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Show TWELVE ARE KILLED IN WATER RIOTS AT PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD PORT OF SPAIN. March 25.Twelve natives were killed and sixty wounded, many of them non-combatants and women, during Sunday's rioting. The Government building was destroyed by fire by the rioters and the police barracks bar-racks was damaged by Are and water. All the Government records in the Colonial Co-lonial Secretary's office, the courthouse, the crown lands and other department were destroyed. j The rioting had Its origin in the op-y op-y position to the new water ordinances, Thlch reduced the water allowance per hVad and increased the water rate. The courthouse was surrounded while . the Legislative Council was in session dls-, dls-, cussing the water ordinance. The mob broke through the police lines and stoned the building. The t rioters then demolished the contents of the lower floor of the Government building and set fire to It All those attending the meeting were assailed with missiles, many persons being struck by stones and bottles. The fire drove the people from the building and aided by a part of the local lo-cal military force they defended their lives with rifles. The rioters then, evidently evi-dently with a view to plunder, threatened threat-ened to burn the buildings of the business busi-ness portion of the town. j The commander of the British cruls- 1 er Pallas, lying in the harbor, was in- i formed of the serious situation, and he landed detachments of bluejackets from the Pallas and the torpedo-boat destroyer de-stroyer Rocket with four machine guns. Two hundred citizens were armed and sworn In as special constables. The sailors and volunteers rendered Invaluable service in patrolling the streets through the night and guarding I the bank, treasury and other public buildings. Order was thus restored. More speeches are being made today against the water ordinance, and there ' is a probability of further serious trouble trou-ble tonight The courthouse, which cost $350,000, is completely gutted and the contents of the vault destroyed. The Chamber of Commerce Is holding a meeting with a view to cabling the home Government requesting the withdrawal with-drawal of the officials here. The Government building was destroyed de-stroyed by the rioters and the police barracks was damaged by Are and ' water. All the Government records were destroyed. The blue Jackets of the Pallas rendered Invaluable services in patrolling the streets and guarding public buildings. Volunteers have been called out and special constables have been sworn in, but no further rioting has occurred, though Intense excitement ex-citement prevails among the inhabitants. |