MOBBING A PRINCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 13948, 2 January 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

MOBBING A PRINCE.

ARMY OF MINERS APPEAL TO

* KAISERS SON. The arrival of Prince Eitel Fritz (the Kaiser's second son) at the scene of tihe mine disaster at Radbod (in the village of Hainm, where over 300 miners have been killed) was the occasion, of angry demonstrations against the colliery administration, which appears locally to be held responsible for the disaster through insufficient consideration for the welfare of miners. According to the accounts of special correspondents, when the Prince drove up to the managerial offices in his automobile a vast crowd had already assembled, numbering more than 1500. They broke through the police lines, and swarmed about the car, crying : "We want protection for workmen! Show the Prince our punishment registers so that he can see how we are treated. They have destroyed the registers and hung out black flags-/let them show they are sorry for the accident. We want help! Down with abuses! There are 300 dead!" There was no cheering, only an angry roar, the crowd pressing round the Prince in the pouring rain. In the meanwhile the Prince went to the managerial offices, while outside the crowd began to sing the " Marseillaise." The manager tried to make a speech, but was howled down. The police behaved in the most exemplary fashion, and by their considerate attitude undoubtedly prevented the outbreak of violence. Meanwhile, within the office the manager was attempting to explain to the Prince the actual state of affairs. A miner had mounted on the window-sill of the office, and was addressing the crowd, urging them to remain calm, but the uproar kept on increasing, until it suddenly became known that his Royal Highness had consented to receive a deputation of the men. Prince Eitel's adjutant first received the deputation, and ascertained what they intended to say, and three men in their workclothes were then admitted to the office, where the Prince shook hands with them. Their leader, Johann Pilgrim, said: , "We ask your Royal Highness to do something for us. The poor unfortunate people outside, who sent us here, beg your Royal Highness to help them by obtaining for us an Imperial mines law for the protection of miners, with workmen's control by the men themselves. Then so many of us will not be killed. Your Royal Highness, we are all comrades and feel for each other. Two months ago I" persuaded my best friend to come here to work with me; now he's dead. We beg you to lay our wishes before the Emperor."

Prince Kitel Fritz replied "I will communicate your wishes to my father, and will do my best to reduce the accidents in mines." Pilgrim subsequently informed the crowd of the Prince s word, and the crowd dispersed. The scenes at the pithead beggared description. When the lists of the dead were issued, shrieking women with flowing hair made wild attempts to hurl themselves down the shaft, screaming: " Let us be buried with our husbands," and the policemen, with tears streaming down their cheeks, had- to hold them back by force. The Emperor sent £1250 to afford some immediate relief for the families of the victims of the disaster. .