The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-01-04 00:00:00

THEATRE.
On Monday afternoon A moat distressing event
the intellipnce of which will deeply wound the public
feeling throughout tho whole country. occurred in the
metropolis in connexion with one of its great pla('es (il
popular roomotttorh moulting in the violent death of 15
human beings, and injuries MUM or less serious to many
inure. Ten of the dead lie at the Isolibeth Work.
house, one at Christchurch Worklionae, in the vicinity
of Ni. armiident. two Alien at St. Thomas's Hospital,
and two at the deadhouse in Lambeth. Of the
wounded eight were taken to Mt. TI s's Hospital, while
many others who 'unstained injuries less grave, and the
number .4 whom may never he known, were in a state
which admitted of their being conveyed to their own
bounce.
The accident of which these are the deplorable reunite
happened at the Victoria Theatre, situakul, as moat -of
our metropolitan readers know, at the point of inter-
section of the Waterloo-road and the New-citt, forming
the centre of a densely populated and generally poor
district of I.ambetli. There a Olir'stnias pantomime,
as at all the rest of the theatres, is invariably produced,
and on Hosing.day crowds of the humbler classes, and,
especially of the young of either lies, rush from the
whole surrounding neighbourhood to witness the
performance. So high, indeed, duce the popular
curiosity run in that direction in those parts that the
managers of the theatre find it necessary, not to say
lucrative, to repeat the pantomine on the same day ;
and the entertainment on Monday waa announced to
take plate first at half.paat 1 in the day, and again in
the evening at half-past 6. I)uring the performance in
the afternoon the theatre was well filled, though not so
densely as it ordinarily is at the evening entertai 111 l lent
on the great Cliriatmas holiday. The gallery, however,
was the part of the house most crowded, mill, as usual,
chiefly by boys and young men, many of them of the
very lowest class. The patitoudine had proceeded well
nigh to its conclusion at the afternoon performance.
The time was about half-past 4 or 6, and, although the
audience had not left the theatre, an 1111 l mow crowd
thronged the stairs leading to the gallery, waiting for
the evening performance, and to take the places of
those by wh that part of the building was already
occupied. On this flight (4 stairs, which are of wood
and of great width, protected by • secure balustrade.
there are several landing places, and two barriers were
thrown across, one at the money, and the other at the
check taker's box, previous to the gallery being opened,
I,wen the pressure Id the crowd at those point .
The staircase runs up thu aid,' of a large witrire shaft in
easy Bights from the different landings. This, then,
was the state of thing)) immediately preceding the
calamity—an unruly rabble was packed nearly to auffoca-
tion on the stairs as far up as the money•taker's box,
where • barrier impeded its further ascent, and a
kindred rabble within the building was on the point of
making its exit in the open air. At that unhappy
moment an escape of gas is said to have taken place on
the first landing-place Irmo the ground on the gallery
stairs, and to have exploded. That. however, of itself,
appears to have caused no imuiediate harm to the
people stationed at the point where it-occurred ; but
there arose instantaneously a cry of " Fite !" which was
caught up front mouth to mouth by the crowd above,
and conveyed into the gallery itself. Irmo there, in
one iu.oiiieiit more, there was a rush by the people down.
stairs au great as to defy all attempts to resist it. They
opened or tore down the barrier at the top of the stairs
opposite the cheek-taker's box, rushed down in mad
haste to the next landing, where again the money.
taker's barrier offered hut a feeble resistance. There the
advanced guard of the crowd waiting on the stairs,
sharing in the panic, turned round to swell the descend-
ing torrent and to effect their eseApe. This was the
crisis of the calamity. On reaching the last landing.
place from the ground in their downward course more
than a score of people were thrown down, and the
greater part of them literally trodden and crushed to
death. Some there were who precipitated themselves
over the balustrades from one landing to another. on
the heads of the affrighted itiass below, and either saved
their lives or perished in the attempt.

The following letter from the well•known
" S. G. 0." appeared in the l'imu of Thursday last.
We any nothing here about the ballot ; but let it
be remembered that "S. G. 0." is amongst those
rev. gentlemen who are great sticklers for the educa-
tion of the labourer, and who contend vehemently
for his claim to advancement in the social scale, and
the honour due to him as an independent citizen.
Vet "S. U. 0." would not trust him with a rote-.-..
