The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-09-24 00:00:00

RIOTOUS SCENES AT LILLIE-BRIDGE.

A STATION-INSPECTOR DROPS DEAD.

On Monday, at Lillie-bridge Grounds, West
Brompton, a most disgraceful riot took place, involving
in one instance a fatal result. The grounds wera
thronged by about 5000 persons, who had congregated
to witness the 120 yards race betweeu the two most
celebrated sprint runners in existence, Harry
Hutchens, of Putney, the champion of the world, and
H. Gent, of Darlington. Hutchens is about 32
years of age, and has been before the public some
dozen years, during which time he has won a great
number of prizes, including three Sheffield Handicaps.
In his day Hutchens was undoubtedly the finest
sprint runner that ever lived. Gent is about 10 years
junior to the champion, and has only quite recently
become famous, chiefly owing to the fact that he won
both the Easter and Whitsuntide Handicaps at Shef-
field this year from back marks. The match was
made between the pair about two months since, on
Hutchens returning from Australia, the prizes at
issue being the "Sprint Championship of the
World" and £2OO. All sorts of rumours have
been afloat for the lust few days as to the
performances of the men during their training,
besides which it was whispered that a certain section
meant one man winning at any price. This was the
state of affairs at Lillie-bridge on Monday, when
shortly after four o'clock the public passed through
the turnstiles in great numbers. Several well-known
bookmakers were present, together with a great many
persons connected with all branches cf sport, includ-
ing a strong Northern contingent, to support the Dar-
lington runner. By reason of his recent victories
Gent was made a strong favourite, as much as 2 to 1
and 5 to 2 being laid on him to a large amount--in
one hand £250 to £125 was laid. Presently, how-
ever, the betting veered round, and speedily level
money and then odds on Hutchens were offered. All
this time the crowd behaved in the most orderly
manner, the great majority, of course, having come to
witness the race and the race only. About ten minutes
past five a faint cheer went up around the ground
when Gent, attended by his trainer, appeared on the
path, and just afterwards there was some louder
applause for Hutchens, when he, too, came to inspect
the track. The pair tossed for choice of station, and
the stranger having won, they retired to the pavilion
to strip for the race. Immediately afterwards the
betting underwent an extreordinary change, and as
much as 10 to 1 was offered against Gent. This '
naturally caused great excitement, and it was freely
whispered that something was wrong. It soon became
apparent that there would be no race, and some of the
big bookmakers present at once began to return money.
The crowd now having an inkling of the fact that
nothing was to be seen rushed to the gates to get their
money back. Whether or not there was any difficulty
about this in the first place could not for certain be
ascertained, but, led on by a few roughs, who were
speedily joined by hundred of others, the crowd
began to pull down the palings round the track.
Tee people speedily swarmed over the green, destroy-
ing evorj thing that came in their way, and in about
half an hour the ground and its surrounding pre-
sented a mast disgraceful scene. The few police on
the ground, of course, were powerless against the mob.
At last several roughs, more recklessly destructive
than the rest, proceeded to kindle a fire with the
pil-d-up palings close to tile West London Railway,
and this was speedily surrounded by a riotous com-
pany, who added fuel to the flames. As a number of
people were making their way over the hedge to the
West Brompton Station two or three of the officials
tried to stop them, and one pour fellow—an inspector
named Coombe, in the employ of the West London
Extension Railway Company—dropped down dead,
apparently from heart disease. In the meantime
another bonfire was started in the middle of the
ground, and a third by the Seagrave-road side,
these also attracting noisy crowds around them. Then
a fourth and much more serious fire occurred, for
after looting one of the refreshment bars the wing of the
Grand Stand was deliberately fired. These events
occupied altogether about an hour, during which the
20 policemen under Inspector Moss, of the T Division,
were powerless, in the absence of the reinforcements
which had been promptly sent for. Shortly before
seven, however, bodies of police of the A, B, and F
Div;sions appeared on the ground, and several engines
of t}-e Metropolitan Fire Brigade being also quickly
on the spot, the chief part of the stand was saved,
and the crowd was gradually dispersed about half-past
seven. Towards the finish it was estimated that 300
constables were on the spot. A few arrests were
made, but mostly for assaults on the police. It is
impossible to estimate the damage done, but it must
have been considerable, for quite a third of the stand
was burnt out, while the ground itself was simply
wrecked, and a lot of racing bicycles were also spoiled.
The firemen were unmolested throughout, but the
mounted constabulary fared badly, for they were
pelted by the "Lob with ginger beer bottles, &c., and
several constables are reported as being seriously in-
jured. Altogether the riot was the most disgraceful
that has ever occurred in connection with any sporting
event.