THE MINERS’ RIOTS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 205, 6 October 1888, Page 3

THE MINERS’ RIOTS.

EXCITING SCENE AT MOUTH OF PIT. MINERS’ WIVES PARTICIPATE. THE POLICE HUSTLED BY THE MOB. [FBOM 008 OWN COBBESPOSDSNT.] Sydney, Sept 18. By% thia mail I send yon some interesting details regarding the riot at the New Lambton coal pit yesterday. The disturbance arose out of an attempt by the mine proprietors to remove some 200 tons of small coal at the pit’s mouth. About 300 miners went to the spot to persuade the laborers to forsake work, but they were not allowed to communicate with the men. Several women were among the crowd, some of them with babies in their arms, and not a few of these women remained on the ground throughout the day. At twelve o’clock the laborers, under the protection of the police, were taken to the workshop at the engine shed on the ground. As they were going, off they were treated to a melodious CHORUS OF SHOA NS, HISSES, AND NAMES of all descriptions, the women joining in with shrill cries. After dinner the number rapidly increased. When the time came for the laborers to re-commence work the miners assembled on both sides near the locality where the filling was to proceed.. Aiderman Frith took a prominent position on a prostrate tree, and, speaking to the laborers, said, ” We ask you as men to cease work. We to you now to knock off filling the and after a pause. ” Are you deterto fill the coal ?” The laborers made no response to the alderman’s short and touching appeal. Turning to the miners he shouted. “ Men gb on, but do not touch the police force. If they start to fill that small coal we will stop them, but do not interfere with the force Let us take these men from the place by physical force, but do not do them any injury.” Sub-Inspector Lynch told the mtn he was breaking the law. Frith replied that he was not, and turning to the crowd shouted, •• Did I say anything to do anybody any harm? ’ (Criesof “No.”) The nan then disappeared in the bush. The miners then commenced to crowd round the laborers, and the police were continually putting them back. “WE WON’T DO THE MEN AST HARM,” Urged one of the miners who seemed so anxious to get near the laborers. •• It would be bad for you if you did,” answered the subInspeetor. “ Let us have half an hour’s work then, and we will soon put the set on them,” called out one of the men. This modest request was not granted. “ They are a cures to the country and a disgrace to humanity ; they are not fit to live or die,” was one of the choice expressions used with"reference to the men throwing up the coal. “If I had him at Charlestown," hissed a miner, looking at a laborer, “I WOULD BE HUNG FOB HIM.” One of the laborers had a deformity in his hip, and he was continually being jeered at as 11 Old wooden leg.” Another was an old man over sixty, and he came in for abundant chaff whan ha stopped, as he frequently did, to rest himself. One of the three men who were engaged at Linwood is named Callaghan, and ■gainst him the miners showed a strong , antipathy, and they sought to induce him to

■peak by asking him all sorts of questions in the broadest Irish accent the questioner could imitate, but Callaghan remained dumb, and contented himself with patiently shovelling in the coal, This horseplay continued, and the police began to experience some difficulty in keeping the miners back. Aiderman Frith had come back, but in a different colored shirt and altered head gear, and be did not appear to be at all abashed by what had taken place ■n hour or two previously. Owing to the insolence cl some of the men when told to move back by the police, THEIR NAMES WERE TAKEN. At this period a piece of coal, or more correctly of the stone band in the seam was thrown, but it fell short. Almost immediately after, another piece of stone was thrown, this time with more accuracy. It struck the man Callaghan on the cheek bone, opening the skin and bringing the blood. Callaghan picked up the ■tone, and his first impulse seemed to be to throw it back amongst the crowd, but he decided otherwise, and dropping the stone on the ground quietly proceeded with his work. At a quarter past four the trucks were filled ■nd the laborers, under police protection, came away. The crowd of men, women, and children rushed after them, shouting and ■creaming, and hustling the police as well. It appeared as if they would make a rush at the laborers, and a man

THREW A PIECE OF COAL AT THEM. He was detected and his name taken. The laborers were safely brought into the shed, and preparations were made to get the trucks in order. This occupied some time, and meanwhile the crowd had very largely increased, as many as 1000 persons being present, and at least 100 of them being women and young girls. They congregated on the place in front of the shed, and pressed as closely as they were allowed upon the door, the police carefully guarding it. It was clear there would be some difficulty in getting the men into the carriage. Everything being ready, about a quarter to six a start was made, but the laborers were not more than three yards outside the door when MINERS MADE A CONCERTED BUSH. a minute it was very rough work, the police surrounding the laborers, and resisting the crowd as best they could. Sub-Inspector Lynch, seeing how matters were going, and the determined action being taken by the miners, called on the constables to draw their batons. A few of them did so, but did not use them. The constables were pushed back into the shed, the laborers going in before them, ■nd having thus obtained shelter the police forced their way out, and-closing the door Stood in front of it. The miners were very •xcited, shouting and assuming a very determined attitude. It was evident that with only thirty police it would be impossible to get the men away, and that any farther attempts to do this would end in a fight with the police to at the laborers, Bub-Inspector Lynch accordingly decided to telephone to Newcastle for assistance, and he lent a message to Inspector Brennan, saying they were surrounded By 1000 miners and could not get the laborers Off the ground.” SOME GOOD ADVICE. The miners heard that a message was being sent for assistance, and some of them were overheard to ask where an axe Could be found so as to cut the wire. When the excitement was at its highest a miner named H. Evans, who is an aiderman of Adamstown ahd ex-Mayor of the municipality, got on some pieces of machinery, and having quietened the crowd, said :—“These workmen have got more than bargained for, hut let us show that we are men. The police drew their batons, but they did not use them. Take my advice and act quietly. Make a clear w.y and let the men go. If you don’t do this there is bound to be bloodshed.* This speech seemed to be approved by many 6i the miners. A. E idel, woo is also both a miner aud an alderman, then spoke. He said that Mr Evans’ character was well known, and that he was not a mm to shirk his duty, Mr wae he a coward if matters came to the worst. (Applause.) He believed that Mr Evans’ advice waa the beet, and he for one DID SOT WANT TO INVITE BLOODSHED. (Cries of “ No.”) Let them, therefore, allow the man to go. Mr Evans added: “You can come back to-morrow morning at six 6’clcok.” Frith then spoke to the miners. Ha stated they had no right to use vi fence, bat he suggested that two men should go to the laborers and ask them not to ooms back. The reason he asked for this to be done was that the men now knew what the miners’ determination was, aud they probably had tad enough of it, but the miners had not the ■atlsfaoti n of knowing that this wae what the laborers thought of it. If two men were appointed he should be willing to make one of them. Sub-Inspector Lynch, on being appealed to, stated that he would allow two men to go Into the shed and speak to the men if Um miners would fall back. . This intimation was received with loud cheers, and the turners at ones cleared a space in front of ft* shod. Frith wanted to form one of the two in the deputation, but Mr Lynch objected t# Udi, »nd MsS*n Ev*M and Eddeh Weflt

in. They came out in about two minutes and stated that the men had given a guarantee that they would not show their faces there any more. The statement was heard with frantic cheers and the miners dispersed over the ground, leaving the place free for the laborers to proceed. They were taken to the railway carriages, and all being safely stowed in, the train with one car and twelve trucks of coal s‘acted. As she moved off the miners held on to the carriage for eoina distance, cheering and shouting in a most hilarious manner, after achieving, as they conceived, a most signal victory.