A most unfortunate affair occurred at Limerick on Sunday. The
townspeople hissed and stoned some soldiers who were going by train to Cahir, and on their departure threatened a private of the Scots Greys, who happened to be on the platform. The police intervened to protect him, and the mob turned in fury on the police, who, after much endurance, charged with their swords. The mob, however, kept up the stoning, and at last the police, unable to bear the stones, against the orders of the head constable fired, at first over the heads of the crowd, but afterwards in earnest, killing or wounding three or four persons. The crowd then dispersed, but the town is ter- ribly excited, and the soldiers and constables are alike objects of execration. It is the old story. There is no provision in this country, out of London, for dispersing a crowd without slaughter. If two of the policemen had been picked men in red scarfs, specially protected by law as serjeants are among sol- diers, they could have stopped the riot. As it is, there is no- thing to do but fire, or allow the police to be driven off. The men were clearly in the wrong in firing without orders,—but there is a point beyond which armed men will not bear outrage, and in Ireland it is never far off.
Previous page
