Part 3

Let no one think that all London Anarchists are mere talkers who have not the courage of their convictions. It is a fact that many of the outrages which have taken place on the Continent were arranged beforehand here in London, within the four walls of the Club Autonomie. In the month of November, 1891, the following advice was given to the “companions” by a London Anarchist newspaper: “A knowledge of chemistry is very useful, and all young men should join a chemistry class at once. There is no need to proclaim the fact that you are an Anarchist, but study diligently and quietly till you have mastered all the secrets of modern explosives.” And it concluded by suggesting that a result of such a knowledge might be that the rich and the rulers of the country would be “swiftly translated to Paradise.”

MURDER!

Workmen, why allow yourselves, your wives, and children, to be daily murdered by the foulness of the dens in which you are forced to live?

The average age of the working-classes is some 29 years, and the average age of the rich 55 years.

It is time the slow murder of the poor, who are poisoned by thousands in the foul, unhealthy slums, from which robber landlords exact monstrous rents, was stopped.

You have paid in rent the value over and over again of the rotten dens in which you are forced to dwell. Government has failed to help you. The time has come to help yourselves.

PAY NO RENT

to land-thieves and house-farmers, who flourish and grow fat on your misery, starvation, and degradation.

A MASS MEETING WILL BE HELD IN VICTORIA PARK (NEAR THE BAND STAND) On Sunday, July 26th, at 3 p.m.,

When the following Speakers will address the meeting in support of a No Rent Campaign:--

D. J. Nicoll, W. B. Parker, S. Mainwaring, C. W. Mowbray, J. Turner, R. Jane, and E. Hall.

Hurrah! for the kettle, the club, and the poker, Good medicine always, for landlord and broker; Surely ’tis best to find yourselves clobber, Before paying rent to a rascally robber.

An Anarchist Handbill.

This advice was acted on largely by the “comrades” in London, and classes for the study of chemistry were instituted in various parts. Some Anarchists even joined the chemistry classes established by the various institutions in and around London. Following on this came the publication of a series of dynamite manuals. Johann Most (who, it may be remembered, was in 1881 sent to prison here in London for a violent article in _Die Freiheit_ applauding the assassination of the Czar, Alexander II.) wrote a bomb-manual entitled “Revolutionary War Science.” This was published by the German Anarchists of London in their native tongue, and circulated largely in and around the German colony in West London. The book was afterwards translated into English and published in America, whence large quantities were imported into this country and distributed among the English-speaking “comrades.” In this book Johann Most explains exactly where bombs should be placed in churches, palaces, ball-rooms, and festive gatherings. Never more than one Anarchist is to take charge of any attempt, so that in case of discovery the Anarchist party may suffer as little harm as possible. The book contains also a complete dictionary of poisons, and preference is given to poison from dead bodies. Poison is advocated for use against politicians, traitors and spies.

Among the French Anarchists in London, “Le Anarchiste Indicateur” was the Bible of the bombists. This work, it is said, was written by an ex-member of the French Detective Service. Another dynamite manual was entitled, “Advice and Warning to the Commercial Classes,” by “Father Gavroche,”--the _nom de guerre_ of a certain Irish-American revolutionist--and contained instructions for the making of every kind of bomb known, as well as for the mixing of a composition known as Greek Fire, which it advocated as useful for throwing over policemen and setting them afire. These publications explained the use and manufacture of all kinds of explosives--gun-cotton, dynamite, roburite, woodite, fulminate of mercury, picrate of potash, besides endless explosive mixtures, of which a common one was chlorate of potash and sugar. This latter would be mixed in about equal parts, and a small glass tube containing sulphuric acid inserted. When the bomb was thrown, the tube would break and an explosion result.

A curious advertisement once appeared in the _Commonweal_. It was as follows:--

“SPECIAL NOTICE TO EMANCIPATOR GROUPS in Scotland and England. The ‘EMANCIPATOR’ (the new holey Bible) will shortly be published.”

This “holey Bible” was in reality a manual of instructions for the making of every kind of explosive known, and was partly set up in type when the police raided the offices of the _Commonweal_. But our smart police were certainly out-witted by the Anarchist compositor in charge of the place. The type, for safety, had been placed near the ceiling, on top of a number of shelves. Having, as they thought, ransacked every nook and cranny in the place, the police officers were about to depart without having giving this place a thought. One of them, however, on reaching the door, noticed the omission, and carelessly asked the “comp” to bring down the contents. Placing a small pair of steps against the shelves in such a way as to render them totally unsafe to stand upon, the wily “comp” rushed up them, and, to make believe of saving himself from falling, purposely clutched hold of the type, dragged it to the floor with him and “pied” the lot; or, in plain English, broke it completely up. And the police lost a “find.”

