Commercial Effects of the Strike.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 4952, 18 April 1891, Page 1

Commercial Effects of the Strike.

AN EXCITING SCENE AT BARCALDINE. Brisbane, April 7. It is considered probable that the shearers' strike will collapse. Five unionists at Barcaldine and four at Clermont have seceded and signed the pastoralists' agreement. It is believed others will follow. At Barcaldine two men were arrested for intimidation, one named Butterfield having been instructing unionists to drill. The strike has had its effect on the commercial community, and many firms have suffered severe losses. A meeting of the creditors of Smith Bros., merchants, whose liabilities amount to L 48,000, will be held. One of the largest firms in Rn'sbaiie. of thirty years' standing, lias also called a meeting, ri., are stated to be L 120,000. The failure ot this firm will bring down two other firms, with liabilities aggregating L 70,000. A requisition has been presented to the Mayor, requesting him to call a special meeting for Saturday night, to ask the Government to interfere, in order to bring about a settlement of the present strike. Barcaldine, April 7. There was great excitement this afternoon, when a full parade of the available military took place, 450 being present. They were ordered out in readiness to meet a special train, from Clermont with Inspector Randing, Colonel French, and the conspiracy prisoners Taylor, Stuart and others. The engine whistle sounded at about a quarter to six, and fully 1000 unionists at once rushed to the railway station. A strong military guard received the prisoners from the train. The mob hemmed in the military, and the air was rent with groans and howls. The terrible din frightened the horses. The prisoners, six in all, were chained together with a heavy chain, and surrounded by 50 of the Queensland Rifle Corps with fixed bayonets, while a further guard of 50 of the Hay Mounted Infantry endeavored to keep back the crowd. Amid a fearful din the crowd marched to the lock-up, jostling the soldiers and striking the horses in their faces, causing tliem to rear. The troops found it impossible to proceed, and an order to charge was momentarily expected. Numbers of unionists wero mounted, and their favorite procedure was to rush on top of the military. Many of the unionists wero intoxicated. Major Patterson's horse became bogged. That officer dismounted, and was roughly jostled by the crowd who surfed round. Yells and cheers caused the horses to break several times. One soldier was thrown, and his horse galloped away. Another was kicked in the chest by a horse and had to be conveyed to the hospital. The pandemonium con] tinued, during which Taylor could be heard telling the unionists that the prisoners were all right. The military eventually formed two long lines back and. front of the prisoners, thus keeping away the crowd to a great extent. By the time the barracks were reached fully 1500 were present. The prisoners wero safely placed in the lock-up by dusk, but the crowd remained long afterwards. The military were fully prepared for an attempted rescue, and it is fully believed that if the unionists had had a good leader such would doubtless have been the ease. The sum of LIOOO has been paid to the strikers by the Australian Shearers' Union, and other assistance is also being given. The Secretary of the Australian Shearers Union says several Victorian sheepowners have notified their intention of employing union shearers as usual.