The Sun. — 1854-12-07 (London, England)

MILITARY RIOT AT CHATHAM".  ROCHESTER, DEC. 6  Early this morning a most violent outrage mil coin, mitted by a large party of soldiers belonging to the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment, by which several police constables belonging to the force of this city have received • serious injuries, and one of them—police constable Tassell—of such a nature that his life is despaired of. Since the 18th Regiment has returned from India it has been quartered at Chatham Barracks, the men, on the whole, bearing a good character in the town for their orderly and peaceable demeanour. Lately a great many volunteers have been taken into the regiment, chiefly from the 24th Regiment, as the former corps is ordered to the Crimea. These on Thursday last were marched from Brompton to Chatham Barracks to join their new regiment. On the men having been told off they resolutely refused to leave the ground until they had received 11. bounty money, to which they were entitled for having volunteered. Lieutenant-Colonel Edwards promised them that they should be paid in full the following morning, and the following day each man was paid. Since that time the town and neighbourhood have been one scene of drunkenness, debauchery, and riot. On Tuesday night, soon after " tatoo" had been sounded, a number of the 18th commenced scaling the barrack wall, and proceeded to visit the several publichouses, making a disturbance in each. Several of them were observed to he armed with bludgeons and pieces of wood, with which they paraded the streets, finally making their way into this city, where several of them entered the North Foreland public-house between 12 and 1. The landlord, seeing their conduct was likely to become violent, called in police constable Tremaine, and that officer after much entreaty persuaded them to leave. As soon as they had reached the street, their conduct became very violent, and the constable, being by this time joined by several others, followed them for some distance, t© see that no breach of the peace was committed. Whilst so following them, one of them hurled a large flint at police-constable Smith, which struck him in the eye, and partially deprived him of his sight. The assailant was at once secured by the officers, and was being conveyed to the station-house, followed by about a dozen of his comrades. On their way thither the constables were frequently assaulted, until they arrived at that portion of St. Margaret's Bank facing the Custom-house, where the soldiers fell upon the constables in a most savage manner. The latter blew their signal whistles, and Police-constables Jenkins, G. Treroaine, Tassell, and others, were soon on the spot to render assistance. By this; time the soldiers had quite overpowered the peace officers, whom they were striking with bricks and stones whilst they lay upon the ground. They also got the truncheons away from them, and with these they inflicted terrible injuries. Police-constables Smith and Tremaine were so injured, that :it• :will be some time before they can resume their day. Pace-constable Tassel], however, received the .most serious injuries, as whilst he lay on the ground, after being knocked down, he was repeatedly struck on the head with a brick, which was afterwards foUnd covered with blood and hair, and also kicked about the'face. When rescued he was quite insensible, and though Dr. Ely has been unremitting in his attendance upon him, he is not expected to recover from the effects of the violence he has endured. Superintendent Tuff, seeing the force at his disposal was not sufficient to cope with the soldiers, sent Off to the barracks for the assistance of the military, a strong party of which soon afterwards arrived. During the interval the soldiers continued their brutal outrage on the constables, and were only stopped by the arrival of the soldiers, when, several of them made their escape. The sergeant succeeded in arresting six of those who appeared to be the ringleaders, and marched them off to the barracks for confinement. This afternoon the six prisoners, giving their names John Cavanagh, George Clark, Michael Leahy, Thomas Stikzly, George Summers, and James Sullivan, all privates belonging intaog itsiat rea tleBstflot riteexgailmn iennatt, owne,r on bi trho eu geih) ;it rtgi pe before the city of outrage and attempted murder. Evidence was given to show that Tasseil, the constable, who was so ill that he was not expected to survive ; and the statements of the other constables injured having been given, the whole of the prisoners were remanded for a week, to ascertain the fate of the unfortunate ivolice-constable. The prisoners were escorted to the justice-room by a strong body of the military, through a great crowd which lined the neighbourhood.