Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-30

EDINBURGH STIRRED
Spirit of LaWIesSneSs Marks
Close of Exposition.
CONFLICT WITH POLICE
Dramatic Incidents Test Patience Of
Guards.
MELEES AT VARIOUS BARS
Bottles. Glasses and Stones Fly
Promiscuously in Mad Onslaught.
Dispensing Crowd a Problem.

Special CableSram 10 The Star
EDINBURGH. November 30.-With the
closing of exhibitions in this country has
somehow come 10 be associated an out
break of the spirit OF lawlessness. The
termination of the Scottist national eNhi-
bition last Saturday night furnished no
exception to that experience. but the pre-
cautions taken were sufficient to check
any serious destruction of property. For
a. time, however, the situation was dis
tinctly threatening. In one or two IN
stances individuals came into sharp con.
fiict with the police, but the wise direc-
ton of the officers Of the law by Chief
Constable Ross effectually prevented any
thing in the nature of organization on
the part of the mob.
a number OF arrests, chiefly for assaults
upon police constables, were made, but
only one case was regarded as Of a grave
character. 1t is that of young man
who. after being taken into custody for
an offense of that kind. was found to
have couple of stones ia his pockets
He was locked W. Several other arrests
were made, but the persons, nearly all
of them big lads, were released on giving
their names and addresses, and may or
may not he proceeded against. About
Il
juries found their way to the Royal In
Urinary
Throughout the day the business of the
exhibition was conducted with its GUS
tomary orderliness Rarely. since the
opening days i'm May have such places as
the Industrial Hall been so well pa
tronized The bargain hunters oppor-
tunity had arrived. All day long the
stream of visitors TO the various stalls
was continuous. but perfect order was
maintained. Out of doors the weather
was delightful. The air was mild for the
advanced season of the year. and the
musical performances of the Irish Guards
and Irwell Springs prize band were lis
tened to. by large and appreciative au-
diences.
Toward evening the gathering within
the grounds gained enormously. and
about O'clock. when the gates were
closed against further admissions IL was
estimated that not less than 10000 peo-
pie were within the precincts of the ex-
hibition. BY that time such buildings as
the Fine Arts. Womens and Artisan Sec
tons had been closed. The industrial and
machinery halls remained opened up to
that. hour If any fear of difficulty in
getting these places closed safely was
entertained 1t was disappointed Ar
rangements had been made that the clos
ing ceremony should take place at
o'clock
Formal Closing Of Exposition.
The duty of formally declaring the Scot.
fish. national exhibition at an end fell to
Sir Robert Cranston. K.C.V.O., the chair
man OF the executive committee He
made the announcement from the balcony
over the main entrance to the industrial
nail Supporting Sir Robert were most OF
the members of the executive committee
the secretary, James Marchbank, SS.C,
ana the manager. W. H. Knight In
front OF him was crowd of over 10000.
viewed from the altitude of the balcony
the great square presented a scene that
will not readily be forgotten by those
who were privileged to witness IT.
So far everything passed off in tho
most orderly fashion. II was about $50
pm. The caterer had announced his de.
termination to close the various bars at
that hour. One of the chief Of these was
what was known as the Terrace bar II
| occupied part of the industrial hall.
reaeheS I h~ g,ss Inc SQUARE and was
grassy banks protected by short metal
ratings. After hearing all that was to
be heard certain element in the crowd
made daSh for the Terrace bar. 1t had
been closed. About half a dozen police
constables, mounted guard over the door,
withstood the shock of the rush for a
time. but the mob was persistent. and
the troubles Of the police were added to
when the bar came to be cleared of it,
visitors. Many of the latter before laay-
ing the premises, had provided themselves
with empty bottles and glasses: others
had wrenched off the metal advertise
ments round the walls of the bar and
carried them forth. The use OF these
trophies as missiles came in later
Strongly reinforced. the police-there
were about $50 on the ground. nearly
score OF them being mounted-pressed the
crowd back to the lower level of the
square. The iron ratings bent under the
strain and lay twisted on the bank which
the passage of many feet over it had
turned into bank of mud Bottles and
beer glasses hurtled through the air. One
mounted constable received a pretty Sc
we're wound on the face from a piece OF
glass thrown at him: Most of the mis-
siles, however. found billets in the glass
and plaster of the buildings. upon the
lower parts of which great holes ap-
peared. But the stock Of these dangerous
missiles was soon expended and the riot
Gus spirits betook themselves to the less
exciting amusement of shying mud balls
at the police.
No Disposition to Dispense.
1t is no more than is due to them 20
say that the latter bore patiently with
these disorderly proceedings. For more
Than hour they held off the crowd.