The Goole Riots

Did you know that there was a riot in Goole in 1886?  And that a resident of Hook House was mobbed during the riot?

This fascinating report from The Goole Weekly Times, dated Friday, 9th April 1886, provides a comprehensive report of what must have been a very scary event!

"THE ELECTION RIOT AT GOOLE

Soon after eleven o’clock on Monday morning a butcher named Woodall mounted a dray near the Sydney, and, having secured a hearing, announced that Lord Beaconsfield would be hung in the trees near Mrs. Hopley’s shop at twelve o’clock, and invited all of the working men to attend to hear his last dying speech and confession.  The announcement was received with much laughter. 

The next feature in the proceedings seemed to be the marching in gangs up and down the streets of young men and young women wearing yellow favours.  At this point there were a few who wore blue ones, and the temper of the crowd was shown by the fact that the orange vehicles were cheered as they passed through on their way to the polling booth, while the blues were hooted and pelted.  Pelting had before this time become far too common in Bridge Street, at the corner of which considerable numbers of men and women had assembled.  They pelted every vehicle wearing Conservative colours that passed, and we understand that Mr. Glentworth and Captain Ramsey received an especial share of attention at their hands.  They were on one occasion literally covered with mud, and the captain was so much injured that he endeavoured to obtain assistance from the police.  Mr. Superintendent Dixon had, however, determined that he would not interfere if he could possibly help doing so.  Men were, however sent over to Doyle Street, the result being that nothing further occurred here. 

As the dinner hour passed the crowd in the streets grew larger, and the tradesmen in Aire Street and the adjoining thoroughfares closed their shutters.  In fact, electioneering was the order of the day, and, for the first time in the history of the town, nothing else was thought or heard of. Unfortunately, rough horse play came into fashion, and the result was that, the orange party being by far the stronger, the blue favours of those who thought with Lord Beaconsfield were either quickly pocketed or else roughly torn off by the other side.  By two o’clock few ventured in Aire Street wearing blue.  Before this the execution of the Premier (in effigy) had taken place, and the attention of the crowd was next directed to the Lowther Hotel, which sported the colours of the Conservative committee.  Vehicles going towards that house were pelted and stoned; they were obstructed, and endeavours made to stop them altogether.  Unfortunately some of the drivers retaliated with their whips and “bad blood” was generated.

The next step was to seize hold of everyone leaving or entering the house and give him a dressing.  On one occasion the crowd followed a vehicle into the inn yard and then was done a very foolish act.  For this, we believe, neither the landlord nor any of the principal members of the committee were responsible.  Some one (we have not heard who it was) threw from one of the upper windows from the back of the house a pailful of slops and the answer was given by the crowd in a volley of stones which broke every window in the lower part of the house facing the docks.  There was great excitement indoors and out of doors and the crowd hooted and pelted Capt. Thompson, Dr. Mair and Mr. E. Hardey, who drove up from Swinefleet at about this time.  The captain was hit in the face with a stone.  Dr. Mair was plentifully besprinkled with mud, and Mr. Hardey only saved himself from injury by covering himself with the rug he had.  Stones still were thrown, though most of them fell short of their mark, but at last Mr. England, solicitor, who had been watching the proceedings from the window of the committee room, came downstairs and appeared in the porch.  A stone hit him on the chest, another struck him on the arm, and then raising his stick he was about to speak with emphasis, pointing at a man in the crowd, when a volley of stones was thrown and he backed through the door, the windows being smashed in his retreat.

The Hon. A.F. Hood, J.P., chairman of the committee, had sent for the police, but they, though watchful of the crowd’s movements, did not think it wise to interfere.  He therefore sent for Mr. Bladworth, J.P., and that gentleman, attended by Mr. Supt. Dixon, appeared on the scene.  There was some hooting as they went in and more when they came out.

