A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
1893 the Ackton Hall Colliery Riot
TROUBLE BREWING
The coal mine owners wanted a reduction in wages, the miners refused,
so a strike/lockout began on July 29. For a few weeks all was quiet as
both sides sat it our waiting for the other to give way first. Then, as
the owners refused to budge, there were rumblings among the more
militant miners, especially about selling coal from the surface stocks.
On September 4 the Yorkshire Miners' Union sent out a circular saying "Our officials hope that the same good conduct will continue. We do not think that violence of any kind will do our cause any good. We look to our local officials using every effort to prevent illegal action".
Until Tuesday September 5 nothing had happened at Featherstone to cause alarm. On that day some men were loading small coal (called slack) into railway wagons from heaps that had accumulated in the yard. This had gone on for three months, beginning before the lockout, and continuing through it every day.
Between noon and 1pm a crowd of men, women and boys went into the pit yard and insisted the loading of slack stopped. At the same time a large number of colliers armed with cudgels went to Featherstone Main Colliery demanding the men filling slack should cease work. After an angry discussion with the manager, Thomas Thompson, this was agreed. Miners also went to Snydale Colliery to persuade the surface men to stop loading coal. The workers got wind of what was happening and seeing the men approaching, many with cudgels, they took to their heels.
The next day a crowd gathered early at Ackton Hall Colliery and again prevented the loading of slack. William Henry Jacques, the foreman in charge, was told to go home by the ringleaders. He did this but was attacked at his home and his house windows were broken.
Alfred John Holiday, agent to Lord Masham, arrived at 9am and met representatives of the miners who told him what had occurred was without their knowledge or consent, and they regretted it very much. They stated however there was a very strong feeling among the miners about the sale of slack. Mr Holiday agreed to discontinue the sale of slack for a few days but said it must continue for colliery use. The deputation was satisfied with that and the loading of slack for colliery use only was resumed, but with a different gang of workers, the original men being too frightened to continue.
A mass meeting of miners was held that day on the green adjoining the football ground. Charles Cranswick, the Snydale checkweighman, presided and urged the men to refrain from violence so they would not lose the sympathy of the public who were providing soup kitchens. A voice from the crowd shouted "Why, soup is nowt but watter", and another said "The dogs won't eat it".
The checkweighman congratulated them on being able to stop work above ground, and recommended a visit to the collieries to see what was going on below. They would not allow slack to be filled any longer. A resolution to stand firm was carried unanimously.
An Express comment on the state of affairs so far was "The district of Featherstone is completely dependent on the earnings of the colliers, and already many of the inhabitants are feeling the pangs of hunger".
On September 4 the Yorkshire Miners' Union sent out a circular saying "Our officials hope that the same good conduct will continue. We do not think that violence of any kind will do our cause any good. We look to our local officials using every effort to prevent illegal action".
Until Tuesday September 5 nothing had happened at Featherstone to cause alarm. On that day some men were loading small coal (called slack) into railway wagons from heaps that had accumulated in the yard. This had gone on for three months, beginning before the lockout, and continuing through it every day.
Between noon and 1pm a crowd of men, women and boys went into the pit yard and insisted the loading of slack stopped. At the same time a large number of colliers armed with cudgels went to Featherstone Main Colliery demanding the men filling slack should cease work. After an angry discussion with the manager, Thomas Thompson, this was agreed. Miners also went to Snydale Colliery to persuade the surface men to stop loading coal. The workers got wind of what was happening and seeing the men approaching, many with cudgels, they took to their heels.
The next day a crowd gathered early at Ackton Hall Colliery and again prevented the loading of slack. William Henry Jacques, the foreman in charge, was told to go home by the ringleaders. He did this but was attacked at his home and his house windows were broken.
Alfred John Holiday, agent to Lord Masham, arrived at 9am and met representatives of the miners who told him what had occurred was without their knowledge or consent, and they regretted it very much. They stated however there was a very strong feeling among the miners about the sale of slack. Mr Holiday agreed to discontinue the sale of slack for a few days but said it must continue for colliery use. The deputation was satisfied with that and the loading of slack for colliery use only was resumed, but with a different gang of workers, the original men being too frightened to continue.
A mass meeting of miners was held that day on the green adjoining the football ground. Charles Cranswick, the Snydale checkweighman, presided and urged the men to refrain from violence so they would not lose the sympathy of the public who were providing soup kitchens. A voice from the crowd shouted "Why, soup is nowt but watter", and another said "The dogs won't eat it".
The checkweighman congratulated them on being able to stop work above ground, and recommended a visit to the collieries to see what was going on below. They would not allow slack to be filled any longer. A resolution to stand firm was carried unanimously.
An Express comment on the state of affairs so far was "The district of Featherstone is completely dependent on the earnings of the colliers, and already many of the inhabitants are feeling the pangs of hunger".
THE SITUATION WORSENS
On Thursday morning September 7 Mr Holiday arrived at the colliery to
find a crowd of about 200 people gathered. They had sticks and cudgels
and accused him of breaking the agreement about selling slack. Mr
Holiday said slack had only been loaded for colliery use. It is possible
the crowd had been misled by old destination labels for Bradford (for
Lord Masham's mills) which had not been removed from the wagons.
More people arrived to swell the crowd, and egged on by the women, who seemed more militant than the men, they turned their attention to the wagons. The women overturned one as an example and the men then turned over another six. Two wagons were set off down and incline and wrecked. The crowd then dispersed.
There was normally a police sergeant and four constables at Featherstone, but two of the constables were helping out at Doncaster races, leaving only Sergeant Sparrow and constables Wise and Whittaker to keep law and order. So when yet another crowd gathered, armed again with sticks and cudgels, Mr Holiday drove to Pontefract to ask for more police protection. He was told by the acting deputy superintendent there were nearly a dozen telegrams asking for similar aid and there was absolutely no one to send. Mr Holiday was advised to see the chief constable at Wakefield.
More people arrived to swell the crowd, and egged on by the women, who seemed more militant than the men, they turned their attention to the wagons. The women overturned one as an example and the men then turned over another six. Two wagons were set off down and incline and wrecked. The crowd then dispersed.
There was normally a police sergeant and four constables at Featherstone, but two of the constables were helping out at Doncaster races, leaving only Sergeant Sparrow and constables Wise and Whittaker to keep law and order. So when yet another crowd gathered, armed again with sticks and cudgels, Mr Holiday drove to Pontefract to ask for more police protection. He was told by the acting deputy superintendent there were nearly a dozen telegrams asking for similar aid and there was absolutely no one to send. Mr Holiday was advised to see the chief constable at Wakefield.
Mr Holiday returned to Ackton Hall Colliery where he found the crowd
engaged in emptying wagons of coal that had been standing in the sidings
since before the lockout. He did not recognise any Ackton Hall miners
among them but he did recognise some Featherstone miners who worked at
other collieries. He then left on the noon train for Wakefield.
Mr
Holiday repeated his request for police protection but he was told
because of the number of West Riding police (259) sent to Doncaster none
were available to be sent to Featherstone. Lord St Oswald was asking
for protection for Nostell Colliery, but as no police could be sent it
was agreed to ask for military aid.
THE TROOPS ARRIVE
The first request for troops was sent to York but none were available,
so the chief constable wired to Bradford for 50 infantry to be sent to
Westgate Station to be split between Nostell and Featherstone.
On his return to Ackton Hall Colliery at 2pm Mr Holiday found many office windows had been broken but otherwise all was quiet, although there was still a crowd of about 200 miners, miners' wives and pit boys outside the pit yard.
At 3.35pm Captain Digby Barker arrived at Wakefield with a lieutenant and 53 men. The troops were provided with Lee-Mitford rifles and 80 rounds of ball cartridges each but no blanks, the regulations not permitting the use of blanks in such circumstances.
