The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-26
Ten Known Dead in Dublin
Street Battle.
Sim Fein Attackers Trapped by
Black and Tans.
WERE III ARRESTS MADE
All the Archives OfOId Customs
Building Destroyed.
Irish Papers DeplOre Deed as
Bound to Delay Peace.

Dublin, May 26.-At noon today the
customs house which was set afire
Wednesday afternoon by raiding
party of civilians, officially declared to
have been Sim Feiners, still was
burning.
All the interior had been destroyed
at that hour but the main walls were
standing, as was the dome, the chief
architectural feature of the building,
and the clock was keeping time.
A high official stated that the most
important documents of the local board
had been saved. Mahon Lawless, a
customs official, was among those
killed in the fight in and about the
building.
Dublin, May 26.-With the smoul-
dering and b1ackened ruins of the Gus
toms house under heavy guard, SOL
/ diers and police searched the debris
for additional victims.
The number of dead, resulting from
| the most spectacular effort of the
Sim Feiners since the 1916 rebellion,
was placed unofficially at ten. 1t was
| believed a number of additional Sim
Feiners, their escape cut off by black
and tan police who responded to the
emergency call after the rebels had
fired the building, perished in the
flames.
| The size of the band, which de-
scended upon the beautiful building
like locusts, was indicated by the fact
| that Ill arrests were made. Over
! $50 were in the party which was pro-
vided with eighty-eight cans of petrol
and four bales of cotton.
| Sim Fein Trapped.
Police reinforcements arrived and
| the officers rushed across an open
space, throwing the spectators right
and left to reach the Sim Feiners.
With their backs to the customs
house, the rebels fought with re-
! volvers and hand grenades but gradu-
ally were disarmed and taken pris-
oner.
| Fifty men taken by crown forces in
and about the old building spent the
night in various prisons in the city,
land the bodies of persons killed dur
ing the struggle reposed in morgues.
1t was believed that some of the raid
ers perished in the fire.
! The customs house was completed
in 1871 and was one of the chief
architectural ornaments of the city. 1t
was of the doric style and was crowned
with a dome surmounted by a statue
of Hope.
All Archives Destroyed
Archives almost priceless were de-
stroyed in the flames which swept
thru the building after gasoline had
been thrown about and ignited by the
trading party Troops were Quartered
at Liberty hall nearby during the
night and the approaches to the Gus
ttons house were. cut off by barbed
wire entanglefnents.
'It is not merely a blow to Irish
pride and commerce. said the Irish
Times this morning in commenting on
Fire hut c a hlnW
prospects of peace"
The Freeman's Journal said: I'll
may be noble thing to rise to higher
things on the stepping stones of our
dead selves, but when the stepping
stones arethe corpses of our country
men the achievement is not noble.
= Belfast Riots Continue.
Belfast, May 26.-Charging thru
fighting mobs and firing as they went
British soldiers today broke up a num-
Der of riots growing out of the recent
elections.
There was fierce revolver fighting
particularly in Butler street, opposite
the Catholic monastery of the HOLY
Cross in Butler street The disturb
ances were over wide area.
The rioting developed after riva
professions had clashed. Shippers
mounted on buildings, picked off theil
enemies in the streets. Fist fighting
and stone throwing were supplantet
. by revolver firing. The mob scattered
right and left as the big armored car!
: roared thru the streets.
, Additional troops were brought II
today and guards were stationed a
, important intersections to prevent re
newed outbreaks. Belfast began tt
assume the appearance of Dublin
= (which has been occupied by Iarg.
bodies of troops since the first SIM
Fein uprising.