RIOTS IN SCOTLAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1526, 6 April 1887, Page 2

RIOTS IN SCOTLAND.

Serious raining riots m Scotland are reported by tne London correspondent of the "Argus" m his letter of February 11th :— " The mnsrs of Lanarkshire who h*d been cat on strike for ioni<i time broke oat into open riot &t the commence, ment of the week. A great meeting of miners from all p^rts of the county wai hold at, Hamilton on Monday^ and when it broke ap a number of men from the western districts marohod home through the villages of Stonefield and Blantyre. A biikic'o van which they met outside Stonefield supplied the first opportunity of carry lug into practice the theories which . Boras of their councillors had taught, and, m a spirit of wanton destrnctlvenese, they omptiod the van of the bread with which it was loaded, and kicked the loaves along the road. More serious work soon followed. In the Tillage they broke open with great fioleaca and pillaged the shop of a grocer and a spirit dealer. The authorities, entirely unprepared for such lawlessness, had made.no speoial provision to meet, it, but the obief constable of the couuty made all haste to. the scene of the disturbance, the Riot Aot was read, and the nnb dispersed. On the following day the rioting was renewed with greater fury than ever. The men began to oongregate about the promises of a liojanaed grocer, and. at a signal from someone the mob at oncer tore down the shutters, smashed the windows, aud entered the plaoe. Barrel! of whiskey were rolled nway from the shop, broken open, and the contents divided The shop wass UtotaUy tacked, and aoatcely « single artiole has been left m It. The police on the spot were entirely overpowered, but they were soon reinforced by a large number of men, with whom was the honorary sheriff's substitute. Sheriff Birnio, who had arrived on the soene, at one 3 read the Riot Aot, after which ths police managed to -clear the streets more effectually. A .force of mounted polioo was also sent for, and during the whole day they patrolled the streets with drawn swords. In their march they were subjected to a good deal 1 f abuse from the crowd, who hooted and growned at thorn, and threw stones, It wtts deemed ad visible on the pirt of the shopkeepers, after what bad transpired, to keep their places of busineis shut the whole day. Consequently there was not a shop open. At 2 o'olook the police, who were soattered about m different places, and who were brought together when necessary by conveyance!, received the announcement that an attack was being made upon the 00-operativa store m Dixcn's row. The mounttd police at once rode to the spot, having to encounter showers of atones on tho way, and found a large mob endeavouring to enter the premises. With the aid of the police non on foot, who had driven up In a waggonette, «|he mob were driven off, bat not without trouble. Missiles of every description were thrown at the guardians of the law H and a number of them sustainod rather severe injarles. Howevor they managed {to preserve the cr.ore intaot, though ;the men continued to loiter about the premises during .tie day. About 5 o'olock a troop of the 4th Hu3.iars arrived from Glasgow, ar 4 sooo routed the. rioterfl»4Darlag the

whole night the village was patrolled by the •oldteri and mounted police. Rioting was renewed on Wednesday, but the police and soldiers were m sufficient force to prevent much damage being done.