The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-29 00:00:00

THE _FATAL RIOT AT ALDERSHOT.

Since thy; occurrence of this naost unfortunate

outbreak at Aldershot a re

tars court of inquiry
t;o•ate in the most
0
;es whic;t lcd to

has been sitting at Camp, to in
searching ma
thi

o circumstanc

_rave breach of discipline. Untii this- inquiry
is concluded both the evidence and-the decision at
which the Court may arrive will be kept secret, but
enough has already transpired to show, as well as
how the quiirrel
originated, and who were malty to Llanie. As is

tamed

•
always the case iii cai:lp.) and harraek:,, the usual
strict bonds of tli:,cipline are relaxed ou Christmas
nights, when a liberal allowance is made for any '
slight breach of discipline arising from prolonged
and unusual festivities. At the same time, however,
while this indulgence is to a certain extent allowed,
yet, as a matter of course, in dealing with such a
large body of armed men as are always in camp at
Aldershot, special precautions are taken on such
occasions to prevent fighting or insubordination of
any kind. These customary precautions were, we
are informed, by no means overlooked at Aldershot
on Christmas night last, as it was known, or sup-
posed, that between two regiments in camp, which
we need not name, a bad feeling subsisted, and
which in case of the men meeting at the canteens
when excited by drink, might break out into open
violence at any moment. Against the occurrence
of any disturbance between these two regiments
therefore precautions were taken, which were quite
successful. Between the 2d Battalion of the 24th
Regiment and the King's Own, or Tower Hamlets'
Militia, the best possible feeling was supposed
always to exist, part of the latter regiment occupy-
ing the same block of permanent barracks with the
former. Any collision between these two corps,
therefore, it is needless to say, was never for a
moment dreamt ef; yet, at a moment when least
expected, a drunken squabble among the men in a
canteen gave rise to a most serious riot, which,
though all• happening comparatively in but a short
space of time, actually proceeded to such lengths
that the 24th at last attacked and fired upon
their comrades in the militia, killing one and
wounding three others. As we stated in our im-
pression of yesterday, the 2d Battalion of the 24th,
forming part of the Second Brigade, occupied the
west block of buildings of the permanent barracks
in the South Camp. As long descriptions of these
barracks appeared in The ,Sun when they were re-
cently finished, we need only say here that those
intended for the infantry are built in double blocks
in parallel lines, the spaces between the front and
back blocks being covered in with a ridge and furrow
roof of glass and iron, so as to form a sheltered pa-
rade ground for the men in all weathers. The
backs of each block looking on to this parade have
outside each story a wide balcony running along
the entire length of the building and giving access
to the rooms inside. The faults of commission and
omission in the whole of these permanent barracks
designed by the Royal Engineers are neither few
nor unimportant. Two among others being, first,
that none of the regimental officers live in any of
the blocks with the men, but some distance apart;
and secondly, that all the blocks are too large for
one regiment, and too small for two. The result of
the latter inconvenience is, that at the west block
the 2d Battalion of the 24th with three companies
of the Tower Hamlets' Militia are quartered toge-
ther. The former corps occupies the whole of the
front block and the lower stories of the back ditto,
leaving the upper story of the latter to the three
Militia companies we have mentioned. The other
companies of the Tower Hamlets' Militia Regiment
were distributed in huts in the South Camp, near
head-quarters. As is the custom on Christmas-day,
the officers provided the Christmas dinners for the
men of their respective companies on last Sunday.
At these entertainments, which took place in the
middle of the day, there is no doubt but that many
of the men laid the foundation for that state of in-
toxication which was more or lessprevalent through-
out the Camp on that evening. After the dinners
were over, the troops mostly went as usual to their
various canteens, the men of the 24th Regiment and
those of the Tower Hamlets' Militia going to their
own in the west block. It was here the quarrel
first began, and like all drunken squabbles of the
kind, there are at least 50 different versions of the
affair. The most probable account, and that• most
generally believed, is that it arose from some men
of the Militia treating two or three of the 24th to
beer, which other men of the latter regiment, who
were not invited to partake of it, drank up. A fight
is stated to have ensued, in which the 24th were
beaten, though quickly reinforced by large numbers
of their comrades, the Militia were soon over-
powered, and driven to take shelter in their bar-
racks, where the 24th were also quartered. A
running fight appears to have taken place, during
which the Militiamen reached the balcony attached
to the story in front of their portion of the block.
On this place of retreat a general attack seems to
have been made by the men of the 24th, armed with
sticks, brooms, stones, and large lumps of coal,
which was of course replied to in kind from above
by the Militiamen. The row had only lasted a few
minutes, and the Militiamen, who were outnumbered
in the rate of six to one, and appear to have been
getting the worst of it, since they were now, many
of them, running for shelter to their rooms, when a
cry was raised arming the 24th that their opponents
were going for their r:fies.