Captain Barker did not at first agree to his men being split into two groups, but on being told it was absolutely necessary he sent the lieutenant and 25 men to Nostell and the remaining 28 accompanied him to Featherstone. Police Inspector William Edward Corden and two Wakefield constables were also sent with them. They arrived just after 4pm to be met by about 20 jeering men, but at the colliery there was neither crowd nor disorder.
According to William Smith Gill, deputy chief constable, Charles Clay, a magistrate, should have met the troops at Sharlston and, if there was no trouble there, go with them to Featherstone. Mr Clay later denied this saying it was agreed he should go to Sharlston Colliery and await the troops there. This he did, so the military arrived at Featherstone without the services of a magistrate.
On his return to Ackton Hall Colliery at 2pm Mr Holiday found many office windows had been broken but otherwise all was quiet, although there was still a crowd of about 200 miners, miners' wives and pit boys outside the pit yard.
At 3.35pm Captain Digby Barker arrived at Wakefield with a lieutenant and 53 men. The troops were provided with Lee-Mitford rifles and 80 rounds of ball cartridges each but no blanks, the regulations not permitting the use of blanks in such circumstances.
Captain Barker did not at first agree to his men being split into two groups, but on being told it was absolutely necessary he sent the lieutenant and 25 men to Nostell and the remaining 28 accompanied him to Featherstone. Police Inspector William Edward Corden and two Wakefield constables were also sent with them. They arrived just after 4pm to be met by about 20 jeering men, but at the colliery there was neither crowd nor disorder.
According to William Smith Gill, deputy chief constable, Charles Clay, a magistrate, should have met the troops at Sharlston and, if there was no trouble there, go with them to Featherstone. Mr Clay later denied this saying it was agreed he should go to Sharlston Colliery and await the troops there. This he did, so the military arrived at Featherstone without the services of a magistrate.
ENTER THE TROUBLEMAKERS
Although the need for the troops had now passed it was thought
desirable to retain their services all night. Captain Barker took his
men into the colliery yard and stationed them on the third floor of the
engine house until a magistrate arrived. That floor had a door to the
pit hill (a raised platform where the tubs were taken on and off the
cages) so the men could stretch their legs. It also had a commanding
view of the pit yard.
At about 6pm Mr Holiday was told a crowd had gathered at the Green Lane entrance and was asking to see him. He found a considerable number of men and boys, but he considered not Ackton Hall workers, some carrying sticks. A deputation came forward and asked for a pledge he would not fill any more slack. He told them of the promise he had already given, and when requested to do so repeated it to the crowd.
While this was going on a body of up to 300 men and youths from the Sharlston area led by a man ringing a bell marched up Station Lane and turned into the pit yard. On arriving they smashed every window they could find, and when faced by Mr Holiday they demanded the removal of the police and troops. Mr Holiday said he had no power to remove either. The mob didn't like that and although the spokesmen tried to keep them back they gathered round Mr Holiday and threatened to kill him.
Inspector Corden said he would take the police to the railway station if the crowd would agree to disperse. He began to edge through the crowd taking Mr Holiday with him when someone shouted "What about the soldiers". Mr Cordon replied he had no power over the soldiers, whereupon a shower of stones chased them to the station.
At about 6pm Mr Holiday was told a crowd had gathered at the Green Lane entrance and was asking to see him. He found a considerable number of men and boys, but he considered not Ackton Hall workers, some carrying sticks. A deputation came forward and asked for a pledge he would not fill any more slack. He told them of the promise he had already given, and when requested to do so repeated it to the crowd.
While this was going on a body of up to 300 men and youths from the Sharlston area led by a man ringing a bell marched up Station Lane and turned into the pit yard. On arriving they smashed every window they could find, and when faced by Mr Holiday they demanded the removal of the police and troops. Mr Holiday said he had no power to remove either. The mob didn't like that and although the spokesmen tried to keep them back they gathered round Mr Holiday and threatened to kill him.
Inspector Corden said he would take the police to the railway station if the crowd would agree to disperse. He began to edge through the crowd taking Mr Holiday with him when someone shouted "What about the soldiers". Mr Cordon replied he had no power over the soldiers, whereupon a shower of stones chased them to the station.
It was now
dusk, and in the engine house Captain Barker could hear the mob
shouting for the soldiers. When they discovered where they were all the
doors and windows of the engine house were smashed in. Six men armed
with sticks went up the stairs and demanded Captain Barker should leave
and take his men with him. They said they meant to have the troops away,
and if they did not come down they would be carried down. One of the
men took a flame lamp to some sacks at the bottom of the stairs and
attempted to set them on fire.
Realising the crowd would not back down, Captain Barker asked if he
took his troops from the colliery premises would the crowd go away. This
was agreed, so at 7pm the troops came out of the engine house, went out
of the pit yard by the Green Lane entrance, and marched down Station
Lane to the station. They had to pass piles of burning timber and
flaming barrels of oil in the pit yard, and the crowd in Green Lane was
so thick they had difficulty getting through.
PS Sparrow had attempted to arrest one of those responsible for the fires, but he had been assaulted by the mob. The bellman and his supporters followed the troops to the station and remained there for another 20 minutes before marching off down Station Lane.
PS Sparrow had attempted to arrest one of those responsible for the fires, but he had been assaulted by the mob. The bellman and his supporters followed the troops to the station and remained there for another 20 minutes before marching off down Station Lane.
MR HARTLEY ARRIVES
Mr Holiday tried for about an hour to get Pontefract exchange on the
telephone in order to phone Bernard Hartley JP, but in the end he had to
send a pony and trap. The troops waited at the station until Mr Hartley
arrived just before 8pm. By now large fires were burning out of control
and Mr Hartley and the troops left the station and advanced across the
pit yard towards the Green Lane entrance. They halted some distance from
it and were faced with a crowd estimated by Captain Barker at over
2,000.
The joiners' shop and the wagon repair shop were now on fire as well as the stacks of timber, and the glow in the sky had brought people from the surrounding area to see what was happening and consequently swell the crowd. Over the next half-hour or so Mr Hartley made six appeals to the crowd to disperse, but to no avail, and both he and the troops were continually stoned. Finally at 8.40pm Mr Hartley read the proclamation from the Riot Act by the light of a lantern. This was: "Our sovereign lady the Queen chargeth and commandeth all persons, being assembled, immediately to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations or to their lawful business upon the pains contained in the Act made in the first year of King George for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies. God save the Queen".
The joiners' shop and the wagon repair shop were now on fire as well as the stacks of timber, and the glow in the sky had brought people from the surrounding area to see what was happening and consequently swell the crowd. Over the next half-hour or so Mr Hartley made six appeals to the crowd to disperse, but to no avail, and both he and the troops were continually stoned. Finally at 8.40pm Mr Hartley read the proclamation from the Riot Act by the light of a lantern. This was: "Our sovereign lady the Queen chargeth and commandeth all persons, being assembled, immediately to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations or to their lawful business upon the pains contained in the Act made in the first year of King George for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies. God save the Queen".
For
a short while there was silence then the hooting and stone throwing
recommenced, worse then before. Mr Hartley and Captain Barker came to
the conclusion they would have to clear the yard. The soldiers fixed
bayonets and advanced towards the Green Lane entrance with the crowd
falling back before them. The troops entered Green Lane and turned left,
driving the crowd in front. When they reached the wooden bridge they
turned round and cleared the ground from the road towards the
Featherstone Hotel (then under construction by Carter's Knottingley
Brewery Company.) However the people returned as the soldiers passed by
so the troops were brought back into the yard and lined up to face the
Green Lane entrance.
