Yarmouth Notes Part 57

March 19th.-Messrs. Mellor and Young had attended a Reform Meeting at the Corn Hall; from 1,000 to 1,200 persons were present. Among the gentlemen accompanying the M.P.'s were Messrs. R. Hammond, P. Pullyn, Gourlay, F.

Palmer, Clowes, Briggs, Barker, &c.

March 23rd-There was a "rage" for new buildings in the town.

March 30th.-A Court of Foresters had been opened at Hasbro', the officiating officers being D.C.R. Stratford and C.R. Franklin (of Court "Crown and Anchor.")

April 2nd.-The question as to who were to be the Liberal candidates for the Borough was being "mooted"; it was reported that Mr. McCullagh was to be put on one side, that Mr. Mellor would withdraw, and that Messrs.

Watkin and Young would take the field.

A new Coastguard Station was being erected at a cost of 3,500. Mr.

Norfor, contractor.

April 6th.-The action of "Morant _v._ Chamberlin" had been referred to Mr. Barstow.

April 9th.-Both parties had been waiting for notice of the Dissolution of Parliament. Sir E. H. K. Lacon and Sir H. J. Stracey were making a house-to-house canvas, accompanied by Messrs. W. Yetts, W. Thurtell, R.

Ferrier, C. Cory, S. C. Marsh, W. Wors.h.i.+p, E. H. L. Preston, J. G.

Plummer, F. Ferrier, J. Fenn, &c.

The Liberals had held a meeting on the Hall Plain, which 3,000 persons attended. Mr. Briggs occupied the chair, and Messrs. J. Clowes, R.

Hammond, J. Owles, J. W. Sh.e.l.ly, and P. Pullyn took part in the proceedings, which eventuated in the selection of Messrs. Watkin and Young as the Liberal candidates.

April 13th.-Both parties had held meetings, the Liberals at the "Star"

and the Conservatives at the "Fish Stall House."

April 16th.-Both parties expressed themselves confident of success, but it was supposed that Gorleston would turn the scale; the voters there were described as "dangerous men."

The barque "Athelstan" (Captain John Bracey) was to be launched from Fellows' yard on the 19th.

April 20th.-The Liberal electors "and their wives" had met at the Corn Exchange, while the Conservatives had held a meeting at the Victoria Gardens.

April 23rd.-Contains the following report as to

"THE ELECTION."

The greatest activity prevails on both sides, and as the decisive day approaches, the feelings of partizans.h.i.+p are becoming greatly intensified. The printers have had a lively time of it, and turn out a great quant.i.ty of matter, an opinion appearing to be prevalent that quality is a secondary consideration. During the last few days, songs, parodies upon songs, speeches, and gross personal abuse have been issued by the supporters of Mr. Watkin, (for it must be admitted that Mr. Young holds himself aloof from this scurrility) with the object, we suppose, of doing that gentleman some good. In our opinion they will have a contrary effect, as we have heard many respectable Liberal electors express themselves disgusted with such unnecessary vulgarity. It may be very true, that in addressing the people, it is necessary to call a spade a spade, but it cannot be at all requisite that the minds of the people should be attempted to be influenced by strong specimens of the Billingsgate vocabulary. Where wit is lacking, silence is preferable to blackguardism. On the Conservative side there has also been a fair number of coloured bills and printed addresses issued; but the writers in this interest have abstained from attempting to be funny. In printed abuse, however, they endeavour to rival their opponents. Betting, if that may be considered a piece of electioneering business, is decidedly in favour of the Conservative candidates. Each party attributes motives of the most improper kind to the other, and it will be seen that Mr. Watkin fears that his opponents may indulge in "corruption." On the other hand, Sir E. Lacon says voters had told him they dare not support him, as they should be inclined to do, in consequence of persons on the Liberal side having put the "screw" upon them. Tradesmen generally will be glad when the contest is over, as it is daily creating much personal animosity.

The "Athelstan" had been launched; she was of 500 tons burden, and was to take out Bishop Hills' effects to British Columbia.

The "Haddiscoe Swamp" had caused a great difficulty on the East Suffolk line, which was consequently still not open for traffic.

William Howlett, "Red" bill-poster, and Robert Crisp, "Blue" bill-poster, had been before the Magistrates owing to a dispute arising out of the election placards.

April 30th.-Both parties had been holding nightly meetings of a "convivial character." On Wednesday some 300 to 400 persons had paraded the town shouting "Down with Lacon and Stracey," and had broken the windows of the Red Committee rooms in the Market-place.

