Yarmouth Notes Part 35

Mr. Cufaude, Mr. C. Cory, and Mr. J. Clowes, were spoken of as probable candidates.

Mr. G. Johnson had been elected master of the Workhouse.

Nov. 23rd.-The crew of a Sheringham smack had been fined 100 each, or six months' imprisonment for smuggling 2,760 lbs. of tobacco.

Dec. 14th.-Several houses on the Denes had been broken into, and some brushes stolen from Mr. J. Palmer's warehouse at the Bridge foot, where the thieves missed taking a considerable amount of gold and silver carelessly left on the premises.

Dec. 21st.-W. Lee, Esq., had held an Inquiry as to the drainage of the Denes.

[Picture: Decorative graphic]

THIRD SERIES, 185160.

"When found, make a note of"-

CAPT. CUTTLE.

1851.

Jan. 4th.-At the meeting of the Town Council, the Councillors for the St.

George's, Market and Gorleston Wards refused to appoint Ward Aldermen "as they had no confidence" in the Aldermen recently appointed by the casting vote of the Mayor.

The "Water question" was before the public, when, as to the Ormesby water with which it was proposed to supply the town, Mr. Cooper, an eminent a.n.a.lytical chemist, stated that such water "was turbid from the green and brown matter in it" and that "the large quant.i.ty (four grains) of vegetable organic matter that it contained rendered it wholly unfit for domestic purposes other than cleansing."

Jan. 11th.-Chas. J. Palmer had presided at the Annual Public Library meeting, when it was stated that upwards of 5,000 books belonged to that inst.i.tution.

J. Tolver, Esq. had sent in his resignation as Clerk to the Paving Commissioners.

Jan. 25th.-It was stated that a provisional order was about to be issued, applying the "Health of Town's Act" to the Borough, thus threatening the Paving Commissioners with extinction.

There was great complaint against these Commissioners for not properly lighting the Denes.

Wm. Sumner, an ex-constable was bound over to keep the peace at the instance of Samuel Tolver, Esq.

Feb. 1st.-The following notice appears as to No. 4, South Quay:-

A tradition has long existed in connection with the Elizabethian House upon the Quay, formerly belonging to John Carter, the regicide, but now the residence of C. J. Palmer, Esq., F.S.A., (mentioned by n.o.ble, vol. 2, p. 340), that of the "many secret consults" which the rebels held prior to the trial and execution of King Charles I. the fatal and final one took place in a chamber in the above mentioned house, in which Carter then lived. A meeting of the chief Parliamentarian Generals was summoned, and the regicides, it is said, met early in the afternoon, and the conference, which was one of 'great secrecy,' did not terminate until near the hour of midnight, the dinner which had been ordered for four o'clock not being served until the meeting broke up. This tradition, though generally credited, had hitherto received no confirmation to render it of historical value. The important fact has, however, been placed almost beyond a doubt, as we can state on the authority of F.

Wors.h.i.+p, Esq., that in the course of the labours of the Committee recently appointed by the Town Council to inquire into the ancient records and muniments of the Borough, a record has been found of the visit of Oliver Cromwell to our town about the time alluded to, it having never yet been definitely ascertained that the Protector visited Yarmouth. We hope this very interesting discovery will induce the Committee to prosecute their labours, and when the valuable town doc.u.ments have been arranged and restored, the Council will see the propriety and necessity of providing some suitable depository for them.

Feb. 8th.-The New Mercantile Marine Act had excited much dissatisfaction, and several handbills had appeared urging the sailors to take action, and on Tuesday morning having "struck," they mustered in groups on the Hall-quay. Subsequently they formed in procession to the number of 1,000 and paraded the town for several hours; they had a band and flags with them, and a board on which was written "Do not sign the laws" and "Wages 2 15s. Summer and Winter."

A Seaman's Union had been formed having 450 members, and Mr. J. Teasdel having given notice that he did not intend to reduce the wages paid to his men to 50s. a month, several hundred of the men on strike, went over the Bridge and manned the yards of a vessel belonging to that gentleman, for whom they gave some loud and hearty cheers.

The Magistrates refused to sign a 1s. 9d. Poor rate, but such rate was subsequently signed by Mr. W. H. Palmer and Mr. J. Fenn and the rate for that amount made.

Feb. 15th.-A meeting of the s.h.i.+powners had been held at the Town-hall to consider the seamen's grievances, the Mayor in the chair, when upon the motion of Mr. George Danby-Palmer, a resolution was carried to obtain a repeal of the act of Parliament complained of, and a Committee formed consisting of six owners and six seamen with the Mayor as chairman to give effect to such resolution; the wages question was, however, not discussed.

