The Brussels Strike.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7315, 7 June 1902, Page 3

The Brussels Strike.

Shooting tho Strikers,

A correspondent at Brussels wrifes :— I have just returned from Louviiin, the scenes of (he tragedy of last Friday, when five strikers were shot dead by (he Ci"il Guard and over a dozen wounded, many dangerously. Two bunds of strikers were making, one lor the private residence ot the President of I lie Chamber, and the other for the mansion of the Minister of the Interior. Two- (v men of the Civil guard with filed bayonets stood across the narrow roadway leading to the little square where stands the President's house. The leaders of the strikers halted for a moment to tako measure of the guards; then they turned up a narrow alley, meaning by a long detour to reach the mansion by the only other way. This road was barred by Civil Guards too.

For some reason the guards gave way without a word, and the mob streamed through their broken ranks. News of this reached the guards who had stood firm, and facing round they raced rctoss the square in time to meet (lie strikers surging up the second lane. Kunninjtfa pace or so ahead, the officer commanding called upon the mob to halt, saying thit the road wns barred and that if they camn another yard he must give the >vor"d to (ire.

The rioters' bodies were brushing tlic bayonets of the guards when the oilicer tried to give the word fire. But out of the darkness and the press of men a man of giant stature leapt upon. him. Two great hands closed upon his neck, his order was strangled m his throat, and he was borne backwards and pinned against the wall, while a pistol was levelled at his head.

Quick as a flash thenon-coimnissioned officer yelled the word to fire and plunged hi? bayonet into the striker's breast. The foremost strikers grasped the bayonot3 of fchp levelled rifles of the guards in their bare hand?, but tho volley rang out, and in that narrow alley, scares a dozen paeos wide, six men fell deafl or dying, and fourteen more lay each riddled by a bullet.

Meantime the other band of rioters, polling windows with iron sings as they went, inarching shouting up' tho street loaning to the Minister of the Interior's abode. Tho way wts tarred by Civil Guards, who stood too deep fair between the door 3of tho military hospital and the barracks. The mob came on singin" Then when tho head of the ereat crowd was thirty paces off a drummer of thejguards broke ranks and ran forward.

He cast his drum upon the ground and tore off his kepi. " Jfave no fear." he cried : "advance, advance, my comrades Mill not tire on you." With a yell the mob rushed on. but a volley from the guards rang out crisply, and two men fell dead, face foremost, while a dozen wounded fell across their bodies. Ihen tlio other rioters, seeing I hat the nlles of the guards were levelled for a second volley, turned and ran