Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 11 August 1893

The Coal Strike.

So far as South Yorkshire generally is concerned the state of affairs is practically unchanged, but with each succeeding day the gravity of the situation increases. There could not be greater unanimity in resistance than is felt and expressed by the men here. It is simply perfect. Not one can be found to say he believes that a reduction would be justified. (Reduction in wages by 25%)

Arrangements are being made for the payment of the first strike pay by the association officials at the close of the present week. It is estimated that about £25,000 will be required to meet the men’s claims weekly.

On Tuesday, about three o’clock, a large crowd of women came upon some day men, who by arrangement, it would seem, were filling waggons at the Aldwarke Main Sidings, near Rawmarsh Station, where a quantity of coal had been stacked. The men soon had to beat a hasty retreat before the missiles thrown at them by the women, some receiving ugly cuts.

On Tuesday news was circulated in the Mexborough district to the effect that the huge stacks of coal on the pit bank at Denaby Main were about to be commenced to be removed, and there was a speculation as to whether this would occur peacefully, in view of the resolution, passed unanimously some weeks ago, against any men being allowed to do this work during the strike.

Between thirty and forty policemen arrived on the colliery premises at the order of the Colliery Company. The Midland Railway Company have purchased 50,000 tons of the mineral which has been banked at the local colliery for a long period, and it was the intention of the company to have some removed on Tuesday. As many as 300 empty railway waggons were in the sidings, and at an early hour a party of sixty-three ballast men in the employ of the Midland Company set to work to transfer coal from the heap to the waggons.

The proceedings were watched at a distance by a number of the unemployed miners, but there was not the slightest attempt at any disturbance, and no interference was offered.

Messrs. Ryan’s and Co., Limited, Stainforth, and Blunt Brothers, Kilnhurst, have been compelled to give notice to their men, owing to the threatened dearth of fuel.