Feb. 22nd.-A further meeting had been held "to take into consideration the present complaint of seamen respecting their wages, that the same may be equalized throughout the year whether by voyage or month."

About 30 owners were present, and also the Sailors' Committee; the Mayor was in the chair, and the sailors refused to be bound by their "old agreement;" the following account is given of their subsequent proceedings:-

Since the above meeting a letter has been sent to the Mayor, announcing that the sailors were determined not to abide for the future by the old agreement; and handbills were also publicly issued, announcing a "grand procession" of the seamen of the port for the following day. Accordingly on Sat.u.r.day the sailors a.s.sembled opposite to their rendezvous, at the Royal Exchange on the Quay, to the number of about 1,500, and flags, union jacks, &c., with a band of music having been procured, a procession was formed, which paraded the town for several hours. The men were mostly respectably attired, and wore rosettes of various colours, from which were suspended the medals of the s.h.i.+pwrecked Mariners' Society. Some of the men were dressed in various emblematical characters, such as Britannia, Neptune, Amphitrite, Triton, &c., and were borne upon the shoulders of the crowd in boats, dolphin cars, &c., which were decorated with evergreens, &c., in short the whole a.s.semblage seemed more like a triumphal procession than that of a demonstration occasioned by one of those unfortunate breaches between employers and employed, termed a "strike." Throughout the crowd a number of placards were distributed, bearing the following inscription:-"We, the seamen of Yarmouth, hereby testify our grat.i.tude to the inhabitants, for the handsome manner in which they have come forward to a.s.sist us in obtaining our just rights." Also a number of poles, terminating in tridents, fishes, &c., were borne aloft, together with a handsomely carved model s.h.i.+p, covered with the flags of all nations.

Mr. S. S. Barber had applied to the Bench for the a.s.sistance of the civil force to protect his seamen, who had just arrived by the "Maid of the Yare," London Trader, and who had been persuaded to leave their vessel, and even threatened to be taken away by force if they did not leave. The Superintendent and some of the police went down to the spot, but, as the men remained perfectly peaceable, their presence was not at all required.

The following members of the Council had addressed a letter to the Treasury protesting against a proposed loan for drainage purposes, which was said to have been carried by a majority of the Council at its last meeting:-Sir E. H. K. Lacon, R. Ferrier, E. H. L. Preston, F. Wors.h.i.+p, William H. Palmer, R. Steward, R. D. Barber, E. R. Aldred, J. C. Smith, J. G. Plummer, J. Cherry, J. E. Barnby, C. C. Aldred, B. Jay, R. Ferrier, junr., S. Miller and William Wors.h.i.+p, and thereupon at the Council meeting a very warm discussion ensued, during which Mr. C. C. Aldred was accused of having called Mr. George Danby-Palmer "a liar," and Sir E. H.

K. Lacon (by Mr. Henry Danby-Palmer) of having made a disturbance by "kicking against the panels."

March 1st.-The following Councillors subsequently addressed a letter to the Treasury in respect of these proceedings:-D. A. Gourlay, H.

Danby-Palmer, J. Bayly, R. Hammond, J. Lettis, junr., J. Fish, W. T.

Clarke, J. Barker, P. Pullyn, J. Jackson, J. D. Chapman, R. Hammond, junr., G. Danby-Palmer, W. N. Burroughs, C. E. Bartram, M. Butcher, J. G.

Cannell, H. Boulter, P. White, J. Fiddes and J. Pike.

This issue contains the following report of the Sailors' Strike and Riot:-

We have this week to record a riot of a serious nature arising out of the unfortunate strike among the seamen who, until recently, had conducted themselves in a manner highly creditable to so large a body of men placed in such circ.u.mstances. Since the ill-advised rejection, by the men, of the old agreement as to wages, there have been several mariners (as there always must be with an over-stocked labour market) quite ready and glad to sail at different rates to those proposed by those who struck; and forseeing that if such defections from their camp continued, their strike would be unavailing, the sailors have during the last week been in the habit of parading the Quay, in gangs, for the purpose of unlawfully preventing such as were willing to go to sea from joining their s.h.i.+ps, and partly by force, and partly by threats, several men have been deterred from fulfilling their engagements. Although these facts were known to the authorities, no steps were taken to put a stop to them, in the hope that the reasonable and peaceable portion of the sailors would see how unjustifiable was the course they were pursuing, and how really destructive it was to the interests both of the owners and men. The same line of conduct was, however, continued. The first case brought before the Bench was that of Samuel Graystone, the mate of the schooner "Ant," belonging to Mr. S.