There was no Featherstone Fire Brigade so Pontefract Fire Brigade was
asked for assistance. The fire engine and hose cart left Pontefract with
one horse pulling each. At Purston both horses were attached to the
hose cart and sent on, and the engine was pulled by hand until the
horses returned. Thomas Main drove the hose cart into Green Lane with
sticks and stones thrown at him. He then took the horses back for the
fire engine and was threatened by some of the crowd as he made his way
out of Green Lane; but others said leave him alone as it was nothing to
do with him. The engine was also attacked with sticks, stones and
missiles from catapults as it travelled down Green Lane, and all the
firemen were injured.
THE TROOPS OPEN FIRE
The soldiers were now being stoned from the front, both sides and the
rear, and the situation was considered by Mr Hartley and Captain Barker
to be critical. The troops could not hold the ground where they were,
and to withdraw would leave the colliery at the mercy of the mob. At
about 9.15pm Mt Hartley decided there was no alternative to opening fire
and he gave Captain Barker a written order to that effect. Mr Hartley
asked for blank cartridges to be used but Captain Barker said they did
not have any.
Mr Hartley then asked Captain Barker to fire as little as possible, so one soldier was directed to kneel and another to stand behind him. Mt Hartley said in a low voice, but heard by an Express reporter, "For God's sake don't hit anybody". The word of command was "At the mob in front, at the ground line, present, fire". One of the soldiers was struck in the face just before he pulled the trigger. Nobody seemed to have been hit, although later Sam Hobbs claimed he was injured by one of these bullets.
For a few seconds there was silence, but with a shout of its only blanks the stone throwing resumed. After a few minutes the captain lined up eight soldiers in two ranks of four and ordered them to fire. This time there were many casualties. Joe Blaydon came out of the crowd waving a white flag and showed Mr Hartley a bullet wound in his thigh. The stone throwing ceased and there was an uneasy truce.
The drawing below is from the Illustrated London News and shows the troops opening fire. Note the inclusion of a woman and barefoot child to give a dramatic if untrue effect.
Mr Hartley then asked Captain Barker to fire as little as possible, so one soldier was directed to kneel and another to stand behind him. Mt Hartley said in a low voice, but heard by an Express reporter, "For God's sake don't hit anybody". The word of command was "At the mob in front, at the ground line, present, fire". One of the soldiers was struck in the face just before he pulled the trigger. Nobody seemed to have been hit, although later Sam Hobbs claimed he was injured by one of these bullets.
For a few seconds there was silence, but with a shout of its only blanks the stone throwing resumed. After a few minutes the captain lined up eight soldiers in two ranks of four and ordered them to fire. This time there were many casualties. Joe Blaydon came out of the crowd waving a white flag and showed Mr Hartley a bullet wound in his thigh. The stone throwing ceased and there was an uneasy truce.
The drawing below is from the Illustrated London News and shows the troops opening fire. Note the inclusion of a woman and barefoot child to give a dramatic if untrue effect.
RELIEF FROM THE BARRACKS
At about 10.30pm the new pitch pine bridge in Green Lane, which had
been erected at a cost of £300 to cross from the colliery to the
brickyard, was set on fire as was the wooden fencing in Green Lane. The
troops were left in peace in the pit yard. They were relieved about 11pm
by Captain Ottley with two officers and 80 men of the King's Own
Yorkshire Light Infantry from Pontefract. Captain Barker took his men
away leaving the pit yard still a mass of flames. Captain Ottley's men
stood with fixed bayonets the rest of the night to prevent further fires
being lit, and at 1am the next morning the crowd began to disperse.
The last of the fires was extinguished by 4am, and at 6am Captain Ottley estimated 30 or 40 adults and the same number of boys were still hanging about. A further 100 men of the KOYLI's and the York and Lancaster Regiment were paraded at Pontefract Barracks, but they were not required.
That morning (Friday) an Express reporter visited the scene. He wrote "After the battle yesterday the scene in the pit yard was awe-inspiring to a degree. Approach was not possible without passing a double sentry of soldiers. Hugh masses of charcoal pointed to the scene of the conflagration and the sight of the burnt bridge testified to the destructiveness of the rioters. Everything was confusion confounded. One of the main objects of the military force in protecting the more valuable portions of the plant about the headgear and engine houses had been accomplished, but everything else was complete desolation".
The last of the fires was extinguished by 4am, and at 6am Captain Ottley estimated 30 or 40 adults and the same number of boys were still hanging about. A further 100 men of the KOYLI's and the York and Lancaster Regiment were paraded at Pontefract Barracks, but they were not required.
That morning (Friday) an Express reporter visited the scene. He wrote "After the battle yesterday the scene in the pit yard was awe-inspiring to a degree. Approach was not possible without passing a double sentry of soldiers. Hugh masses of charcoal pointed to the scene of the conflagration and the sight of the burnt bridge testified to the destructiveness of the rioters. Everything was confusion confounded. One of the main objects of the military force in protecting the more valuable portions of the plant about the headgear and engine houses had been accomplished, but everything else was complete desolation".
THE AFTERMATH
Another crowd gathered before noon and there was an intense feeling of
revenge with rumours the men intended to have blood for blood. There was
talk some men had obtained revolvers, with Mr Holiday a prime target.
However, a tremendous thunderstorm broke out and most people left to
seek shelter. At 3pm a crowd collected near the brickyard and set fire
to a pile of sleepers they had arranged round four railway wagons.
Captain Ottley persuaded the gathering to leave and Mr Holiday sent for
the colliery locomotive to pull the wagons clear. The fire was put out
with water from the colliery.
That was the end of the trouble at Ackton Hall Colliery, although the
soldiers and police stood guard for some days. The damage was estimated
at £1,900. This was out of a total cost of the colliery to date of
£130,000. It could have been worse. Mr Holiday had taken the precaution
of covering the shaft tops with thick battens. When it was all over he
found two tubs had been pushed from the top landing with the intention
of them going down the shaft, but the battens had prevented that
happening.
The drawing below from the Illustrated London News shows the guarding of the colliery to prevent further trouble.
The drawing below from the Illustrated London News shows the guarding of the colliery to prevent further trouble.
THE CASUALTIES
HIT BY BULLETS
JAMES
GIBBS age 22 a Loscoe Grove miner. The bullet went clean through his
chest. He was taken to the surgery of Dr Thomas where he died about
three hours later. JAMES ARTHUR DUGGAN age 25 a Featherstone miner. The bullet went through his leg and shattered his knee. He died in Clayton Hospital the next day from shock and loss of blood.
JOHN EDWARDS a Normanton chemical worker. Shot in the chest, the bullet going straight through. He walked to the surgery of Drs Buncle and Steven.
JOSEPH BURNS age 27 of Featherstone. Received a compound fracture of the upper arm. He was taken to the Buncle/Steven surgery and then to Clayton Hospital.
CHARLES DOBSON a Normanton Common coal dealer. Shot in the hand. He was taken to a farmhouse down Green Lane and then home.
ARTHUR DOWSON a Normanton railwayman. He was shot in the foot and was taken to the Buncle/Steven surgery, and then to Clayton to have the bullet removed.
BENJAMIN OAKLEY a Normanton resident. He was standing in Featherstone Main pit yard. Nature of injury not known. The wound was bound by his brother who assisted him home.
CHARLES WILLIAMS age 26 a Castleford miner. He was hit in the neck by the same bullet that injured Oakley.
WILLIAM TOMLINSON a Normanton shoemaker. He was shot in the back while walking away from the colliery. He was take to the Buncle/Steven surgery and then to Clayton.
GEORGE HERBERT GIBBS age 25 a Loscoe Grove miner. Shot in the arm. He took his brother to Dr Thomas's surgery.
