THE DOCK STRIKE AT HULL.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8487, 19 May 1893, Page 6

THE DOCK STRIKE AT HULL.

(Per Mariposa at Auckland.)

LONDON, AprU 26.

The loading of vessels proceeded at Hull on April Bth with non-Union men, under the protection of the Dragoons and a heavy force of the police. The striking dock labourers were sullen and threatening, but were deterred by the show of strength from attemptiag to renew their efforts of the preceding day to drive off the non-Union men. Two steamers put out in the river from the docks so as to be able to take on board crews at a s-fe distance from tho rioters. Two companies of Dragoons formed on both sides of the crews two hours later and escorted them to the tenders. The police tried to keep the mob back, but the strikers broke through the line 3 repeatedly and began stoning tne soldieis and sailois. ' The police swung their batons right and left, crackiug heads and battering face 3, while the Dragoons beat the mob b*cK with , the backs of their sabres. Finally the j crews were placed on board the tenders. Several policemen aud Drauoons were injured and about a dozan strikers were carried from the sce:io of conflict. Two gunboats arrived at Hull to overawe the strikers. Ben Tillet and Joseph HaveS lock Wilson, M.P., before a ma s '■ meeting ou the 9:h of April, advised the men to hold fast to their present position. Wilson proclaimed his intention of producing a general strike. More non-Union men were put to work on the morning of the 11th under the police and military protection, making the whole number of uon- Union mvn who had taken the places of strikers 2000. In tie afternoon the strikers showed evidence of weakening, a number of them applied for aud obtained work. The firms iv the lumber carrying trade, whose vessals had been idle since the strike began, notified their men that unless they returned to work at once their places would be filled with non-Unionists. Joseph Wilson, President of the Sailois and Firemen's Union, took an active part on behalf of the strikers, and in Cardiff enlisted the Dock Labourers aud Saitors and Firemen's Unions. The latter demanded an increase in wages, and threatened to block the sailing of every vessel unless the demand was complied with. The dock labourers at Liverpool, Shields, and elsewhere organised to assist the strikers, and iv London the Shipowners' Federation organised to support the masters.

The Hull strikers, seeing that their strike was failing, made overtures to the shipping masters on the 15th, but the overtures were rejected. On April 17th a compromise proposal concerning the strike was drafted by Mr J. Mundella (President of the Board of Trade), Mr Charles Wilson, M.P. (President of the Sailors' and Firemeu's Union) and Mr John Burns. After a prolonged Conference the proposal Mas signed by all three. It was believed that the proposal would be acceptable to both employers aud the employed, and that further trouble would bo prevented Uy it, but later advices stated th*t the men refused to accept the compromise. Ihe Shipowners' Federation moreover issued a manifesto, warning the strikers that their places would bs filled with' non-union men unless they returned to work. On the 23rdthe police of Hull, who bad arrested a drunken striker, were attacked by a party of his fellows who attempted a rescue. A lively fight ensued, and the police had to call for reinforcements. The strikers fought with boathooks, cudgels and split planks, aud the struggle was carried on in every street and alleyway. Windows were smashed and doors battered down. The fighting lasted into the morning, - but only six strikers were arrested.

Ten acres of timber at Victoria • Dock, Hull, were ablaze on April 23rd. The fire is supposed to have been started by the striking dockers. The timber yard ria owned by the Wade Company, who. employ non-Union men. A large section of the crowd of spectators made no concealment of their satisfaction at the progress of the fire. They threw stones at the firemen and the military who were assisting them. Some went so far as to cut the fire hose, and a detachment of Dragoons had to protect those who were fighting the fire. The loss is estimated at £1,0U0,000. Three other fires were started by incendiaries tbe same evening, but were extinguished before i makiug much headway.