The Labor enquirer., 1885-01-24

review lochs, glens and towering hiRs.
1t also gave time to remark that hardly
anywhere could there be seen signs Of
human beings, at the stations there VI ere
crowds of two or three people who had
congreeated to see the passing Of the po-
flice, but the whole Highland question
was put in nutshell by an English lady
who was travelling with me and who in
nocently remarked "But where are the
Ipeople PA question which may be
asked some day in somewhat sterner
tones Of the Dukes of Sutherland and
Argyll, the Macleods and Macdonalds
and other noble lords On arriving at
Strome Ferry, l found that there was no
steamer sailing for Portree, except the
steamship Lochiel which had been char
tered for the sheriff and his posse Of po-
lice. The story of the Lochiel Is now
well known. When she was chartered
by the government Captain Humphreys
and halfthe crew resigned their positions
; 4
ratherthan 60 on such service against
the unfortunate Crofters. Itwas noble
act on their part for Of course they are
now marked as rebellious men to be
secuted by all true friends of the lairds
and the upper classes. Unfortunately
there was not much difficulty in finding
another crew; and as the train arrived at
Strome Ferry we saw the Lochiel lying
off the little jetty with steam up ready to
start for Portree. As no other steamer
was going till the following Monday and
as the only other alternative was forty
five mile drive by land, there was moth
ing to be done but to petition the sheriff
to take US with him, 30 in conjunction
with two other London correspondents
i received permission to 60 on the
Lochiel. | need hardly say that I OBJ
tained leave to 60 with the sheriff not as
Socialist delegate, but as London cor
respondent. During the three hours
sail to Portree the sheriff regaled us with
accounts of the difficulty which he had
in getting the home secretary to place a
military force at his disposal, and his
language was far from complimentary to
Sir William Harcourt, of whose charac-
ter and abilities he evidently had very
low opinion. 1t is impossible to move
anywhere in the Highlands without see
ing the cause of the Crofters' ruin even
in sailing from Stro1ne to Portree, you see
all along the sides of the hills crofts.
from which the men have been ev!cted.
now given up to sheen, while the first
sight of Skye is large deer forest be-
longing to The Macleod. On reaching
Portree we were dismissed with the
|shaEiAI e hen8dictinn and nromises Of
earfysaasermation as to the movements
of the expedition. We landed and got
accommodation at the Portree hotel,
which Is kept by Mr.. D. Machines, a
good friend to the Crofters, the hotel in
fact being lookedupo as the headquar-
ters of the agitation. A meeting we
heard had been held that day at Uig
about fifteen miles off to deliberate on
what course should be adopted by the
Crofters in view of the arrival of the ex-
pedition. After much talking 1t had
been resolved to offer no resistance; they
knew that they could overwhelm the
small force which had been sent against
them, but it was useless to attempt to
Withstand the whole force of the British
empire. So deputation consisting of
John Macpherson of Glendale and Dun
can Cameron of the Oban Times was
sent on board the Lochiel to inform the
sheriff of the resolution. At the same
time they tsld him that they were still
determined to carry on legal agitation.
The first thing discovered in Skye was
that without exception the reports Of
outrages and intimidations were false.
They had been furnished to the sheriff
by one man, an expelled police officer
and now ground factor to the most ty-
rannical landlord in Skye, OF whom L
have something to say presently. The
true facts about outrage had been given
Scotch newspapers before the expedition
was sent down and Sir William Har-
court ought to have seen these, and at
any rate set fresh inquiries on foot. The
said to lave been outraged denied it,
and tales of destruction of property were
without foundation. However the Crof-
tiers haye gained everything by the ex-
pedltion so it is not for them to COM
plain. 1t is for the nation at large to say
whether they approve of 100000 to
/ ESQ, 600 being spent in backing up q
tyrannical landlord and pandering to
the vanity of an incompetent official.
On Sunday morning, 10th November
the troophip Assistance arrived in Port
rec bay. so the expedition was now COM
plete W ith the exception of one gunboet
the Banterer, which was to meet them
4 in Ufg bay in. the course of the after
noon. - ..ti ..'..u
Zig was chosen as the first spot for the
4 display of force, because it is the most
disafected district, and the conduct Of
/ the Crofters there was watched with great
j anxiety by their friends because the
4 men are particularly indignant there
! owing to the great wrongs they have sui
fsred, The landlord of the district. the
!. Kilmuir estate, which embraces blg
stenscholl, Staffin. Yaltos, and many