SAMUEL HOBBS age 22 a Featherstone miner. Shot in the thigh and treated at the Buncle/Steven surgery. He said he was walking along Green Lane and was shot by one of the first two bullets fired.
JOSEPH BLAYDON age 39 a Featherstone resident. The bullet went clean through his thigh. He was treated at the Buncle/Steven surgery.
A man called Thomas and an unnamed youth were also said to have been hit.
Only ten shots were fired but the total number of people hit was variously estimated at up to twenty. It was said some of the injured were loath to report it as they did not wish to be accused of being involved in the riot.
SOLDIERS INJURED BY MISSILES
PRIVATE CALDECOTT suffered a broken kneecap.PRIVATE ROBINSON had a bone broken in his hand.
All the other soldiers and police had minor injuries.
FIREMEN INJURED IN GREEN LANE
THOMAS JAMESON MAIN was hit on the knee by a protester and was unable to walk. He was lame for a few days afterwards.FRED DOVE was struck on the head by a stone and stunned.
All the other firemen plus Featherstone's Constable Frank Wise, who had accepted a ride on the fire engine, suffered minor injuries.
JAMES GIBBS
James Gibbs and his brother George lived at Loscoe Grange. They were both miners and James was a Sunday school teacher at Hopetown, Normanton. On the night of Thursday September 7 they saw the light in the sky from the fires at Ackton Hall Colliery, so they walked over the hill from Loscoe and arrived at the colliery just before 9pm.
They were standing near the Green Lane entrance when shots were fired but everybody said they were blanks so they did not move away. They were both struck by the second volley, James in the chest and George in the arm. George said "I'm shot Jim", and James replied "So am I". George said "Thou's worse than me" and he had to assist his brother to prevent him from falling. With others helping he took his brother to the surgery of Dr Thomas where in spite of all the doctor could do he died at 12.40am the next morning.
Major Arundel,
coroner for the Honour of Pontefract, opened the inquest at the Railway
Hotel on the Saturday. Alfred Higgins was elected foreman of the jury.
George Gibbs identified his brother's body and said his brother had
taken no part in the disturbances, they were merely watching the fires.
Dr Thomas said the bullet had entered the right side of the breast and
exited at the angle of the shoulder blade.
Bernard Hartley JP said he arrived at Featherstone a few minute before 8pm and accompanied the military from the station to the colliery, where he discovered a large conflagration in progress. It was decided to clear the spectators from the pit yard. He appealed to the crowd for half an hour to leave and then read the Riot Act.
Coroner - At the time you read the Act was a riot going on within the legal definition of the term? Hartley - yes according to the construction I put upon it.
Coroner - was there "a tumultuous disturbance of the people", and were they gathered together "for the execution of some enterprise of a violent nature", and was it actually executed in a violent and turbulent manner. Hartley - Yes.
Foreman - Was Mr Hartley aware there were hundreds of peaceable citizens in the Lane trying to put down the riot at the time the shots were fired. Hartley - I did not know.
Captain Barker told the inquest he instructed his troops not to fire over the heads of the crowd because people some distance away could be hurt. On being asked why two people had been hit at Featherstone Main Colliery, Captain Barker explained the range of the Lee-Mitford bullet was 3,000 yards. He was asked who ordered him to bring such bullets to Featherstone. The coroner said "They don't make bullets for pop-guns you know".
The coroner asked the jury if they were satisfied a riot had taken place. The foreman said they wanted Mr Holiday to give evidence. The coroner sent for him then changed his mind because of the crowd outside which he considered hostile to Mr Holiday, so he adjourned the inquest until the following Tuesday.
The inquest resumed at the Railway Hotel but because of the crowd in Station Lane and the bitterness shown towards Mr Holiday it was moved to a shed in the colliery yard. Mr Holiday agreed with Mr Hartley's evidence and said he had not the least doubt if the mob had not been driven back the whole colliery would have been wrecked. Men and youths swarmed all over the place shouting they would destroy the pit and burn it down. This was before the soldiers retired to the railway station. He had not seen anything set on fire after 8pm; the complaint after that time was the stone throwing.
PS Sparrow said he heard one man shout "We care nothing for your shooting; we'd rather be shot than hungered to death". Thomas Jameson Main, driver of the fire engine, said the crowd were shouting "Pull him off" and "Kill him". He was hit on the knee and badly hurt. Fred Dove, on the fire engine, was hit by a stone and knocked unconscious.
The jury sought an adjournment for tea. The foreman said they would sit all week if need be, and they would like to go back to the Railway Hotel. Supt Whincup said his witnesses would not go there, so the inquest resumed after the break for the police to give evidence, but still in the colliery yard. Supt Whincup said he had spoken to two respectable tradesmen who were at the riot but dare not give evidence.
The inquest resumed on Wednesday at the colliery with miners giving evidence, but because of the noise of the pit engines they couldn't be heard, and it was again suggested they should return to the Railway Hotel. The superintendent said if that happened he would scarcely be able to answer for the lives of his witnesses. He said "It is certainly not safe for them to venture out at present". Mr Lodge, for the miners, refuted this and the inquest returned to the Railway Hotel where Reuben Johnson, John Flynn, Charles Philpott and Sam Fox (all miners) gave evidence there was no riot.
The coroner said the jury had to decide whether the military were authorised to fire the shot which killed Gibbs. It was the duty of the magistrate and of every person, civilian, soldier or police, in the case of a riot or rebellious assembly, to disperse the mob. The question was to decide whether there was a riot. If they believed the evidence of the military, police, fire brigade and Messrs Hartley and Holiday, there was a riot at the time of firing. If they believed the evidence of Messrs Johnson. Philpott, Fox and Flynn there was not a riot.
After one hour and 50 minutes the jury returned and gave their verdict which was "The jury find that James Gibbs was killed by a bullet wound inflicted by soldiers firing into a crowd in Green Lane from the Ackton Hall Colliery, after the reading of the Riot Act on Thursday evening last. The said James Gibbs was a peaceable man and took no part in the riotous proceedings, and the jury record their sympathy with deceased's relatives and friends. The jury also find that if the whole district had not been denuded of police, who had been sent to Doncaster Races, there would have been no necessity to call in the military at all, as the police would have been sufficient, assisted by the miners and other residents in the district to put down the disturbance originally created by outsiders and non-residents in the locality. Seeing that Mr Hartley stated that there was no fresh conflagration or damage done, beyond stone throwing, from a few minutes after 8pm to the firing of the first shot, and as the crowd was effectually kept out of the premises, the jury regret such extreme measures were adopted by the authorities".
The coroner did not like the verdict, but the jury refused to say whether it was wilful murder or justifiable homicide, or whether there was a riot or not. The foreman said if they had sat until Christmas they would not get any nearer. The coroner then said "The verdict is - that deceased was shot by the military after the Riot Act had been read; whereby he died".
The foreman said he wished to speak to the press about reports of it being a "queer jury" ie biased. It had been chosen by Sergeant Sparrow and he had included miners, checkweighmen, deputies, a builder, a timekeeper and a postman. He congratulated Sergeant Sparrow on the splendid manner he had worked during the affair and the coroner on the straightforward way he had done his duty.
James Gibbs was laid to rest on the Sunday and there were 2,000 people present at the funeral. The in memoriam card was provided by George Allen of Normanton.
Bernard Hartley JP said he arrived at Featherstone a few minute before 8pm and accompanied the military from the station to the colliery, where he discovered a large conflagration in progress. It was decided to clear the spectators from the pit yard. He appealed to the crowd for half an hour to leave and then read the Riot Act.
Coroner - At the time you read the Act was a riot going on within the legal definition of the term? Hartley - yes according to the construction I put upon it.
