SIEGE OF MONASTERY.
FIRE-HOSE TO SUBDUE REDEMPTORISTS.
Ax extraordinary scene was witnessed at the Redemptorist monastery of Les Sables d'Oionne in Paris recently.
The monks having refused to obey an order of expulsion under the Associations Law, a considerable number of troops and gendarmes surrounded the monastery to forcibly expel them. A crowd of young men had shut themselves up with the monks and had barricaded the gates. When the police magistrate arrived he was received with cries of "Long live the priests [ Long live the army!" 'The magistrate commanded the monks.three times to admit him, and, when they refused, ordered scaling-ladders to be placed" against the. walls. A shower of tiles and broken glass was the answer, and one of the gendarmes who was attempting to break open a gate was struck and badly cut. A fire-engine was next used to dislodge the defenders, and they were driven from their position by jets of water. When, a breach was finally made in the walls surrounding the gardens nearly 100 women and children, soaking wet, were found standing round the monastery. The monks and the young men had retired within the building, where they still held out against the besiegers. The doors having been burst open, a nnmder of the young men were put under arrest; but the monks had climbed upon the roof through a trap-door, and refused to come down. Then the hose was tried again, and the monks, drenched to the skin, decided to capitulate. The superior, however, refused to budge, and had to be forcibly dragged down. Meanwhile a crowd had gathered, and hissed and hooted the authorities. A priest in full vestments, who left the monastery carrying the sacrament, was loudly cheered ,as he proceeded to the seminary. Seven . persons, including two priests, were conI veyed to the local police station.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12401, 14 October 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)
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306SIEGE OF MONASTERY. New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12401, 14 October 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)
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