" it would be a curse to him ;" aud the ballot would be
no protection from "injury " in the exercise of the
franchise ! NO public writer, as it Seems to Ull, ever
ventured upon a greater inconsistency with himself
than is here proclaimed in the columns of the Times,
or who seems mire strongly to advocate the ballot
by his arguments against it. Besides this, all
who have read the recent comments of the
Times on the Reform movement, and who know any
thing of the ambition or vanity of occasional " Times'
correspondents "—(an honourable appellation in many
cases, we are ready to admit) —will not fail to suspect
a sort of toadyism to the "loading journal" which
has prompted Mr. Osborne to get himself up for the
ocimasion, and procured for him the infinite satiskac-
tion of seeing "another letter in the Times" :
I have read with no little apprehension the plans now
put forth as to household suffrage, with the " ballot."
You have been asking for proof as to what the working
classes will gain by a measure of " reform " with these
features ; I am inclined to argue as to what they will
jessitively suffer from it. I will confine my observes
tions to the effect of such a measure in • rural district.
In all honesty I believe the workimignien of such • district
would be cursed, rather than blessed, by a vote;
' that this evil would be in their ens, aggravated by the
ballot.
1 frilaiiii:ub.:uaii:logesiiiirifirelip.:ci.tanytiirvili,..'.e.iiirnnr:t:ltiatatfahlureiiii.l:.igova.t.eiseerbe;nyehtedreagiarimils.inetet,ato:yraill,:ifTtn:leyi,li.;itoestris.htieestbr:iiifeasid nip.4.rwsk'sibeenedmrtnness;:t.betehe.:.ica:tythuiealiwinerl
very few villages are the cottagen all rated ; in • peat
understand that if a vote will follow on the being iss,
the names of all householders will at once appear is the
rate bunk, for then hinillords would have • direct inte-
rest in thus creating votes, over which they must seethed
they would have an almost certain command.
When the parish is a close one, i. e., the property ell
One owner, so lama as the cottager continues free froz
all publicist bias, he would simply be in the position, a‘
every election, of being canvassed on all "idea, but bar.
lug attaight before liiin the eimple course of obliging
only the one party who, for his very bread's sake, As
dare not disoblige. The handbills appealing to his
patriotism, "to be independent" would only be so much
prudes' mockery of his condition. He is dependent
upon furnishing his cupboard (ruin the wages' obtained
from the owner of his dwelling, or his tenant. History
does not furnish many political inartym, simply because
political martyrdom I. present suffering, with poor pro-
spect of future recompense.
If men of the education and position of the renting
farmen of the 'anent day do—as the rule—go with
their landlonls to the huetinp, can there be a question
as to how the labourer must go? We all know on these
occaeions un which side our bread is buttered. Dry
loved we might, perhaps, get with pure political is
dependenee ; but we are born to " butter " upon our
bread,— tired to seek All the pliyaical comfort we can in
our position. It is one thing to sacrifice religion' faith
to improve our bread, for here. dying as we eat it, we
have the judgment of a long other world before us. It
is quite another thing to leave nice political points to
Rift for themselves, while, to get all the comfort we
• n in our poeition, We (lire political terrier to those
le u gire as here social adrantage.
know this will be called a very low view of an
lishiniMs position under our glorious constitutioe ;
-- per laps it m; but I am dealing with the Englishinan el
The following temperate and able article on the December, ISM. In the year 1960, for all I know,
pernicious tendency of Truism' Unions —their palpa. •• progress " may have so cleansed the Mr. Bulls of every
ble viciousness and incorrigible delusions —appeared 1 breed that. whether stalrd in a pelmet or a hovel, they
in the Times of Saturday, the 2.5 th ult., and is well ' will be found so politically pure as to scorn to influence
1 or
to be influencesi.
worthy of attentive perusal :-- 1 When I regard the position of • cottage labourer with
A recent trial in the Court of Exche.iuer (briefly a vote, to be given by the ballot. I can only look upon
reourted in our last) has dragged once more into the him with the truest pity. As it is, poor Horlp has
light of day those pniiciples and primes-dings of Trades' i difficult steerege-way through the stream of his life. It
Unions which were so effectually exposed in the case a I reiuires all Ins patience. all his principle, to bold a
the Amalgamated Engineers sonic ell years ago. It is i straight furrow from day to day. He has the " master "
not often that the acttial operations of these societies Can I lie must please • good deal ; the landlord he must not
be clearly brought before the paw üblic, l the lesson at at displeaee at all ; the parson whom 11 11 advisable to
the preeent moment, is far too instructive to be lust. i l'iliee 'Lg'"-u.
