Printed in the Dundee Courier Friday 22 October 1897
Yesterday morning the Eddlewood ejections were resumed. About eight o’clock about eighty constables drove up under Superintendent Anderson, and were posted at the entrances to the Rows with orders to let no one either in or out. The Strike Committee had previously warned the inmates of what was to happen by sending round the bellman.
Messrs, Gilmour and Robertson were excluded from the Rows at first, but were afterwards admitted. Mr Smellie was also present. The enforcement of the warrants was again entrusted to T. H. Bell and F. Cassells, sheriff officers, and they had with them nearly thirty assistants. They were conveyed by rail to Meikle Earnock Station, and thence to a joiner’s shop adjoining the Rows.
At ten minutes past eight they emerged from the shop, escorted by police, and were slightly hooted. A number carried augurs, hammers, pincers, and other implements for breaking open doors, if necessary. There were seventeen warrants, divided into two sections. The officers cleared a couple of houses simultaneously. No resistance was offered until Nos. 38 and 44 were reached. They were barricaded, and the work of breaking open the doors proved difficult, but was ultimately accomplished, and the furniture and bedding removed.
From 44 a baby in a cradle was carried out by the officers. The ejected parties furniture was lying in front of the house ready for removal to temporary premises at Cadzow by a lorry provided by the Strike Committee, who expect to provide for 171 persons. A number of other evictions were carried out, one or two of them taking nearly half -an -hour.
The work in the Row was then completed, and the officers left to carry out their work at the village of Meikle Earnock. The officers were escorted to Meikle Earnock by the police, followed by a large crowd, jeering and hooting.
A stand was made in front of a house at the entrance to the village, but on going inside the officers found the man’s wife ill, and did not execute the warrant. Another house had its door firmly fixed with a large stone. On returning to the colliery office the officers had refreshments, afterwards leaving in a special carriage. Mr Smellie and Mr Gilmour addressed the crowd, praising their behaviour, and condemning the law which allowed such scenes.
