From this point of 'vantage a few of the
older leaders of the deputation were able to witness the four or
five hours' struggle in and around Parliament Square, the Abbey,
Parliament Street, Great George Street which made Black Friday one
of the note-worthy days in British history--though, _more nostro_,
it will be long before it is inserted in school books.
Here, while something like panic signalized the Legislative Chamber
and Cabinet ministers scurried in and out like flurried rabbits and
finally took refuge in their private rooms--here was fought out the
decisive battle between physical and moral force over the suffrage
question. The women were so _exaltees_ that they were ready to face
death for their cause. The police were so exasperated that they saw
red and some went mad with sex mania. It was a horrible spectacle in
detail. Men with foam on their moustaches were gripping women by the
breasts, tearing open their clothing, and proceeding to rabid
indecencies. Or, if not sex-mad, they twisted their arms, turned
back their thumbs to dislocation, rained blows with fists on pale
faces, covering them with blood. They tore out golden hair or thin
grey locks with equal disregard. Mounted police were summoned to
overawe the crowd, which by this time whether suffragist and female,
or neutral, non-committal and male, was giving the police on foot a
very nasty time.
Pages:
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259