The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-02-14 00:00:00

RIOTING AT ,THE LYE.

It was thought needful to take special precau-
tions for the preservation of order in this neigh-
bourhood on Thursday, during the polling. At
the last election, in 1868, there was some very
rough work here, and in times farther off the
people of the Lye have been noted for their ex-
citability and pugnacity at election times. On
one occasion, when the Earl of Plymouth was here
in command of some cavalry, the natives would
allow his ivaio force to go quietly through the
Lye, and then attack his rear guard with savage
fury. As soon as the soldiers turned, their as-
sailants were lost in hovels and uailshops, where
the soldiers found pursuit awkward. Finding
this strategy repeated, the Earl of Plymouth drew
off his men, and left the Lye Wasters masters of
the situation. Rumoin had been tbusy with what
had been projected on the present occasion, and
some of the nailers were credited with an intention
to do serious mischief. It was asserted that they
had been making spikes, which, whatever way
thrown on the ground, would have a point bearing
upwards, and capable of doing serious mischief,
if a horse trod on it. These things are known in
the district by the name "Tie-as-it-was," and it
is said that they used to be , employed with good
effect during affrays with the authorities in "the
good old days." We are happy to state that none
of them.were used on Thursday.
There are 377 electors in the:Lye district, which
includes Wollescote, and the Institute was the
place appointed as the polling station. Some 60
police-officers and a posse Aspecial constables were
retained for duty at the Lye, part of the men be-
ing held in reserve at the police station. The
precautions which had been taken were shown to
have been.wise, for during the day several dis-
turbances occurred, and these would soon have
grown to a serieus head if there ,had not been
force sufficient to deal with them. There was
stone-throwing at some of the carriages during
the morning, and afterwards the police were at-
tacked. A great number of people lined the road
from the Institute to the Police. Station, and the
unruly element appeared to consist principally of
young fellows animated by pure rowdyism. After
the police were attacked, the ,reserve was drawn
out from the police station, and the men were re-
ceived with volleys of stones. The police made a
regular charge on their assailants with their staves,
and scattered them in all sdirections. During the
affray a Staffordshire officer had his head badly
cut. A missile clove through his helmet, and laid
open a large wound on his head. Several local
officers were also injured. The stone-throwers did
not escape unhurt, for the officers used their trun-
cheons with terrible effect, and many a rioter bit
the dust. As affairs looked threatening, reserve
police were fetched,to the Lye till there were about
100 on duty there, and this to some extent kept the
mob in order.

About three o'clock in tha afternoon stone-
throwing commenced again from a field near the
church, and the police charged home, and drove
the offenders from their position. A number of
persons were knocked down in the struggle, but
no one was seriously injured ercept an elderly
wan. who had a blow on the head, from which he
was bleeding very much. It was said he had been
struck with a truncheon. He lay on the ground a
considerable time, a number of women screaming
around him, but no;one offered to remove him for
some time. Several policemen were struck with
pieces of iron, lead, bricks, and stones. Mr. Al-
brig,ht and Mr. O'Neill were in the village in the
afternoon, and made addresses to a crowd of per-
sons, urging them to quietude. Mr. O'Neill asked
those who had not got votes to hold up:their hands,
when it appeared that only two or three persons
possessed the franchise out of those he appealed
to. Immediately after this episode, a car went by
drawn by two horses, and with two men outside
and three in. A mob of rough feLows, armed with
hedgestakes, broom sticks, and other things of the
kind, threw them at the cab and its tenants. The
man beside the driver was knocked off, and his
face fearfully cut. The windows of the vehicle
were smashed, and the driver whipped his horses
and got clear away. The injured man (a person
named Davis) was taken into one of the houses
near. It will be seen by this epitome of events,
to which others might be added, that the proceed-
ings were very rough at intervals, but it would be
unfair to say that the people generally at the Lye
participated in these:displays of aimless and idiotic
violence.

The p-lice marched from the Lye at dusk, and
the mob, which had been so troublesome during
the day, at once took adrantag,e of the circum-
stance, and harassed their rear with volleys of
stones. When the police turned and charged the
mob, the latter retreated, but no sooner Shad the
officers resumed their march than the attack was
renewed. This was continued for more than half
a mile, and when the police reached Stamber Mill
Viaduct,they found their foes had outflanked them,
and a large number of the rioters stationed on the
Viaduct showered stones upon them. The police
I started at the double to get out of reach of the
missiles as quickly as possible, and soon afterwards
a detachment of about 30 men was thrown into the
yard at 13edeote Mill, in ambuscade, thinking
ultimately to take the mob in the rear. Some
scouts, however, spoilt this design, and apprised

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the rioters of the stratagem. It had the effect of
deterring them from following the officers into
Stourbridge. The Riot Act was read at the Lye
during the evening, by Mr. C. Swindell.
The High Sheriff and Colonel Carmichael re-
wined in Stourbridge ou Thursday night, and a
strong body of police were kept in reserve at the
police station, but fortunately their services were
not required.