A HOWLING MOB.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 158, 21 November 1912, Page 6

A HOWLING MOB.

AXD SIX YOUTHS. A CHRISTCIIURCH STREET SCENE. Christehureh, November 18. During Mr. Scrapie's meeting in the King's Theatre iast night, nearly a dozeu young men had sat together about the middle of the hall. None of them interjected at s 11, they say, and all the talk came from some person- beyond them. All they did was to vote against the motions put to the meeting/ 1 For that they were hooted, and booed at and called "scabs." When the meeting was over the actual interjector got away undiscovered. Outside the building a little knot of men gathered around the six young men who had sat together. Soon a. howling mob, not of youths, but of grown men, fell in behind them. At first it was just a calling of "scabs" and booing and hooting. Cheers were given for "Bob" Semple and for the strikers. Then one man called ''To the river!" and others cried, "Put in the boot!" "Kick the scabs!" "Get them on the run!" "Head for the river!" '

. The six young men.walked away quietly. By the time they got to the corner of Colombo street they were being hustled badly, struck at, and kicked from . .. ': -iii-s cheek cut by a j slash from a walking stick. The crowd I jostled the young men on their way across the Square. When about twentj yards from the United Service Hotel il was seen that there was a policeman there, and that the licensee (Mr. Grigsby) and the manager (Mr. Constance) were at the door. Nearly worn out, the victims broke for it, tire crowd practically with them. 'Five got inside, but the sixth collapsed on the doorstep. A constable kept the crowd back while the I young man was dragged in, and afterwards helped Messrs Gtrjgsby and Coni stance to hold the ."doors, ■ "Steady now, steady!" said the constable. "Remember you're . all BritishI ers.' The answer came .back quick: I | "Don't call us Britishers!" . ... I ! The constable was trying hard to I pacify the crowd, but his. remarks were last in cheers for "Bob" Sample aild the j Waihi miners. . j Inside the hotel the: victims were given an opportunity'to'.pull themselves I together. They were highly, indignant j over the unfairness .of-.-, the iarrikinism. J Tliey had done nothings.they declared,/ except vote against thje, motions .submitted. ..■■..>•;■• !■■.,• " .■'■'' None of the young men were staying at the hotel, and Mr/ Grjgsbjr explained their presence to the sergeant of police, who agreed that thq .bast thing, to be done would be to keep them there until the crowd had gone. He would not approve of' their going out' as" things were. After about half an hour's/delay they were taken down the back stairs and let out quietly by the back way. So far as could be seen, tbeir departure passed unnoticed. The crowd hung about the doorway for some time and then qriietiy <■ dispersed. ... I