MORE MOB VIOLENCE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1910, 19 November 1913, Page 8

MORE MOB VIOLENCE.

SPECIALS ATTACKED. DEMONSTRATIONS IN. CUBA STREET. . _ Excitement was caused in Cuba Street yesterday afternoon just before u o'clock, when two young men in ovefeoatjjj were observed walking rapidly up the centre of the woodblocks followed' by an angry-looking mob of about twenty. On cither footpath 'a moving crowd kept surging along, and from here and there camo cries of "Go for thorn!" "After them 1" and "Deal with them I" Not long before this outbreak the strikers' meeting at the Skating link, in Vivian Street, had concluded, and a number «>f the .men had walked down Cuba Street towards the. wharf. J.t appears that before they : had gone very far two special constables' were sighted on tot, and, as there appeared to bo no mounted men ill the vicinity, some of the strikers seemed bent on creating a riot. Faced with this situation, the two Special men showed a good deal of courage and pre- ■ , seneo of mind. They linked, arms, so 'a-s to keep together, .took the- centre of the street, and contented themselves with walking briskly, ahead, The majority of the strikers seemed .to bo anxious to keep on the' footpath., and, from there, to incite anyone else : foolish enough to brca ; k the peace, but about twenty were venturesome enough to take the road. At Ghuznea Street the special men Were several-yards' in advance of their pursuers, but' the ■strikers on the footpath were well abreast of the two men, whose position at that time seemed anything but a safe one. The mob on the road was headed by a well-known exfootballer, who stands several inches over six feet, and whoso massive figure, looked even larger than it was, beCauseof the fact that he was attired in a light green tweed suit. -. "Dreed oft by his companions on the footpath, the picket strode ahead, and, at Garrett Street, Was close enough to'cuff one ef the specials on the head, and knook his hat off. A shout of applause rose from under the verandahs, But thp picket, instead of seeking more .applatjso, seemed frightened at"what he had done, and his next move was to dart into the Imperial Hotel by one door and out by another. No other member of the mob seemed anxious to follow much far-, ther, and the. two special constables quickened their pace, and made their way out of danger. Later in tie evening, about 8 o'clock, , there was further trouble in .Cuba Street. Three or four' special men were walking quietly along when they were set upon by a band of men, who very considerably outnumbered them. The specials retreated, and.got safely _awa,y to Mount Cool; Barracks. .Shsrt'ly afterwards a squfffl, armed with batons, sallied forth to look for tho molesters, Fut there was no sign ,-ot them. .