Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevDuring the trouble the Superintendent of Police (Mr. John Gillott) was knocked off his horse with a pitchfork. Even then, in the kindness of his heart, and with a desire to save the mob from the consequences of its actions, he offered to 'cry quits', if they would disperse and go quietly home
RIOT ACT READ
The mob was out of hand, however, and it became necessary for Mr. George Wilton Chambers to read the Riot Act. This he proceeded to do from the Crown Hotel window, and afterwards in the Cattle Market. Whilst doing so a man named Charlie Pass, one of the terrors of the town, threw a brick bat at him. The Hussars. having by this time arrived from Sheffield, were ordered to clear the streets. I saw them charge the mob in the Crofts; the people fled in all directions, many taking to the cattle pens for shelter, where they quickly removed the wooden rails and used them in their defence. During the evening a detachment of Infantry arrived on the scene and rapidly restored the town to a peaceful state.Probably in fear of further outbreaks, the authorities kept the soldiers in the town for several weeks. The, election resulted as follows: Milton and Beaumont, 872 and 808 ;Stanhope and Denison, 386 and 332.
There seems no reason to doubt that this riot was caused by a local Tory riding through the crowd on horseback and displaying his colours in order to win a bet. Fortunately, the Hussars only used the flat of their swords, or the riots would have resulted in more serious injuries. As it was, the local Dispensary treated many injured people, and about forty people were arrested.
In the assessment of damages which followed this wanton destruction of property, our friend the barber found himself entitled to several hundred pounds.
PRESS COMMENTS
A short time ago I came across a cutting taken from the Newcastle Chronicle, in which the following comments are made:The riot at Rotherham seems to have been one of a dangerous character. The roughs had got it into their heads that the employment of soldiers during elections was illegal, and they resisted the Hussars with a courage which an English mob seldom displays. The soldiers were compelled to hit hard, and the mob became so irritated that a cry was raised for arms, which, fortunately, were not procurable, it seems certain that had any been discovered, the Cavalry would have been compelled to use the edges instead of the sides of their sabres, and the election would have been disgraced by a massacre.1868 ELECTION
Another General Election took place in 1868, Happily, the polling day was free from the disturbances that marked the previous election. On an extended franchise, the Liberals again succeeded in retaining both seats, but only by a narrow majority, as the following figures show: Liberals: Milton 8110, Beaumont 7943, Conservatives: Stanhope 7935, Starkey 7621.It will be noticed that only 8 votes divided Mr. Stanhope and Mr. Beaumont, the latter’s popularity having waned owing to his connection with the racehorse referred to.
BALLOT ACT
In 1874, when Stanhope and Starkey beat Beaumont and Leatham, feeling ran high, but no serious damage to property took place.At all previous elections the state of the poll could be ascertained at any hour of the day by paying a visit to one of the committee rooms. The Ballot Act put a stop to this and we were kept in ignorance of the result until the following day, after it had been declared at Wakefield.
The Crown Hotel, the headquarters of the Conservatives was, as usual, the centre of attraction, At first only a few loiterers assembled and amused themselves with throwing an occasional boot at the vehicles employed by the 'Blues'.
The tradesmen, owing to former experiences, wisely closed their shops. An angry mood displayed itself later, when some fool, with » next
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