THEATRE RIOT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 231, 4 February 1911, Page 10

THEATRE RIOT.

STUDENTS RESENT ATTACK ON HOSPITAL. Riotous scenes have taken place at the Novedades Theatre in Madrid. A play entitled "Luz en la Fubrica" has been produced there, and one of the characters, referring to the student* at the college of medicine, is made to say that those young gentlemen only cut the bodies of the poor to pieces to study the ailments of the rich. The medical students recently bought li]) all the seats in the theatre that they could, and then assembled there to the number of about 800. Tt so happened j that the principal actress was indisposed, and the play for the night had to he clianu'cd. The students, however, demanded that the objectionable piece should be played with another actress in the chief part. When the phrase which gave them offence was uttered, the student* rose in a body, and there was an outburst of booing and shouting. Several of them clambered on to the stage, and, getting possession of the book of the play.'tore it to fragments before the whole audience, and amid the cheers of their confederates.

At last the curtain wna rung down iijion si scene of wild disorder. Thereupon the police signal was given, and a mimlier of armed policemen entered the theatre. A general stampede followed, the police chasing the fugitives sword in hand.' Some of the students defended themselves with sticks, and several were wounded.

A deputation of students waited upon the fliivernor demanding the withdrawal of the play, and others visited the newspaper offices to enlist sympathy for their eause. The students also held a meeting and resolved to ask the permission of the Governor for the holding of a public meeting of protest against the play. They also demanded that the police should lie' punished for th'eir violent behaviour.