The Chiniquy Riot - Hobart Town - 27th June 1879

Charles Pasqual Chiniquy was a well-known Roman Catholic priest in Canada from 1833 to
1858, before being expelled and joining the Presbyterian Church. He spent the next forty years
lecturing around the world against the dogmas of his former church, and arrived in Hobart for a
week's visit in June 1879.
Architect Henry Hunter wrote to The Mercury, published on June 24, 1879, complaining of
“orgies” at the Town Hall:

Pastor Charles Pasqual Chiniquy

On the 24th of June, as I was delivering my first lecture in Hobart Town, the Roman
Catholics, with the approbation of their bishop, broke the door of the hall, and rushed
towards me, crying, “Kill him! kill him!” The mob was only a few feet from me, brandishing
their daggers and pistols, when the Protestants threw themselves between them and me,
and a furious hand-to-hand fight occurred, during which many wounds were received and
given. The soldiers of the Pope were overpowered, but the governor had to put the city
under martial law for four days, and call the whole militia to save my life from the
assassins drilled by the priests. (Charles Chiniquy)

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 The Chiniquy Riot in Hobart Town

The Mercury on June 25th (1879) was scathing of the incompetence of the police and
Superintendent Propsting, who was caricatured by T. Midwood in his cartoon “The Light of
Other Days”, 1880 (State Library of Tasmania Collection).

T. Midwood’s cartoon of Supt Propsting

State Library of Tasmania, Ref: AUTAS001124067547

… A more helpless display of cowardice, imbecility, and ignorance of duty, was never
manifested on the part of the police of Hobart Town, and that is saying a great deal…. But the
presence of the police, and their inactivity, though jostled by the rowdies, countenanced
disturbance rather than repressed it; and when Mr Superintendent Propsting publicly declined
interference, he admitted that the police were present where they were useless, while, to allow
them to be present, the city was left unprotected …
The premier, William Lodewyk Crowther, notified the Mayor of Hobart, William Henry Burgess
that he was responsible as mayor for the public peace. The City Council supported the right to
liberty of speech and decided to enforce law and order with their own resources. Burgess
recruited 150 volunteers to act as special constables as detailed:

William Lodewyk Crowther, William Henry Burgess, Sir Frederick Aloysius Weld,
Premier of Tasmania Mayor of Hobart Governor of Tasmania

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The notice by the Mayor read as under:
IN FURTHERANCE of the MAINTENANCE OF GOOD ORDER in the CITY OF HOBART
TOWN, with reference to the late DISORDERLY and UNLAWFUL PROCEEDINGS at the
TOWN HALL, the Mayor of Hobart Town, as Chief Magistrate of the City, calls upon
Persons desirous of filling the offices of SPECIAL CONSTABLES (from the date of
appointment and until such time as their services will no longer be required), to
PRESENT THEMSELVES at the TOWN HALL THIS DAY (FRIDAY) the 27th June instant,
between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
W. H. BURGESS,
Mayor of the City of Hobart Town.

Town Hall - Hobart Town

The Town Hall from an early hour was the scene of activity, with groups of men eagerly
discussing the appeal and the circumstances leading to it. The swearing on of special
constables took place in the Mayor’s parlour, where Inspector Swan and Aldermen
Addison, Seabrook and Watchorn were present. There were plenty of applicants and they
were taken without any attempt at selection, even without identification. They were mostly
of the labouring class, and some appeared to be of the genus loafer, who would hardly
have been given a character by the police. The enrolling went on from nine till two, when
the new Specials assembled in the Artillery Drill Yard, where it became obvious that much
“weeding out” was required. The Mayor then decided to summon 150 selected citizens to
serve as Specials, in the following form:
We, William Henry Burgess, Mayor, and John Elliott Addison, an Alderman, hereby
give notice that, in accordance with the Police Regulation Act, 1865, we have
appointed you to act as a special constable until such time as your services are not
longer required for the preservation of the Public Peace, and for the protection of the
Inhabitants within the Municipality of Hobart Town, and we hereby summon you to
attend this day at the Town Hall, at 4 o’clock p.m. for the purpose of taking the oath
required by law. Herein fail not.
Those summoned attended accordingly, and were sworn in by Alderman Harcourt in the
Mayor’s parlour, the form of oath being similar to that taken by regular members of the
police force.
At 4.30 the Specials paraded in the drill yard, with city police and a large contingent of
rural police. A white arm band and a baton were issued to the force, which was