About this time the crowd showed an intense dislike to anything “blue”.  At five o’clock no blue favour was to be seen in the streets, and a carriage, which in the morning entered the town bedecked with blue ribbons, left to ensure its safe return, with yellow ribbons.  Inside, Mr. Bladworth consulted with the Hon. A.F. Hood as to the reading of the Riot Act, and it was decided to swear in special constables.  These constables mostly consisted of the more athletic members of the Conservative committee.  It was not till this time that the police appeared, under Superintendent Dixon, on the ground.  The force at this hour available consisted of eight constables and two sergeants, and an additional nine men from Doncaster – in all 20.  In addition 20 men arrived from Wakefield at 6.23, and were very shortly marshalled in front of the Lowther Hotel. 

The composition of the crowd between the two hours may be perhaps appropriately referred to.  It contained a great many well dressed people, who were doing nothing but looking on.  There were also a large number of other persons from every part of the town who were only sightseers, while immediately in front of the police were a mob of some 200 persons, who were very angry at the treatment they had received in certain quarters, and were very anxious to come to closer quarters with the members of the Conservative committee, who now ventured to come out and stand under the balcony.  These gentlemen were, it was stated, special constables and the least that can be said is that they were exceedingly anxious for the moment when they could take their part in quelling the disturbance. 

At about 5.30 P.C. France (Doncaster) was badly cut on the side of the nose with a stone, and was led by P.S. Bendelow inside the Lowther. Throughout the whole time stones were thrown, some big ones and some small ones, and every few minutes the crack of a pane showed that the aim was true.  While some gentlemen were sitting in the bar a big stone came through the window, which broke a valuable globe.  The result of the swearing in of the special constables was that they armed themselves with the legs of chairs and other weapons which came to hand.  Matters went on in this way for some time, and the band came before the hotel, playing at one time, “Auld Lang Syne” in which the people heartily joined. 

Shortly before seven Mr. Bladworth, J.P., who had all this time been in the hotel, came with Mr. Hood to the door.  They spoke to Mr. Dixon as to the advisability of reading the Riot Act, and he said that there was no ground at this time on which it could be read as the people were not riotous.  The noise was great, but there was no confusion; indeed at this time the lady members of several families in Goole were moving among the crowd unmolested.  Mr. Bladworth and Mr. Hood were jostled a little as they came out, but were not otherwise hurt, and the latter good humouredly chatted with several working men near where the police were.  Mr. Bladworth pressed Mr. Dixon to disperse the mob, but that officer said it was impossible, and turning to the Conservative committee, who crowded the porch, said that if they would go inside the hotel, quietly remain there, and keep the door shut, and the front windows in darkness, he would undertake to say that the crowd would go away.  The committee men present declined to accede to this, and both the crowd and the committee grew impatient.  Stones were thrown freely about, the police, who were jibed and jeered at, coming in for more than their share.

Ultimately, it was decided to read the Riot Act and, standing on the pavement in front of the Lowther Hotel, Mr. Bladworth read it.  Hardly 20 persons in the crowd knew what he was about, and so great was the hubbub that a tradesman, who was within a few feet of him, states that he did not hear one half of what he said.  Mr. Dixon, raising his voice to the very highest pitch then informed the people that the Riot Act had been read and assured them that unless the respectable portion of them withdrew from the street there would be serious results.  Jeers from the rioters greeted this and probably few of the respectable portion heard it. 

Minute after minute passed and there was hardly any perceptible change in the density of the crowd.  Then – ten minutes having elapsed – Mr. Dixon ordered a wheel and forthwith the police marched wheeling in the first instance towards Banks Terrace and then towards Adam Street. Stones fell in showers from different directions.  Several of the police were injured, and Mr. Dixon at once ordered the police to draw their staves and clear the streets.  There was a panic – heads were smashed and people were thrown down.  The rioters being the more youthful part of the crowd disappeared among the stones on the wharf and the buildings in the neighbourhood and the policemen (many of whom were strangers to Goole) spent their force on those who had perhaps offended the least.  Aided by the special constables, the police milled down Adam Street and Ouse Street and past the Sydney Hotel.

