Great Demonstration of Colliers

1876

Sheffield Telegraph, May 13th, 1876

Great Demonstration of Colliers

The men employed at the Denaby Main Colliery mustered in force on Wednesday at Swinton.

An offer had been made to them by a publican at Mexborough, to pay them a certain amount to fetch him a wagon load of coal from Thrybergh hall colliery, Kilnhurst.

The men embraced the offer, and having procured a large farmerĀ“s waggon, about 50 men harnessed themselves to it and started from Denaby, through the villages of Mexborough and Swinton to Kilnhurst. The distance was considerably over 3 miles.

The novelty of the procession caused some amusement.

A man was seated inside the conveyance waving a whip, at the end of which was tied a large bladder; and two men on either side availed themselves of the opportunity to “collect” the “smallest donations.”

The colliers were very orderly and good-humoured