Now here’s a dramatic local story which you wouldn’t see these days, but certainly made the Blantyre headlines back in June 1896! Hopefully you haven’t heard of this before.
The Hamilton Advertiser took great delight in telling readers of a sensational story which took place at Glasgow Road, Blantyre on Thursday 11th June 1896. That evening it was heard that a number of men following the breakup of the Hamilton Yeomanry, were galloping their horses through Hamilton streets, intentionally racing and to the danger of the public.
Attempts by Hamilton Police officers were made to stop the “impromptu race” and apprehend the disobedient men, but owing to the speed of their animals, before long all were out of sight and heading towards Blantyre.
This was a time before trams and as the horses galloped from Hamilton through Burnbank, word was send on ahead by telephone to the Blantyre Police Station at the east end of Glasgow Road.
Attempts were then made at the Blantyre Police Station to stop the approaching horses in the road, but still the men and the animals paid no heed, cutting past police, racing on further along Glasgow Road into the heart of Stonefield. However, Blantyre Constables McAuley and Walker were having none of this “out of control” lawbreaking. Without any time to spare or a second thought, they mounted their bicycles and gave chase westwards.
The horses tore though the Blantyre streets at a pace as onlookers watched in amazement from their windows on either side of the street. The constables gave pursuit with all their might behind.
Luckily, owing to some other horse traffic out that evening, the horses and their riders were forced to slow down and the cycling Constables eventually caught up with the horsemen around the West End.
A large turnout of people witnessed this exciting race making it a talking point for some time. They cheered the constables for the plucky way they had turned the men and horses and forced them to stop. All riders and horses were then handed back over to the Hamilton Police to be “dealt with”.
AI images the scene, exclusively for Blantyre Project, assisted by a few prompts and parameters from myself.
