BEYOND A JOKE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 113, 4 July 1911, Page 7

BEYOND A JOKE.

CROWD HOSED BY A PSEUDO BRIGADE. A CHRISTCHURCH INCIDENT. The pleasantries of the “Dark Town Brigade” 'which furnished the farcical element in last Thursday night’s torchlight celebrations at Christchurch were not altogether appreciated. After the larger portion of the crowd had left Victoria Square, under the impression that everything was over, a discreditable scene took place. The programme of the “brigade” was the extinguishing of a burning shanty, which had apparently been made as inflammable as possible. Several lines of Jioso had been loft in their charge, and with the jets from these the pseudo brigades made the most of the fun. There was, of course, no attempt to turn the water on to the flames, as that would have robbed the show of its chief attraction. The water was turned, everywhere else, and incidentally hosed a considerable number of spectators, many of whom, including a fair proportion of ladies, were wet to the skin, i Boys, who were viewing the proceedings from the brandies of trees were also hosed and soaked. It was a bitterly, cold night, and' the people who got'wot did not appreciate the humour of -the “Dark Town'Brigade.” Everybody; else laughed,' and applauded, with small sympathy for tho ladies, whos'd dresses had probably boon ruined. A party of youths, when the show closed up',’ and';V,S''the" ‘wdi'o' wending their way home, enacted summary vengeance. Stones went hurtling through the air, and some of them found their marks. One of the “darkies” got a hole knocked im his helmet, another was hit on. tho back of the head with a stone, and-a lump like a pigeon’s egg rose, Another, was severely cut on tho face by a flying missile. Tho crowd followed the waggon to the King Edward Barracks, and for some' timc> there was a considerable disturbance. The “Dark Town Brigade” was made up of men from the E Battery. The whole occurrence was a regrettable finish to the evening’s entertainment.