The second time the police raided the _Commonweal_ they discovered a manuscript of explosive recipes hidden behind a loose brick in the wall. This formed part of the indictment of the compositor who was convicted at the Old Bailey soon afterwards for seditious libel, incitement to murder, etc.

In August, 1891, a Revolutionary Conference was held at the Jewish Anarchist Club, in Berner Street, E., to consider the advisability of “action.” Representatives of Anarchism from various provincial centres, as well as from different parts of London, attended. The Conference decided that a number of bomb outrages should take place in this country at an early date. One of the delegates present from Walsall happened to be employed in an iron foundry in that place, and, it being thought that an order from an employee would disarm suspicion, it was agreed that he should get his firm to make a number of iron castings for bombs. Of course, orders were not given for bomb-shells, but for “electrical lubricators.” The matter was placed in the hands of a prominent member of the Commonweal Group. A letter was sent to Walsall by this individual, containing a sketch of the kind of bomb required. This was to be a large, pear-shaped, shell, with a hole at the top for receiving the explosive matter, and three holes at the bottom for the insertion of detonators. The object in having the bombs pear-shaped was so that, when thrown, they were bound to fall on the detonators and thereby cause an explosion. When the scheme had thoroughly matured, the bombs being safely stowed away in the cellar of the Anarchist Club in Goodall Street, Walsall, the police, who had all along known of the conspiracy, pounced down upon the conspirators and conveyed them to the police station. It turned out during the trial that the “comrade” of the Commonweal Group to whom we had entrusted the London management of the whole affair was a police informer!

One curious fact in connection with these Anarchist chemistry classes was that they were made up almost entirely of mere boys. One of these took home some explosive substance given him to experiment with, but the stuff was found by his father, who, not liking the look of it, buried it in the garden in his son’s absence. Next day the police raided the house. This incident raised the “comrades’” suspicions--there was evidently a spy somewhere in the camp. Following on this came a number of police raids on the Club Autonomie, and many private houses in London. As a result many of the schemes the Anarchists had decided upon were hastily abandoned.

Mingling with the Anarchists I have been greatly amused at the numerous brilliant schemes of revenge proposed by the breathers of fire and slaughter--for, after all, most of their propositions are mere talk and talk only. Conceited beyond belief, the average Anarchist delights in impressing the “outsider” with his supposed bloodthirstiness and daring. Most Anarchists I have met harbour schemes of outrage of some kind or other, but are prevented from carrying them out by a wholesome dread of the law. One has designs on the King or the Prime Minister; another proposes to blow up the Stock Exchange or the Bank of England; a third, misanthropically inclined, hates the working-classes more bitterly than he does the makers and administrators of the law, who are his natural enemies, and would, if he could, kill them by thousands. Why this hatred of the working-classes it is easy to understand, for the workers are the great obstacle between the Anarchist and the carrying out of his crazy crotchets.

An original, if not altogether brilliant, scheme, was that the “comrades” should invade the galleries of the large theatres, armed with bags of lice, which were to be emptied on the occupants of the parts below. Another scheme was to fumigate with sulphuretted hydrogen the carriages waiting for their rich owners outside the opera houses. A “comrade” once proposed to me a scheme whereby we were to cause a number of explosions in one night. The idea was this: Armed with strong catapults and several small bombs made of thick glass (I was shown one), and filled with chemical explosives, we were to mount an omnibus passing through the West End, and fire the bombs, by means of the catapults, through the windows of the mansions as we passed. Needless to say, I did not fall in with the idea.

Perhaps the most important things captured by the police as a result of their raids were a number of secret manifestoes. One of these was headed: “Death to the Judges! Death to the Jurors!” and concluded with the significant words: “Comrades, you shall see us at work!” Another secret document captured by the police was an English translation of a French document--“The Manifesto of the French Anarchist Soldiers.”

As everyone knows, in France military service is compulsory, even Anarchists having to serve. The “French Anarchist Soldiers” conclude their manifesto as follows: “We are the revolted--the judges! We will be the avengers! When they give us orders to fire, we will turn the muzzles of our firearms upon the dressed-up scoundrels who command us! Hurrah for Anarchy!”

