NEARLY A RIOT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 12

NEARLY A RIOT.

HOSE TURNED ON CROWD.

VISITORS TO THE TOURVILLE.

Disgraceful scenes occurred on tho railway pier, Port Melbourne, on the afternoon of Sunday, September 8, when the French cruiser Tourvillo was open for inspection. Thousands of peoplo struggled for a footing on ono narrow gangway, and when tho decks bceamo dangerously crowded, and it was decided to admit no additional visitors for a time, something approaching a riot took place. Threo constables on duty on the pier found it impossible to stein tho tide of people and they wero swept aside, while men, women and children swarmed up tho gangway and fought their way to tho deck.

Many women fainted and others had their clothing torn and their shoes and stockings ruined. Finally a French officer ordered a seaman- to turn a light hose on the crowd, and this had a salutary effect. Tho crowd foil hack from the gangway and a minority counted out tho crow of tho cruiser; but most of tho visitors realised that tho position would have bccomo serious if all had been allowed on boardi Ono young man, however, rushed up the gangway in tho face of the,stream of water and tried to begin a violent argument with an officer on duty. When told to leave the cruiser ho became nbusivo and adopted a fighting attitude. Tho threo constables then boarded tho ship and escorted him from tho pier. Additional police woro later sent to tho pier, and thero wero no further disorderly ncenes. Soveral women who had fainted wero treated aboard the cruiser. Officers of tho Tourvillc explained f.liat additional visitors would have t>een allowed to board tho cruiser if those who wero fortunate enough to do so early fn the afternoon had left after a reasonable period.