The "Skeleton Army" in Dunedin.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4460, 21 April 1883, Page 4

The "Skeleton Army" in Dunedin.

Simultaneous with the brutal attack on "Captain" Wright in Auckland on Sunday evening, a scene of rowdyism provoked also by the Salvation Army proceedings took place in Dunedin. A . -Press Association telegram says":—" The proceedings last night in front of the Salvation Army Barracks, were very rowdy, and extra police assistance had to be obtained. Amongst the recruits made' in Dunedin is a stalwart negro, whom the larrikins Jbave christened "Jumbo," He was doorkeeper, .and, refused to admit more after the room was full. Consequently a number of larrikins treated him roughly: , As a parody on the- Salra- ' tionists a number of youths have formed a Starvation or Skeleton Army, and wear badge* got up with skull and cross bones." ' To give m idea of the happy condition of j things likely to result from the operations of the rival " Armies," we extract the following ", from- - a London correspondent's letter:—VThe Skeleton Army" is the name given to an organised assemblage of rowdies and blac&uards that are at present infesting the most densely-populated districts of London. Like the Salvationists, they go in extensively for display. They somehow procure cast-off military-jackets ■ and helmets, and their marching banner is .a sheet of calico, on which is drawn at full length a skeleton, and the rag-tag-and-bobtail behind carry smaller flags, ragged coloured „pockethandkerchief9, generally attached to stout sticks, bandy for head» breaking in the possible event of a row. Musical instruments other than an old drum and a few tin whistle's they have. no means-of providing, but battered pots and kettles cost nothing, and, filled with x stones, constitutes a " rattle " sufficiently deafening and hideous to satisfy the most inveterate peace-hating rough that ever handled one. This is the ordinary method of procedure, but the Skeleton Army has its field days., It is not many Sundays since .that the .writer encountered a roar* ing mob of them making their way through a quiet and highly respectable street to>

wards Kingsland road, and two of the ! captains were.on horseback. The ragged ' staff and the riff-raff bringing up the rear, were discordantly yelling rhymes of their own making to well known Salvationist hymn tunes. If these ruffiana, were content, as a rule, to march alone, it would be bad enough; but, for them, the fun is to follow immediately in the wake of .the Salvationists, who, not to be outdone, by the deril, as they say, use the most desperate endeavours to drown the din behind them. And when this happens what with the tambourines, the braying of trumpets, and the loud shoutings of hymns, mingled with the tootlings of the whistles, the rattlings of the brickbats in old saucepans, and the mocking of the roughs, it is hardly surprising that peaceful householders residing in districts most afflicted should be loud in complaining that, having given offence to no one, they should be subjected to such annoyance.