S. Barber, who applied for the protection of the police, the men having been taken out of his vessel on Friday afternoon last. On Sat.u.r.day morning, Mr. Barber again appeared before the Mayor to complain that the master and crew of the "Maid of the Yare" had been interrupted, and made to go on sh.o.r.e. The master having come up and corroborated this statement, the crew were sent for and asked if they were willing to go to sea, having signed articles. The master and mate said they were, but the men declined, through fear of personal violence. They were told that if they did not they must be sent to gaol, but if they were willing to go they should be protected. They then agreed to go, and were sent down accordingly with a body of the police; the master and mate went on board, but the crew refused, and the police were therefore withdrawn, when some sailors went and ill-used the mate, throwing him over the bows of his s.h.i.+p on to the Quay Head. The captain also was pushed on sh.o.r.e. Subsequently the Bench were informed that the man Graystone had again been taken out of his vessel, which had gone to sea without him, and was then lying in Corton Roads. Graystone was sent for, and said he was not willing to go; but on an information being taken against him for refusing, he said he would if he could be protected. A steamtug was therefore ordered to convey him to his vessel, and on its arriving opposite the Town Hall at half-past two o'clock, the Magistrates agreed, before taking any other steps, to try whether the police were not sufficient to protect the men on board, notwithstanding the evident determination of a large body of sailors to prevent him. The Superintendent of Police, therefore, arranged the whole force, and with Graystone in the centre, surrounded by the Mayor and Magistrates, the escort left the station-house, distant not more than one hundred yards from the steamtug. When about half way down, the crowd, which then consisted of about 200 or 300 sailors, set up a tremendous yell and rushed upon the police, whose ranks were speedily broken, several of the police and Magistrates being struck. They rallied, and with the a.s.sistance of the Magistrates, who were mainly instrumental in preventing Graystone from being rescued, they succeeded in placing him safely on board the tug. The princ.i.p.al ringleaders were then picked out, and after some considerable struggling they were got into the station-house. By this time the concourse of people had increased to upwards of a thousand. Some of the men then obtained a spar or boom which was brought opposite the station-house door for the purpose of using it as a battering ram to release the six or seven prisoners within. Several stones were thrown, and a few windows broken; upon which the Mayor immediately swore in as many persons as were willing to be special constables, and a sally was made upon the mob, and with considerable difficulty the spar was got away, and one or two of those who were using it were taken into custody, but being completely overpowered, the authorities were compelled to retreat with the force into the station-house.

Shortly after, Capt. Ellis, R.N., having arrived with a body of the coastguardsmen, armed with muskets, &c., together with some of the men from the revenue cutter, they took up a position in front of the Hall and Police-station. The Mayor then read the Riot Act, the people not dispersing, but on the contrary rather increasing, as there must then have been several thousands. Mr. G. D. Palmer addressed a few words to them from the Hall-door, imploring them to desist from the foolish course they had taken, and entreating them to disperse peaceably. A stone was then hurled at the spot where the Magistrates were standing, but it fortunately did not take effect, and the man who threw it was instantly secured and brought into the station-house. The following proclamation was issued by the Mayor:-

"Borough of Great Yarmouth, 22nd Feb., 1851.

"NOTICE.-A riot having this day taken place in this Borough, and the Riot Act having been read, all peaceable and loyal inhabitants are desired to keep in their houses until order has been restored. And notice is hereby further given, that no a.s.semblage of persons will be allowed.

CHARLES PEARSON, Mayor."

After a consultation of the Magistrates, they unanimously determined to send to Norwich for a troop of the Military stationed there. A telegraphic message was therefore despatched, which reached the Norwich Station about half-past four o'clock. In the meantime nine of the East Norfolk Militia located here, under Captain Brown, arrived, and were speedily followed by detachments of the Coastguard from the stations at Caister, Winterton, Corton, &c., who were all sworn in as special constables. The total available force for the protection of the town now amounted to 201, viz., 90 special constables, 81 officers and men of the revenue cutter and coastguard, 21 policemen, and 9 militia men; and it was determined to clear the s.p.a.ce in front of the station-house, which, with much difficulty was accomplished, when the police succeeded in picking out and taking several of the ringleaders.

