A FACTION FIGHT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 29, 25 May 1876, Page 2

A FACTION FIGHT.

A desperate fight tool: 'plxx?.?. in tlifi streets of Limerick on the Hth AprilButt and O'Sliauglmessy. members of Parliament for the city, had announced their intention of addressing the people fcow the base of o'Council's monument. A procession numbering some thousands marched to the place, ami a body of Nationalist", aimed with sticks, who had previously taken possession of the monument, attacked the procession. The Nationalists v.-eve overpowered after severe fighting, in which many persons wove badly injured. The police and military were under arms, but abstained from in; terfere::ce. The "London Standard's correspondent at Limerick. says tltf Home Rule procession numbered 4,000, and consisted • of trade guilds, witt bands and banners. The Nationalists wen only a f-.-w hundreds in number, bat they were well armed with stones, bludgeons, and knives, and had drilled for» light. The Nationalists, in the first onset, succeeded in smashing the musical instruments and destroying the banners of ths Home Kulers; bub they were at lad driven into a public house, which vrfis completely wrecked. The cause of tic riot was the discontent of .the National-] ists, who form a remnant of the Fenian party, at what they declared to-be tltf utter neglect of the Home Rule question, by so-called Home Rule leaders, during the present session of Pai'Jiament. The intend-'! uemoiikoiv.cion of Butt was * failure. More lighting was feared dun"' the night, and there was considerable alarm, as the Nationalists were known have revolvers. The police consequently patrolled the streets. At ten o'clock some arrests were made. It is thought over l®j persons were wounded in the riot, <" whom forty were seriously and six- fatally injured.