THE SYDNEY TRAM STRIKE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8650, 3 August 1908, Page 3

THE SYDNEY TRAM STRIKE.

AT THE PISTOL'S MOUTH. j STRIKERS USE VIOLENCE. _ In the vicinity of Liverpool Street the first- suggestion of violence manifested itself (says the Telegraph, referring to the incidents connected 'with the commencement of the strike). A surging mass of people had congregated at the George Street corner, the public 011 business bent finding it next to an impossibility to worry their way along the footpaths in "the direction of the Town Hall. '

' Presently there was a swaying of the mass of uniformed men and civilians, a parting in the middle, and down the centre of Liverpool Street ran a well-dressed man followed by a yelling crowd of pursuers. .Mud, eggs, and fruit flew through the air like debrks being scattered in a railway cutting at the explosion of a charge of rack-a-rock, and exclamations more expressive than polite were hurled at the fleeing individual. Incidentally the howling mob counselled him in forcible terms, and to a running accompaniment cf missiles, to "Git!" Such epithets as " pimp " and " blackleg !" were sandwiched into some expressions characteristic of the striker, and the rising indignation of the mob foreboded a bad time for the fugitive. Just when things might have gone anyhow, the object of the strikers' attention slipped his hand into his hip pocket and turned on his pursuers. He raised his right hand, and the mob field off, for glittering in the sunlight was a revolver, and the man who held it looked as if he might use it if occasion demanded. Then he slowly walked back in the direction of the Central Police Court, the crowd hooting him, and making offensive observations. STUCK TO HIS GUNS. HOW "WATTY" MOVED THE CAR,

The corner of George and Goulburn Streets, opposite Horderns', was a scene of some excitement for several hours, for here, under the shadow of the Trades Hall, the strikers and their friends congregated in numbers. Attempts were made to move the standing cars from that position into the sheets at Ultimo, so clearing the lines for the steam trams soon to be pressed into service.

One driver mounted and prepared to place tho handle in position, and im<mediately became the centre of an indescribable demonstration. The crowd hooted loudly and were threatening and persuasive in t-urn. The object of their attention was invited to "be a man," to " stand by the boys," aud " come out." For several minutes he withstood the strain, and made preparations to move on. Then the female members of the gathering co-operated with the males, and asked the driver to "remember the. women and children." The individual wavered; a kindly and diplomatic utterance at his elbow worked like a charm, and the

"gripman" relaxed his loyalty to the service, and was soon mingling with his comrades-in-arms.

Then came the real test, of the morning. A ruddy-faced young fellow, with the firm jaw of the prize-fighter and the pluck of a grixzly, mounted the car. His appearance was the signal for a renewal of the cat-calling that had previously expended itself. " Come out, Watty," roared his mates, " and we'll stick to vou."

"Watty made some inaudible remark, lifted the driving handle, and fitted it to its place.

" You'll lie- the first to get tho sack wlien it's all over," exclaimed another. " Don't be a fool; come down."

Watty did not seem to worry about the sack, but went methodically about his work.

Then followed one of those incidents which work damage to a cause, rather than help it. Several persons, two of them in civilian's clothes, mounted the car, despite the indignant protest of the driver. The howling increased, and, to quote .Bret'Harto, "in less time than I write it," Watty was being smote hip and thigh by the invaders. Whether he had right 011 his side or not did not appear to trouble the young fellow, and he proceeded in the vernacular of the street to "mix" it to the best of his ability. The frontof the car was for some seconds obscured by flying arms and heaving bodies, and the howling was deafening. Eventually when Watty looked to be in a had way, the police arrived and swept back the mob. And the victim of the assault, rising from the- floor of the car, affixed his handle anew, the pole was swung round to make the connection, and, amidst a perfect fusilade of eggs, biscuits and fruit, the irrepressible Watty slipped out from the " convincing ground " a proud driver, ruddier-faced than ever.