a; , dti
.1'
ne
of the "wirtils'iiitsitaci:"..ell'lefloaruirrimit offbeendor:
Readers in general will reouire to be infom t
r ed that the ;
leagues in question are by no means confined i good ternis with ; and even the relieving officer and the
to those purposes of mutual support which association • union doctor, if put out with him, can put him out at
naturally promote.. They are not merely unions, but ' tiiiie4 of help he sorely needs. By sweating for his
coinbination —organized bodice. charging thi inselvee bread he can just earn it; by paying his rent, and not
with the absolute regulation of their particular trades, posiching or etealing wood. he can keep a house over his
in defiance alike of economical laws and individual i head ; by a decent character he is pretty sure of aid
liberty. In the care of the Engineers the society was from the Rectory ; paying "when he can ' secures his
leagued and bound to keep the trade lis Select SS possible, credit at the ehop ; doing his beat to keep off the parish.
by limiting the number isf apprentices, and to enhance and calling the relieving officer, "Sir ;" being as little
the remuneration of the workmen by impoxing terinx exacting to the doctor in illness as possible for pill, pow
upon employer* and employed together. In the case of der, or vieits.—thus he may go on his way, if not re'
the Printers' Union the objects are similar, and they
be so devised that,
appear, indeed, to juicing, often happier than many • wealthy min. Now,
if they could be give him • vote,—without even the power of making
once accomplished, masters and men throughout the any one of these parties certain lie has obliged them by
kingdom would eimply be the slaves of the Union Com- its use, in whit's Position 01 Painful Peril do you Pie"
mita... Fortunatety the very violence of the princi• un" '
pies defeats their end, and the society can by no means I once canvassed • large upholsterer for his vote at a
extend its control over the whole of this important hot county election ; he had every will to oblige my
trade. Here follows a eketch id its operations as illus- friend more than any one, but it so happened that he
nna nrat,
is ghtei doesgekats
.1
nre
ii
~:tt it ehi
. tr Supposing
i g
r ta
i•
ih.iu it ereailiiiii.rin_ailerie.lite:
trated by the case of " HARRISON V. " PEARCE :" Was at the ...... unit in the very depths of • large order
for a squire who voted "blue ;" he had had no rod of
oiiii:::.:o(:B6.:fi.socuit:,::togenenie::fttt,i,ii.nnituilgi,iiiiiloiltmsiind.,ol.i'.:firlioiliwy.eofetr jaiii 3:ninis;.-. money and patronage from an Influential" red ;" it was
notorious that the owner of Beech•trve Park was going
ing the Trades' Union or not. 'This option, however, to pull down to re-erect the large mansion of the estate;
he bad a good introduction to him, but had just heard
h an eye to the future. he, Lord Beechbark,
to take care of themselves and manage their own con- tiiiiiteatntiweilit to eupport the ultra• Whig, or "green" parte !
lie said, as a tradesman, I cannot afford any polities'
corns hi their own way. A printer not belon .ing to tI e biaa, but this don't help me ; I can please no one of icy
Union is called a " rat," and Union 110016 iositivel' custoineni without offending all the rest. I wish I never
refuse to work in his company. If in anv }I
rintin Y
office the ',node ewnged were t•„ion ~,,,i• th‘, 0ffi,14,. had a vote." I have my doubts whether the ballot
would really have saved him. I have no doubt but that
would be absolutely cliemil against any Mile' i .•
lieu skill. If the employers ventured Upon talci:gn.
operative, however excellent might be his character or in my village—in nine villages out of ten—it would be a
le:i't mere farce Village secrets are ever ill kept ;—the beer
barrel, the sweetheart, or the wife would soon get out
all the rest would leave, so that on his very firisit'
and let out who hal dared to be independent. Once set
entnince into his trade a young artisan finds himself suspicion on the track of a mall defenceless against go
debarred as far se poseible from einployment by men many, and you would be his ruin.
