AFFAIRS AT WAIHI.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1023, 14 November 1912, Page 3

AFFAIRS AT WAIHI.

SENSATIONAL HAPPEN-

INGS

CONSTABLE AND WORKER

SHOT

WAIHI, Nov. 12

The most exciting sensation which has ever happened in Waihi occurred this morning. Yesterday’s incidents were exciting enough, but they pale into insignificance compared with this morning’s events. The town, from 7.30 till after 8 o’clock, was seething with excitement, and everything was so unsettled that work at the mines was not thought of, and permission was obtained from the company to suspend work for the day. The workers, as was the case yesterday, assembled opposite the new Union Hall, and, in a body, marched into the main street, en route to the mines. The scarcity of the unemployed section of the community in the streets was conspicuous. The workers and police were the only ones abroad, the general public hardly being represented. The body of workers marched to the Miners’ Union Hall. A halt was called at this point, and the first exciting incident took place.

As soon as a halt was called, the leaders of the workers rushed at the closed doors of the Union building, and in a few minutes an entrance to the main building and offices was effected. Meanwhile a section had rushed down the alleyway of the hall, smashing all the windows on that side of the building, just as the entrance to the hall was effected. Two or three revolver shots were fired by the Federationists inside the hall, and Constable Wade, who stood in front of the workers, endeavouring to restrain them, received a bullet in the abdomen. Almost simultaneously a worker named Harry H. Johnston, a resident of Russell street, was shot in the fleshy part of the leg above the knee. The constable was at once conveyed to the hospital, but Johnston, regardless of his wound, rushed with a crowd of others in search of the users of the revolvers. There was a tremendous hue and cry as three strikers were seen escaping from the building. The crowd, with scores of police, joined in the pursuit, and there was a mad rush through an adjoining timber yard. The workers were literally beside themselves. They howled and yelled at the heels of the fleeing fugitives. The chasers suddenly lost sight ol their quarries as they disappeared into the grounds of Ur Craig’s residence.

While a frantic search of the doctor’s garden and outhouses was being made, the three fugitives effected an entrance to the doctor’s house. Mrs Craig saw two men through the window rush past the side of tbe bouse, She went along to tbe front door, where she met the breathless men in the act of rushing in the cfoorway. She promptly slammed the door in their faces, but the men were not to be denied. One of them jumped through the window of the children’s room, while it is not clear how the other got into the house. Mrs Craig gave an alarm, and in a lew minutes the police and workers rushed into the house. The rooms were searched, and two of the men caught aud hauled out. The police had the greatest difficulty in preventing them being lynched. A loaded revolver w r as taken Irom one, and a box of revolver cartridges from the other. Both were taken to the lock-up, with the howling crowd after them. One of the men found in Dr Craig’s house was hauled from under the doctor’s bed.

Both men were badly knocked about, especially Evans, whose face was cut in several places. His condition was such that he had to be carried by the constables to the police station.

After the doctor’s house had been cleared and order restored, Colonel Gudgeon (Mrs Craig’s father) happened into the surgery, and discovered the third fugitive, Sowerby, who at once protested that he had taken no part in the shooting or any part of the affair. He asked to be permitted to go home. His assertion of innocence did not satisfj the Colonel, who later handed him over to the crowd outside. The workers in the meantime took possession of the Miners’ Union Hall. Speeches were made from the platform, followed by loud cheering. Meanwhile a large concourse of people gathered in the main street. The balconies of buildings were occupied by crowds of women and children. The main pavement was also lined with spectators for the whole length of the main thoroughfare. Outside the Union Hall, the Rev Cleary, Anglican vicar, addressed the crowd, and urged the men to remember they were lawabiding citizens and honest workers. He would ask them to see that their actions would be such as would not reflect upon them as men. He hoped they wouldn’t resort to violence. The vicar was cheered at the close of his remarks.

