RIOT AT WATERFORD. (From the Home News.)

Otago Witness, Issue 823, 6 September 1867, Page 6

RIOT AT WATERFORD. (From the Home News. )

A serious riot occurred at Waterford on the night of Thursday, June 13, which proved to be the most violent demonstration that has yet occurred in connection with the movements of Fenian prisoners. In Cork, Limerick, and other towns of Munster, there were manifestations of popular feeling, which left no room to doubt that the mass of the population sympathise strongly with the rebels. But in Waterford there were special causes of irritation predisposing the mob to riolence. Much soreness of feeling remains as the result of the encounters with the military at the late election, and there was great public excitement caused by the landing of so many Fenian leaders near Dungarvan. The sufferings they had endured from being tossed about s^o many weeks at aea, and then driven by starvation to fling themselves ashore at all hazards, created the liveliest iuterest in their fortunes, presenting them, to the popular imagination as so many heroes of romance. The rumor that some of them were men of high social position in the United States, and, aboVe all, that two of them were distinguished officers in the Irish brigade, commanded by General Meagher, raised the excitement to the highest pitch. Meagher is a native of Waterford, where his family are very influential, so that the feeling of clanship was added to all the other elements of combustion. Another inflammatory matter was the appearance of Corydon, the informer, at Waterford on Monday, 10th June, for the purpose of identifying some of the American fugitives in the county gaol. It is said that his defiant bearing and cool assurance caused general indignation among the populace. It wan under these circumstances that four of the men who had landed near Dungarvan were brought in by the train from Cork which arrived at a quarter to 9 on Thursday evening, June 13. They were first conducted to the lock-up at Lady-lane, where they were detained for some time until a guard of about forty policemen, four being mounted, arrived, commanded by Head Constable Barry. During the time which elapsed between the arrival of the prisoners at Lady-lane and their removal, the intelligence of their presence had been spread throughout the city, and large numbers of people had assembled in the Mayors -walk, and on the hill of Ballybricken, immediately outside the gaol. When the escort made its appearance, it was with difficulty that a way was made through the angry crowd. Stones were thrown at the police, andthere seemed to be a determination to rescue the prisoners, some of whom were hit by the stones intended for the police. They were safely lodged in gaol ; but the mob vented their fury on the police when they were returning. Brickbats, paving stones, &c., were thrown, cutting and wounding the men dreadfully ; several of their firearms were broken. They were compelled to turn and charge the mob to save their lives. One man, named Walsh, a salter, was stabbed in the breast, and was killed ; another, named Keenan, was seyerely stabbed, and his life is despaired of ; about 20 others were wounded. A. desperate fight, lasting for some minutes, ensued. The horse police eventually cleared the streets. The mob occupied an elevated ground, having beside them a magazine of large stones, "which they threw at the constabulary. While this was going on, a constable named

M?l£§^a^ea^^o-«eijwpapate4^rr!rtn his party, and was seized upon by the mob and beaten. Efforts were made by the police to..get,him out^f" their hands -peaceably, but' without effect. O.dq pr two constables •were "severely injured* m .this attempt. Head+co-astaible 1 Barry 1 , : wli6 had charge of the-, partyj' ordered > his -men to rescueMercer., Bayonets were 'fixed, and the men charged, the mob. Those only whohave 'witnessed popular .commotions can form an idea of the scene which ensued. The police 'pressed on an infuriated crowd, struggling with them' step by step, wounding some with their bayonets, and being woiiiided in return by. stones thrown at them. The cavalry police, in endeavoring to rescue tneir comrade, also charged^ and in doing so severely injured several persons in the crowd. The police, however, acted with calmness and deliberation, and appeared actuated throughout with a desire simply to perform their duty. The constable, Mercer, was eventually | rescued, bat he was found in a sad plight. His rifle was broken, his hat stolen, and himself wounded and bleeding. The constables retired to their barracks with the

wounded men, and left the cavalry to clear and preserve order in the streets. Keenan, a resident in John's lane, expired on June 14 Twenty-four personshad their wounds dressed besides thirtytwo policemen. A great number of the civilians suffered from wounds inflicted by stones aimed at the police. Many of the police are seriously injured, aud will not be' able to resume duty for a considerable period. At 11 all was quiet. The apothecaries' shops were besieged by patientsand surrounded by crowds of excited people until long after midnight. The manifestations of sedition were of the most outrageous ' character. The citizen® seemed thunderstruck at such an exhibition of disloyalty. , The Fenians were cheered vociferously, while England jand the Queen were hissed and groaned. There was no Magistrate present at the time, nor was the Sub-Inspector of Constabulary. The Riot Act was not read.

Db Pusit on Church Apfalrs. — At a meeting of the Church Union, on Wednesday, Dr Pusey said that last year the old tractarians were exceedingly afraid of anything external : " we'," said Dr Pusey, " were afraid of things becoming matter of form, we were afraid of congregations being divided, we anticipated a storm, we were afraid of the discussion passing from, the depths of Catholic truth, which we felt it to be our business and vocation to revive among our peopie, to the qxiestion of externals. " It was also true that twentyfive years ago Dr Newman and himself were concerned in preventing the chasuble being worn on these grounds. Thatwastrue as to the matter of prudence ; as to matters of faith of course there was not the slightest difference. " The Bole practical question," he continued, "between us was that we taught through the ears, and the ritualists taught also through the eyes, The reeult showed that teaching through the eyes has x great effect upon the souL We were afraid, on tho other side, of things being understood in a different sense, which I suspect has been the case. The persecution of that section to whom. Lord Shaftesbury has unhappily lent hia valuable name has had this effect of drawing together those who before were taking their owa separate lines. We were teaching orally ; they were teaching by sight. Now, since they are persecuted, though the outside question is the ritual, the inside question — the real animating motive — is the faith. I believe myself there is no more loyal, devoted, and zealous son of the Church than he who is> under persecution for ritual, Mr Mackonochie." — (Loud cheers.) He could not believe that a reformed House of Commons would contravene the liberties of the Church. — (Cheers.) As Magna Charta, was the foundation of political liberty, it was also the foundation of the liberties of the Church. They had good earnest from, politicians on both sides. Suppose Parliament were so ill-advised as to pass Lord Shafteßbury's Bill without the consent of Convocation, wo aid it be obeyed ? — (No.) If it were, they would deserve all the opprobrium ever neaped upon them — (cheers)— by the Dissenters as being the creation of the State. Could they not equally with Hampden offer passive resistance to anything so illegal and unconstitutional as an Act of Parliament passed without the consent of the Convocation ? Of course the clergy would not violate the liberties of their congregations whilst maintaining their own. They would da nothing against the wish of the people. He should be mistaken if in such a casethe non-ritual clergy did not join with theritualist clergy. With regard to the University Bill, against which they were pntitioning, it certainly seemed to him to be the first step .towards the dissolution of the connection between the Church and State. He certainly would not stir onefinger to bring about that dissolution. Hewould leave all that in the hands of God. He anticipated great changes..