The Belfast Riots.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2192, 27 July 1886, Page 2

The Belfast Riots.

Belfast, June 4. A serious disturbance took place in Belfast yesterday at the Alexandra dock, which is in course of formation at the iurlxwr. About 180 men are employed as n xv vies, and it is alleged that a fellow worker, a Piotestaut, was informed the previous day that he would not be allowed to work there longer. Hearing ol this a number of boys and young men employed in the shipbuilding yards adjoining the dock 3 made an attack on the navvies with sticks and other weapons. For several minutes a free fight ensued, st<>no throwing being freely indulged in on both sides. The navvies were obliged to beat a retreat, some taking to the mud

bank and others to a raft anehmed a few yards from the shore. The taft soon became overcrowded, and in :i tew seconds leaving all atni<!gling in the . Its occupants, with one exception, managed to reach tho shoie ; but a young lad named James Currau, employed as an oiler of the dock maehinorv, was drowned, and the rivet boys then quietly returned to their \\ 01 k, and on the police arriving it was found that nine 9*vvies had rect'i\t*d injuries about the head and they \\ch- ternoved to the hospital on cars. During the evening considerable excitement piuvailfd in tin town, the police parading the streets ami the military being confined to barracks, as it is feared that reprisals may be made Belfast, June G. Several riots occuned heie to-day at the interment of the boy who was drowned during the nwh'c on Fnday ;it the Alexandra Dock. The funeral pro cession was large, numbering about 10,000 persons, chiefly of the lowest classes. Having leached a place called Brickfield, on the route to the Koman Catholic cemeteiy, the processionists at- . tacked with stones a crowd of Protestants "wbo were looking on peaceably and the Protestants retaliated. The police, however, put an end to the riot, which was resumed a little turther on. When the processionists arrived at Broadway a serious skirmish occurred, and the houses of Protestants were wrecked. On the return home from the graveyard several encounters took place, the most remarkable being in an open field, where a hand-to-hand fight came off, lasting for about half an hour. Stones and other weapons • were freely used on both siies. Many persons were more or less injured, one nriau receiving five or six stabs. The processionists excitedly waved handkerchiefs and shouted for Home Rule. Two arrests have been made by the constabulary in connexion with the conflict between the rivet boys of the Queen's Island and the navvies at the Alexandra ; Dook. June 9. At early morning and at intervals during the day skirmishing occurred in what may be referred to as the turbulent districts of Belfast. In the afternoon a serious conflict took place, and one man ■ was severely injured. Last evening and . this morning 530 extra police arrived in town from the counties, bringing up the taumber of extra men to nearly 900. The military were confined to barracks, and held in readiness to turn out at a moment's notice. Town Inspector Carr and District Inspector Stritish, who were badly hurt in the melee last night, are getting on fairly well, but will be for some time under medical treatment. District Inspector Townsend, who was also injured at the same time, was able to be at his duty to-day. Several rioters were brought up at the police-court and punished with fine oi imprisonment. In the evening serious rioting again occurred on the Shank hill road. The district is Protestant, and there was no opposing party. It appeared, however, that the police chiefly from country districts, attackeJ a body of mechanics leaving their work at half-past five, without provocation, and inflicted serious wounds upon one of the number with ' their staves. This aroused the hostility of the crowds who vowed vengeance. The police were stoned mercilessly, and being obliged to retreat to the barricks they opened a regular fuoilade upon those in possession of the streets. Mr M' Leod, R.M., was in command, assisted by District Inspector Greene, and for an hour and a halt the warfare lasted. One woman looking out of her own door was j shot dead, a bullet entering her neck, and several others were wounded more or less severely.