RIOTS AT CLUNES.

Evening Star, Issue 3383, 23 December 1873, Page 2

RIOTS AT CLUNES.

ATTACK ON THE POLICE BY CROWDS OP . MINERS AND THEIR WIVES. {Melbourne Herald. ) A. telegram reached Climes on Monday, Bth instant, that a large number of Chinese were on the road from Ballarat, engaged to work in the Lothair mine. Instant action was taken by the Miners’ Association. The bellman was sent round to apprise the miners, and steps were immediately taken for the organising of ah elective demonstration. The men were all well armed with axe and pick handles, battens and' waddies of various descriptions. ’ The Women alio,' numbering several hundreds, ’turned out anej. occupied pqaitioqa $t the several street cop? ners, waiting as eagerly as f>lxe the arrival of the Chiqatneq. Scquts on horsgr back were posted at the various approaches to the town, to convey information should the coaches bearing the ivlongoliaus appear in sight. Telegrams continued to arrive stating that the party would not leave tor Clones till the night was far advanced, and that armed policemen would accompany them. Meetings of the miners were now held, and it was resolved to discontinue work in all the mines until the question of Chinese labor had been finally settled. Towards midnight the excitement was as intense as ever —in fact, more so, as the concourse of people received fresh accessions. The expected arrival of the Chinamen, now looked for every minute, added fuel to the fire, and a very angry feeling pervaded the-entire assemblage. As a part of. the programme, the fireballs Were tolled, aud a 1 crowd Went up'tier vide street to the Lothair mine. 1 The braedmah had to go below and tell the few Inen employed iu the drives to come up. On returning to the‘surface he said the men refused to come up. Two of the body of miners then went below, but cbnld not find them. The ibouth of the shaft' was 'closed with planking,' and the cages Idwered'oa to therp, A building, erected some distance' from th| mine for the habitation of the Chinamen, was pulled down, but no other damage was done' the property of the o unpany. About hslf-past fopr o’clock intelligence arrjves that the coaches iadgq with Chinamen wpf? approaching by way of ( 'rpswjck }p a short spacp of tjme oyer I,QOQ persons men, women, and child:e» of ajl ages—assembled in tbe vioin-ty of the toll-gate. The gates aud adjoining fences were taken possession of, the whole presenting a rather warlike appearance, and boding ill for the travellers. Nearly all the party awaiting the travellers were well armed with sticks. On perceiving the reception that was likely to be offered them, the occupants of the coaches, or those immediately iu charge of them, turned round, and by way of a cross road drove to Tourello, when it became evident that they intended to reach dunes by the Ballarat toad. Scouts were sent off to see that the “ enemy ” did not double, and the throng dividing itself into small parties, proceeded by various routes ,to-the Lothair minei and junction of the Ballarat and Coghiii’s creek roads. At the junction, willing hands, soon erected a formidable barricade, • composed of

drays, timber, bricks, ploughs, &c., Ac., the property of a man named residing in the neighborhood. On came the coaches, headed by a few troopers, with a dash, Utile expecting the resistance that would be offered them. The leading coach was, how ever, met with such a perfect storm of stones, bricks, and other missiles, that it is miraculous how the occupants escaped •with their lives, or meeting with serious injury. The coaches, live in numbrr, wore soon set upon, and a l 'hough the police displayed a vast amount of courage and coolness in their difficult posi ion the fortune of batt ! e favored the miners. The foot and mounted police fought well against the immense odds, but to have persisted with the small fpree under command would only have invited death. The “battle” was indeed a serious one, and several nasty wounds were inflicted during its prgn-ss. Bricks, stones, sticks, were all showered on the coachdrivers, police, and Chinamen, and how the latter escaped from being pulled to pieces is beyond comprehension. They have in a great measure to thank the gallantry of their defendars. The horses’ were turned homeward, for it was evident from the determined front shown by the miners that to persist in entering Clunes would only lead to murder. As it was the Chinamen golf a severe punishing, and, no many of them will have cause for a long time to remember their attempted visit to Clunes. Hostilities were immediately suspended on the coaches starting from Clunes, and quickly as the barricade was erected as quickly were the articles composing it put away aad restored to the owner. Three loud and hearty cheers were then given, and the men, accompanied by troops of women and children, proceeded to the residence of several miners who have rendered themselves obnoxious to their fellow workmen by continuing work after the strike took place. Warnings were given these offending men to leave the town, otherwise severe pains and penalties were promised. L&test accounts state that the town is quiet, work has been resumed in some of the mines, and that there is every indication of an amicable arrangement of dispute between the company and the miners being arrived at. The friends of the unfortunate Mongolians iu Chinatown re ceived them back with open arms, never more to wander, either by Cobb or on foot. Clunesward again Some cut, others bruised, all well frightened. ‘ .No fear,’ John says <no catchee me there again, all Arish and Cots—very mad ’ ”