THE INTERNATIONAL AT WORK IN SPAIN.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3927, 15 October 1873, Page 3

THE INTERNATIONAL AT WORK IN SPAIN.

A deplorable outbreak at Alcoy, a small manufacturing town in the province of Alicante, had occasioned widespread alarm. Among tbe Intransigentes who left the Cortes were two deputies, who afterwards made their way to this town, where the International had been working for some time. Their coming was like a spark to the fuel already laid. In a few days a great strike was organised, and men numbering more than three thousand, went in a body to their masters, and demanded more wages and fewer working hours. The masters yielded; but the movement then took another direction. Their leaders harangued tbe excited crowd, wbich was soon swelled from the streets ; and they next marched in procession to tbe municipality, and required the officials there to leave their posts. The alcalde refused to obey their summons, and telegraphed for help. The insurgents then attacked the Hotel de Ville, and men and women mingled io! the fray in mad excitement that let loose the demon within them.

Petroleum was collected in large quantities, and it is said that one unfortunate individual who expressed disapproval was immersed in the fiery liquid, and then shot down as he ran in flames through the street screaming for help. The Hotel de Ville, being defended by a few volunteers and Civil Guards only, wa*soon carried, and all the- inmates made prisoners. "What happened next is given on the authority of the Minister of State, Senor Maisonave, who, in opening his speech to the Cortes, said — " My heart palpitates with vehemence, my imagination wanders, and a profound sadness pervades my whole soul for the crimes to which have fallen victims some of my most intimate friends, who had worked so long and so well for the Republic." He then went on to tell how the insurgents, having taken the inmates of the Hotel de Ville pi'isoners, dragged the principal men to tbe window, one by one : — " They then shouted to the mob, asking, ' Do you want him dead pr alive V If they replied 'alive,' the victim was thrown out of the window, received on the merciless bayonets below, and carried out alive in that state, amid the shouts and insults of men and women. If the answer was 'dead,' then the individual was despatched with bayonets or knives, and thrown out. During this time the petroleum was being applied to all the woodwork of the building, and as soon as the executioners inside had evacuated the house, the rest of the inmates being prevented from doing tbe same, it was set on fire and completely destroyed, with all the persons that yet remained in it. From here they proceeded to the alcade's house, which tbey also set on fire, after having used the most hrutal violence to the ladies of the ihouee, who, had tried to escape dressed an their servants' clothes. Many other houses and many other persons shared the same fate, and when the troops sent from Valencia arrived in sight of the town, upwards of a dozen houses and five or six manufactories were in flames."