A FACTION FIGHT.

Western Star, Issue 143, 3 June 1876, Page 7

A FACTION FIGHT.

A desperate fight took place in the streets of Limerick on the 17th April. Butt and O’Shaughnessy, members of Parliament for the city, had announced their intention of addressing tho people from the base of O’Connell’s monument. A procession numbering some thousands marched to the place, and a body of Nationalists, armed with sticks, who bad previously taken possession of the monument, attacked the procession. The Nationalists were overpowered,'- after severe fighting, in which many persons wore badly injured. The police and military were under arms, but abstained from interference, Tho London Standard’s correspondent at Limerick says the Home Rule procession numbered 4,000, aiid consisted o£ trade guilds, with bands and banners. The Nationalists were only a fow hundred in number, but they were well armed, with stones, bludgeons, and knives, and had drilled for a fight. Tho Nationalists, in tho first onset, succeeded in smashing tho musical -instruments" and destroying tho banners of the Home Rulers ; but they wore all at last driven into a public house, - which was completely wrecked. Tho cause of the riot was the discontent of the Nationalists, who form a remnant of the Fenian party, at what they declared to bo tho utter neglect of the Homo Rule question by so called Home Rule leaders during the present session of Parliament. The intended demonstration of Butt was a failure. More fighting was feared during the night, and there was considerable alarm, as the Nationalists were known to have revolvers. The police consequently paitrolled the streets. At ten o’clock some arrests were made. It is thought over one' hundred persons were wounded in the riot, of whom forty were seriously and six fatally injured.