THE RIOTS IN SICILY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 335, 19 September 1879, Page 17

THE RIOTS IN SICILY.

The Roman Capitale publishes the following startling account of the riots at Caltabiano : — On the morning of the Bth June the poorer part of the population, both men and wamen, assembled in the square to protest against a new tax levied hens. The Syndic, who was found in a cafe playing at cards, taking the matter lightly, received the deputation with fisticuffs. Alarmed, however, by the increasing clamour, he led the way to the Municipality and surrendered the ioll of the ratepayers. This was burned by the crowd, which then dispersed. In the afternoon, however, the arrival being bruited of a force of policemen, gendarmes, and soldiery, the crowd collected anew, and marching with the portraits of the King and Queen, and the national flag at their head, were joined by the Working Men's Club, and met the forces at the station with loyal shouts of " Vira il Re." After an interchange of salutations they marched collectively into the Tillage, halting in the square. The military were drawn up in line. The inhabitants ranged themselves opposite, waving their flags and cheering for the King and the army. At this moment a policeman, greatly detested, nicknamed " Thrasher," advancing, ordered the labourers to lower their flag. Exasperated by a refusal, he drew on the flag-bearer, but was in his turn struck by a stone. This was the signal for the commencement of hostilities. The soldiers fired volley after volley. The crowd first replied with Btones,,then disbanded, and fled. Many persons were shot accidentally; a mounted muleteer and a peasant returning singing from the fields, two children, and a man, upwards of eighty who received a second fatal shot as his son. heedless of danger, bore him off. Two young ladies were wounded whilst closing the window shutters. The number killed was eighteen, among whom was a pregnant woman, who was ripped up by bayonet thrusts. The wounded were upwards of sixty. Seventy arrests were made. The rioters are scattered about the country, and fear to return to the village ; whilst the crops suffer from want of hands to gather them in.