STRIKE LEADERS ARRESTED.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 298, 18 December 1909, Page 3

STRIKE LEADERS ARRESTED.

CLEVER POLICE MANCEUVRES

AN ASTONISHED CROWD

The Sydney Morning' Herald gives the following graphic description of the arrest of strike leaders (Messrs P. Bowling, W. Brennan, and A. Burns) at Newcastle on the night of Saturday, the 4th inst. :— When it was seen that a score or so of local police were being sent to the railway station, it began to be whis-, pered that at. last the Government had decided to arrest strike leaders. The city seemed suddenly to kindle with the suggestion. People commenced to run towards the station from every q\xarter, and in a few : minutes a crowd of fully 2000 persons surged round the entrance. At the station gates the public found the way blocked by police. Dozens of police helmets gleamed beneath the uncertain light on the far platform. Even then the crowd was not sure what move was contemplated. There were some who believed Mr Peter Bowling was to be arrested, but the great majority seemed to think that the display of uniforms was merely in connection with the arrival of the detachment of police from Sydney. There was very little noise, despite the intense excitement. Someone called for cheers for Mr Peter Bowling; there was a feeble response. A section of the crowd broke round into Watt StreeJ, and tried to force a way on to the station platform from that end, but they were unceremoniously shoved back. Then the train steamed into the station. Many personal friends of the strike leaders were on the platform, and a dozen hands were held out to Mr Bowling as he stepped from the carriage. "They appear to be taking care of you, Peter," remarked one man, indicating the 70 Sydney police who were filing out of the carriage nearest the engine. Mr Bowling did not even smile at the unfortunate pleasantry. The men in blue were forming up in a line two deep. Mr Bowling,had to pass just in front of them. Then for the lirst time the strike leaders seemed to notice the local police. Mr Brennan caught the president of the Miners' Federation by the sleeve, and whispered something. Mr Bowling nodddo, and continued to shake hands with those who were crowding round him. There was some desultory cheering. An enthusiast shrieked, "sood old Peter." The crowd laughed; then, above the sound of the talking and the merriment, an order ' rang!• out, ,and the police commenced to march towards the station gates. Like the thick end of a wedge the local police fell in behind, and in an instant the strike leaders were '.surrounded. Police were in front and on every side. No one knew what had happened. "Are you all right, Peter?" shouted a strident voice, but the reply of the leader was lost in mi outburst of boohoos and groans. All the while the police were sweeping towards the station entrance.

Inspector Goukler was seen to step

alongside Mr Bowling and grasp ji» arm, while a youthful constable ranged up on the other side. TI» president of the Miners' Federation said, nothing, and made no attempt to either resist or draw attention to> himself. Bat the crowd had begun !to realise * that this was something more than a display of force, that air last something was being accomplished. As the police swung tvhirough th# gates pandemonium -broke loose. .'.] Shouts-.yells, groans, howls t * aail cheers mingled .%a a- fearful discord; J" "Let him go I" roared a dozea voices above the din., . >■.■•; "Who've they got?" shrieked others. y; *. . •'■-■■■ v • ■ ••;•■•-. - >• ■' ■ ■'■.

But,no one knew with.any certainty - what was even being" done. And the police continued to tramp. towards the police station. Behind and on every side the crowd shouted themselves hoarse. They were more curious than angry. It was a miners* crowd. The colliery workers had caught the last f.ram- home, half-aa- '.; hour before. . These x people who ran and howled lived in the city, and had waited up to see the police arrive. They now saw Something which they did not understand, and they capered and ran like eager dogs jon a scehi/ But-it 1 was all over so quickly that no demonstration was possible, j eyei» • had there been an attempt in Hunter Street. There was still more police,? and a"s some of the crowd came racirig up Bolton Street; past the post ofSce, Inspector Ctouluqr shouted, "Hold them back," The constables, deployed across thestreet, just asthV detachment of local police inimedi, '. ately behind Mr Bowling, tuxiied about,'and completely th* crowd from conning further, t^s*" out an instant's delay the miners' president was hurried- up th.^ $iesf of the building and, into" the Whig?- « As the huge Crowd surged up M&M Street after the arrested mei|,:i i« : '■■> alfam^tie, incident occurred opposite the Great Northern Hotel, where the throng wtte very. dense, 0» hearingthat her husband was being taken to ■ the lockup, Mm Brennaa st^<J>oned> and soon became hysterical. At-first it was thought that the seething mas»; of humanity would trample heir under foot, rsO"^ Jkttjciipruß were ..the people to obtain a glippiße .of: th«? -. strike leaders. A group ow svvatrthy; miners »pon- noticed^ -ijfrt: Brennan**,..'-; danger, ; and they i formed^ a circle around-. her,; aiiql'!';'.'ett4e»av6iiTed.'' t» brings. her/-.,.^.;;;her/7npi^a.a^ ■■'■'lienmsf.*}:: y_\ Thinking ''^li^i^^'^asVsuW^ri^i^A^ } -'.;: a 'dangerotiST attack, :^it^~p^^pwak'''/:: {: her^in£o ■ ihs hotel, v.wher6-she; recoy>* ered;. .Mts;'^o^yl|ngy..exp^i^i^n"c»,;-w^B''', f, 'most*; unfortunate. vlMe^wasj:^~'.|li© •.- T station to meet her1 b,usband, an^ '■ ; .^-r* was consequently-hemmed in by the police, when ■' he was arrested. Speaking at the mass meeting this after- ' noon, Mr Bowling said: "I was dragr ged along with my wife as a erini-3 inal, but the day^ will come whert: they will not dare to do that sort of thing." / ■,■■..■■. ;■■■ /■ ; .,^;,;:- ;■_.■.■•; ... 'V;: The offence vwith which' Peter Sow!- - ing and his companions are charged ' is alleged to have been committed oil November 5. iThat is the date o» which the delegate board of the Col-,i liery Employees' Federatibh met^aild • decided to rjecommend the district lodges to strike.^ ■• •■'>] \ :■■;: ■' ■' ■*■;• :} ' y:'■■-■ ''■ The- foHpwing is th^ aio^bioti passed by the delegate board: ... "That :w&*: jecommeiid'''^'s:ilM''':'di^ntit''^tliat' v 'nO'v:' s more work Iw'^ißfeiiio^^^til'^e-^*^^^--redress for all ptir grievances';"^ :; Another motion carried by. the delegate • board .Wai, •'That we «& the soutliern :'aAQ ,"'western miners ;»nct^..-':; waterside workers; to lay dovn their tools in comino|i cause.", v•• : ■ •