Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday, 3 November 1893

The Coal War
Peace At Last
The Rosebery Conference Affects A Settlement.
Enthusiastic Reception Of The News.
Scenes In The Streets.
Work Resumed At Neighbouring Pits.
General Resumption Of Trade.
A Slight Block At Wath.

The lamentable and disastrous struggle in the coal trade, which for sixteen weeks has paralysed English industry, has wrought untold misery among the mining population, and has pauperised thousands of workers outside the trade directly affected by the dispute, came to an end on Friday, when after about six hours’ discussion at the joint conference over which the Earl of Rosebery, K.G., presided, agreed to a settlement of the question at issue, and thus ended the great Coal War of 1893.

The terms agreed upon provided in the first instance for the formation of a Board of Conciliation, consisting of fourteen coalowners and fourteen representatives of the miners, the chairmanship to be settled by mutual agreement, or failing that, by the nomination of the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Chairman to have the casting vote. The Board is to last for at least a year, and is to settle the rate of wages to be paid from time to time, on and from the 1st of February, 1894. In the second instance the terms of settlement provided for the immediate re-opening of the pits at the old rate of wages, which shall hold good until the 1st of February next.

This agreement was signed first by Messrs. A. M. Chambers and T. E. Ellis, chairman and secretary of the Coalowners’ Federation, then by Messrs. Pickard, M.P., and T. Ashton, chairman and secretary of the Miners’ Federation, then by Lord Rosebery, the chairman of the Conference, and lastly, by Mr. H. Llewellyn Smith, the secretary of the Conference.

So much for the treaty of peace to what was probably the most prolonged, and, while it lasted, bitter and vindictive industrial conflict of the century.

The reception of the news in South Yorkshire was hailed with almost frantic delight. Mr. Pickard sent a telegram to the executive at Barnsley, announcing the result of the Conference, and this was followed by another message from the hon. member, instructing the executive to wire the whole of the lodge secretaries. Before, however, these messages could be despatched to their deputations the pleasing and gratifying news had been received through many private channels.

In Mexborough it was first received and placarded at the office of the “Mexborough and Swinton Times.” Although no announcement had been issued from the office to that effect the Mexborough miners appeared to regard the “Times” Office as the most likely place where the news would be received, and about six o’clock on Friday evening at least three hundred persons had assembled in High Street outside the office.

The news was first received by telephone from Sheffield and communicated from the office door-step, by a representative of the “Times” to the eager and expectant crowd. The announcement that the dispute was settled elicited a cheer and the inquiry, “What are the terms, Mister?” The moment the words, “Work to be resumed on Monday at the old rate of wages,” were uttered, a tremendous cheer went up, and without stopping to hear more the greater part of the crowd moved off to communicate the news elsewhere, although another crowd quickly gathered when a placard announcing the effect of the message received was posted in the office window.

About ten minutes later a “Central News” telegram arrived, and on this also being posted in the window, the crowd, with the popular respect for the official forms of the Post Office, appeared fully satisfied that the settlement was this time an actual fact and cleared away, each man to impress on anyone incredulous still, the assurance that he had seen a telegram containing the news.

Seldom perhaps has any news occasioned such widespread and pronounced delight. The victories of a second Wellington could not have produced a scene of greater excitement than that which was to be witnessed in High Street, Mexborough. Everybody was smiling and gaiety seemed infectious, the brightness visible on every face making the street seem twice as light and cheerful as usual. Even the bustle and excitement which usually one associates with Christmas Eve or a popular celebration was not to be compared with the air of pleasure and satisfaction and triumph, yet of good will, that seemed to pervade everywhere, which made the electric light outside Goodall’s drug store seem brighter than the noon-day sun, and which made the feeblest little gas light almost dazzle the eye with brilliancy.

It was just such an occasion when it was impossible to walk down the street without experiencing a desire to skip or dance, or do something that might be regarded as ridiculous in the light of matter of fact sanity, but which was perfectly excusable under the circumstances.

Bands of men and boys made a tour of the bye streets, cheering loudly, and while one party voluntarily and youthful scouts rushed towards Swinton, yelling into every house and shop door, “The strike’s settled,” and then went in the direction of Denaby. When the evening papers arrived, the fleet-footed lads were wearing down the street, it is questionable whether they ever met with a more rapid sale—not even when the winner of the Derby was the attraction.

Everywhere in Mexborough, and Swinton, and Denaby, and for almost the whole of the evening the settlement was the sole topic of discussion, and only one opinion was expressed on the subject, however many factors there might be in the discussion. From the improvised miners’ debating society in the tap rooms of the Commercial Hotel or the Bull’s Head, to the gathering in the Montagu House bar room, the satisfaction was unanimous. No one thought of arguing on which side victory lay—the dispute was ended, and that was sufficient.

At Conisborough, the wise-acres of the Fox Inn convivial parliament shook their heads with sage satisfaction, and beamed at one another over an extra glass of their “own particular vanity,” as Sam Weller put it, and at other and less exalted centres of attraction in the old Castle town, men ceased to discuss the incidents of the last parish meeting, and talked of the settlement only.

Even the customary discussions on the School Board controversy were shelved.

At Wath, Mr. W. Wright delivered a lecture on the coal crisis, but prior to the commencement of the lecture the news reached the “Queen of Villages,” and all interest went out of that event, with the result that instead of the Victoria School being packed, a very moderate audience only listened to the lecturer, although they made up for their lack of numerical strength by the abundance of their enthusiasm whenever the lecturer alluded to the fact that a more effectual remedy for the coal war than any he could propose had already been found.

The news was received with unqualified delight in Wath, and there was a good deal of hand-shaking among friends on the strength of the settlement. Crowds of youths and boys went about the streets cheering and shouting and exhibiting other evidences of delight. Many of the shopkeepers obtained copies of Mr. Pickard’s telegram and posted them in the windows.

At Wombwell, when the message arrived from the leader of the men it was immediately posted in the window of the house at which the lodge meetings are held, and a lusty cheer was raised when its purport was learned. The news spread quickly, and even said tradesmen gave way to their delight, and indulged in decided expressions of satisfaction. Elsewhere the scenes which occurred in Mexborough were repeated. People suddenly became glad, and appeared as if they had something fresh to live for. The transformation which the decision of Friday’s Conference affected was really wonderful to see.