DESPERATE RIOT IN LIMERICK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 448, 11 November 1881, Page 7

DESPERATE RIOT IN LIMERICK.

The correspondent of the Cork Herald, writing from Limerick on Sunday September 4th says ;—; — As terrible a riot as ever had to be recorded occurred in this city to-night between the people and the military police, stones being thrown with terrific violence on the one side, and the bayonet employed on the other, but the latter not being sufficient to disperse the crowed, firearms were resorted to, with the result that about twenty persons were dangerously wounded, some fatally. A frightful scene of bloodshed was enacted, and for fully an hour and a half an encounter of a desperate character was continued. The details of the sanguinary affair, so far as could be ascertained amid the scene of excitement which still prevails, are as follows: — A number of Hussars arrived here to-day from Cahir by the excursion train from "Waterford. Towards the evening they quarrelled with some civilians, and when they were leaving the rowing was renewed on the platfoTm. Missiles were thrown at the Hussars while getting into the carriages, and some of the carriage windows were smashed. The soldiers got under the seats, and protected themselves as best they could. After some delay, and with considerable difficulty, the train was put in motion, and amidst terrific shouting, groaning, and glass-breaking, it gradually drew away from the station. A private of the Scots Grey 8 who happened to have accompanied the Hussars to the station remained on the platform, and the ire of the crowd was directed towards him The police protected him, and later on a number of the 57th Regiment came to his assistance. They formed round the soldier, and removed him from the station without mnch opposition on the part of the civilians. The police were by this time reinforced by ten or twelve men from the William-street and Colooney-Btreet barracks, and as the military guard was passing oa through Edward-street, in the direction of the barrack, the police got into their rear and beat back the crowd. The soldiers thus got away quietly ; but, just at the moment it was hoped order was restored, the dreadful scenes which have to bo described recommenced. Stones were thrown with much violence at the police, who charged and partially dispersed the people at the point of the sword. A few persons were stabbed, but this only served to enrage the civilians, who renewed the stone-throwing. The po ice again charged, slashing their swords right and left, and striking anyone that happened to come in their i way. The shouting of women and children, flying for their lives, was something terrible, and matters instead of mending, were looking worse. The police and a number of the civilians fought in a ferocious manner, the police using their swords witbont reserve, and* the people firing stones in return. A further reinforcement of police j armed with rifles, now arrived, and, joining their comrades, formed Into a solid body opposite the railway gate. They were at this point assailed from three points — from Queen-street, and from either side from Nelson-street and Edward -street. The police dividing themselves, charged in the three directions from which the stones came. The combat was now of the fiercest kind, the shouting and uproar being absolutely deafening. The police who were armed with rifles ran down Queen-street, clearing the way with fixed swords. The stonethrowing, however, did not abate, and one of the police shouted, '* We can stand it no longer ;we must fire. " Several of the police then raised their rifles, but the constable in command said " Don't fire, "to which the reply was given, "We will fire. " A shot was then fired over the heads of the people, but the crowd still kept up a hail of stones. The police then began to fire freely, and three or four persons were shot. A general panic ensued. The crowds of spectators, who were standing at the corners of lanes and streets, fledprcipitatcly so as to be out of the range of the firing, and several were, in the fury and excitement, knocked down, and severelyrather hurt. The mcobatant civilians, who retired before the fire of the police, reformed in Queen-street, in Edward-street, near the People's Park, and in Nelson street, and poured volleys of stones into the ranks of police. Shots were again heard, but the stone-throwing ceased not, and for fully ten minutes about an equal number of civilians held Qheen street against an equal number of policemen, although the latter flew into their very midst. There were at the same time no less than 20 persons either shot or wounded. About 50 members of the Royal Artillery, armed with muskets, rushed up Nelson -street, and charged the crowd towards the railway . but they did not use their swords, they did not fire nor did they, indeed, take any prominent part in the affray, bnt shortly retired — thinkiug it wiser, no doubt, to leave the duty of quelling the affray to the police. The fierceness of the conflict had not yet abated ; and the Rev. E. T. O'Dwyer, appearing on the scene, raised his hand, and begged the people to fall back. The efforts of the rev. gentleman had a temporary effect, but the stoaethrowing was renewed in other directions. The police spared neither bullet nor bayonet, and slashed furiously at anyone that happened to come in their way, Matters now began to calm somewhat, and the sufferers were removed to the nearest medical establishments. There were taken to Dr. Barry's residence in Glent worth- street. They weie suffering from gunshot wounds, and were in a very dangerous state, Mr. Maurice Lenihan, J. P., attended, and took the depositions of two of the men. James M'Donor, shoemaker, deposed that he was doing nothing whatever when he was shot in the shoulder ; he did not know the policeman who fired the shot. William Moran, a labouring man deposed that he was going home when he was shot fro in behind ;he was wounded in the back of the leg. Dr. Keane, J. P., took the depositions of a railway official named John O'Keeffe, whose life is despaired of. He stated he was doing nothing when he was stabbed by a policeman, whose name he did not know, but whom he could identify. Another man, named John O'Donnell, who is also dangerously wounded, has made a deposition that he was wantonly assailed by the constabulary. Several of the police are badly injured ; one of them (Sub-constable Hanly) so badly that his life is in imminent danger. All the soldiers who were out on pass had to fly for protection into houses and places of public worship. A number of them took shelter in the Wesleyan chapel, and wero

secreted there until half-past ten o'clock, when two companies of the 9th Regiment, fully armed, came to their relief. The soldiers were hooted all along the way, but violence was not resorted to. There are now eleven sufferers iv Barrington's. Bullets entered several of the houses', and Mr. Harris (who was standing inside his parlour window) had a narrow escape. The correspondent of the Freeman writing from Limerick oil Monday night, says :—: — The town is quiet to-night, presenting its ordinary appearance save that armed patrols of police are to be met with everywhere, There has been a very strong feeling evinced at the action of the constabubary in firing upon the people, after the mob had been driven from outside the railway station, where the disturbance took place. One sub-constable fired upon the people, and when requested by his head-constable not to do so, refused with an oath to comply. 4. railway porter named O'Keeffe was stabbed in the right lung by a policeman, and is not expected to recover. He was leaving the railway terminus after the departnre of the Cork excursion train, and was on his way home when he was stabbed. The magistrates of Limerick on Tuesday passed resolution calling on the Government for a searching inquiry into the dreadful riots which took place on Sunday night in that city.