assuming to be his benefactors mid protectors. Let us
next euppose that, with them terrors hanging over his I adniit my finu belief that on most estatee the cot-
head, he joins the Union, and accepts the chances of tagers would be tree to the lepideweers : they know
membership rather than fight %nixie-handed againet the nothing, care nothing about political parties ; they care
for their daily interest, and that lies under their noses,
machinations of a league. From that hour he sum-n'
at their mouths. by their bedsides. They are content to
'hers every particle of personel independence and inili-
let the gentlefolk fight for a Parliament seat ; if they
vidual freedom. He is the slave of an unasen and di,- let
help, they will go to the work, as they do to hoe
taut conclave, whose orders are imperatively conveyed
to him, to be obeyed at his peril. To begin with. car-
need always his work, that they may get their wages
tam n large eatablielimente are closed in his face, lie is
fur it.
positively bound not to accept employment in the offices
But look at the case of the labourer in an "en "
of the Times or the Queen'. printer. or in those of the
which, wherever he may be engaged, he must resign his i IH".
Morning and greseioo Year, or Mors's, l'
,t eel. b„id„ parish; working for one man he very likely will rent
house from another ; how is he to please both?
their master's turnips. openly for linn, and beanie they
Without the ballot lie might choose the most powerful
by his side. This is but the commencement of his
engagement if anv non-Union printer is called in to wink '
) and trout to him for protection. But voting in secret,
work or measure his own labour. The co...ft, iof deceit from both! An election would bring down
how is he to satisfy either? how escape the imputation
slavery, for he cannot even put a erica. uisin his urn
I
lannUillen not only to nosiiiiixte the places of los engage. ;' ("al mm.h a village a very arn'Y of Paid Partisans- Poor
ment, but to tit his wages for him. and determine the
ia winicon would be coaxed, threatened, argued with,
besought. tempted with money. tempted with every lie
time and period of lin. exertion.. All this ts no longer
• • the fertility of a calivaaa begets; he is • simple fellow,
wetter of hie own choloe, Cspacity or speculation; lie is
Winit a process for lila conversion into • rogue All tell
.
am m ere unit in a ob—a living and n thinng ki creature,
but with no freedoln in the exercise of his will or lamer. him.—" No one will know how you vote. He will times
These are the conditions of his daily calling. which. II; led to "Tomb* cmikienfiglill all milliner of ways, for
under i.enalty of probeription. and, if the 'society could all aorta of advantage, and at last, from some sense of
insure it, of starvation, he inlaid needs accept. right or wrong, as it way he, will very likely rote in
direct opposition to those from whom he receive' the
The case came out with remarkable clearness in the
l most, or by whom he is promised the most. I feel con-
. vision'. Sir. that to the labourers of our villain a rote
n plaintiff was a newspaper proprietor in that town— it
itiaerrel at Sheffield which oeCanioned the trial before us
we be a corm, not a blessing ; that in their case the
a sort of heademarters of the Printera' Union. and the
,b,:illot will he the reverse of a protection from every is
defendant piirsjusel the same profession in the same
tension
ere. rear. is( the(ronch Mc ; that, so far from such an ix'
nsion or the suffrage proving salutary to the nation at
place. lii Iwiiiitoliie. phi: i
wn ti.i fr,,s.aotilio eibwreir,ie. a 3Ailu, ibuybel
ire of.saiievt.my
i•
this desire he stated with great plainness. "Time great large, it will aggravate existing corruption, and give to
. those who do intimidate their dependents increased
objection WAS that their connexion with the t mon ineana of doing so. I am aware of the unpopularity of
enabled them to rule Ise and be my master (and they •
li t isi view, but I cannot shrink from its expresion.
were ems), instead of my ruling them and being their
master. I could not employ what men I liked. They
would have struck if I had employed a non-Union man. _....--_
They would not allow we to make arrangements as to
the wages I should pey —an inferior man must be paid
as much as a good man—iuul would not allow lite to set
a man his work according to his capacity. They wanted
some type, and I gave them wine. and they refused to
use it, although it was detrimental to theui not to du so.
They would not allow me to print for whom I liked."
Under these eireninatalsecol inl took the resolution of
employing inure manageable hands, and the ColineqUelhle
was that the society Minted a placard no scandalous and
injurious as to oomititute. when inserted as an advertise.-
ment
_in the
..deferithilit'e_oaper, • libel, which the jury