“AN AWESOME SIGHT”

Southland Times, Issue 18965, 12 June 1923, Page 6

“AN AWESOME SIGHT”

THE CUP TIE BATTLE. SPLENDID WORK BY LONDON POLICE. (Special to the Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 11. A well known Christchurch barrister and solicitor, who is at present on a visit to the Old Country, writing to a friend in Christchurch described the scenes when the crowd of 200,000 “took charge” at the football cup tie at Wembly stadium thus: “I would not have missed the spectacle for anything, but many a time I would have given a good deal to be well out of it all. To see a crowd sweep wrought iron fences away, or to storm over the top and carry everything before them, was an awesome sight. In our reserved seats, it looked at one time as if one portion of the dense sea of humanity would sweep right over us, but only the firmness of the London police and their tact and imperturable good nature, saved what looked at one time, like a catastrophe. I believe no other body of men could have accomplished'what they did. The climax came when the King arrived. It took 20 minutes to get him to the Royal box, and when he appeared the whole 200,000 cheered again and again. It broke the spell of an ugly panicky situation. The crown then sang the National Anthem. Fancy the population of Auckland and Christchurch compressed into Wembly stadium and cheering as one their King who had come to see the great national football event. One mounted policeman was superb. He cleared little patches again and again in the dense block of people and gradually these oases enlarged until the playing ground was clear. At one time it appeared as if play that day was impossible. If the London police ever did a finer bit of work it would be interesting to hear of it. On this occasion they accomplished what even to Londoners themselves appeared the impossible.”