What occurred at the Macintosh Arms Inn has given rise to much controversy.  On the one side it is said the police, aided by a powerful body of specials, rushed into the Macintosh and seized the landlord and assaulted him, while on the other it is stated that the men in the Macintosh Arms hooted and pelted the police as they passed.  It is stated that stones were pelted at the police from windows in respectable houses in Aire Street, but this we hope is not true, and we have not had the statement confirmed.  The Liberal committee were sitting at the Sydney Hotel and when the disturbance arose the door was shut, but Mr. Huntington, the vice-chairman, and several members of the committee ventured out and expostulated with the police on the degree of violence they were using. 

It may parenthetically be observed that the police, after the Riot Act was read, are in duty bound to clear the streets with staves and that after the Act is read there is always sufficient time given people to clear out of the way.  On this occasion the time was given but the import of the interval between the reading of the Act and the charge of the police was not understood.  One effect of the charge was practically to withdraw from the Lowther all means of defence, and, seeing that the constables were otherwise engaged, the rioters returned and smashed the windows in with a volley of heavy stones, which flew from the foot of the iron bridge.  In one case a woman standing against the office of Mr. Branley (whose vaults were at this time closed) ran out and threw a big stone through the commercial room window with a second through the tap window.

Many respectable people were now sheltered in the gardens opposite Adam Street, but they were dispersed by the police, whose sallies extended to the end of St. John Street.  About this time Mr. Bennett, who had been out of town during the latter part of the day, was returning from the railway station and, not knowing of the disturbance, walked into the centre of a number of policemen, who threatened to strike him. Fortunately he was known to one of them, and was able to explain who and what he was, so that he escaped unhurt.  The rioters attempted to get into the Lowther Hotel, but failed to force in the door and, the police returning to the charge, they were soon sent away, being dispersed all over the town. 

One man – Tom Woodall – was knocked down and laid insensible.  Some indignation has been excited against Dr. Cass, who it is said went up to the man, declared that he was one of the radicals who had made the row, and left him for senseless.  We are informed that the doctor was of the opinion that the man was suffering as much from the effects of drink as from anything else, and finding in those around him a tendency to mob him on the ground that he was a member of the conservative committee, he thought it was well to retire from the scene.  The man was afterwards attended by Dr. Blair, being carried home, and is recovering from the effects of the blows he received.  Mr. Huntington repaired to the Lowther and had an interview with the Hon. A.F. Hood (Mr. Bladworth having returned home).  What passed at the interview is not known but Mr. Huntington returned to the Sydney Hotel where about 30 of the Liberal committee were assembled.  They passed the following protest:  “The Goole Liberal Committee unanimously and in the most emphatic manner protest against the injudicious and unnecessary reading of the Riot Act and the brutal manner in which they say the police indiscriminately attacked men, women and children, which calls for immediate investigation.

By nine o’clock the police were reinforced by 20 constables from Dewsbury, but, though the new men marched as far as the Lowther Hotel, all was quiet, save for the few curious people who at the risk of their own comfort came into the streets.

The following are the casualties reported by the police on Monday night – P.C. France (Doncaster), nose cut with a stone; P.C. Lare (Doncaster), face cut with stones; P.C. Laughlin (Rawcliffe), wrist severely hurt; P.S. Stiminson (Pontefract), back of right leg injured; P.S. Marshall (Doncaster), left arm injured and wrist; P.S. Prosser (Pontefract), right hand injured; P.C. Cooper (Wakefield), eye cut with stones; P.C. Hartley (Dewsbury), head injured.  This shows that the constables were very heavily assaulted with stones. 

Early on Tuesday morning the crowd were astir looking at the damage done to the hotel.  It is estimated that at least £70 worth of damage is done.  This will have to come out of the county rate.  Fifty constables (under Supt. Sykes of Barnsley) arrived from Pontefract and Barnsley. Between twelve and one o’clock Aire Street was filled with working men amongst whom an angry feeling was shown against the police, but beyond a few oaths and jibes nothing further was done.  Capt. Russell, the Chief Constable for the West Riding, visited Goole, and had interviews with the Hon. A.F. Hood and other gentlemen.

