THE WHARF CRISIS OF 1919.
wharf, dumped them into the river. Instead of the employers, backed by the Government, being in possession, the wharf now belonged entirely to the lumpers. The pick-up bureau was wrecked, the work of demolition being watched by the biggest crowd that had ever assembled on the wharf. After this had been completed the men re-formed into marching order and returned to the Trades Hall, where speeches were delivered in celebration of the victory.
INJURED LUMPERS.
When the casualty list was prepared at the conclusion of the day’s conflict the following lumpers were announced as injured:—
- Edward Brown, bayonet wound in thigh (serious).
- William Renton, wounds on head.
- Thomas Edwards, wound on head (serious).
- P. Chaff, wounds on head.
- Joseph Slater, wounds on chest.
- C. Hanlon, broken arm and cut cheek.
- W. Skeet, wounds on head.
In addition to these, however, there were others who received slight injuries, including, as already stated, Mr. Fred Baglin. Of the Police Force, 26 members were treated for wounds.
ON NEUTRAL GROUND.
It is interesting to record the expressed emotions of the little party that met on neutral ground immediately after Inspector Sellinger had succeeded in locating Messrs. McCallum, Jones, and Watts. It was a strange gathering of extremely agitated men. The Commissioner of Police, with the sweat pouring down his face, met Mr. McCallum with an ejaculated half command and half appeal: "For God’s sake, do something to keep your men back!" Mr. McCallum, equally agitated, threw back the obvious retort: "We can’t. You see the temper of those men and women; we can’t!" The shouts and yelling of the crowd pressing threateningly toward the spot where the little group was standing had somewhat subsided. A few paces away was the front line of police, even at the moment loading rifles with ball cartridges. Mr. McCallum suggested he should see the Premier. Upon the decision of the next few minutes hung the lives of many people. If Mr. Colebatch failed to recognise the danger and refused to leave
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