At the Revolutionary Conference before-mentioned several “comrades” volunteered to join the army, with the object of “permeating it with revolutionary ideas.” Accordingly, a special manifesto--“An Address to the Army”--was published and circulated largely among the soldiers. Its watchword was “Revolt! Revolt!” and the soldiers were asked, “What shall yours be? Several of our comrades are in your midst.” It continued: “Will you answer their signal, or obey the commands of your officers? Let us hope when our comrades cry ‘Revolt,’ that your answer will thunder forth, ‘Revolt! Revolt against tyranny and robbery! Hurrah for Anarchy and the Social Revolution!’”

VII.

ANARCHISTS AT WORK.

It was not until the death of Bakounine, in 1876, that the propaganda of action can be said to have commenced in earnest. At the revolutionary conference of Berne, held this very year, was proclaimed the era of violence by Italian extremists who had attached themselves to the Anarchist doctrines of Bakounine. “The Italian Federation,” they announced, “is of opinion that open rebellion, resorted to with a view to back up by deeds the profession of Anarchist principles, is the only effective method of propagating the doctrine.” These words were soon to be carried into effect. In April, 1877, an Anarchist revolutionary attempt took place in the Italian province of Benevento. Malatesta, Cafiero, and Ceccarelli, at the head of a band of revolutionaries, burnt the archives at Letino and San Galo, and laying hands on whatever arms and money they could find, distributed them to the mob. The next year, 1878, was a record year for its attempts on the lives of monarchs. On May 11, at Berlin, whilst the Emperor was passing, a boy of nineteen, Hoedel, fired several revolver shots, for which he was afterwards executed. In the following month a second attempt was made by a Dr. Nobiling, resulting in the Emperor being wounded in seven places. October saw an attempt on the life of the King of Spain at Madrid, for which a young Anarchist named Moncasi was executed. On November 17, at Naples, a cook of twenty-nine years, Passanate, stabbed the King of Italy, but the wound was only slight. Early in the same year General Trepoff, the Chief of Police at St. Petersburg, was assassinated by a young woman named Vera Zassulitch, in revenge for his alleged ferocity towards a Nihilist named Bogolionboff, for which she was afterwards, strange to say, acquitted. On August 16, at St. Petersburg, General Metzenseff, Chief of the Imperial Police, was stabbed to death by two Nihilists, who escaped by using their revolvers.

Next year saw the Chief of the Odessa Secret Police murdered also--this time by strangulation. The murderers left a note on the table saying that the execution was carried out by the Revolutionary Committee. Prince Kropotkin established this year at Geneva the Anarchist paper, _Le Revolte_. Several daring attempts were made this year upon the life of the Czar of Russia, Alexander II. On April 14, Solovieff fired several shots without hitting him. On December 1, 1879, a mine, tunnelled out beneath the railway over which the Czar had to pass, exploded at the passing of the Imperial train, but the Czar had fortunately passed by another train half an hour earlier. Another attempt was made on February 17, 1880. This time the Czar’s dining-room was blown up with dynamite; but again the Czar providentially escaped, his dinner having been put off to a later hour. However, fate overtook him in the year following. A bomb was thrown under his carriage on March 13, by a young Nihilist named Ryssakoff, but missed; the Czar got out to walk, but was mortally wounded by a second bomb thrown by another Nihilist named Grinevetsky, who died the next day of wounds received from the guard. Six persons in all were executed for this, one of whom, Sophie Petrovskaya, daughter of an ex-Governor of St. Petersburg, organised the whole series of plots. This last was a determined attempt, for had the Czar gone another way, a loaded mine awaited him. The bombs were brought from a house occupied by Navorotsky and Hess Helfmann. When the police came to arrest them, Navorotsky fired on his comrade, but missed him in the darkness, and then blew out his own brains.

On December 30, 1880, a young Anarchist named Otero fired two shots at the King and Queen at Madrid, for which, on April 17, he was executed. In March, a young man, Mlodetsky, who fired on General Melekoff, was hanged.

On May 27, 1882, was first published in Italian, the work of Stepniak on “Underground Russia.” A meeting of French and Swiss Anarchists at Geneva proclaim their total separation from the political parties, Socialist, or otherwise.

In 1883, sixty-six Anarchists were sentenced at Lyons for conspiracy, including the famous and undoubtedly sincere Prince Kropotkin, who is now living in England. On May 26, in Spain, the trial of the “Mano Negra” (black hand) secret society of Christian Anarchists began. Louise Michel, the “Red Virgin” of the Commune, was this year condemned to six years’ imprisonment for plundering bakers’ shops, after an unemployed demonstration. Cyvoct, condemned to death for having incited the riots of October 22 and 23 at Lyons, was afterwards reprieved and sent to penal servitude.