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 The Chiniquy Riot in Hobart Town

marshaled for the defence of the Town Hall, and was marched to the hall in detachments
at six p.m. At the conclusion of the meeting they were marched back to the drill yard and
addressed by the Mayor, who thanked them in the name of the Queen for their services,
and intimated that those who wished to do so could collect their money the next day (6/-).
Cheers were given for the Queen, the Mayor, Inspector Swan, after which the men left for
their homes to return in the morning. The Government was by this time thoroughly
perturbed. It had been verified that the shops had been denuded of pistols and guns, and,
of course, the plans for bring Catholic supporters from the country were known. The
Mayor had also come to the conclusion that the maintenance of order was beyond his
resources, and he accordingly addressed the following letter to the Governor in the
forenoon:
I have the honour to communicate to Your Excellency that information has been
received that the threatened disturbance in this city will be of a much more alarming
character than at first anticipated, of which I beg to give your Excellency timely
information, and I therefore have the honour to suggest that you will exercise the
powers you possess, by calling out for Actual Military Service, the Volunteer Force
as provided by 22 Sec., 42 No. 12.
As a result of this letter, a full meeting of the Cabinet was convened at Government
House after lunch, followed by a meeting of the Executive Council presided over by the
Governor. The Ministers advised compliance with the Mayor’s request. The Attorney-
General (Dodds) advised the Governor that a proclamation would be necessary to all out
the Volunteers, and the Solicitor-General was instructed to prepare it. On receipt of the
draft proclamation the governor said he wished to see his Ministers again before signing,
and minuted the draft as follows: “The Volunteers should be ready to act in the last resort,
but they should be kept in their own quarters or close to the apprehended disturbance
and should not be paraded unnecessarily. I consent with this reservation if the Ministers
so advise”.
The proclamation was thereupon rushed out by the Government Printer, and read as
under:
Whereas by the Volunteer Act, 1878, it is declared that the Governor may, at any
time, by Proclamation, call out for Actual Military Service any Volunteer Corps, or
any part thereof; And whereas it is expedient to call out for Actual Military Service
the several Batteries of the Southern Tasmanian Volunteer Artillery and the several
Companies of the Tasmanian Volunteer Rifle Regiment stationed in Hobart Town:
Now, therefore, I FREDERICK ALOYIUS WELD, Esquire, Companion of the Most
Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Governor and Commander-in-
Chief as aforesaid, do, in pursuance of the provisions of “The Volunteer Act, 1878,”
hereby by this my Proclamation call out for Actual Military Service the several
Batteries of the Southern Tasmanian Volunteer Artillery, and the several Companies
of the Volunteer Rifle Regiment stationed in Hobart Town aforesaid.
By His Excellency’s Command
William Lodewyk Crowther,
for Colonial Secretary, absent.

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 The Chiniquy Riot in Hobart Town

On being notified of the proclamation, the Commandant, Lt-Col. St. Hill, got in touch with
his officers, who told as many as possible that they were to parade at five p.m. The
following “Order by the Commandant” was issued:
His Excellency the Governor having, in pursuance of the powers vested in him, been
pleased to call out the Volunteer Force for Actual Military Service, the Commandant
desires to call the attention of all members thereby affected to the fact of their being
under “The Mutiny Act” and Articles of War, until released by proclamation of the
Governor. Lt. Col. St. Hill therefore desires to impress on those under his command
the necessity which exists for all attending the parade ordered for this evening, and
warns them that absence from the same without leave will constitute a crime under
the Mutiny Act, punishable by not less than 28 days imprisonment.

Lieutenant Colonel Windel Hill St Captain Edward Lodewyk Crowther, Catholic Archbishop
Hill, Commandant and Commander Commanding, Southern Tasmanian Daniel Murphy
of the Tasmanian Rifle Regiment. Volunteer Artillery.

It will be remembered that the men were expecting a parade at seven p.m. that evening,
but it now became necessary to get them on parade long before this, as a lot had to be
done in the way of preparation and to be effective the units would have to be under arms
near the Town Hall before the time for the meeting there. The speed and efficiency with
which this was accomplished is worthy of the highest praise. Most of the men would be at
work in various parts of the city and suburbs, and could not be contacted by phone as
they could be today. It is thought that posters were hastily prepared and exhibited
throughout the streets, but I have not been able to verify this. Also, the men would have to
go to their homes to change into uniform, and it speaks well for their discipline that as
early as four p.m. the first of them began to arrive at the Barracks with their rifles and
equipment. (Brigadier Dollery)
The Mercury published a detailed account of the events as detailed below:
The men turned out with admirable promptitude. The Artillery paraded in their Drill Yard
(in lower Macquarie Street) and marched to the Barracks with their Band. Detachments
were told off to pull two 32 pdr. and two 12 pdr howitzers to the Barracks, and 3 rounds of

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 The Chiniquy Riot in Hobart Town

canister shot were served to each gun. Capt. Crowther was in command of the batteries,
and each man was issued with 5 rounds of ball cartridge. The Rifle Regiment under
Capts. John O’Boyle, William Henry Smith, John George Davies and Thomas Marsden
were also each issued with 5 rounds ball. (The piquant situation here arose that the
Mayor held a commission in the Tasmanian Volunteer Artillery and might have been
placed in the unfortunate position of defending his own Town Hall and becoming involved
in possible rioting and bloodshed there. However, he does not appear to have paraded
with the Regiment, and was undoubtedly granted leave of absence.)

