The Mining Biots.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4807, 22 November 1893, Page 1

The Mining Biots.

Apropos of the riot at Featheratone, where the troops fired on the rioters, the Spectator says .—Another matter of interest ao4 moment is the way in which the mob took the firing. The first two shots unfortunately did not do any execution. We say unfortunately advisedly, becauee if they had, more bloodshed would probably hayo bS9B avoided. As it was, the mob

■aTisuted that it was only blank cartridge, :and defied the soldiers. That was not 'true, as very properly the soldiers are not allowed to fire blank cartridges on such occasions, but if they fire at all, fire to kill; but the belief on the part of the miners rendered it necessary to fire a volley before the mob dispersed. Even theD, there was no running and no panic on the part of the mob. It is, indeed, impossible not to feel proud of the way the miners faced the fire of the magazine rifles, even after they had seen the terrible effects which it produced. There was no sauve gui pent such as almost always follows firing in Ireland, but only a grim giving way to the inevitable which waa most impressive. Strangely enough, too, there was no animosity expressed against the soldiefß. They " only obeyed their orders " waa, says the Daily News correspondent, the feeling he found among the crowd. It may be, as the leaders of the men declare, that the men who formed the mob were all larrikins; but if that iB so, the recruiting officers ought to be sent in force to the neighbourhood of Pontefract. Larrikins who will face rifle-fire at a hundred yards, and understand what " obeying orders " means, are just the men out of which irresistible soldiers are made.