Coroner - was there "a tumultuous disturbance of the people", and were they gathered together "for the execution of some enterprise of a violent nature", and was it actually executed in a violent and turbulent manner. Hartley - Yes.
Foreman - Was Mr Hartley aware there were hundreds of peaceable citizens in the Lane trying to put down the riot at the time the shots were fired. Hartley - I did not know.
Captain Barker told the inquest he instructed his troops not to fire over the heads of the crowd because people some distance away could be hurt. On being asked why two people had been hit at Featherstone Main Colliery, Captain Barker explained the range of the Lee-Mitford bullet was 3,000 yards. He was asked who ordered him to bring such bullets to Featherstone. The coroner said "They don't make bullets for pop-guns you know".
The coroner asked the jury if they were satisfied a riot had taken place. The foreman said they wanted Mr Holiday to give evidence. The coroner sent for him then changed his mind because of the crowd outside which he considered hostile to Mr Holiday, so he adjourned the inquest until the following Tuesday.
The inquest resumed at the Railway Hotel but because of the crowd in Station Lane and the bitterness shown towards Mr Holiday it was moved to a shed in the colliery yard. Mr Holiday agreed with Mr Hartley's evidence and said he had not the least doubt if the mob had not been driven back the whole colliery would have been wrecked. Men and youths swarmed all over the place shouting they would destroy the pit and burn it down. This was before the soldiers retired to the railway station. He had not seen anything set on fire after 8pm; the complaint after that time was the stone throwing.
PS Sparrow said he heard one man shout "We care nothing for your shooting; we'd rather be shot than hungered to death". Thomas Jameson Main, driver of the fire engine, said the crowd were shouting "Pull him off" and "Kill him". He was hit on the knee and badly hurt. Fred Dove, on the fire engine, was hit by a stone and knocked unconscious.
The jury sought an adjournment for tea. The foreman said they would sit all week if need be, and they would like to go back to the Railway Hotel. Supt Whincup said his witnesses would not go there, so the inquest resumed after the break for the police to give evidence, but still in the colliery yard. Supt Whincup said he had spoken to two respectable tradesmen who were at the riot but dare not give evidence.
The inquest resumed on Wednesday at the colliery with miners giving evidence, but because of the noise of the pit engines they couldn't be heard, and it was again suggested they should return to the Railway Hotel. The superintendent said if that happened he would scarcely be able to answer for the lives of his witnesses. He said "It is certainly not safe for them to venture out at present". Mr Lodge, for the miners, refuted this and the inquest returned to the Railway Hotel where Reuben Johnson, John Flynn, Charles Philpott and Sam Fox (all miners) gave evidence there was no riot.
The coroner said the jury had to decide whether the military were authorised to fire the shot which killed Gibbs. It was the duty of the magistrate and of every person, civilian, soldier or police, in the case of a riot or rebellious assembly, to disperse the mob. The question was to decide whether there was a riot. If they believed the evidence of the military, police, fire brigade and Messrs Hartley and Holiday, there was a riot at the time of firing. If they believed the evidence of Messrs Johnson. Philpott, Fox and Flynn there was not a riot.
After one hour and 50 minutes the jury returned and gave their verdict which was "The jury find that James Gibbs was killed by a bullet wound inflicted by soldiers firing into a crowd in Green Lane from the Ackton Hall Colliery, after the reading of the Riot Act on Thursday evening last. The said James Gibbs was a peaceable man and took no part in the riotous proceedings, and the jury record their sympathy with deceased's relatives and friends. The jury also find that if the whole district had not been denuded of police, who had been sent to Doncaster Races, there would have been no necessity to call in the military at all, as the police would have been sufficient, assisted by the miners and other residents in the district to put down the disturbance originally created by outsiders and non-residents in the locality. Seeing that Mr Hartley stated that there was no fresh conflagration or damage done, beyond stone throwing, from a few minutes after 8pm to the firing of the first shot, and as the crowd was effectually kept out of the premises, the jury regret such extreme measures were adopted by the authorities".
The coroner did not like the verdict, but the jury refused to say whether it was wilful murder or justifiable homicide, or whether there was a riot or not. The foreman said if they had sat until Christmas they would not get any nearer. The coroner then said "The verdict is - that deceased was shot by the military after the Riot Act had been read; whereby he died".
The foreman said he wished to speak to the press about reports of it being a "queer jury" ie biased. It had been chosen by Sergeant Sparrow and he had included miners, checkweighmen, deputies, a builder, a timekeeper and a postman. He congratulated Sergeant Sparrow on the splendid manner he had worked during the affair and the coroner on the straightforward way he had done his duty.
James Gibbs was laid to rest on the Sunday and there were 2,000 people present at the funeral. The in memoriam card was provided by George Allen of Normanton.
JAMES ARTHUR DUGGAN
On May 20 James Duggan married Emma Stephenson of South Featherstone
at Purston Church, and they lived with his mother (now Mrs Perkins) in
Station Lane. Emma went to stay in Leeds on August 28 and she was
visited there by James on September 5. It was the last time she saw him
alive.
Sam Scoltock was married to James' younger sister Sarah, and at about 8.30pm on the night of September 7 he went to Mrs Perkins' house and asked James if he was coming out. They went up Station Lane and climbed on the scaffolding round the new Featherstone Hotel to watch the fires in the pit yard.
They saw the soldiers attempting to clear Green Lane and when that failed they got off the scaffolding to get nearer to the fires. Sam stopped to talk to another man and he lost sight of James. He shouted after him but getting no reply he climbed back onto the scaffolding. He heard the shots fired, and a little later was told James had been shot, his mother sent for, and he was being carried home.
When he got to Mrs Perkins' Sam found James undressed and lying on a rug. A young man called Richard Peace, trained in first aid work, was attempting to stop the bleeding from the wound. This he did but not until James had lost a lot of blood.
Drs Buncle and Steven arrived and dressed the wound and James Duggan was taken to Clayton Hospital in the colliery's horse drawn ambulance. Half way to the hospital he complained of pains in his stomach so Sam gave him brandy and water. Just before he lost consciousness James said "I wish I had kept with you". He was admitted at Clayton Hospital at 1.40am and died at 9am the same morning.
Because he died in Wakefield the inquest was opened the same day at Clayton Hospital by Major Taylor JP. The body was identified by Emma Duggan. Sam Scoltock gave evidence as to the events before the shooting and insisted Duggan had taken no part in the riot and he was only a spectator.
Dr Bone said the wound had been properly attended to but there had been a great deal of haemorrhage. When admitted Duggan was unconscious from shock and loss of blood. The knee joint was opened up but there was no bullet in the wound, which was quite sufficient to cause death. In his opinion the bullet had entered at the back and came out at the front. The inquest then adjourned until the next Wednesday at the George Hotel.
At the resumed inquest Thomas Clark of Pontefract said he met Duggan in Green Lane and they both said they had only just arrived. Duggan said he was going a bit lower down and Clark said he would go with him. They were about 40 yards from the pit entrance and Clark said "Have they fired yet" and Duggan said "Yes but only blanks". Clark said if the soldiers had fired he was leaving, but Duggan said "It will not hurt you it is only blanks".
They had only been together five minutes when the soldiers fired again and Duggan was shot. He helped to carry him home. He was asked by the jury which way Duggan was facing when the shots were fired and Clark said he was facing the troops.
Richard Peace of Earle Street said he was a joiner at Ackton Hall Colliery and he was also in charge of the ambulance. On the Thursday night he was called to Mrs Perkins' house to see Duggan and attend to his knee.
Police Inspector Corden, storekeeper at the West Riding Constabulary Headquarters, and Police Sergeant Phillipson gave evidence there was a riot when the troops opened fire.
