MELBOURNE UNDERWORLD

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 27

MELBOURNE UNDERWORLD

BATTLE BETWEEN "PUSHES." (Fbom Ovu Own Co»bespondbnt.) A battle between pushes last week disturbed Carlton and Fitzroy, and again, directed Melbourne's attention to her troubled underworld. There has been some recrudescence of the "push" evit in Melbourne In recent years, , and the source of this sooial poison is un- j doubtedly the criminal population of the near northern suburb, known as " The Underworld." The "Woolsacks" push belongs to Carlton,, and ..the. "Checkers" to North Fitzroy. There is. another North : Fitzroy push known •as the "Red Rosesi;" composed of mere boys. They are really the same.as the "Checkers," but the latter . have an age qualification "which "is rigidly enforced. The, "Checkers"... and "Red . Roses" generally hunt together. There is war between the Carlton-and Fitzroy pushes whenever they meet. . There .was a young woman who was beloved of a member of the "Cheokers" gang, but she was a true member of her sex, and transferred her affection to a "Woolpack," and the latter young man took her to a danoe. - The dread news spread like a disease through the ranks of the Fitzroy gangs, and they gathered furiously together to avenge the slight that had been put upon one of them. They waited in the darkness until the enamoured "Woolpack" set out for home with his new love, and then they sprang out and surrounded the .couple. They whooped and shrieked like Indians, and menaced the cowering "Woolpack." Then sonwone fired a revolver, on the sound of which they scattered like startled curs. ■ This was last Tuesday night. The "Woolpacks" ached for revenge. On Friday night the<y went forth to battle, armed heavily with sticks and bottles. They gathered in •Nicholson street to await the coming of the "Checkers" or the "Red Roses." Their lusty roars of defiance made the night hideous, and an occasional revolver snot rang out.' The heroes seemed to be shooting at the stars. The police got a warning, and a posse marched hurriedly. The warlike "Woolpaoks" saw them coming. They stayed not on the order of their retirement. Literally in a moment the disturbance had ceased, and the only sound was the running, in distant side-streets, of the hurrying push-ites.