Now! Then! Bonfire Night firework riots at Halifax

5 November 1866: Bonfire Night firework riots at Halifax

Leeds Mercury. 1866/11/08. Gunpowder Plot Disturbance at Halifax. Leeds. Get it:

Excerpt

On Fifth of November night a disturbance took place in Halifax by persons discharging fireworks in the public streets. Three or four years ago something like a riot took place in Crown Street, and on Monday night the state of things was nearly as bad. The crowds extended into Princess Street, Corn Market, Hall End, and Waterhouse Street. Crackers, squibs, etc., were thrown about with the utmost recklessness, rendering the passage of people dangerous. This state of things began about nine o’clock, shortly after which a magistrate of the borough passed down the street, and drew the attention of the police authorities to it. The police mustered, and endeavoured to clear the streets, but this they found to be no easy matter. They were covered with showers of crackers, etc. No sooner were the crowds driven out of one street than they appeared in another and resumed the same reckless conduct. One policeman, named Wilson, was knocked down, whether intentionally or accidentally is not certain, and was so badly hurt on the ribs that he had to withdraw from duty. Two or three years ago a Halifax policemen lost the sight of one eye from being struck with a squib. About a dozen young men were taken to the police office, detained a short time, and then liberated on giving their names. Whether these will be summoned or allowed to escape punishment as persons have done on two or three previous occasions, remains to be seen. It is only a week or two ago since several little boys were summoned for this offence: it can then hardly be expected that older persons can be permitted to escape.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations

Comment

156 years later, Mohammed Qais Ratyal and other Pakistani hooligans travelled from Bradford to Halifax to continue the tradition.

A Sheffield Guy Fawkes rhyme. On the 5th of November boys in the villages about Sheffield go begging for coals (coils), and repeating the lines:-

A stick and a stake
For King James’ sake;
Please give us a coil, a coil.
(Addy 1888)

Similar older rhymes exist. For example (Hone 1826):

Please to remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder treason and plot;
We know no reason, why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
Holla boys! holla boys! huzza-a-a

A stick and a stake, for king George’s sake,
A stick and a stump, for Guy Fawkes’s rump!
Holla boys! holla boys! huzza-a-a

Moorman includes the verse (Moorman 1916) and follows it, under the same header of Guy Fawkes’ Day, with something I don’t understand:

Awd Grimey sits upon yon hill,
As black as onny awd craw.
He’s gitten on his lang grey coat
Wi’ buttons doon afoor.
He’s gitten on his lang grey coat
Wi’ buttons doon afoor.

Is Grimey Boney, Napoleon?

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Original

On “Fifth of November” night a disturbance took place in Halifax by persons discharging fireworks in the public streets. Three or four years ago something like a riot took place in Crown-street, and on Monday night the state of things was nearly as bad. The crowds extended into Princess-street, Corn Market, Hall-end, and Waterhouse-street. Crackers, squibs, &c., were thrown about with the utmost recklessness, rendering the passage of people dangerous. This state of things began about nine o’clock, shortly after which a magistrate of the borough passed down the street, and drew the attention of the police authorities to it. The police mustered, and endeavoured to clear the streets, but this they found to be no easy matter. They were covered with showers of crackers, &c. No sooner were the crowds driven out of one street than they appeared in another and resumed the same reckless conduct. One policeman, named Wilson, was knocked down, whether intentionally or accidentally is not certain, and was so badly hurt on the ribs that he had to withdraw from duty. Two or three years ago a Halifax policemen lost the sight of one eye from being struck with a squib. About a dozen young men were taken to the police-office, detained a short time, and then liberated on giving their names. Whether these will be summoned or allowed to escape punishment as persons have done on two or three previous occasions, remains to be seen. It is only a week or two ago since several little boys were summoned for this offence: it can then hardly be expected that older persons can be permitted to escape.

275 words.