Riots in Paris.

Thames Star, Volume xxx, Issue 9450, 28 September 1899, Page 4

Riots in Paris.

HUNDREDS OF PERSONS INJURED.

OVER 150 ARRESTED,

CHURCHES STORMED AND PILLAGED.

. LONDON, August 28. Serious rioting, arising from the siege oi M. Guerin, and following on a demonstration organised by the Anarchist leader, M. Sebastien Faure, occurred in Paris on Sunday, Great crowds assembled in the Place de la Bepublique. Starp collisions between the police and the mob resulted, in the course of which more than a hundred and fifty arrests were made, and over three hundred persons were injured, while two churches were s ormed and damaged. Altogether, the scenes witnessed in the course oi the disturbances recalled some of the liveliest time of the Commune.

M. FAUBE'S FIERY PBOCLAMA*

TION

A proclamation issued by M. Faure from the office of the Journal dv Peuple seems to have begun the thing. In this rhetorical document (says the Daily Telegraph's corres pondent) the pomposity of the League of Patriots was equalled, if not eclipsed. The situation Was described aB one of extreme seriousness. Ban dits. paid, by the army and the priests were running through the streets, and people were reminded that it was imbecility to think that the result of the Dreyfus trial would put an end to the plots of the amalgamated clerical and military agitators and dictators; All true Democrats, Socialists, Freethinkers, and Anarchists were accords ingly called upon to hold a meeting at the Place de la Bepublique, and it was hinted that a march would be made on Jules Guerin's police blockaded residence in the Rue de Chabrol. Enormous bodies of police and troops were kept ip readiness concentrated on certain points. The crowd, however, quickly grew to enormous proportions in the Place do la Bepublique, and then the police appeared in force, making the knots of people dissolve and move on. M. Sebastien Faure olimbed on one of the bronze lions decorating the square, prepared to make a speech, but the police obliged him to climb down. Cries of " Vive l'Armee," " A bas Guerin!" "A bas les Juif!" and "Vive l'Anarchie!" could be heard on all sides. •

COMMISSARY OF POLICE WOUNDED.

Next a column of the demonstrators, headed by Sebastien Faure and Henri Dhorr, made an attempt to reach the 1. Place de la Nation, but the police intervened and broke through the column. A struggle for the mastery followed. Bevolver shots were fired,' and M< Coullier, Commissary of Police, was twice struck with a knife and wounded. It appears that M Goullier was shot at by the Anarchists, or' Revolutionists, because he endeavored! to prevent them from intimidating the 1 workmen engaged on the Metropolitan line. These labourers were asked by the Revolutionists to join their party, in order to make an ugly rush towards the Rue da Ghabrol. M. Goullier threw himself between the workmen and the Revolutionists, and the latter, 1 who were waving a red flag, fired at him. A publican endeavoured to go to the rescue of the official, and his tavern was at once attacked, the front part of it being demolished by means of paving stoaes flung at the wiadow by the rioters. A police inspector, who was accompanying M. Goullier, was also badly hurt.

RINGLEADERS ARRESTED.

Alarmed probably by the turn which events had taken, Sebastien Faure and hie lieutenant jumped upon a passing tramcar of the Vincennes-Louvre live, which was going towards the Place de la Republique. Reaching there, however, the driver made a signal to the police, who at once came and took into custody Faure himself, Dhorr, and two other Anarchists. They were conveyed to the Chateau d'Eau Bar* racks, and interrogated by the inspect tor. Only Dhorr was found to be wearing firearms, he being in possession of two revolvers. - RUTHLESS DAMAGE TO CdUROHES.

Meanwhile, though the leaders had been arrested, the rioting continued, and reached, indeed, its most serious feature in the invasion and pillage of the church of St. Joseph at Belleville towards six o'clock in the evening. The doors were closed, but they managed to break them down, and rushed into the edifice (says the Daily Telegraph's correspondent) like demons let loose. Frst and foremost the collection boxes were burst open and their contents annexed. Tho sacred symbols around the church and on the altar were smashed next, and' an attempt was made to set fire to the choir, petroleum—the old stuff of the Communists—being brought to the church for the " purpose. Several people of the parish tried their best to interfere in ordfir to prevent damage, but were badly mauled and mangled by the miscreants who had subsequently to retreat before the police. One of the latter was fired at and was slightly injured. The 1 firemen were speedily summoned to* the spot, and soon contrived to isolate the flames, which were crackling amid i the worm-eaten wood of the cboir. According to other accounts, in the course of the struggle some of the Anarchists entrenched themselves in the belfry, in which they were regularly besieged by the Republican Guards,' and fiercely defended them* selves by showering down on their assailan s any missile that lay to hand. They were finally overcome and twenty of them arrested and taken in custody to the station. On being searched, they were found to be carrying revolvers, loaded sticks, and knives. The church of St. Nicholas,' in the Rue St. Margins, was also attacked and damaged, some of the statuettes being destroyed with s|3nes

OFFICIAL STATISTICS OF DAMAGE.

The officials at the Prefecture of Police give the number of persons injured as 380. Only twenty one were able to return to their homes without medical treatment. Three hundred were taken to the Lariboisiere Hospital and the remainder to the St Louis Hospital Excluding the Commissaries M.M. Goullier and Domsimono, fifty iiine policemen were, injured. One

hundred and fifty arrests were made, and eighty of the prisoners were detained in custody.

THE BIOTEBS SENTENCED

M. Sebastien Faure has been examined by the magistrate. He defended himself agaiftst the charge of having been concerned in the attempt to murder the police officer, Goulet. M.M. P/csjardins and Fuhrmann, who are charged in connection with the riots on Sunday in the Bue de Boulet, also appeared before the magistrate.' Proceedings taken in connection with the pillaging of the Church of St Joseph implicate twenty five persons. They will be charged with theft, arson, forcible entry, and sacrilege. Ten rioters arrested on Sunday have been sentenced by the Correctional Tribune to terms of imprisonment varying from a week to two months. None of the prisoners received the indulgence of the First Offenders Act. Five other rioters were on Wednesday sentenced to terms of imprisonment varying from a week to four months.