CIVIL WAR AT WAIHI.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 67, 12 November 1912, Page 6

CIVIL WAR AT WAIHI.

SENSATIONAL SHOOTING.

POLICEMAN AND WORKER

INJURED

(Per Press Association.)

Waiiii, November 12

The most exciting bcii.su .‘ion winch lias ever happened in Waiiii occurred tills morning. Yesterday the incidents, wore exciting enough, but they pale into insignificance compared m.li this morning’s -events. The town, from half past „,seven till after eight o’clock was soothing with excitement, and everything was so unsettled that work at the mines was not thought of, and permission was obtained from the company to suspend work for the day. As was the case yesterday, workers assembled opposite the new Union Hall, and in a body marched into the main street on route to the mines. The street was conspicuous for the scarcity of the unemployed section of the community, and the general public was hardly represented. • The body of workers marched to the Miners’ Union Hall, whore a halt was called. At this point

The First Exciting incident

occurred. As soon as a halt was called the leaders of the workers rushed at the closed doors of the Union build iug. In a few minutes an entrance to the main building and offices- was effected. Meanwhile, a section rushed cloyn the alleyway of the huili, smash ing 'all the windows on that side of the building. Just as an entrance to the hail was effected, two nr three revolver shots wore fired by Federationists inside the hall. Constable "Wade who stood in front of the workers endeavouring to restrain them, received

A Buiffit in tna Abdomen. Almost simultaneously a, worker, named Harry H. Johnston, a resident ol Russell Street, was shot in the fleshy part of tbo above tlic knee. Cou stable Yv T ado was at once conveyed tc the hospital, but Johnston, regardlesf of tpio wound, rushed with a crowd oothers in search of. the users of the revolvers. There was a tremendous hue-and-cry as three strikers were seen escaping from the building. l-')< crowd, with scores of police, joined ir pursuit, and there was a mad rus* through an adjoining timber yard. The workers were literally beside themselves, and howled and yelled at f flu heels of the fleeing fugitives. 1 India sers suddenly

Lost Sight of Their Quamcs as they disappeared into the ground, of Dr. Craig. While a frantic scam, of tne doctor's garden and outiupuso, was being made, the three xugitives effected an entrance to cno doctor’t house. Mrs. Craig saw two mei. through the window rush past the s.tu of the house, when she immediately ran to the front door, and was met by the breathless men in trie act of rush mg in the door way .v JSlio promptly slammed the door in-their faces, bm the men were not to bo denied, am. one '

jumped TSwugh the Window of the children’s room, while it is not dear how the other got into tiu house. Mrs. Craig gave the _ alarm, and in a few minutes the police auc. Workers rushed into the house. Tiu rooms were searched, and two of th-. men were caught. They were hauler out, and tlic police had the greatest difficulty in preventing them being lynched. " A loaded revolver was taken from one, and a box of revolver cartridges from the other. Both were taken to the lock-up with a howling crowd after them.

Additional Information. One of the men found in Dr. Craig’s house was hauled from under the doc tor's bed. Botii men were badlj knocked about, especially Evans, whose face was cut in several places. His condition was stick that no hau to bo carried by constables to the police station. After the doctor’s house had been cleared and order restored. Colonel Gudgeon (Mrs. Craig’s father) happened to go into the surgery, whore he discovered The Third Fugitive, Scwcriey, who at once protested that he had tak en no part in tno snooting or in anj part or the affair. He asked to be permitted to go homo, but his assertion of innocence did not satisfy the Colonel, who inter handed him over tc the crowd outside. The workers in the meantime took possession of the Minors’ Union Hall, speeches were made from the platform, followed by loud cheering. Moan while a great concourse of people gathered in the main street, and the bal conies cf the buildings were occupied by crowds of women and children, liu main pavement was also lined with spectators for the whole length of tin main thoroughfare outside tno Uuim Hall,

The Rev. Mr. Csoiry, Anglican VEar addressed the crowd, and urged tin men to remember that they were lawabiding citizens and honest workers He would ask them to see that thcii actions would be such as would no! reflect upon them as men. He hopcc they would not resort to violence. Tm Vicar was cheered at the close of hi; remarks.

Gelignite and Revolvers at Waikinc. An exciting affair occurred last night at'Waildno. it appears that aspersions had been cast on the Arbifcradonists by some members of the Federation, and a body of the fonnei proceeded to the Union Hall in tin evening with the purpose If gamin;-, an entrance. It is stated that just a. the Arhitrademists were about to on tor, a plug of gelignite wit.tr cap am lighted fuse attached, was thrown by somebody into the hall in the direction of the crowd. Nobody was hurt, but there was a terrific explosion, which was beard at a distance of _ several ■ miles away. The Arbitrationists had luckily given the cap a wide berth in time thus saving their lives. Eventually the Arbitrationists gained an entrance and searched all Federationists within the building. Two of the latter had revolvers in their possession, and these were taken. Th 3 Pzcr Federationists.

Evans, one of the Fedcrationists, alleged to have done shooting in the hall, and who was aftenvards_ so roughly handled the crowd, is in the hospital. His injuries are of a serious nature. There is no sign of prominent Federalionists in Waihi today. From about 9 o’clock as many as wore available were hunted vp by Arhitrabionists and given fair warning to clear out of the town.

Kennedy, acting-president of the Miners’ Union, made a hurried departure from Waihi by the morning train. Ho was rather badly handled by a hostile crowd at the station, and hears mark? of hands laid upon him.

Ho told a constable that the strike was off. It is understood that Kennedy is proceeding to Auckland. Cheering ths Flag.

A remarkable event took place after the Arbitratioiiiscs had taken possession cf 6uc halt. One of uieir number with tno aid of a ladder, ascended co cue liugpolo surmounting the building, aim in a few muiutos hoisted aioit tlie Union Jack. 'The incident was the signal for enthusiastic cheering by an immense crowd or Arbitratiouists, and the general public who witnessed it. A few minutes after tne ladder was again ncquisjtinned and an ascent with a large calico placard inscribed wicn tae words ' ‘Tarry and his mates must ho released.” The calico was torn down amid enthusiastic cheering.

INJURY TO CONSTABE WADE SERIOUS.

EVANS IN A BAD WAY. Latest. The injury to Constable Wado is serious! It is understood tlie bullet is so far not extracted and that the patient’s condition cannot be ascertained until the lapse of a few days. Evans is in a very had way, suffering.principally from concussion of the brain, as when ho shot the constatle, the latter batoned him.

The injury to Johnson is of a slight character. The bullet grazed the upper part of his leg, but luckily did not penetrate. The leaders of the Arbitrationists claim that they had a perfect right to enter the Miners’ Union Hall, as many of them.are financial members of that Union.