The coroner said they were satisfied the deceased died from the effects of a gunshot wound. It was a mistaken idea it was necessary to read the Riot Act before a tumultuous assembly could be put down. Everybody had a right to protect his own property and if in an ordinary and reasonable course he did that which unfortunately killed another but necessarily for his own protection, or the protection of his property, he was not responsible. The mob was undoubtedly acting in a disorderly and riotous manner, and many men, instead of helping to put the fires out or quell the disorder, were simply looking on. If the jury thought there was such rioting as rendered it necessary to protect the property, it was simply a case of justifiable homicide, but if it was not necessary it was not justifiable or excusable. Whether deceased was an actual rioter or not, there was no occasion for him to be where he was, having heard, as he had, the Riot Act had been read by somebody, although he had been told by others it had not been read.
The jury consulted for about ten minutes and then gave a verdict of Justifiable homicide.
Sam Scoltock was married to James' younger sister Sarah, and at about 8.30pm on the night of September 7 he went to Mrs Perkins' house and asked James if he was coming out. They went up Station Lane and climbed on the scaffolding round the new Featherstone Hotel to watch the fires in the pit yard.
They saw the soldiers attempting to clear Green Lane and when that failed they got off the scaffolding to get nearer to the fires. Sam stopped to talk to another man and he lost sight of James. He shouted after him but getting no reply he climbed back onto the scaffolding. He heard the shots fired, and a little later was told James had been shot, his mother sent for, and he was being carried home.
When he got to Mrs Perkins' Sam found James undressed and lying on a rug. A young man called Richard Peace, trained in first aid work, was attempting to stop the bleeding from the wound. This he did but not until James had lost a lot of blood.
Drs Buncle and Steven arrived and dressed the wound and James Duggan was taken to Clayton Hospital in the colliery's horse drawn ambulance. Half way to the hospital he complained of pains in his stomach so Sam gave him brandy and water. Just before he lost consciousness James said "I wish I had kept with you". He was admitted at Clayton Hospital at 1.40am and died at 9am the same morning.
Because he died in Wakefield the inquest was opened the same day at Clayton Hospital by Major Taylor JP. The body was identified by Emma Duggan. Sam Scoltock gave evidence as to the events before the shooting and insisted Duggan had taken no part in the riot and he was only a spectator.
Dr Bone said the wound had been properly attended to but there had been a great deal of haemorrhage. When admitted Duggan was unconscious from shock and loss of blood. The knee joint was opened up but there was no bullet in the wound, which was quite sufficient to cause death. In his opinion the bullet had entered at the back and came out at the front. The inquest then adjourned until the next Wednesday at the George Hotel.
At the resumed inquest Thomas Clark of Pontefract said he met Duggan in Green Lane and they both said they had only just arrived. Duggan said he was going a bit lower down and Clark said he would go with him. They were about 40 yards from the pit entrance and Clark said "Have they fired yet" and Duggan said "Yes but only blanks". Clark said if the soldiers had fired he was leaving, but Duggan said "It will not hurt you it is only blanks".
They had only been together five minutes when the soldiers fired again and Duggan was shot. He helped to carry him home. He was asked by the jury which way Duggan was facing when the shots were fired and Clark said he was facing the troops.
Richard Peace of Earle Street said he was a joiner at Ackton Hall Colliery and he was also in charge of the ambulance. On the Thursday night he was called to Mrs Perkins' house to see Duggan and attend to his knee.
Police Inspector Corden, storekeeper at the West Riding Constabulary Headquarters, and Police Sergeant Phillipson gave evidence there was a riot when the troops opened fire.
The coroner said they were satisfied the deceased died from the effects of a gunshot wound. It was a mistaken idea it was necessary to read the Riot Act before a tumultuous assembly could be put down. Everybody had a right to protect his own property and if in an ordinary and reasonable course he did that which unfortunately killed another but necessarily for his own protection, or the protection of his property, he was not responsible. The mob was undoubtedly acting in a disorderly and riotous manner, and many men, instead of helping to put the fires out or quell the disorder, were simply looking on. If the jury thought there was such rioting as rendered it necessary to protect the property, it was simply a case of justifiable homicide, but if it was not necessary it was not justifiable or excusable. Whether deceased was an actual rioter or not, there was no occasion for him to be where he was, having heard, as he had, the Riot Act had been read by somebody, although he had been told by others it had not been read.
The jury consulted for about ten minutes and then gave a verdict of Justifiable homicide.
THE FUNERAL OF JAMES DUGGAN
Two
days after James Gibbs was laid to rest the last journey of James
Duggan was described as the most imposing demonstration of sympathy and
sorrow seen in Featherstone. He had been a member of the Crown and
Anchor Lodge of the Oddfellows and his colleagues decided to give him a
public funeral.The coffin lay open in his mother's house in Station Lane surrounded by flowers. For over an hour hundreds of men women and children filed through the house to take a last look. Every shop was closed and every blind drawn.
At 3.15pm the coffin was brought out of the house and placed on stands in the street. A packed Station Lane sang Thee we adore, Eternal Name accompanied by the Featherstone Brass Band. The Revd W Denny of the United Methodists Free Church said "This is a sad, sad event that has called us together today, and one which, if right had prevailed over right, would not have occurred". A black velvet pall with white silk cord and tassels was then draped over the coffin, and it was carried by six bearers accompanied by six pall bearers.
The funeral procession was headed by local members of parliament, 500 members of local organisations and miners' union representatives. Then followed the brass band, the coffin, the mourners, the coaches and other vehicles and a vast column of miners. The whole length was hundreds of yards.
The coffin was carried as far as Belle Vue on Green Lane and was then placed in the hearse. The mourners took their places in the coaches and the cortege set off to the cemetery, moving between many thousands of people who lined the route, with many more waiting at journey's end.
After a short service in the cemetery chapel the coffin was lowered into the grave. The ritual of the Oddfellows was then observed with the brethren passing on each side of the grave and shaking hands over it. After a farewell look by the relatives the procession moved off to South Featherstone headed by the band.
The Express reporter wrote "The solemn and imposing function was at an end. It is one which has no parallel in the experience of Featherstone, and which will never be forgotten by any who witnessed it. The conduct of all from first to last was in the highest degree creditable".
The in memoriam card was given by Emma Duggan to Sarah Scoltock, James Duggan's married sister.
THE SOCIALIST MEETING
Immediately after the funeral there was an immense gathering of miners
in a croft at the back of the Bradley Arms. An address was given by Mr R
B Cunningham-Graham of Shibden Hall, Halifax, a leading Socialist. He
stood on a waggonette and told the crowd the death of that young man was
merely one incident in the great battle between the forces of capital
and labour which was being fought out, not only there among their green
lanes and hedgerows, but in the slums of the great cities.
There had been solemn talking during the afternoon, but in his opinion they had arrived at a state of public affairs when it was every man's duty to do something rather than talk. That afternoon they saw a sad solemn procession which it had not been given to many in England and in this generation to see. They had followed one who had been rushed to death at the hands of the forces of the Crown in the flower of his career. Hitherto under this Sovereign they had not had the disgrace of an attempt upon liberty in such a scandalous fashion as that which was attempted in Featherstone last Thursday.
There had been solemn talking during the afternoon, but in his opinion they had arrived at a state of public affairs when it was every man's duty to do something rather than talk. That afternoon they saw a sad solemn procession which it had not been given to many in England and in this generation to see. They had followed one who had been rushed to death at the hands of the forces of the Crown in the flower of his career. Hitherto under this Sovereign they had not had the disgrace of an attempt upon liberty in such a scandalous fashion as that which was attempted in Featherstone last Thursday.
It was for those assembled
there to atone for this, those upon whom before another fortnight
elapsed, more outrages might be perpetrated. What was Mr Austin, their
member of parliament doing? Had they had any telegram or word of
sympathy from him? He said they could not depend on either political
party. The demonstration of feeling that day did honour to them. He
admired the courageous way they had come forward to pay a last tribute
to their brother.