The following are the casualties reported to the resident medical men:

Dr. Branwell has under his care two bad cases, in one of which serious injuries have been inflicted.  A man named Burwood, steward on one of the steamers and a stranger in the town, was assaulted by the police whilst, as he states, going quietly home.  The man also says he was perfectly sober and in no way assisted in any riotous proceedings.  The other case under Dr. Bramwell’s care is a man named Horsepool, who also states that he was going home quietly and perfectly sober.  He received severe cuts upon the head from the police.

Dr. Blair’s List – Enoch Poole, who was mobbed near Mr. Morfitt’s shop, Ouse Street, severe cuts on the head with profuse bleeding; Tom Woodall, severe cuts on the head, which rendered him insensible until the following morning; James Goulding, Old Goole, cuts on the head with profuse bleeding; George Thompson, beerhouse keeper, Alexandra Street, cut on the head; Michael Kelly, cuts on the head with profuse bleeding; A man named Jackson, residing in Paradise Place, who has received similar injuries; J.B. Lee, landlord of the Macintosh Arms, cuts on the head.

Dr. East had three cases brought under his notice all of which were very slight.

Dr. Cass had the wounded policemen under his care in addition to a girl of five years of age who was knocked down, her arm being broken.

Amongst the attacks on individuals some few of the many may be noticed.  We have already alluded to those on Capt. Thompson and his friends. Mr. Johnson, of Goole Fields, and Mr. Kelsey of Hook House, were both molested in a manner which admits of no palliation.  Mr. Aspinall, the secretary of the Humber Steam Shipping Company, was knocked about in a manner which cannot be justified.  Mr. Miller, chemist, of Ouse Street was attacked in a way which can hardly be explained for he had identified himself with no party and had done nothing to provoke the ire of the mob in charge of the street.  Mr. Thorpe, of Moorfields, with one of his younger sons, was in a similar way pounced upon and thrown down, losing his and his son’s hat in the struggle.  Probably the most determined attack was that made on Mr. Morfitt, who was standing quietly talking to a friend when, on someone saying he was a “blue”, an attack was made.  A prolonged struggle ensued and the result was that Mr. Morfitt, some six of his assailants and about 3 yards of the fence in Aire Street opposite the Macintosh Arms disappeared in the gardens.  Mr. Morfitt received a contusion on his head and other bruises.

Mr. J.B.Lee, landlord of the Macintosh Arms, writes: “Last night as I was standing in my bar, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Pemberton and others rushed in. Mr. Dixon caught me by the collar and said to me “out with you”.  Then he left me and went into another room, striking right and left with their staffs.  The first to strike me was Mr. Pemberton, then Mr. Dixon and then one of the police, breaking glass and all they came near.  They cut three men besides me; my house was quiet, no noise whatever.  It was between eight and nine.  Women and children ran in for shelter, and I could not turn them in the street, where the police were rushing after them.  Dr. Blair attended me for my head.  We have three squares of glass broken.  I have several witnesses that saw all the proceedings.

Charles Cook, Pasture Lane, engineer on board the S.S. Rosa, states that on Monday afternoon he arrived at Goole from abroad and went home.  The afternoon he spent at his father’s house (Mr. J.S. Cooke) and was returning to his own house between 7 and 8.  He came past the office of the Goole Steam Shipping Company and was crossing Aire Street when he was deliberately knocked down by the police, who inflicted a serious wound on the side of the head.  He wore no favour, had never shouted and was not aware that there was any rioting going on.

William England, Club Row, horse driver for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, complains that while on the causeway in Aire Street walking homewards, he was struck a violent blow on the head by a policeman with his truncheon.  He had not been in the crowd opposite the Lowther more than ten minutes and had taken no part in the proceedings of the day, having been at work till six o’clock.  He never heard the Riot Act read, nor did he hear the caution of Mr. Supt. Dixon to disperse.  No stones were being thrown from the part of the crowd in which he was standing, near Walker and Rutter’s office.

