ing machinef guns In the blazing
interior.
Ambulances drove up and then
came the fire department. alto
gether too late to be OF any use.
escorted by black and tans-
Liberty Hall BURNS.
Liberty Hall, the headquarters OF
the Irish Transport workers. also
burned down but IL is believed this
fire caught from the blazing Gus
toms house. When the prisoners
were examined Il was found that
the clothing Of eight of them was
saturated with gasoline.
Crown forces bombed two houses
at Clonakilty. near Cork. today ard
arrested the owner OF one in re-
prissI for a Sim Fein attack on
re police barracks.
Other official reprisals continued.
extensive searches and raids being
r,.da shrourhauf the dfSfrfcf