On Saturday 30th September 1876, the Midland Railway Company treated around 1,200 Settle & Carlisle Railway navvies to a day at the seaside. However, this nice gesture seems to have resulted in "revelry and riot" and a court appearance for at least one of the individuals concerned.
The related newspaper reports are transcribed below.
Craven Herald, Saturday 07 October 1876
MORECAMBE
RIOT AT THE RAILWAY STATION.
A case arising out of an extraordinary scene at Morecambe Railway Station was heard at the Lancaster County Police Court on Monday, when Samuel Mathers, a railway labourer, of Ingleton, was charged with obstructing George Kerry, a guard in the employ of the Midland Railway Company, whilst in the execution of his duty. From the statements of Supt. Jervis and the station-master, it appeared that on Saturday last, by way of commemorating the completion of the Settle and Carlisle line, the Midland Railway ran two special trains to Morecambe with about 1,200 men who had been employed on the line. The return trains should have been despatched about six o'clock in the evening, but the excursionists so misconducted themselves as to completely baffle the efforts of the officials, and for about an hour the station was a complete scene of revelry and riot, so much so that the stationmaster deemed it advisable to lock all the doors of the offices and waiting-rooms. When Hervey, the guard of one of the trains, went to his van he found it filled with noisy fellows, who threatened to pitch him on the line if he attempted to get in. He was proceeding along the platform to get another carriage attached when defendant went after him, pulled off his coat to fight him, and spit in his face, and the train was delayed by his interference. One of defendant's companions attempted to thrust a man out of the carriage as the train was moving off, and was only prevented by a porter getting upon the step and locking the door. Eventually the police arrived, and order was restored at the station. Defendant was fined £5, including costs.
Lancaster Gazette, Wednesday 04 October 1876
DISORDERLY PROCEEDINGS AT MORECAMBE RAILWAY STATION.
Samuel Matthews, a railway labourer, of Ingleton, was charged with unlawfully and wilfully resisting George Kerry, a railway guard, whilst in the execution of his duty as an officer of the Midland Railway Company, at Morecambe station on the 30th ult., contrary to the bye-laws of the said railway. Defendant pleaded guilty.
Mr. Jervis said the defendant was brought there charged with interfering with the Midland Railway Company's servants at the Morecambe railway station, at half-past six o'clock on Saturday night, and when the Bench had heard all the facts of the case, he thought they would consider it one in which they should impose the full penalty on defendant. On Saturday, about 1200 men came by an excursion from Batty Green to Morecambe, at which place prisoner had been employed on the railway. About six o'clock in the evening they began to assemble at the station for the purpose of returning home, and commenced fighting among themselves and making rows which at one time very nearly approached a riot. The station master was obliged to lock the doors of the booking office and of all the waiting rooms, and to get all the assistance he could to quell the disturbance. Subsequently the police were sent for, and defendant was given into custody. People like defendant were in receipt of high wages, and a small penalty would have little effect on him; the sum of £8 14s. 9d. in money, together with a gold watch and guard, being found on him when he was given into custody.
Mr Richardson, the station master at Morecambe, said that the train to Carlisle was timed to leave Morecambe on Saturday night at twenty minutes past six, but so violent, so disorderly, was the conduct of the persons occupying the platform that it was impossible to get the train off at the proper time. They had one carriage to attach to the train in order to accommodate the number of passengers, and whilst this was being done, he saw defendant talking to the guard and interfering with him in his duty. He told him if he did not desist he would give him into custody. Defendant took no heed of it, and shortly afterwards he (witness) went to the guard again, and found him completely at a standstill, and unable to perform any part of his duties at all owing to the disorderly conduct of the people about him.
George Kerry, the guard, said the defendant and his friends were occupying the van of the train timed to leave Morecambe for Carlisle on Saturday night at 6.20. He told them there was another carriage being put to for them and they would have to go out. The whole of them refused, and used most beastly language. He put a can containing his tea on to the floor of the van, and they knocked it over. He succeeded in getting the men out of the van, and when he had done so the defendant followed him down the platform and offered to fight him.
Defendant said he did not threaten to fight the guard. The latter told him to come out of the van and he did so; but before that there was no room in any of the carriages; but as soon as there was room in the carriages he went out.
The Chairman said it was a very bad case, because by interfering with the officer and delaying the train, he also interfered with the safety of other trains, and defendant would have to pay a penalty of £5 including costs, or go to the Castle for two months' imprisonment. The money was paid.
Acknowledgements
The contemporary accounts were transcribed by Mark R. Harvey from digitised versions of newspapers accessed via the British Newspaper Archive (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/).