At Leipzig, on January 18, 1885, Reinsdorf and two other Anarchists were condemned to death, and two others to penal servitude, for causing explosions in the Frankfort-on-Maine police-barracks. In revenge for these hangings, a police commissioner named Rumpf was stabbed in front of his own house. On October 11, Kropotkin’s “Words of a Rebel” was published in French.

In 1886, the French Anarchist Gallo was sentenced to twenty years’ penal servitude for attempted murder. At a meeting of Anarchists in the Haymarket, Chicago, a bomb thrown kills eight policemen. For this four German Anarchists--Parsons, Spies, Fischer, and Engel--were tried on a charge of “constructive murder” and executed in the year following.

Convicted of burglary and incendiarism, Clement Duval, a French Anarchist, is sent to penal servitude for life, on January 29, 1887.

In 1888, at an Anarchist meeting in Havre, Louise Michel was fired at by a fanatical anti-anarchist named Lucas. Although dangerously wounded, Louise protected Lucas from the fury of the Anarchists, and afterwards appeared as a witness on his behalf at the trial, and managed to get him acquitted.

Next year, 1889, another French Anarchist, Pini, was sentenced for forging bank-notes. The following year saw the assassination of General Seliverstoff, formerly Chief of the Russian Secret Police, by Stanislaus Padlewski, a Pole, who managed to escape arrest and reach America, where, a few years back, he committed suicide.

In 1892, six Anarchists were arrested at Walsall and sentenced to terms of five and ten years for bomb-making. This was the first indication of the existence of active Anarchism in England by British subjects. From this year occurred a perfect epidemic of bomb-throwing. In Paris, several explosions occurred, for which the Anarchist Ravachol was arrested. On the eve of his trial the Café Very, in which he was recognised, was the scene of an explosion; and an intimidated jury found him “guilty with extenuating circumstances.” He was sent to penal servitude for life, but was tried afterwards for murdering a poor old hermit and executed. The execution of the “Chicago Martyrs” was “avenged” this year, on October 29, by the assassination of the Mayor of Chicago. In January the peasantry of Xeres, in Spain, incited by the Christian Anarchists of the “Mano Negra” secret society, armed themselves and attempted to take possession of that town, with the object of pillage. They were driven back by the soldiery, and four leaders, the Anarchists Zarzuella, Lamela, Bisiqui, and Lebrijano, taken prisoners, and afterwards put to death. This was followed by numerous bomb-explosions all over the peninsula. In Paris an abortive attempt was made to blow up the house of the Princess de Sagan. In America, the great strike at Carnegie’s Steel Works, at Homestead, at which pitched battles between armed strikers and Pinkerton police were frequent, culminated in the attempt of the Anarchist Berkmann to shoot the manager, Frick, for which he was afterwards sent to penal servitude. In Spain an attempt was made to blow up the Parliament (Cortes), for which, two years later, an Anarchist named Ferriera was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. On November 8, a bomb placed before the Paris offices of the Carmaux Mining Company was discovered by the police and removed to the Rue des Bons Enfants police station, where it exploded and killed four policemen.

In 1893, at Barcelona, a bomb was thrown from the gallery of the Liceo Theatre, killing some twenty persons. For this iniquitous crime Salvador Franch and six other Anarchists were shot. In Paris, August Vaillant threw an explosive bomb into the French Parliament from one of the public galleries. The missile exploded in mid-air, wounding more or less severely some sixty persons, including deputies, ushers, and visitors. He was guillotined two months later. In England an Anarchist leader named Conway was sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment for an attempted jewel robbery. On September 24, a dynamite bomb was thrown by the Spanish Anarchist Pallas at Marshal Martinez Campos, who was about to review the troops at Barcelona. The bomb exploded among the staff-officers, killing a sergeant of the Civil Guard and injuring a general. The Marshal’s horse was killed under him, but he himself escaped with a severe contusion. Pallas was afterwards tried by court-martial and shot. At Madrid, on July 2, a bomb exploded before the house of Signor Canovas, ex-President of the Council, killing an Anarchist named Ruiz, who was the author of the attempt. This same year the Anarchist Schinhi was sentenced at Viterbo in Italy to eleven years’ penal servitude for shooting a policeman. During some popular disturbances in Italy, the Anarchists attempted to throw a train off the line at Avenza, and to cause a bomb explosion at the Monarchical Club at Leghorn.