Though' this statement appears to have been
without the least foundation, yet, most unfortu-
nately, the men of the 24th believed it, and conceiv-
ing that they were about to be attacked with fire-
arms, at once, in their drunken rage, went in for
their own. As a matter of course, there were soon
obtained, the men appearing to seize whichever fire-
lock carne first to hand. A most imprudent rule of
the service requires that each man in camp or garri-
son shall always be provided with 20 rounds of ball
cartridge, and with these some of the men instantly
loaded and fired very many rounds from one balcony
across into the other occupied by the Militia. The
marks of 27 halls are still to be seen on the doors,
walls, and windows, One man, a private in the
Militia, named James King, who was standing in
one of the rooms warming himself by the fire, was
shot through the abdomen by a rife bullet which
came through the room door. He fell at once, and,
after a few hours of intense suffering, died. Two
other men were also wounded with bullets, though
not dangerously, and one drummer lad was
much hurt by blows from sticks and stones. All
those men belonged to the Tower Hamlets' Militia,
not one of the 24th being injured, we believe, in any
way. All this fighting and firing took place, as we
have said, in a very few minutes. Instantly on
hearing of the riot, Major Adams, of the Tower
Hamlets' Militia, with other officers, hurried to the
spot, and, seconded by the exertions of the officers
of the 24th, who had also been alarmed, the dis-
turbance was soon quelled. It would have been
known, probably, and stopped before a shot could
have been fired if the night had not been an un-
usually wild and stormy one, the wind sweeping
across the heath with such fierceness that not a
sound of the struggle reached the officers' quarters
till the firing actually commenced. The divisional
pickets were marched to the spot at once, and, as a
further precaution, the regiments of the second bri-
gade were also paraded. Both the 24th and the
Tower Hamlets' Regiments were immediately de-
prived of their weapons and ammunition. A careful
examination of both was made which showed that
all the shots had been fired by the men of the 24th
Regiment, for the weapons of the Militia were clean,
and their complement of ball-cartridge untouched.
About 50 of the men of the 24th were at once ar-
rested, and of these more than 40 of those most im-
plicated are still in custody. A few of the Tower
Hamlets' Militia were also locked up, but none, we
are informed,. remain now under arrest, as there
seems not the least doubt but that they were the
parties aggrieved, and that the men of the 24th
have committed a most cowardly outrage.
Of course not the least clue has been obtained to
the man who fired the fatal shot. Indeed, most of
those who fired at all are said to have been too
drunk to tell the direction in which they were level-
ling, and nothing but this and the darkness of the
night can account for so few of the Militia having
been hit during the fusillade. The non-com-
missioned officers who have more immediate
charge of the men are much blamed in camp for
allowing the riot to progress to the alarming ex-
tent it did without at once informing the officers
of both the corps engaged, when the fatal con-
sequences,, of the tumult might have been averted.
he public also, we think, will be inclined to ask
whether it is not high time the imprudent rule
which places weapons and. 20 rounds of ball cart-
ridge in the reach of often drunken men, should not
be rescinded, as far at least as regards the troops in
England. If on last Christmas night the men of
the 'fewer Hamlets' Militia had. yielded so far to
their exasperated feelings as to return the fire of
their assailants, there is no knowing what the loss
of life would have been on both sides, for such a
fight once begun could not have been easily stopped.
It is much to be regretted that the year, which has
up to the present been particularly enarked by the
good conduct of all the troops in carefp, should now i
close lvida such an instance of murd.eroae nsubor-
dinathan. The inquest on the murdered man is
ti:ccd to take place in the South Camp to morrow
(this day). His Royal Highness the Coalmand -
in-Chief will visit the camp to-morrow to inquire
personally into the circumstances connected with
the emeute.

The. 24th Regiment still remains in it_4 old quar-
ters, in the l Vest Block, where the riot took place•
It is not, we i ')elieve, intended to change the position
of this regiment, as such a change would be tanta-
mount to an a Omission on the part of the camp au-
thorities that they had no means of keeping order,
among the trc ops save by keeping the regime Ats

apart: Putting aside this unfortunate outbreak of
drunken ill-temper, all th® regiments in camp have
lately been most unusually well-behaved and
healthy.

