MELBOURNE UNDERWORLD.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1920, Page 9

MELBOURNE UNDERWORLD.

BATTLE BETWEEN "PUSHES." , . Sydney, Jan. 21. A battle between pushes last week disturbed Carlton and Fitzroy, and again directed Melbourne's attention to her troubled underworld. There has been some recrudescence of the "push" evil in Melbourne in recent years, and the. source of this social poison is undoubtedly the criminal population of the near northern suburbs, known as "The Underworld." The "Woolpacks" push belong to Carlton, and the "Checkers" to North Fitzroy. There is another North Fitzroy push known as the "Red Roses," composed of mere boys. They are really the same as the "Checkers," but the latter have an age qualification, which is rigidly enforced. "The Checkers" and "Ked Roses" generally hunt together. There is war between the Carlton and Fitzroy pushes whenever they meet. There was a young woman who was beloved of a member of the "Checkers" gang; but she was a true member of her sex, and transferred her affection to a "Woolpaok," and the latter young man took her to a dance. The dread news spread like a disease through the ranks of the Fitzroy gang, and they gathered furiously together to avenge the slight that had been put upon one of them. They waited, in the darkness, until the enamoured "Woolpaek" set out for home with his new love, i and then they sprang out and surrounded the couple. They whooped and shrieked like Indians and menaced the cowering "Woolpaek"; then someone fired a revolver, on the sound of which they scattered like startled curs. This was last Tuesday night. The "Woolpacks" ached for revenge. Cta Friday night they went forth to battle, armed heavily with sticks and bottles. They gathered in Nidiolson street to await'the coming of the "Checkers" or the "Red Roses." Their lusty roars of defiance made the night hideous, and an occasional revolver shot rang out. The heroes seemed to be shooting at the stars. The police got a warning, and a posse marched hurriedly. The warlike "Woolpacks" saw them coming. They stayed not 011 the order of their retirement Literally in a moment, the disturbance had ceased and the only sound was tba running, in distant side streets, of the hurrying nush-ite"