THE DARKTOWN BRIGADE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13419, 5 July 1911, Page 7

THE DARKTOWN BRIGADE.

DISORDERLY SCENES IN CHRISTCHURCH.

CHRISTCHURCH, July 1

The pleasantries of the “Darktown” Brigade, which furnished the farcical element in last night’e torchlight celebrations, were not altogether appreciated. After the larger portion of the crowd had left Victoria Square, under the impression that everything was over, a discreditable seen* took place. The programme of the “Dark-town-itea” was the extinguishing of a burning shanty, which had apparently ken made as inflammable as possible Several lines of hose hud been left in their charge, and, with jets from these, the pseudo brigade made most of the fun. There was, of course, no attempt to turn water on the flames, as that would have robbed the show of its chief- attraction The alleged “darkies” turned the water everywhere else, and, incidentally, hosed a considerable number of spectators, quite a large number of whom, including a fair proportion of ladies,'were wet to the skin. Boys who were viewing the. proceedings from branches of trees were hosed and soaked. It was a bitterly cold mg'ut, and people who got wet did not appreciate the humour of the “Darktown” Brigade. Everybody else laughed and applauded, with small sympathy for ladies whose dresses had probably been ruined, and others who had to journey home on a frosty night soaked through. A party of youths, when tlpe show closed up, and as the “Darktown” Brigade were on their way home, enacted summary vengeance on the Brigade. Stones went hurling through the air, and some of them found marks. One of the “darkies” got a hole knocked in his helmet, another was hit on the back of his head with- a stone, raising a lump like a pigeon’s egg, and another was severely cut on the face by a flying missile. The crowd followed the waggon to the King Edward Barracks, and for some time there was a considerable disturbance.