THE ASSAULT ON ENGLISH CRICKETERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1042, 27 February 1879, Page 2

THE ASSAULT ON ENGLISH CRICKETERS.

The following description of the '■Hceue is taboo from the 'Sydney Morning Herald' .-—Murdoch and A. Bannerman defended the stumps to the bowling of Emmet and Ulyett ,• and, at about half past 4, Murdoch was run out for 9. Great dissatisfaction at once ensued as soon as Mr Coulthard, the umpire for the Englishmen declared Murdoch run out. Crbs of dissent could be heard all over the ground. The larrikin eleraeat gave \ent to a deal of groaning- and hooting. The New South Wales team objected to the decision, and, as the captains .vere nuking an attempt to arrange matters, about a thousand boys and young lads (larrikins is the fittest term), rushed the ground, and thousands more of the spectators followed. The English umpire was ill-treated. Several free fights took plase, and the proceedings were disgraceful. Such a discreditable scene was never before witnessed in a national match. There were only some half-a-dozen police present, who, although they exerted themselves admirably, were unable to keep back the rush, and quell the riot. It was at first feared the -Englishmen would have been roughly handled, but they acted on the defensive, and, those of the rowdies who did venture to lay hands on them, got rather a warm reception. Hornby was struck by some one, but not seriously hurt. I am informed that a man is'in custody for assauking Lord Harris. After a short time the ground was pretty well cleared. The great desire of the mob was to have another umpire appointed for the English team. The Englishmen took a vote, and almost unanimously to retain Mr Cnilthard. Lord Harris then refused to change his umpire, and claimed the match it the Australian bata-nen would not go to the wickets. Gregory at first refused to agree to this, but eventually conceded the point j aud the men were proceeding to 'commence i he game with the same umpire in the field, when the crowd again rushed on to the oval in thousands, an I loud cries of "No, no. Go b.tck. " jMot out," and hooting were hea-d in all directions. This prevented the play. The row having subsided a little, the teams attempted to go into the lipid a second time, but another took and so the play was stopped; the time, however, was nearly n O . The teams goo together at the Puvilliou to try and make some arrangements, but nothing definite was arrived at. Everyone was in a state of great excitement, and under these circumstances it was a matter of impossibility to get things satisfactorily .settled. y