Mr. Turton, assistant to Mr. Walker, was standing quietly looking on, when the mob mistaking him for some other person seized hold of him and pushed him about in a very unpleasant manner.  Mr. Simpson of Airmyn, on leaving the hotel was pelted and was hit in the face by a stone.  Many other similar casualties were reported.

Geo. Smith, agricultural servant with Mr. Geo. Duckels, Bridge Foot, Goole, states that he left work at six o’clock on Monday evening, but did not leave Old Goole until a quarter to eight.  He came across the docks and was going past the small office opposite the Lowther Hotel, when he received a hit from a staff on the head and was knocked down.  He had not been in the town during any part of the day, and when he reached Aire Street, found the people rushing about, but could not tell what was the occasion of the disorder he saw.  Mr. East attended him.

On Monday morning, as one of the results of the fray, there was to be seen on the pavement opposite Mr. Bromley’s a large pool of blood, marking the spot where someone had received a blow of no trifling character.

Amongst the incidents of the early part of the day may be noticed the mobbing of the groom of Dr. Cass, in Ouse Street.  He was knocked down opposite the Times office and was very roughly used.

It is stated in explanation of the throwing of water from the Lowther Hotel, that at the time the rioters were pulling off the box of the omnibus driver, who was wearing blue, and that the water or slops were thrown out of the window by some of the servants of the house, that being the only way in which they could help their fellow servants.

John Horsefield, of Abyssinian Terrace, writes to us: “Coming down Aire Street on Monday evening last, it being polling day, talking to a friend, my hat was knocked over my head, my cheek laid open and my arm injured.  I fell and was senseless some minutes.  When I recovered, I was bleeding very much.  I looked to see the cause of my disaster and I saw a crowd of policemen headed by their superintendent, knocking men, women and children about”.

Riot is (says a standard work which we have consulted) the legal name of an offence which consists of the assembling of three or more persons for an illegal purpose, or for the carrying out of a legal purpose in an illegal manner.  Riots often commence in some supposed private wrong. Some degree of violence is incidental to a riot, and a degree of intimidation to the neighbourhood.  A riot cannot take place unless at least three persons act in concert.  When a riot becomes formidable, it is usual for the authorities to take active measures to disperse it.  Thus, any justice of the peace may command the persons assembled to disperse peaceably by a form of words called reading the Riot Act, which is as follows: “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 an Act of King George for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies. God save the Queen”.  If the rioters, after this formal proclamation, remain more than one hour afterwards, they are guilty of felony and may be seized and carried before a justice.  Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between an illegal assembly and one which is legal, though noisy and tumultuous, and the opinion of the justice of the peace is not conclusive as to the illegality.  Sometimes the Riot Act is read more than once during the disturbance, in which case the second or third reading does not supersede the first.

INSIDE THE LOWTHER

The following from the pen of one of those who were inside the Lowther Hotel for several hours on Monday, will be read with interest:  “The scene inside the Lowther was one of excitement and anxiety, expectation being at its highest pitch with the thought that every moment the mob would storm the door to obtain an entrance.  The various gentlemen who were acting as special constables availed themselves of anything handy, chair legs being called into requisition as they were the best thing to grasp, and the nearest approach to a staff.  How the mob yelled.  Very plainly indeed could be heard the screams of the women and the oaths of the men.  Crash!  Bang!  Gracious powers, what a din!  There was no possibility of getting out.  As thick as hail, pebbles came through the window.  Bang!  Bang at the doors came bricks and stones.  It was evident the mob were determined to be in and the people inside were equally determined to keep them out.  Some one said “Let’s go out and charge the devils; if we only show a good front, we can soon clear them off”.  But they didn’t see the feasibility of the remark.  The company inside were scattered in groups here and there.  One gentleman was loudly denouncing the tardiness of the police in not quelling the riot before it had assumed such large proportions.  Others were laughing and joking, and wishing – for the sake of a little diversion – a few of the mob would drop in, just that they might be sent back to tell of the reception they had had.  Some were wishing they were nicely out of the house and safe at home, but when they essayed to leave such a shower of missiles greeted them that they were glad to beat a hasty retreat.  Bang!  Smash!  How the glass shivered; what furious fellows! 

