New-York tribune., 1921-05-26
irelandss Finest Structure.
Valued ait Five Millions.
Destroyed With All Its
Records of Government
Machine Gums Are
Turned On Rioters
lncendiaries i'm Pitched
Battle With Troops; ILL
Taken, Many Wounded
From The Tr10uno's European Bureau

Tribune
LONDON, May 25. - A battle was
fought around the Dublin custom
house this afternoon after a BODY of
armed Sim Feiners, routing the Office
force there, set fire to the building.
AT least two auxiliary police were
killed as the incendiaries fought their
way out of the flaming structure, and
the Sim Fein dead are estimated to
number from four to seven. Many on
both sides were wounded and large
number of republicans were captured.
The custom house, one of the finest
buildings in Ireland, was destroyed
with loss estimated at $5,00000O.
Income tax records and other ies upon
which the greater part of local govern
ment in Ireland depends were burned.
The building, of white stone in Gothic
design, fronted on the River Liffev.
A lorry load of fully armed Sim Fem
ers drove up before it about 1 o'clock.
They were wearing bandoliers and
carrying buckets of gasoline and guam
titles of cotton wool soaked in Lero-
sene.
Attacking Force Is Split
Dashing into the building, some Of
the Sim Feiners cornered the build
ing's Office force of about 100 persons.
including many women, while the
Others set about pouring oil on furni-
ture and records in different parts of
the building and touching matches to
IT, SlmuitaSeously smaller body Of
Sln% Feners armed with revolvers
h1I b,,;,.
vented the. men there from answering
their telephone or going to the fire.
AT the custom house there was panic.
Employees and incendaries led side by
side from the building, many of the
latter escaping in the melee. Dublin
city police VINO had been attracted to
the spot by the columns of smoke issu-
ing from windows were prevented by
the republicans from interfering with
the success of their plans.
But In few minutes two lorry loads
of Black and Tans rolled into the
square and opened fire on the Sim
Felners in the custom house. Republi-
can fire from the custom house and
nearby buildings swept the lorries.
Bombs were thrown, and, as the crowds
in the street. scattered for cover, rife
hre ratified from every vantage point
outside the building and in. The smo moke
IN the square had grown heavy, giving
the Sim Fem incendiarics excellent
cover for their escape, and it is be-
lieved that more than half of their
original force got away
Reinforcements Rout AssaiIapts
After fierce engagement the auxil-
iaries succeeded in storming their way
into the custom house and releasing
the few office employees who were still
marooned there. Reinforcemcrts ar
running fight the Sim Feinels beat
a retreat. When the Fire Department
could be brought into action it was
too late to save the building or any
of it's contents.
A military Gordon, which was thrown
around the custom house district, is
being maintained all night.
LONDON, May 25 By The Associat-
ed Press) ).-The Irish Oftice tonight
issued the following official report on
the custom house fire at Dublin:
Three tenders carrying auxiliary
cadets and accompanied by an armored
car approached the Dublin Custom
House shortly after l o'clock this
morning. AS they approached the
DuliCIllS a. uullDeI VI DOllDS were
thrown at the tenders from the rail-
way bridge, while revolver fire was
opened on them from the windows of
the custom house, which was occupied
by large force of Sim Feiners.
Machine Gun Bombards Windows
"The cadets dismounted under heavy
fire and surrounded the custom house,
which was seen to be burning. Fire
from the auxiliaries and the machine
gun on the armored car was poured
into windows of the custom house,
from which the rebels replied vigor-
ousIy, and series of desperate con-
fl cts followed between the Crown
forces and seven or eight parties of
rebels who rushed from different doors
of the building, making dashes for lib
erty and firing as they ran. The first
party to emerge consisted of three
men, one of whom was killed and the
other two wounded.
"By this time smoke and flames were
pouring from the building, and the off
cial staff, including many women, who
had been held prisoners by the rebels
came hocking out with hands above
their heads, waving white handker-
chiefs. While the staff was making it's
exit the rebels made last sortie, con-
sisting of seven men, only one of whom
the rest being killed or
wounded.
"Some of the auXiliaries then stormed
Continued on noxt pags)