Some persons consider that the people might have been entirely dispersed without the aid of the military, but considering the overwhelming number of persons present, it could only have been accomplished by the armed force charging among the people, which might have involved much bloodshed, if not actual loss of life, and there can be no doubt that the authorities exercised a wise and prudent discretion in contenting themselves by keeping the crowd as it were at bay, until the arrival of the military, a troop of which, consisting of 35 of the 11th Hussars, under Captain Douglas, reached the Yarmouth station by special train at about a quarter to six in the evening. A great mob of people had a.s.sembled at the terminus, and the officer in command refused to enter the town unless accompanied by a magistrate on horseback. J. C. Smith, Esq., accordingly having gone down, the troop, a little before seven o'clock, entered the town and cantering their horses over the quay and pavements, the crowd which had remained in front of the Police-court fled in every direction, some of them in their anxiety to escape the too near approach of the soldiers' swords, actually running over one another. Several women were knocked down by the mob in their flight, but we believe no injuries, beyond a few broken heads and bruised limbs, were received by any one. Great numbers of persons, however, secreted themselves by the river side, and in the ends of the numerous narrow rows in the town, under the impression that the military could not dislodge them. The Mayor, however, having issued orders for the entire quay to be cleared, the police, aided by a strong body of special constables, were for some hours engaged in dispersing the knots of people who had collected in these localities; patrols of the military and the police were then placed at all the princ.i.p.al thoroughfares leading to the Town Hall, which had been the scene of the riot, for the purpose of stopping all persons from coming that way. About eleven o'clock order having been, comparatively speaking, restored, the Magistrates consulted with the commanding-officer, and it was agreed that the military (which now numbered 75 in all, having been joined by another troop) should retire to their quarters, holding themselves in readiness to be called out at a minute's warning. The police were sent on their regular beats, but the cutter's men and coastguardsmen remained at the Hall during the whole of the Sat.u.r.day night, as did also the special constables, who were divided into three divisions, under regular captains, for the purpose of relieving each other every four hours. At half-past nine on Sunday morning, the Mayor and Magistrates again a.s.sembled, but as everything had pa.s.sed off quietly during the night, and as there did not seem any disposition on the part of the persons who were collected round the Hall (more by curiosity than otherwise) to commit any breach of the peace, the special constables, with most of the coastguardsmen were released from further duty until they should be again summoned, if required, by the alarm bell. At the close of the morning's service the Magistrates held a further consultation, when it was determined to draw up a report of the occurrences which had taken place, and to transmit the same to Sir G. Grey, the Secretary of the Home Department, to whom it was suggested that it would be advisable that a war steamer should be sent down to the port until order was entirely restored.

We cannot conclude our report without bearing our testimony to the great and extraordinary exertions to maintain peace and order made by our excellent Chief Magistrate, ably supported as he was by everyone of his brother Magistrates, and to the firmness and determination displayed by the Authorities may be mainly attributed to the preservation of the public peace, and the prompt and effectual suppression of the riotious spirit displayed by some thoughtless and illadvised men. It could hardly have been supposed that any friends of order could have been found ready to cast any blame upon the Authorities for the wise precautions they took, but we regret to say that some persons who, instead of coming forward to a.s.sist in preserving the public peace, kept, to their shame, in their own houses, and who, entirely ignorant of the organisation which was on foot, presume to censure those whom they should have been the first to support. Such parties are, however, we trust, but few, for we feel sure that the course pursued on the present occasion by the Authorities, will receive the unqualified approval and sanction of all the peaceably disposed and loyal inhabitants of the town. The conduct of the Police force-as well as that of the special constables-was most meritorious and praiseworthy; some of the former especially distinguished themselves for their courageous conduct, but it would be invidious to make any distinction between them, as all the men in the force are equally deserving of praise. They exercised the greatest forbearance, being most grossly insulted and ill-used, notwithstanding which they abstained from using their staves until the spirit of riot being openly manifested, they were directed to use them by their excellent superintendent, Capt. B. Love.

Police-constable Fuller has been very seriously injured, it being feared that some of his ribs are broken; another man who was engaged in the cowardly act of beating Police-constable Johnson while on the ground, in his turn received a blow from the truncheon of one of the special constables, which inflicted a very serious wound on his head.

Many other persons were hurt in the course of the riot, but not that we can learn to any serious extent. It is said, however, that a man was severely wounded in the hand by the sword of one of the soldiers, he having seized the bridle and nearly thrown the latter.

On the succeeding Monday the several cases were dealt with arising out of these proceedings.

Mr. I. Preston appeared to prosecute, Mr. C. Cooper (instructed by Mr. F.

S. Costerton) representing the prisoners.

Robert Watson (for obstructing Captain Love, Surperintendent of Police) fined 10s.

James King (for threatening E. H. L. Preston, Esq.,) fined 40s.