We wondered if it were possible to have a look out without being detected.  Some gentlemen said, “If you go into the billiard room you can see through the venetians.  Lightly we stepped across the darkened room, taking care to shut the door behind us that no light might be seen.  Lifting the blind, we peeped out, when – bang! – how lucky we stood at the side of the window.  The shivered glass glistened all over the floor.  In the vestibule was a crowd, everybody had mustered in force, to repel the invaders.  It was like being in a battle, for the excitement was about at the highest pitch.  Everybody had seized something.  One gentleman was furiously brandishing a poker.  The affair was certainly beginning to look serious and yet one could not help laughing, for we looked such comical warriors.  There was a knock at the door, and everyone crowded round while it was being opened, and three or four policemen came in leading one that was wounded.  He was taken into the commercial room and attended to by Dr. Cass who, fortunately, was inside.  Upon examination it turned out that some “free and enlightened elector” had playfully thrown a stone and laid open the cheek close under the eye.  Speaking to this policeman, after he had had his face plastered, he said, to use his own words, “Ah think ah saw t’fellar at threw t’stone, an’ ah gen him one fer his ‘en; he “copped” it over t’head.”  He further said that the glassblowers and colliers were a rough lot where he came from, but they were gentlemen compared to the Goole roughs. 

Another policeman was brought in, but he was put to bed, the mob having handled him very severely.  By this time, the police had pretty well cleared the streets, and as it became safer the doors were unfastened, and people began to drop in by twos and threes, but, when anyone attempted to leave, a volley of pebbles or half a brick hastened their exit very materially, and it was observed that about half a dozen women were hiding behind Walker and Rutter’s office with the avowed intention of throwing stones, to have a little fun (?) on their own account, but a stray policeman soon cleared them out, and away they went across the iron bridge as fast as their legs would carry them.  Those large flags on the dock walls afforded ample room for a few to hide, and occasionally we were startled by the smashing of glass to the rear of the house. 

The doors were now opened and people passed in and out at will.  Very soon the bar was filled, and anxious were the inquiries as to how we had fared.  Eleven o’clock was rapidly approaching when the law would compel us to leave, but there was nothing to fear. As the large accession to the police of the town had somewhat awed the lawlessness of the mob, and the streets were resuming their wonted appearance.  It was with thankfulness indeed that we were able to get home all right.

TUESDAY EVENING

During the whole of the next day Goole was very quiet as compared with the previous night.  Only a few idle fellows were to be found about admiring and viewing with apparent satisfaction their and their comrades handiwork over the windows of the Lowther Hotel.  Towards evening the state of the poll of the Local Board was declared, but even that failed to excite the idlers to any activity.  Afterwards, however, when darkness came on a very large number of young men and boys came out and paraded the street, some of them forming themselves into a band, and “falling in” at the command of one of their number, marched up and down Aire Street to their evident delight and to the amusement of the principal spectators, who seemed to appreciate largely this mockery of the police force.  This band occasionally relieved its monotonous marching by hurrahing and throwing various missiles at any object which happened to be within reach, such as the vicarage windows, a few of which were broken under this treatment.  This continued until almost nine o’clock, without at all partaking of a serious character, indeed they attested in that most harmonious melody as they marched, “We don’t want to fight, but by Jingo if we do, &c;” and by way of giving effect to their words they carried cudgels of a somewhat ferocious nature. 

During the whole time the absence of the police constables was conspicuous – this doubtless was a wise course on their part to pursue.  Finding that their mockery, cheers, and songs, were of no avail, this “small fry” as it was irreverently designated, retired in due course, and at 10 pm scarcely any evidence of their presence remained, and the peaceful inhabitants of the town were enabled to sleep in peace and quietness. 

We cannot but commend the inaction of the police, as beyond the noise there was nothing that demanded attention from them; and had they appeared it would undoubtedly have been sufficient to have caused a repetition of Monday evening’s discreditable performance.  We understand that a good force was in the town ready for action if necessary."