Reminiscences of Rotherham by Alderman Geo. Gummer, J.P.

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favourable. He did not impress me as a man who would retain the friendship of his supporters. Sharp and alert in manner, but irascible and easily provoked, he repeatedly gave offence. Confirmation of my earlier estimate of the man followed at the next election, when he was defeated, and also during the occupancy by him of the County Court Judgeship at Rotherham, where he was anything but popular.

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

My father took an active part in the General Election of 1852, when Mr. Richard Cobden became one of the Members for the West Riding, and again in 1857, when Mr. C. Beckett Denison and Mr. Goderich were returned.

The earliest election I recollect occurred in 1865. At that time the Southern Division of the West Riding of Yorkshire consisted of the electorate of Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster, Wath, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, HoImfirth, Penistone, and Thorne.

The Liberal candidates were Lord Milton and Mr. Beaumont. The former had recently returned from a journey through the Rocky Mountains, in which he was accompanied by Dr. Cheadle, who afterwards gave an account of their thrilling and dangerous adventures in a book entitled 'Through the Rocky Mountains' . which is well worth reading. Of the other Liberal candidate I remember little, excepting that he had a turf reputation which did not add to his popularity, especially amongst Yorkshiremen. He owned a racehorse called Belladrum or Belleraphon, which was supposed to have been milked, whatever that may mean.

The Conservative candidates were Mr.W, S. Stanhope, of Cannon Hall,near Barnsley, a fairly good speaker and a likeable man, and Mr. C. Becket Denison, of Doncaster.

RIOTS IN 1865

From the beginning of the contest, feeling ran very high, as even in these days, before compulsory education and School Boards existed, the workingmen of Rotherham were keen politicians, and made themselves acquainted with the issues before the country.

On the polling day serious rioting took place. I remember the day was one of those on which langnorous ease is sought rather than rush and hurry. A plunge in the river seemed the only thing to do, so a number of us went to Bromley Sands to bathe. Whilst in the water a mounted policeman was seen proceeding in hot haste over Bow Bridge towards Sheffield.

Surmising that this meant trouble, we quickly dressed, and, hurrying towards the town, found a large crowd assembled in the vicinity of the Conservative headquarters. Armed with sticks and stones, they were smashing the windows of the Crown Hotel, and in less than half an hour there was not a whole frame at the front, after wrecking this hostelry, the crowd proceeded to the Three Cranes Inn and quickly smashed all the windows there, An attempt was then made to rush the Black Horse. This would have succeeded but for the plucky action of the landlord, Mr. James Crowther (a sergeant in the Yorkshire Dragoons). Guarding the entrance with his naked sword, he defied and kept the mob at bay, and thus saved what might have developed into an ugly situation.

BARBER’S SHOP WRECKED

Not to be denied, tIre mob returned up High street to devote its attention to a barber’s shop in Westgate. They began by smashing the plate.glass windows and seizing hats, caps, hair brushes, wigs, pomades, etc., which they threw amongst the rioters. John Evans, the proprietor, quietly fled, and hid himself, so it was said, in the cellars of the White Hart Inn.

This attack on Evans followed a speech he had made at a meeting of the Conservative candidates, in which he said: A piece of dry bread and a red herring are quite good enough for a working man. A bitter feeling pro vailed, and it is certain that had any of the mob caught him they would have done him serious bodily harm. next »

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