UNION JACK HOISTED

ONCE MORE,

A remarkable event took place after the Arbiirationists had taken possession of the hall. One of their number, with the aid of a ladder ascended to the flagpole surmounting the building, and in a few minutes hoisted aloft the Union Jack. The incident was the signal for enthusiastic cheer-

iue by an immense crowd of Arbitrationists aud the general public who witnessed it. A few minutes after this the ladder was again requisitioned, and an ascent made to the large calico placard on the uppermost part of the building, inscribed with the words: “Parry and his mates must be released.” The calico was torn down amid enthusiastic cheering.

FEDERATIONIST SERI OUSLY INJURED.

Evans, one of the Federationists who are alleged to have done the shooting in the hall aud afterwards, was so roughly handled by the crowd that he is in the hospital. His injuries are of a serious nature.

Evans is in a very bad way, and is suffering principally from concussion of the brain, as when he shot the constable the latter batoned him.

There is no sign of prominent Federationists in Waihi to-day. From about 9 o’clock as many as were available were hunted up by Arbitrationists and given fair warning to clear out of the town. Kennedy, acting-president of the Miners’ Union, made a'hurried departure from Waihi by the morning train. He was rather badly handled by a hostile crowd at the station, and bears marks of hands being laid upon him. He told a constable that the strike was off. It is understood that Kennedy is proceeding to Auckland.

CONSTABLE’S INJURIES

SERIOUS

The injury to Constable Wade is serious. It is understood the bullet so far has not been extracted, and that the constable’s real condition cannot be ascertained until the lap;e ot a few days. The injury to Johnston is of a slight character. The bullet grazed the upper part of his leg, but luckily did not penetrate. The leaders of the Arbitrationists claim that they had a perfect right to enter the Miners’ Union Hall, as many of them are financial members of that Union.

another sensational INCIDENT. AT WAIKINO. Waihi, Nov. 12.

An exciting affair occurred last night at Waikino. It appears that aspersions bad been cast on an Arbitrationist by some members of the Federation. A body of the former proceeded to the Union Hall in the evening with the purpose of gaining entrance. It is stated that just as the Arbitrationists were about to enter, a plug of gelignite, with a cap aud lighted fuse attached, was thrown by somebody in tbe hall in the direction of the crowd. Nobody was hurl by the explosion, which was terrific and was heard miles away The Arbitrationists had luckily given the cap a wide berth iu time, thus saving their lives. Eventually the Arbitrationists gained an entrance, aud searched all the Federationists within the building. Two of the latter had revolvers in their possession, and these were taken.

ORDER RESTORED. Weujnoton, November 12,

The Hou. A. L. Herdrnau, Minister of Justice, received telegraphic advice to-night that the town of Waihi bad been quietened and order restored. The condition of Constable Wade, who is lying in the hospital, is not quite so satisfactory. The general opinion, said the Minister to a Times reporter, was that this affray would be the last of the trouble at Waihi. Proceedings would of course follow against the person who shot Constable Wade, the man who is supposed to have fired the revolver being himself in the hospital.

Auckland, November 12. “The whole community will be deeply stirred by the dastardly outrage at Waihi,’’ said the Mayor of Auckland to-day. “lam not surprised it has come to bloodshed.” Indeed, knowing something of the methods and doctrines of the Socialist anarchist element in this country, it is remarkakle tnat blood has not been shed ere now. It is a lesson to us all. The workers, the vast majority ol whom are good fellows, must now realise the utter foolishness of lollowiug a few lawless agitators who fear neither God nor man. An awful responsibility rests upon these so-called Labour leaders. It is they, and they alone, who have stirred up men’s passions and caused the tragedy of to-day. I said six months ago, and I say again, the Government must take steps to safeguard the peace of the community from these irresponsible feather-heads. Anarchy must be put down with a strong hand. Auckland, November 13. The Premier states, in regard to the position at Waihi, that the Government has the fullest confidence in Commissioner Cullen, who has been given an absolutely free hand to do everything to maintain law and order.