e streets, reached the police station, which was in the middle of
the town, close to the main street, to inform the police of what was
taking place. However, when I got there, it had become evident to the
police that trouble was coming, for large numbers of civilians were
congregating and showing considerable excitement in the main street and
moving down towards the cathedral from which direction the red-coats were
coming.

Before any steps could be taken by the police the crowd of civilians and
the red-coats met. For some little time the red-coats made their way
through the crowd, slashing with their belts. Some stones began to fly,
heavy sticks were being used, and gradually the red-coats were separated
and were getting quite the worst of the bargain.

The news of the disturbance had reached the barracks shortly after the
two factions had met, and such of the soldiers as were at that time
within the barrack walls were ordered to parade under arms, with a view
of marching down the street to restore order. However, by the time they
were ready to march out there were but few red-coats left in the streets.
They had been dispersed by the crowd and had sought safety wherever they
could. They were collected later on and marched up to their barracks by
police and military escorts, quiet was once again restored that Sunday
afternoon, and the remains of the fight collected in the shape of lost
belts, broken shillelaghs, road metal and smashed glass, while a good
many broken heads and bruised limbs received attention.

The sequel was this. The regiment was confined to barracks until further
orders. Two nights afterwards, in the early hours of the morning, it
marched quietly along to the railway station. A troop train awaited its
arrival, while at another platform more troop trains landed another
regiment which, in equal silence, marched off to its new quarters. So
ended this episode, for as soon as, on the next day, the townspeople
became aware that the offenders, as they considered them, had gone, they
lost all resentment and were quite ready to make friends and to welcome
their successors, who soon were enjoying quite a time of popularity. We
soldiers always looked forward to election time with considerable
anxiety. We were generally ordered to be ready, in case our assistance
was wanted in aid of the police, and we knew that long before we should
be called on to use our rifles or even our swords brick-bats and other
missile