"THE NOMINATION"

took place on the Hall Plain; the platform, in the centre of which was reserved a place for the Mayor and the Candidates and friends, being on the Crown and Anchor "leads." The Blues were to the left of the Mayor and the Reds to his right; and in front of the house there was at the time proceedings commenced an a.s.semblage numbering 4,000 or 5,000, including a number of females. The Liberals were the first to arrive on the "leads," and on Mr. Watkin showing himself to the crowd, he was loudly cheered, a compliment which the candidate duly acknowledged. Shortly afterwards the approach of the Conservative party was indicated by the deep groans of the crowd, who manifested some indications of hostility: but on its being discovered that the Conservative cavalcade was headed by a party of very pugilistic-looking persons, decorated with red ribbon, the threatening att.i.tude of the crowd was somewhat modified, and the two Baronets, with their friends, were allowed to ascend to the "leads"

unmolested. When the two parties had taken their places on the balcony, the Liberals proposed three cheers, which were given by the great majority, accompanied by the groans of the minority. A number of "beery" individuals struggled to the front, and were a source of annoyance to the speakers throughout. A few minutes before three o'clock the Mayor arrived in state, preceded by his sergeants-at-mace, and accompanied in his carriage by Mr. C. J.

Palmer, who acted as his solicitor for the occasion. When his Wors.h.i.+p appeared in the balcony the Blues, for some reason, commenced hissing him, much to the disgust of several of the leading gentlemen of the Liberal party, who protested against such unseemly proceedings. We may state, before attempting to report the numerous speeches that were delivered, that during the whole of the proceedings-more especially when it was the turn of the Conservatives to speak-the crowd was exceedingly disorderly, and by their loud shouting and groaning rendered most of the speakers inaudable to persons a few yards distant from them. The Mayor was grossly insulted at the commencement, and as the proceedings progressed several fights were got up, and the interference of the police was frequently required. Anything more unreasonable and unreasoning than the majority of the crowd it would be impossible to conceive, and when the nomination closed there did not seem to be any person in the balcony opposed to the opinion of the Mayor-that the "whole thing was a farce." One side of the question was not heard at all, and the majority shouted without knowing what about. This was singularly ill.u.s.trated during the speech of Mr. Watkin, when that gentleman took upon himself the functions of the returning-officer, by calling upon the crowd for a show of hands, which, singularly enough, was against him. Mr. Watkin said, "All those that don't want me to go to the poll, hold up their hands." A forest of hands was exhibited to the great amus.e.m.e.nt of the Conservatives, who cheered the result. Mr.

Watkin then told his friends that they were mistaken, and having explained the mistake to them, a.s.suring them that they were too intelligent to vote him down, he took another show of hands, which was in his favour. We shall be excused for commenting upon the proceedings here; but the disorder and noise was so great that, as most of the speakers could not be heard, we are necessitated to do it, in order to make our report intelligible. From the beginning to the end "noise" had it in numbers; but in fighting the honour seemed to be with the Reds, who exhibited considerable proficiency in the pugilistic art. The crowd, which was very closely packed, was divided into two sections, the Blue and the Red, the former having about ten to one of the latter. At times both sections were very ill-behaved, but their misconduct was kindly overlooked by the whole of the speakers except Mr. Watkin, who took the liberty of designating the minority of the "people" as "scoundrels" and "ruffians." These polite designations appeared likely to stir up the ill-blood of the people, inasmuch as four or five fights immediately commenced, in one of which an unfortunate fellow sustained a severe fracture of the proboscis, and it was not until the Mayor had, to use a significant local word, "checked" Mr. Watkin, and warned him against the violent nature of his harangue, that comparative order was restored. The fights in question are deserving of notice. One began between a female, whose bonnet was trimmed with yellow ribbon, and a stout man in a blue guernsey. Gallant Reds and Blues rushed into the affray, doubtless with the object of protecting the woman, and there was every probability of a general set-to. The Mayor, however, directed the police to interfere, and the contest was suppressed, with apparently no worse results than the infliction of a few disagreeable blows on the frontispieces of the combatants. The other fights were of less importance; but altogether this display of pugnacity had the effect of causing the outside portion of the crowd to run away from what they considered to be danger. Other fights, as will be seen from the report, also occurred. One feature in the general noise was much remarked by the gentlemen on the balcony, and as it was amusing we notice it. A half drunken beachman or fisherman, just so far gone as to be witty, but who was unmistakeably a Blue, planted himself in front of the balcony, and by his extraordinary shouting succeeded in making himself heard above the surrounding tumult. There was some natural humour about this fellow, and the way in which he shouted excited the laughter of the Mayor and both parties on the balcony. The man shouted until the veins grew large in his forehead; he jumped and screamed-he laughed and waved his hat, and others laughed with him-indeed, for a time all laughed with him; he was in a state of ecstacy or violent enthusiasm. It was difficult for a time to make out what the man meant, but at length he was understood, and his fun was appreciated. Sir E. Lacon wears a full moustache, and so does Sir H. Stracey, and those hirsute ornaments were the objects of this excited individual's enthusiasm.

He laughed and shouted-his voice being heard above the murmur of the crowd,-for fully an hour,-"The beard! the beard! will n.o.body shave him? A shave! a shave! Fetch a barber! fetch a barber!-(Loud laughter.)-A clean shave! A s.h.i.+lling for a razor! a razor! a razor!