Mr Cunningham-Graham's address was reported in
the press with suggestions he was inciting the men to further trouble,
but in a letter to the Yorkshire Post he denied any such intention.
On September 13 the Yorkshire Miners' Association called for a public
inquiry into "the so-called riots at Ackton Hall Colliery". This call
was taken up in parliament by the local MP's. In reply to Mr T W Nussey,
MP for Pontefract, the Home Secretary, Mr Asquith, said he did not know
why the troops were taken from Bradford instead of Pontefract. It was a
matter of military arrangement of which he knew nothing. However,
because of the different verdicts at the two inquests he did agree to
hold a public inquiry into the disturbances, and on October 5 the
following warrant was issued.
"Whereas an inquiry is about to be held into the origin and character of the disturbances at Featherstone on the 7th day of September 1893; the reasons that existed for anticipating disorder; the precautions adopted, or which might have been adopted, to prevent the same; the measures taken to suppress it, and the circumstances attending the deaths of James Gibbs and James Arthur Duggan, and to report thereon:- Now I, the Right Honourable Herbert Henry Asquith, Secretary of State for the Home Department, do hereby nominate and appoint the Right Honourable Lord Bowen, Sir Albert Kaye Rollit, Knight, MP; and Richard Bardon Haldane, Esquire, QC, MP; to be a committee for the purpose of holding such inquiry, and reporting to me thereon."
"Whereas an inquiry is about to be held into the origin and character of the disturbances at Featherstone on the 7th day of September 1893; the reasons that existed for anticipating disorder; the precautions adopted, or which might have been adopted, to prevent the same; the measures taken to suppress it, and the circumstances attending the deaths of James Gibbs and James Arthur Duggan, and to report thereon:- Now I, the Right Honourable Herbert Henry Asquith, Secretary of State for the Home Department, do hereby nominate and appoint the Right Honourable Lord Bowen, Sir Albert Kaye Rollit, Knight, MP; and Richard Bardon Haldane, Esquire, QC, MP; to be a committee for the purpose of holding such inquiry, and reporting to me thereon."
The inquiry opened at Wakefield on October 19. Mr C Mellor appeared for
the Yorkshire Miners' Association, Mr Tindal Atkinson QC for the West
Riding Authorities, Mr Shepherd for the Coal Owners' Association, and Mr
E Lodge for the relatives of the dead miners. After the plan of the
colliery made for the inquiry had been proved the meeting was adjourned
and a visit made to the colliery. Over the next three days 66 witnesses
were asked 5,305 questions. The local witnesses were:
Alfred Holiday, Featherstone Hall, general manager and agent.Police Sergeant Sparrow, stationed at Purston Police Station.
William Henry Jacques, a foreman at Ackton Hall Colliery.
Roslyn Holiday, son of Alfred, assistant engineer at the colliery.
Richard Pease, Earle Street, joiner at the colliery.
Police Constable Frank Wise, stationed at Purston Police Station.
Simon Haggis, Station Lane, a clothier.
Joseph Deveney, Ivy Street, an Ackton Hall Colliery miner.
William Halstead, Station Lane, a shopkeeper.
William Henry Haigh, a Snydale Colliery miner.
Elias Allen, Duke Street, an Ackton Hall Colliery miner.
James Halstead, Mount Pleasant, a Featherstone Main Colliery miner.
Charles Philpott, Hall Street, Purston, a miner.
Llewellyn Jones, Scarborough Terrace, a miner.
Francis Wood, Barncroft Terrace, a miner.
Benjamin Littlewood, Phipps Street, a miner.
Samuel Hobbs, Hoyle's Buildings, Purston, a miner.
John Jones, Phipps Row, a miner.
John Flynn, Station Lane, a miner.
William Henry Jacques, a foreman at Ackton Hall Colliery.
Roslyn Holiday, son of Alfred, assistant engineer at the colliery.
Richard Pease, Earle Street, joiner at the colliery.
Police Constable Frank Wise, stationed at Purston Police Station.
Simon Haggis, Station Lane, a clothier.
Joseph Deveney, Ivy Street, an Ackton Hall Colliery miner.
William Halstead, Station Lane, a shopkeeper.
William Henry Haigh, a Snydale Colliery miner.
Elias Allen, Duke Street, an Ackton Hall Colliery miner.
James Halstead, Mount Pleasant, a Featherstone Main Colliery miner.
Charles Philpott, Hall Street, Purston, a miner.
Llewellyn Jones, Scarborough Terrace, a miner.
Francis Wood, Barncroft Terrace, a miner.
Benjamin Littlewood, Phipps Street, a miner.
Samuel Hobbs, Hoyle's Buildings, Purston, a miner.
John Jones, Phipps Row, a miner.
John Flynn, Station Lane, a miner.
The evidence at the inquiry was much the same as that given at the inquest on James Gibbs. The soldiers, police, firemen and Express
reporter said there was a riot. The miners said there was not. After
all the evidence was taken the representatives of the various
organisations addressed the committee.
Mr Tindal Atkinson went to great lengths to justify the actions taken by the police and military. He said Mr Gill did attempt to provide more police, but it was found owing to the number of places being visited by these travelling mobs, it was impossible to provide sufficient police protection. He argued in the circumstances the military were better able to put a stop to the rioting than the police would have been able to.
He said "it may well be, that it was the blood shed on this occasion, although it may be a hard thing to say, which might possibly have been the means of saving more trouble and bloodshed".
With regard to the conflict of evidence he suggested some of the witnesses were too far away from the Green Lane entrance to see what was really happening. "It was a dark night; the only light was the fitful glare coming from the conflagration that had been lit by the mob, and those who were not too close to the open gateway might well be deceived as to the question whether any stones were being thrown. But those who were at the entrance and said there were no stones, no missiles, no bludgeons, no sticks, no nothing - to treat this as a serious account of what took place would really be putting one's credulity to a great strain.
Mr Tindal Atkinson went to great lengths to justify the actions taken by the police and military. He said Mr Gill did attempt to provide more police, but it was found owing to the number of places being visited by these travelling mobs, it was impossible to provide sufficient police protection. He argued in the circumstances the military were better able to put a stop to the rioting than the police would have been able to.
He said "it may well be, that it was the blood shed on this occasion, although it may be a hard thing to say, which might possibly have been the means of saving more trouble and bloodshed".
With regard to the conflict of evidence he suggested some of the witnesses were too far away from the Green Lane entrance to see what was really happening. "It was a dark night; the only light was the fitful glare coming from the conflagration that had been lit by the mob, and those who were not too close to the open gateway might well be deceived as to the question whether any stones were being thrown. But those who were at the entrance and said there were no stones, no missiles, no bludgeons, no sticks, no nothing - to treat this as a serious account of what took place would really be putting one's credulity to a great strain.
"It is impossible to believe for one single instant Captain Barker, with
the great and dread responsibility on his shoulders of dealing with the
men who were there to protect the property, or else they might just as
well have gone off the premises altogether, would have given an order to
fire after consulting with Mr Hartley, if that were a true description
of the crowd collected just outside the gates on this spot."
Mr Shepherd, for the owners, said there was a real ground for all the
alarm and terror that was felt by the various colliery managers and
owners in that neighbourhood, that they were justified in appealing to
the civil and military authorities for assistance, although he expressed
the owners' regret the preservation of their property should have led
to a loss of life.
If it had not been for those services which were rendered to them by the civil and military authorities there could have been a more distressing loss of property, and probably a more appalling loss of life.
