At nine o’clock next morning the Syssite was crowded, the doors were closed, and the determination of the council was announced to the members, each of whom was ordered to hurry off to set the train in motion for a popular outbreak for eleven o’clock.  It was not until an hour later that the news that the Barcine party intended to forestall them reached Hanno’s headquarters.  Then the most vigourous efforts were made to get together their forces, but it was too late.  At eleven o’clock crowds of men from all the working portions of the town were seen making their way towards the forum, shouting as they went, “Hannibal for general!” “Down with Hanno and the tax gatherers!”

Conspicuous among them were the sailors and fishermen from the port, armed with oars, and the gang of stevedores with heavy clubs.  Hanno and a large number of his party hurried down to the spot and tried to pacify the crowd, but the yells of execration were so loud and continuous that they were forced to leave the forum.  The leaders of the Barcine party now appeared on the scene, and their most popular orator ascended the rostrum.  When the news spread among the crowd that he was a friend of Hannibal and an opponent of Hanno, the tumult was stayed in order that all might hear his words.

“My friends,” he said, “I am glad to see that Carthage is still true to herself, and that you resent the attempt made by a faction to remove the general of the army’s choice, the son of the great Hamilcar Barca.  To him and to Hasdrubal, his son-in-law, you owe the conquest of Spain, you owe the wealth which has of late years poured into Carthage, you owe the trade which is already doing so much to mitigate your condition.  What have Hanno and his friends done that you should listen to him?  It is their incapacity which has lost Carthage so many of its possessions.  It is their greed and corruption which place such burdens on your backs.  They claim that they are generous.  It is easy to be generous with the money of which they have plundered you; but let them know your will, and they must bend before it.  Tell them that you will have Hannibal and none other as the general of your armies, and Spain is secure, and year by year your commerce with that country will increase and flourish.”

A roar of assent arose from the crowd.  At the same instant a tumult was heard at the lower entrance to the forum, and the head of a dense body of men was seen issuing from the street, with shouts of “Hanno forever!” They were headed by the butchers and tanners, an important and powerful body, for Carthage did a vast trade in leather.

For a time they bore all before them, but the resistance increased every foot they advanced.  The shouts on both sides became louder and more angry.  Blows were soon exchanged, and ere long a pitched battle was raging.  The fishermen and sailors threw themselves into the thick of it, and for ten minutes a desperate fight raged in the forum.  Soon the battle extended, as bodies of men belonging to either faction encountered each other as they hurried towards the forum.