WORST OVER

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 109, 1 February 1934, Page 9

WORST OVER

Police Gain Control in West Australia REMARKABLE SCENES Pitched Battle Fought at Boulder City iUFLES AND BOMBS USED By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received January 31. 10.10 p.m.) Kalgoorlie, January 31. The worst was over in the Kalgoorlie riots by noon to-day, when order was definitely icstored. Police pickets are everywhere. All tlw hotels are closed and many foreigners are leaving. . The others have Ireen told to remain out of sight. The mines 'are «tlll idle. Remarkable scenes of violence continued earlier in the day at Kalgoorlie and Boulder City, the rioting mobs becoming entirely out of control However, they met their first check from the police when,, after wrecking forsigners’ houses at Dingbat Mat, they returned to Kalgoorlie and entered the boarding-house which they attacked yesterday. They began to set tire to the place when the police swooped unon them. They used batons, drove them out, and quelled the Hrp. Rioters gathered on the opposite side of the street shouting threats, but the police undaunted, moved the crowds on, and soon had complete control of the situation. It is impossible accurately to estimate the casualties as a re,suit, of the rioting. Several are in hospital with gunshot wounds. It is quite apparent that the miners have not had things all their own way. Tremendous excitement prevails in Kalgoorlie and Boulder City. Crowds are grouped in the streets discussing the overnight happenings, and they appear to expect fresh outbreaks of violence. The position is intensified by the idleness of the miners, who are in a mood for anything due to over-indulgence in drink. Tuesday night’s mass meeting in the park at Boulder City was very noisy. The Parliamentary member for the district. Mr. C. B. Williams, was unable to make himself heard. Everybody wanted to talk at once. The crowd broke away from the meeting when a series of explosions was heard in the direction of the foreigners’ huts, where a pitched battle was soon in progress. The foreigners had organised in anticipation of an attack, and had made their dispositions-with a certain degree of military skill. Entrenched in a drain, they sought) to defend themselves with shotguns, rilles, and revolvers, but were finally driven out, with jam-tin bombs, road metal, and pickets. Then followed the complete destruction of the foreigners’ huts. The crack of rifle fire and the noise of bursting bombs were plainly heard by people in bhe background. The dav revealed a scene of terrible desolation. It is miraculous that many lives were not lost. A second death occurred when Charles Stokes died as the result of a knife wound in the stomach. It Is also reported thati a Montenegrin was killed. Largely-attended Funeral. The funeral to-day of George Jordan, whose death was the immediate cause of the riot, was one of the largest seen in Kalgoorlie. The coffin was carried on a fire engine preceded by a long double-file of firemen and 100 cars. A survey of the damage in Kalgoorlie disclosed that 15 shops and cafes in Hannan Street, suffered with the majority of their windows and fittings irreparably smashed and stocks looted. . At Boulder City, two hotels, the foreigners’ clubhouse, three cafes, and a bootmakers’ shop were wholly or partially wrecked and burned. At least 50 foreigners’ huts were burned or razed. A Melbourne message states that the Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, said that the Government was watching events in the West Australian goldfields. and would co-operate with the State Government if the necessity arose in quelling the disturbances. Concerted action would later be taken to deal with the Communistic elements which were undoubtedly behind them. The Premier, Mr. Collier, in a statement, deplored the outbreak of lawlessness. Ho said he was advised that it had its genesis in the machinations of a few-Communists. Refugees Reach Perth. Yugoslavs and Greeks reached Perth to-day and told a graphic story of rioting. They seemed dazed by-the swift calamity which had overtaken them. Sobbing mothers were met by friends at the railway station, and by pitiful gestures they indicated their scanty belongings, all that remained of their worldly possessions. They declared that miners’ wives looted their shops and homes after the men had wrecked them. x The Consul for Yugoslavia. Air. Maricli. Ims protested against the attacks on his subjects in the goldfields. He declares that the majority arc naturalised British subjects, lie is appealing for assistance for homeless ami starvijig families, innocent victims’ of the miners’ vengeance. The correct population of Kalgoorlie is 17,332. The foreigners total 723.