Mr Mellor, for the union, said the complaint was not so much the conduct of the individual as of the system which prevailed with reference to the disposition of the police, and other arrangements made to cope with a possible difficulty of this character, which he thought those in authority ought to have foreseen.
If it had not been for those services which were rendered to them by the civil and military authorities there could have been a more distressing loss of property, and probably a more appalling loss of life.
Mr Mellor, for the union, said the complaint was not so much the conduct of the individual as of the system which prevailed with reference to the disposition of the police, and other arrangements made to cope with a possible difficulty of this character, which he thought those in authority ought to have foreseen.
The union
repudiated on their part any sympathy whatever with the disturbance and
the acts of violence which took place on this 7th of September. He
suggested the evidence showed there was introduced into the disturbance
an element which had no part and no sympathy with the colliers residing
in the immediate district of Featherstone, Sharston and the district
round.
"They (the miners) are law abiding members of this great community, and
they have had to suffer very considerable odium resting on them for
many weeks, owing no doubt to outrages, mistakes and disturbances made
by some small portion of their number. I do not suggest there were no
stones thrown, or that some of the men had not sticks, or that here and
there there may not have been some slight act of violence; but never was
such a rain of stones and missiles hurled at people before with so
little injury done as far as these soldiers were concerned." He said if
the police had not been sent to Doncaster then a small force of local
policemen who could have identified the troublemakers would have been a
better safeguard.
Mr Lodge made the point as it was agreed that no new fires were lit after 8pm, then the justification for the firing depended on the stone throwing, and not the protection of property, and was the mere fact of throwing stones a sufficient justification for the firing by the soldiers, the killing of two persons and the injuring of others?
Mr Lodge made the point as it was agreed that no new fires were lit after 8pm, then the justification for the firing depended on the stone throwing, and not the protection of property, and was the mere fact of throwing stones a sufficient justification for the firing by the soldiers, the killing of two persons and the injuring of others?
"We believe that James Gibbs was an innocent spectator, but we are at the same time unable to deny that he ran the risk of a second volley from the soldiers after he knew that the first volley had been fired. He was probably under the impression that the troops had only fired blank cartridge.
"The fair inference from Clark's evidence is that Duggan was taking no part in the riot. On the other hand, he was standing close to the Green Lane opening where the thick of the riot was, and he had not moved away, although he knew that the troops had fired. This imprudence cost his life.
"It was impossible to get an exact list of those who were struck by bullets, a difficulty which may be due in part to the natural reluctance of those who were rioting to come forward and give evidence. Ten shots in all appear to have been fired, and from 11 to 14 people, so far as we can learn, were hit. One bullet, which must have struck the ground either in Green Lane or the gravel in front of Green Lane, ricocheted and shot a man called Oakley, who was standing in another colliery yard a quarter of a mile off, and after striking Oakley wounded another miner in the neck. Neither of these was among the rioters".
The report is critical of the sending of police to Doncaster, which left the various collieries of the West Riding at the mercy of any organised crowd who were bent on mischief, and, when protection was needed, made it necessary that military instead of police should at once be called in.
It was also considered unfortunate there was no magistrate to meet the troops at Featherstone Station, and Captain Barker and his men, who had no local knowledge, should have been left to do the best they could without any magistrate being on the ground.
The dividing of the troops into two parties was also criticised. "But for the division of the troops and of the absence of a magistrate it is possible that the turbulent crowds which entered the yard after 6pm might have been kept off the premises. The smallness of the force at the Ackton Hall works contributed to the danger throughout the evening, and perhaps was what rendered the taking of life necessary at last." With regard to the decision to open fire the report says "We have formed a clear view that the troops were in a position of great embarrassment. The withdrawal of half their original force had reduced them to so small a number as to render it difficult for them to defend the colliery effectively at night time. To prevent the colliery from being overrun and themselves surrounded, it was essential for them to remain as close as possible to the Green Lane entrance. Otherwise, the rioters would, under cover of the darkness, have been able to enter in force. To withdraw from their position was to abandon the colliery offices to the rear to arson and violence. To hold the position was not possible, except at the risk of the men being seriously hurt and their force crippled. Assaulted by missiles on all sides, Captain Barker and his troops had no alternative left but to fire, and it seems that Mr Hartley was bound to require them to do so".
"It cannot be expected that this view should be adopted by many of the crowd in Green Lane who were taking no part in the riotous proceedings, Such persons had not, at the time, the means of judging of the danger in which the troops and the colliery stood. But no sympathy felt by us for the injured bystanders, no sense which we entertain of regret that, owing to the smallness of the military force at Featherstone and the prolonged absence of a magistrate, matters had drifted to such a pass, can blind us to the fact that, as things stood at the supreme moment when the troops fired, their action was necessary. If our conclusions on these points be, as we believe them to be, correct, it follows that the action of the troops was justified in law."
COMPENSATION
When the report on the riot at Ackton Hall Colliery was presented to
Parliament John Austin, Member for Osgoldcross, moved "That in the
opinion of this House it is desirable that just and reasonable
compensation should be accorded to James Gibbs and James Arthur Duggan,
who were killed on the 7th Day of September by the firing of military
forces; also to six other men who were maimed and injured". He said none
of the authors of these riots were Featherstone men. They appeared to
be a band of marauders which passed from colliery to colliery for the
express purpose of mischief. This proved his constituents - hard working
respectable men - took no part whatever in these riotous proceedings.
They were simply looking on at an exciting scene. Two men were shot
dead, and six others maimed for life, who were only doing what any
members of this House might have been doing. The miners in the West
Riding felt deeply the injury and wrong which had been done to their
fellow workmen, and they asked the House to give just reparation". Mr T W
Nussey (MP for Pontefract) seconded the motion.The Home Secretary admitted that after six weeks of strike it was unfortunate the usual practice of exporting from the West Riding to Doncaster a considerable number of police should have been observed. On the subject of compensation there was no precedent for their guidance. The men killed were declared by the Commission to have been innocent men attracted to the spot by curiosity, but it must be remembered under the law of the land any man who took part in a riotous mob and remained in it after the proclamation had been made was guilty of taking part in an unlawful assembly. He said the Government would consider the question of compensation which would not be on a large scale but which would be adequate to meet the circumstances. The MP's then withdrew the motion.
On March 19 1894 Mr Nussey asked Mr Asquith if he was now able to state the results of his consideration of the claims to compensation arising out of the Featherstone riots, and give the names of those who were to receive such compensation, and the amounts and date when the same was likely to be paid.
Mr Asquith replied he would be happy to supply his honourable friend privately with the details, but the general result was £100 would be paid to the families of each of the two men who were killed, and a further sum of £200 would be distributed among the nine other men who were more or less seriously wounded, and who, it had been established to his satisfaction, took no part in the riotous proceedings.
John Austin wrote to Mr Asquith about the matter and received the following reply from Geoffrey Lushington.
"I am directed by the Secretary of State to acknowledge your letter of yesterday respecting the men killed or wounded at Featherstone on 7th September last, and to acquaint you that he has informed the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury that the persons to whom he proposes the awards should be made as follows:
To the representatives of James Duggan £100, James Gibbs £100, John Edwards £50, Joseph Burns £40, Charles Dobson £20, Arthur Dowson £20, Benjamin Oakley £20, William Tomlinson £20, George Gibbs £10, Samuel Hobbs £10 and Charles Williams £10.
"I am to ask you to be good enough to favour Mr Asquith with the names of responsible people to whom the money should be paid, especially in the names where the men have died."
On March 20 Mr Austin attended a public meeting at Featherstone and made known the receipt of the letter and its contents, and his statement was loudly cheered. The next week Mr Austin, accompanied by Mr Claud Kemp, solicitor, paid out the compensation and brought the 1893 troubles at Ackton Hall Colliery to an end.