Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 6 October 1893

The Coal War

Present Prospects of a Settlement.—Manvers Main Men Firm.—Denaby Anxious to Start Working Again.—Soldiers Still in the District.—The Distress and Relief Works.—Co-operative Societies and Private Bodies to the Rescue.

At present the prospects of a settlement of the lock-out are not of a most encouraging character. So far as the collieries in this district are concerned it would be idle to pretend that at any of them the owners display any anxiety to renew work at the old rate of wage, and it seems that in Yorkshire, at any rate, none of the collieries affiliated to the Coal Owners’ Federation have broken away from the Federation’s resolution.

In the neighbourhood of Barnsley several pits have been re-opened, but they are generally speaking only small, and employing on an average about a hundred men, although one large pit, the Snydale Colliery, employing 1,000 hands, is amongst the number re-started.

But on this side of Barnsley there does not appear the remotest prospect of any resumption of work until the entire lock-out is brought to an end.

At Denaby Main the men have asked to be allowed to return to work and have met with a refusal. At Manvers Main this action is regarded with a certain amount of resentment, the feeling being that even if a resumption at the old rates is agreed on, the overtures must come from the owners and not from the men. The members of the Manvers Main Lodge continue to adhere firmly to their opinion that the partial resumption is a mistake, and they are firmer still against any reduction.

The Denaby men are quite as strongly opposed to reduction, but differ from Manvers Main in a desire to work. The same may be said of the men at Wombwell, Darfield, Kilnhurst, and other centres of the mining industry in the district.

At Wath Main, of course, resumption is out of the question at present, but even here, although the men cannot possibly return to work at the old rates, or indeed at any rate for some weeks to come, they would be only too glad to avail themselves of the opportunity if they could.

But however great the desire to work—and it is sufficient to be almost universal as far as this district is concerned—there is not the slightest disposition to submit to reduction.

A prominent local official of the miners’ association told us that it was his opinion that the men would “pine i’ th’ street” before they would go in on a reduction, and we ourselves believe that if the lock-out is to terminate with the defeat of the men it will not end for long enough yet, whatever may be the case through partial resumption.

It does not appear unlikely that work will gradually commence at all the collieries, one by one, although unfortunately there are few signs that this will occur just at present in the neighbourhood.

Of course at the present moment there are plenty of rumours of work being recommenced although unhappily these are unfounded. The mere fact that the blacksmiths of a pit are engaged in shoeing ponies is enough to give rise to a general impression that a resumption is anticipated by the owners.

Something of this sort took place at Thrybergh Hall Colliery, on Friday last, and this coupled with the fact that the Conference at Chesterfield had agreed to a resumption at the old rate was thought sufficient to warrant the statement that Thrybergh Hall would start on the following Monday.

There are still a number of soldiers in the district, although everything is particularly and even remarkably peaceful. The West Town Hall continues to be utilised as a barrack, and on Tuesday the Wath Local Board held its meeting surrounded by military accoutrements and in the near vicinity of an officers’ “shake down.” The continued presence of the military in the neighbourhood affords considerable pleasure to the servant girls, and this would appear to be the only purpose served by their retention on the spot.

Relief work continues to occupy the attention of both private individuals and committees in the districts affected by the lock-out.

On Monday night there was a public meeting held at Mexborough to consider the increasing distress, and an urgent appeal was made for further assistance.

Mr. Andrew Montagu, of Ingmanthorpe Hall, has contributed the sum of £25 to the relief fund at Mexborough, and Lady Halifax, of Hickleton Hall, has sent £2.

On Saturday 3,000 persons received soup at Mexborough and half a stone of flour each, and there was quite a scene that night in the market-place, Mr. H. Staples, of Brigg, having arranged to give away upwards of a ton of fish.

Messrs. J. Dixon, J. Baker, Gothard, Slater, and other members and officials of the miners’ lodges in the neighbourhood were present to see that there was no imposition.

The M.S. and L. Band played to and from the market.

Mr. J. E. Cliff disposed of a ton and two hundredweight of fish, giving the greater part of it away, and charging only a halfpenny per pound in other cases to cover the cost of carriage.

On Wednesday, at Mexborough, relief in the shape of a free breakfast was given to the children of the workmen at the foundry works, and it is to be further continued.

At Denaby Main 750 loaves were given away by the lodge officials, and 300 by Dr. Twigg.

For several days past there have been quite interesting scenes on the new railway embankment at Denaby, crowds of women and children being in search of coal among the debris.

We regret that in our article last week we omitted to refer to the help being rendered by the Mexborough Co-operative Society, who, in a quiet but effective way, have distributed upwards of 200 loaves of bread and 10 loads of potatoes, twice a week, under the supervision of the secretary, Mr. J. Gothwaite, and members of the committee.

The feeling of the committee of management was that many necessitous persons possessed, even in their time of need, the Yorkshire spirit of independence, and might possibly be overlooked. Such have been sought out and unobtrusively helped.

The number of loaves has been increased to 600 this week. The committee are in most cordial accord with the town relief fund, and feel that it is doing a great and good work, and doing it well; but are of opinion, and we share it, that in the face of such widespread and deep need, there is room for the assistance of all disposed to render it.

Last night, in Mexborough, a supper was given to over a thousand children by Messrs. H. Chambers (greengrocer), Mr. T. Seels (butcher), Mr. A. Yeasley (grocer), and Mr. H. P. Willis. An excellent meal of soup and bread was provided.

On Tuesday 800 children residing at Wath and Brampton were supplied with soup and bread in the Market Place. This was prepared by a large working committee of miners, who have been well supported in their work, subscriptions having been received from Sir F. Mappin, M.P., £10; Earl Fitzwilliam, £5; Rev. H. Partington, £5; Co-operative Society, £8 10s. per week, and smaller sums from a number of the town tradespeople.

Contributions have amounted to about £80.

In addition to the 158 gallons of soup given away on Monday, 200 stones of bread is distributed weekly, this being the third week, and a substantial tea is provided on Thursday.