200 MEN FIGHT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5496, 4 November 1929, Page 3

200 MEN FIGHT.

HOTEL PARTLY WRECKED. Two hundred men were involved in a furious fight in 'the Grand Hotel, Prince’s Highway, Rockdale (says a Sydney paper). • Outside over 400 people clamoured to get into the hotel and become spectators of the fierce battle. Many were injured and three arrests were made. Countless bottles and glasses were shattered. The clash is believed to have been the climax of ill-feeling between two gangs. The previous week they were said to have searched Rockdale for a man, but could not find him. On the day of the dispute they were informed that their man was in the Grand Hotel. A lorry and a car packed with men dashed up to the hotel. The men leaped out of the vehicles, conducted a search of the bar ( to discover whether the man for. whom they were looking for was inside, and then, realising that he was not, commenced to punch and kick at anyone within sight. } Men Kicked Mercilessly. The men were at the highest pitch of excitement. When a foe was knocked down he was kicked mercilessly. Black eyes were distributed freely. Most of the men in the skirmish were innocent participants, drawn into it to defend themselves and repulse the vicious onslaught of total strangers. “It was a civil war,” remarked one of the combatants afterwards. The manager of the hotel (Mr O’Brien) shrieked for peace, and ultimately plunged into the thickest of the fray in an attempt to quell the rioters. For ten minutes the infuriated -fighters threw bottles and glasses, kicked and punched at one another j and then the police arrived, Sergeant Irvine and Constable Wilson, of Rockdale, tossing onlookers and warriors aside like chaff. A baton was flourished, and this had an amazing effect, the crowd melting before it. Many men fled before the police charge, some of them escaping in a car. The lorry was left behind, however, and was taken to Rockdale station. Many victims of the fight refused ambulance attention, but five were removed to the St. George Hospital by St. George Ambulance. Two were treated and allowed to leave. They refused to give their name.