The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-08-13
THE SUNDAY QUESTION IN SCOT
 LAND.

The action of the Dunoon Burgh Commissioners in refusing to permit the landing of passengers by the Sunday pleasure steamer Victoria, which form erly ran on the Thames to Margate, eliminated yesterday in a series of eX- traordinary scenes at Dunoon. Ihe legal developments in the case since the first unsuccessful attempt to land pas sengers several weeks ago had rais- ed public interest in the West or Scot land to an intense degree. The inten- ton of calling and landing passengers at Dunoon was extensively advertised, and it was announced through the press that the Commissioners would adhere to their policy of keeping the | pier gates closed. It is generally under stood in Glasgow that as the result of the recent Board of Trade inquiry the l bylaws relating to the closing of the 1 pier on Sundays is to be abrogated or else it will not be passed by the Board
 of Trade.
 The steamer Victoria, popularly
 know as the Sunday Breaker left Glasgow yesterday morning in splendid | weather with about 1000 passengers on board. A hundred persons had booked
 for Dunoon on the assurance of the
 management that landing would be made there in spite of the Commission
 ers' prohibition When the Victoria ap- preached Dunoon the place presented q
 singular aspect. The Castle Hill was
 crowded from the edge of the water to the ruins which crowns the slope above Highland Mary's statue by surging mass of excited humanity. The beach
 on both sides of the pier was also ot,-
 cuped by multitudes of the residents
 and visitors. All points of vantage
 even the housetops, were covered with
 eager spectators, but there was not a
 single person on the pier.
 As the Victoria touched the pier, de-
 afening chers were raised and handker-
 chiefs and hats were wildly waved
 ashore. The passengers, who were
 mostly men, landed, headed by Graemt
 Hunter, who is known as the boss
 union smasher," and advanced towards
 the new gates erected at the head of tht
 pier Outside the gates a strong force
 of Argyleshire constabulary were
 formed in line. Hunter advanced, ane in a loud voice warned the police office1
 in command to withstand at his peri the landing of the passengers. Int police officer replied that he would Keel
 the peace at all hazards and refused
 to open the gates Hunter, who Is powerful man, then rushed at the bar ricade with all his force, backed by tn , male passengers In solid phalanx. Tn
 gate resisted the first assault Tn l crowd outside then attacked the police
 and conflict ensued, there being s great number of individual bouts. Tn r police were badly hustled and sWep : aside by the mob, who immedlatel g attacked the gates, pulling at then
 while the passengers inside pushed an e battered with feet and shoulders. Tn - officer commanding the police de . spatched a constable for reinforcement 7 but long before their arrival one ot tn , gates was reduced to fragments, an . the passengers, cheering triumphantl! . streamed through and brushed aside tn q police, who made a gallant attemI at resistance, and mingled with LII Il crowd. An indescribable scene 10
 lowed. Thousands of persons appeare t to have lost their senses, and leapet = shouted. and danced with delight en II braced the passengers, and wrun . the hands of Hunter. No arrests wei # made. and no serious injuries are Tt n ported. Returning from Rothesay e Greenock in the afternoon, the Nictorl l. again called at Dunoon. The gates ha # not been replaced, and the pier WE l. now packed thirty deep. all those pr' ,e sent showing the heartiest sympatF