Salvation Army Riots.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 1, 12 June 1883, Page 3

Salvation Army Riots.

The Exeter correspondent of the Pall Mall' Gazette writes :-.'" The Skeleton Vr my riots at Honiton on Sunday 'and Monday prove on investigation to have been even worse than was at first reported. In the course of the disturbance on Sunday an attempt was made to force ' Capt.' Lomas into the coffin which was carried in the ranks of the 'Skeletons.' He, however, fcuccessfully resisted,, and the poffin was subsequently smashed, over, the heads of some of the Salvationists. 'Ihe windows of several tradesmen's shops have been smashed by the volleys of stones thrown, and. in some cases goods in the windows have been destroyed, One Salvationist had his face dread-fully-disfigured by a brick which was thrown at • him. Mrs Lamas is still suffering severely from the brutal kicking she received. On Monday night, after the Salvationists had struggled through the mud to thi ir hall to the ' tea,' they were kept in the building till long after midnight by a howling mob two or three thousand strong. These first directed their, attention to the windows, which were soon smashed, and the Salvationists then barricaded them with forms to keep out the stones. An attack was than made on. the doors, a sledgehammer being employed lor the purpose. A hole was ultimately made aud the Salvationists had to barricade the door? also to keep out the mob. Volleys of stones were then direoted on to the roof ofthe building, part of a wall near being pulled down-to supply material. Ihe mob -gradually died away, and the imprisoned .people- then mi.de their way to the houses of various friends to pass the night,"