MOTOR BUS RIOT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13652, 21 July 1908, Page 3

MOTOR BUS RIOT.

SCENES AT MILE END

Incensed by a mishap to a little girl. *4 ho, was run over and kiiled by a. motoj omnibus in the WhiteehapeJ-road. London, on the Inst day of May, crowds of men and women broke oul> into rioting. The drivers and conductors of passing motor buses were attacked, buses were •' held up." and the windows of the vehicles smashed. A policeman, who had at rested one of the mob, was assaulted. The scene of the rioting was Mile-end gate, where the Whitic-chapel-road, Mile-cud-road. and Cambridge-road converge.

The girl, Bloomer Liverman, whs run over opposite the Eastsin District l'osi Office. She was only 5 years old. Wliilc at play site attempted to run across tin; roadway, and wius about to get in fionl of a. horse tram when a General motor bus anpeared. The chauffeur shouted, and the girl turned round, but before she could get, clear the splash board caught her iu the face and knocked her down. The wheel of the bus went over her head. The driver did all that, was possible (o avoid the accident, and an eye-wiiness of the fatality said tbut if she had avoided the motor-bus the girl must have been run over bv the horse-tram. POLICE PROTECT DRIVER.

The tight of the dead child in its pretty summer dress, bespattered with blood so infuriated the crowd that an attack ou tiro driver of the bus was. only averted by lli9 arrival of the police, who look him under llieir protection. A constable sat beside the driver, and another went inside the car to shield the conductor, and the bus was taken to Bethnalgreen Police .SLalion. 'Jhs driver and conductor were for some time detained. On the way they were, hooted by Uie mob, who threw clones at the bus, breaking tho window immediately behind the driver's seat.

Extraordinary scenes followed, the crowd .making demonstrations against unoffending motor-bus drivers. An attempt" to hold up a "Union Jack" was unsuccessful, the driver flourishing a spanner, to ward otf his assailants. Putting on full speed he got his conveyance awav. Tho conductor was also menaced.

A "Vanguard" bus coming from Bow was the next object of the crowd, which numbered' fully a thousand. The driver quick'- appreciated the danger, and drove at- the utmost speed through the crowd, which had to give way. As it hurried past two of tihe windows were broken. " UXIOX JAUK" WKEC'KED.

A " Union Jack" proceeding to Putney was 'noli so fortunate. Before it stopped opposite The .Sovereign public house pieces of wood were hurled at tho driver, one of which struck him iu the face. 'ilio mob made as though I<o drag hiui from his seat, but ho immediately vacated it, and was not further lnwlested'. The conductor was forcibly removed, and the passengers having peremptorily ordered to leave fhe car, the rioteis fell upon it, stones were thrown at- the pants of glai-s, every 0110 of which was emaahed to atoms, and an attempt was made to capsize the vehicle. • The police had by this time been advised of (he riot. A cons'able who made and arrest was attacked by the crowd. He was hustled, his helmet knocked otf and trampled on, and' the officer thrown. It was only when he drew his tninehemr and other constable came to his assistance that, the crowd were beaten off. A Jewish woman, with great presence of miucf, blew the constable's whistle, wliii h brought relief. She also was a saulted" A sufficient number of policeuxn arrived to quell any further disturbances. They lined the streets on either side, and having been impeded for nearty half - an hour tho traffic was once 11101 e allowed to peu-.y.