BELFAST RIOTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13991, 28 August 1909, Page 2

BELFAST RIOTS.

The streets situated between Gros-venor-road and Falls, Belfast, were on the night of July J3tn the scene oi serious riots.. Owing to tlie clisturbea state of the distritc a number of police had been, drafted to the spot, but they were outnumbered by a large crowd.

The crowd made a determined attack on the nolce, who replied with several baton charges.

Sergeants Quinn and Baird and a dozen constables of the police were more or less seriously hurt.

The scene of the disturbance was the district in whtcn the terrible tights o: August 1907 originated in an attack on a police patrol van'. Ever since then there has been a smouldering hostility between the Nationalist inhabitants and the police, and this flared out again on Monday night. After an Orange demonstration had passed, a .shower of stones win- directed against a police picket stationed at the corner. From all Bides a hail of stones and bottles was directed on them at close range, and scarcely a man of the force came through unharmed. Supports were hurried into the fighting line, and for over an hour the men charged the crowds with drawn batons. It was desperately one-sided fighting, for the rioters had the advantage of a practically unlimited supply of stonse, etc., and'wounded policemen stantlv being taken into the Royal Victoria Hospital. Fifteen or sixteen civilians also claimed the doctors attentions, while in addition a dozen prisoners were marched off under heavy escort to the central police sta-