PROPOSED AIIIAI.OAIIIATIOX OF TILE
.LO2N7DON GA S COMPANIES.
The details of a plan for the settlement of the
disputes between the metropolitan parishes and
the gas companies by the amalgamation of the 13
companies into one, have been published in a letter
to the Right Hon. Sir George C. Lewis, Bart., by
Mr. T. G. Barlow, the chief points of which
are thus set forth : " That £5,472,320 in
stock of the amalgamated company' shall be
distributed amongst the holders of fully paid-up
non-preferential shares in the existing companies,
in proportion to the net profits realised by each
company during the year ending at Midsummer
last, after deducting the dividends paid en prefe-
rence shares ; interest on bonds, mortgages, or
loans ; reproduction and redemption funds. for the
conversion of all leasehold and copyhold property
into freehold ; but, in making such distribution,
the additional profits arising from the sale of com-
mon coal gas by any of the companies withiia the
limits of the Metropolis Local Management Act,
1855, at rates exceeding 4s. 6d. per 1,000 cubic
feet, and beyond those limits at rates exceeding ss.
per cubic feet, shall not be taken into account ;
and if any dispute or difference should arise be-
tween the companies as to the amount of stock in
the amalgamated company to which they may be
respectively entitled under this condition, the same
shall be referred to arbitration, under the provi-
sions of the Railway Clauses Act, 1845. That the
holders of all partially paid-up shares shall have
the option of paying up the balance due on their
respective shares, and of then receiving stock in the
amalgamated company, on the same basis as
the holders of fully paid-up shares ; but that
in the event of their declining to accept this
option they shall receive stock for the amount
actually paid up on the same basis. That all
preference shares, bonds, debentures, mortgages,
loans, or other obligations of the existing com-
panies shall become charges on the amalgamated
company. That the provisions of the Gasworks
Clauses Act, 1847, shall be incorporated in the act
of the amalgamated company. That the profits to
be divided in any one year amongst the shareholders
of the amalgamated company, shall not exceed £6
13s. 4d. per cent. on the ordinary paid-up share
capital. That the reserve fund shall not exceed
one-fortieth part of the nominal capital of the com-
pany. That all new stock which may be issued by
the amalgamated company shall be sold by auction,
and if sold at a premium the premium shall not be
considered as part of the capital of the company
entitrid to dividend. That the maximum price for
cannel coal gas supplied by the amalgamated com-
pany within the limes of the Metropolis Local
Management Act, 1855, shall be 6s. per 1,000 cubic
feet, except in the City of London and the liberties
thereof, and in those parts of the districts of Lime-
house, Mile-end Old-town,Poplar, and Whitechapel,
which are now supplied with gas by the Commer-
cial Company, where the maximum price shall be
4s. per 1,000 cubic feet, with a rent for the hire of
meters equal to 121 per cent, on their cost ; and that
the maximum price for cannel coal gas supplied
by the company beyond the limits of the before-
mentioned act shall be 6s. Bd., and for common
coal gas ss. per 1,000 cubic feet. That, unless pre-
. vented by frost, unusual deficiency of coals, or other
unavoidable cause or accident, or during necessary
, repairs occasioned by such accident, the minimum
illuminating power of all cannel coal gas supplied
by the company shall be such that a burner consum-
ing three cubic feet of gas per hour shall give a light
equal to 12 sperm candles, each candle burning 120
grains per hour ; and the illuminating power of all
common coal gas shall be such that a burlier consum-
ing five cubic feet of gas per hour shall give the
same light. That the Amalgamated Company shall
be managed by a chairman and 28 directors, to be
elected by the shareholders from amongst the direc-
tors of the existing companies, and by seven direc-
tors to be named by the Metropolitan Board of
Works. That one or more eminent chemists, to be
named by the Board of Trade, shall be appointed to
test the quality and purity of the gas supplied by
the company, and to report thereon every month.
That oee or more auditors, to be named by the
Board of Trade, shall be appointed to audit the half-
yearly accounts of the company, and that copies of
the accounts so audited shall be lodged with the
clerks of the peace of the counties of Middlesex, Sur-
rey, and Kent. That the company shall be bound to
supply gas to all public street lamps which may be
erected by any of the district boards or vestries, at
distances not exceeding 75 consecutive yards from
each other, at the lowest price charged for gas to any
private consumer within the district. That, upon
the application of the owner or occupier of any
building or premises situated- within 10 yards of
any main belonging to the company, the company
shall supply gas as may be required to such build-
ing or premises, and that although the former te-
nant may be in arrear for gas supplied ; but the
company may, if they think fit, require a reason-
able sum to be deposited with them as security, and
if any dispute shall arise as to the reasonableness of
the security required, it shall be heard and deter-
mined by a justice. That, so long as the charge for
cannel coal gas supplied by the company within the
limits of the Metropolis Local Management Act,
1855, shall exceed ss. 8d per 1,000 cubic feet, and 4s.
3d. per 1,000 cubic feet for common coal gas the
company shall not be authorised to divide more than
5 per cent. on their ordinary paid-up share capital,
nor more than 6 per cent, when the prices shall
have been reduced to the above rates, but that they
shall be permitted to divide £6 13s. 4d. per cent.
when the prices shall be reduced to Ss. 4d. per 1,000
cubic feet of cannel coal gas, and 4s. per 1,000 cubic
feet of common coal gas, within the districts where
the present charges are Os. and 4s. 6d. respec•
tively. That within three years of the passing of
an act for carrying these arrangements into
effect the manufacture of gas shall be discon-
tinued at the Westminster, Brick-lane, and Cur-
tain-road works of the Chartered Gas Company.
That power shall be granted to the Amalgamated
Company for the erection of a new western gas
manufacturing station on Old Oak-common, or the
vicinity thereof; for pochasing the Victoria Dock
Gasworks; and for establishing telegraphic com-
munication by wires between the several stations
of the company and a central office. That any
salaried officer or servast of the existing companies
whose engagement is otherwise than by, the week,
and whose services may not be required under the
new distribution of districts, shall be entitled to a
retiring pension for life equal in amount to two-
thirds of his present salary."
In further explanation of the conditions on which
it is proposed that the amalgamation shall take
place, it is stated that the amount of fully paid-up
non-preferential share capital of the existing com-
panies is £3,648,215, and as the amalgamated stock
on which the dividends would afterwards have to
be paid would be £5,472,320, the proposed maxi-
mum dividend of £6 13s. 4d. per cent. would be
equal to 10 per cent. on the existing capital of the
companies; and as the present average dividends
amount to about 71 per cent. on that capital, the
proposed maximum would be 21 per cent, higher
than the existing profits. As 10 per cent. is the
maximum dividend allowed by Parliament in all
the recent acts for the establishment of gas com-
panies, neither the shareholders nor the gas con-
sumers can grumble at the rate of dividend pro-
posed ; and that dividend, it will be seen, is not to
be shared until the price of gas has been consider-
ably reduced ; all subsequent increase of profits be-
ing devoted to the diminution of price.
It is observed by Mr. Harlow that gasworks,
from their very nature, must be monopolies, and
the great economical question for consideration is,
whether the public 'can be better served by one
well-regulated and properly controlled body, than
by 13 separate and independent bodies, each having
a distinct administration and staff, and uncontrolled
by any check on the part of the public except the
delusive one of being open to short-lived competi-
tion, the certain end orwhich would be combination.
In the proposed amalgamation the interests of the
gas consumers, as well as those of the gas com-
panies, appear to be consulted; and as Mr. Harlow
is known to possess the confidence of the latter,
whilst he has been called on by the principal organ
of the delegates from the parishes to suggest a plan
for the arrangement of the gas supply of the metro-
polis, it may be hoped that both parties will agree to
the proposed settlement of their differences.

