AN INCIDENT IN THE NEWCASTLE STRIKE.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 910, 6 January 1872, Page 3

AN INCIDENT IN THE NEWCASTLE STRIKE.

On August 29th, a most extra- | ordinary and somewhat amusing cir-cuiDt-taurc occurred in connection with the strike at Newcastle, and caused great er.citeinent iu the town, in the afternoon, the German contingent, numbering 130 men; employed at Sir William Armstrong's works, struck work for, it is said, the " nine hours' movement, more wages, and better food. It appears that when men from a distance arrive at the works they are allowed their food and lodgings free for the first three days, but afterwards the cost of their food and lodgings is deducted from their wages. The Germans during the days of grace were liberally supplied with beer and tobacco, in addition to the ordinary food, but after those days the luxuries were withdrawn. The upshot of the I affair resulted in the Germans reI fusing to return to work after the I dinuer-honr. According to their own 1 statement, they then held a meeting I amongst themselves, and a resolution I was agreed to that they would not return to work unless the nine hours' movement was granted them and more s wages and better food. They then I made their way to the office of the I League, in "Westgate street; where I some of them bad been, it appears, the I previous night. As the foreigners I were makiug their way through the I streets, they were followed by largo 1 crowds of people. The people cheered I the foreigners as loudly as they a few I days ago hooted and shouted at them. I In one instance, a band, which had I previously done service for the League, I headed a number of the foreign strike I hands in their march to the League I offices. The Germans then made a I statement which was to the following I -effect ■: —All the Germans were enI gaged in the North German Brewery, I Berlin, and they assert that it was represented to them that 6800 workI men had left the town during the last I three months and gone to America, and that 2000 were left in the town. Those 2000 men were only waiting to resume work until the arrival of foreign workmen. The wages were to be from 24s to 27s per week of 57 hours, and they would have also I -opportunities of "working piece- work, I at which they would be able to earn I such money as they had never seen I before. They had no intention of spoiling the movement for which the : Englishmen were fighting, as they themselves were fighting for a similar object in their own country, namely, nine and a-half hours per day. Nothing was said about food, but they were told that decent lodgings would be provided for them. The Germans . left the League shortly after 10 o'clock for their lodgings in the Elswick I Schools, vowing their intention of not ' returning to work uutii they got what they wanted. Fifty-one of the workmen have since arrived in Loudon. They were escorted through the streets of Newcastle by crowds of workmen on strike, and there was great enthusiasm displayed at their departure. About twenty more left by steamer for Hamburg on September 2. The . defection of these Germans was counterbalanced by the arrival of 120 skilled workmen from Berlin. They were taken to Messrs Hawthorn's I factory, and after hearing the Prussian I* Consul, who explained the position of affairs, they agreed to carry out their engagements, and to 3ign fresh contracts.