WIGS ON THE GREEN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 115, 1 October 1912, Page 3

WIGS ON THE GREEN.

PJOT AT A FOOTBALL MATCH. PROTESTANTS v. CATHOLICS,

The 'Sydney Sun's special cable service, by which, it -gets news from 'the London Times, contains a detailed account of the recent riot at a football match : in Belfast. The message says: "The match was between the Linfields, a Protestant team, and the Celtics, a team composed of Catholics. All through the.first half of the hostility grew, and it flamed into a riot at halftime. Some of the' Celtic supporters raised a green and white flag, the colors of their club, but the other side felt it was an offence against their nationality, and waved the Union Jack. Fighting began with lists, but stone, bricks, and huge pieces of wood were soon seized and hurled about, men and youths falling stunned, and being trampled under the feet of the surging mob. Suddenly there was heard the crack of a revolver, and in a moment similar weapons were produced by dozens of others in the crowd and fired. The white shirt of one man who wore no coat proved a good mark, and many shots were fired at him,'' till he was at last hit in the arm. Another man was shot in the bodv.'

The police were powerless to quieten the mob. All they could do .was to help the ambulances carry away the wounded. The fight grew fiercer as the excitement became greater. Knives and sticks were used freely, and bleeding heads and faces were seen on all sides. The staffs at the hospitals had to work at the highest pressure to treat all the cases which were bro'ught in. All the glass in the grandstand was smashed. The players remained in-the pavilion while the arena was filled with shouting rioters. The Protestants caplured tiie Celtic colors after a series of furious rushes. Hundreds were knocked down and trampled under foot. The police made baton charges, but were .badly knocked about, and many had to be taken ,to the hospital. When the revolvers were fired maiiy spectators stampeded from the ground. . Gradually the .parties separated and left the ground by different gates. The patients in the hospitals are suffering from concussion and fracture of the skull, as well as cuts and abrasions. Anxiety is being felt for several of them. . One, boy has not yet recovered consciousness. The injured Catholics and Protestants are about equal in number, but the Protestants feel that they have suffered a reverse, because they were attacked in their own quarters and driven out. They are expected to be dissatisfied till they make successful reprisals."