A CHRISTMAS HoAx.—The lovers of the turf were
agreeably surprised on Monday morning at seeing an adver-
tisement in the Guardian of a "novel and exciting steeple-
chase," to take place that day, on the Old Trafford course.
The bill of fare comprised a race "between l'ilr. Bell's per-
forming
elephant, and a West Australian goat, six. fences,
distance one mile, fur a wager of £100," and sundry other
races of a less interesting character. This very novel an-
nouncement caused considerable interest amongst the sport- '
ing fraternity, the omnibuses carried down goodly numbers
to see the strange sight, while cabs, drags, and other
vehicles were also called into requisition,- and the road
assumed quite an•animated appearance —so many were there
anxious to see I,l\e fun. Considerable curiosity was ex-
pressed as to hoW, the " unwieldy brute" ,would take the
fences, and whether the goat would have a rider. The
matter, however, was not long in doubt, fur as each vehicle
put down its load at the entrance to the course, and as the
pedestrians arrived, they were greeted with a broad grin
by the rustics assembled there, and bide in very earnest
terms to "go whoam" again. Whether the innkeepers htri
laid in an extra stock of Christmas beef, and were anxious
to get up a merry party together rto
whetheren joy itit,
wag
and , , s
got o pr au
pc, -,
tised this hoax upon the people, or
by some anti -racing lovers
of the turf, wo are unable
ttlen It: dtreyeitdhee; gbaultliwhthhoetyveerf theth e
jokers
' nch
were they would have had a very warm reception lead
they presented
themselves on the growl.--
Guardian. , .