O Lord, a clean shave," &c. Ultimately the man climbed to the top of a post, and threw his hat into the face of a railway porter; the porter ran to him and struck him in the mouth two or three times, with a force that evidently astonished him, and as his scream then became somewhat distressing, he was ignominiously removed to the outside of the crowd. Many other noticeable incidents occurred, which will be found mentioned in our report. But there is one circ.u.mstance which did not altogether develop itself at the meeting, that we feel compelled to notice. Society, from experience, knows that the prude is the loudest and severest advocate of virtue; but, as Josephus has remarked, "Every man will think of this as it seemeth good unto him." We have noticed the Gorleston voters, we have recorded the boastings and professions on both sides, and we have ventilated rumours which have been so far well founded. The incident we are about to mention we can vouch for; it is possible, should circ.u.mstances necessitate it, of being proved. On the Wednesday evening, mob law, intimidation, corruption, "the screw," and all the worst elements of electioneering were resorted to; and we regret to say that the parties who most publicly exhibited themselves as disorderlies were persons whom we won't cla.s.sify, but who cried out, "Down with Lacon and Stracey" and "Three cheers for Watkin."

"THE TIN CANISTER."

A report had been "current that a mysterious old gentleman had arrived from somewhere with a tin canister full of sovereigns, and from the way in which he was dressed it was generally supposed that he was either a Russian or a Shrewsbury man come for the purpose of bribery. "Said person," as the Yankees say, was seen in the rear of the balcony at the Crown and Anchor, defying anybody to penetrate the secret of his ident.i.ty, but occasionally winking and ejaculating, with an occasionally eructory sound, the words, "All right-in for Watkin." This strange gentleman departed in the evening, minus, it is said, the canister. We will now pa.s.s over the irregularities of the story, and give you the words of our informant, whose high standing and character place him beyond suspicion:-"I had attended the Yarmouth nomination, and took my railway seat, at 8.40 p.m. for Norwich. There were two or three gentlemen in the first-cla.s.s compartment in which I had placed myself; and one gentleman was a peculiar sort of mysterious individual. After eyeing the party well, the gentleman gravely said, "Both sides are buying, I'm afraid, at Yarmouth." One of the party doubted the a.s.sertion, but the ancient traveller smiled and said, "No, no." Further explanations took place, until at length our interesting fellow-traveller volunteered this remark, after a feeler from one of the party, "You know I came down from Manchester yesterday, to see my particular friend W-.

Deuced clever fellow-one of the best railway men in the country. He did wonders for the Manchester and Lincolns.h.i.+re line, and if we get him in we shall expect him to be one of the best railway men we have." One of the party asked, "Are you a Yarmouth voter, sir?" Old Traveller: "No, but I wished to see my friend W- on very particular business, and so I just came down to Yarmouth to see how his election was getting on _as well_, and to add my mite of influence." This, perhaps, will account for the story of the tin canister. The rest we shall leave to the report."

Mr. J. Cherry proposed, and Mr. R. Dumbleton seconded Sir E. H. K. Lacon.

Mr. R. Hammond proposed, and Mr. J. Owles seconded Mr. Watkin.

Mr. E. H. L. Preston proposed, and Mr. S. C. Marsh seconded Sir H. J.

Stracey,

And Mr. J. W. Sh.e.l.ly proposed and Mr. P. Pullyn seconded Mr. Young.

The show of hands was in favour of Messrs. Watkin and Young, whereupon a poll was demanded for Sir E. H. K. Lacon and Sir H. J. Stracey.

May 4th.-The poll had been taken in Wards as follows:-

Lacon. Stracey. Watkin. Young.

St. Nicholas' 97 89 76 71 Market 117 113 100 99 Regent 112 108 91 88 St. George's 102 94 89 84 Nelson 166 153 119 106 St. Andrew's 105 102 93 88 Total 699 659 568 536

But it was stated that "there were many cases of bribery, and the defeated party threatened a pet.i.tion against this 'return.'"

May 7th.-Between 500 and 600 had been promised as subscriptions to that end.

There had been a fas.h.i.+onable ball at the Town Hall.

The Norfolk Artillery Militia had left for Sheerness.

Miles Swiney had been shot in the side by one of the Louth Rifles on the North Denes.

May 11th.-It had been proposed to raise a Yacht Club, Mr. H. Morgan acting as Treasurer, and 100 had been subscribed for the purpose.

(N.B.-This was the starting of the Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club.)

Meetings of electors had been held to promote the pet.i.tion.

May 18th.-The pet.i.tion was "likely to reveal a '_high_ state of political morality in the Borough.'"

May 21st.-Contains the Lord Lieutenant's proclamation as to the formation of Rifle Corps.

May 25th.-A few persons were talking of raising one of such corps at Yarmouth, but no active steps had been taken in regard thereto.

May 28th.-On the Queen's Birthday, the Mayor had given a luncheon and ball at the Town Hall.

The testimonial "consisting of silver candelabra, &c.," and the Corporation address had been presented to Bishop Hills at the Town Hall.

Some 250 persons were present, amongst whom were-Messrs. C. J. Palmer (who presided at the luncheon), Brightwen, C. Aldred, S. Aldred, Sir E.