Smooth Bore Brass Cannons deployed in the Snider-Enfield Long Rifle Mk III.
Chiniquy Riots.

The troops were exercised in drill movements until six p,m. when Col. St. Hill arrived and
took command. In an address the Colonel impressed upon them the necessity of implicitly
obeying orders. They were not to load without orders, which he himself would give. At
6.30 four detachments of Artillery with the twelve pounder guns under Capt. Evans were
told off as a reserve at the Barracks, with a section of Rifles and the two bands, and the
remainder were marched along Davey Street into the yard at the rear of the Public
Buildings, where the southern wing now stands. Arms were piled and the men fallen out
and given permission to amuse themselves. At seven p.m. the men were given a meal.
Through the happy turn that events eventually took, they were, about 9.30, marched back
to Barracks and given supper, entertained by music from the bands. The Colonel told
them they might be called out between then and Monday night, and, if so, two guns would
be fired from the Queen’s Battery, when they would assemble in uniform within the hour.
There would be a full parade on Monday night. The Colonel congratulated them on their
promptness in reporting and their bearing on parade. He was glad their services had not
been required, but if this had been necessary he was sure they would have behaved
creditably. The strengths on parade that night were: Artillery – 6 Officers, 274 Other
Ranks. About six p.m. there were few at the hall, but numbers were making their way to
the Domain. Then a crowd began to form in front of the hall, darkness having set in.
Amongst the first arrivals were a large number of women who, with a curious disregard for
the welfare of their offspring, had brought infants in arms and many children to be
crushed in the crowd and pushed to and fro. At 6.15 the first detachment of Specials
arrived, under Supt. Pedder, of Bellerive, and took up position in line on the steps of the
Hall. Other detachments took up position at the back gates, the Library door and the

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 The Chiniquy Riot in Hobart Town

Court House door. At 6.30 the lamps were lighted and the front doors opened, the
constables checking the rush for admittance. A crowd of some 4000 had by this time
collected, but the proceedings became so tame that they dwindled away, and at 9.30 p.m.
the audience poured out of the all. A sharp shower of rain helped to disperse the few who
remained, and restore the area to its wonted state of quiet.
In the hall were ten policemen under Sub-Inspector Pilman. There was an uninterrupted
stream of auditors, who were seated without difficulty. By seven the hall was filled, there
being a large number of ladies present. The Attorney-General (J. S. Dodds), the Mayor,
the Police Magistrate (W. Tarleton), the Inspector of Police, the Chief District Constable
and other functionaries attended. At 7.15 Pastor Chiniquy, with members of his
committee, appeared on the platform and was greeted with cheers. The Rev. James Scott
was voted to the chair, and the meeting opened with praise and prayer.
Chiniquy’s address passed off without interruption. During the address he stated that he
had been bruised and wounded on fourteen occasions. It was stated later that a body of
seventy or eighty Orangemen were in the hall, prepared for any eventuality.
A leading article in the Mercury the following morning published a summary of the day’s
happenings:
The excitement which prevailed yesterday has probably never been exceeded in
the history of Hobart Town. From the prompt and decisive action of the Government and
the City Council on Thursday, it was known that a determined effort was to be made last
night to prevent any interference with Pastor Chiniquy;s lecture, while, on the other hand,
there was general feeling that many of the Catholics were equally determined to maintain
their antagonistic attitude, even to have recourse to violence. The entire community were
in breathless expectancy of a riot, surpassing anything known in the Colony, and the most
extraordinary rumours were current.
The gratifying result that no disturbance took place is attributable to a large
extent to the commendable action taken by the Bishop and clergy. The Government
deserve credit for the very convincing measures they took. Prevention is at all times
better than cure; the adoption of the very wise axiom that “discretion is the better part of
valour” is equally commendable on the part of the Bishop and his people. The prompt way
in which the Volunteers responded to the call, at short notice, is highly commendable. The
sight of the Artillery marching up Macquarie Street, dragging two howitzers, was a novel
one, and created a great sensation. The Rifle Regiment mustered quickly in the Barracks,
Major Sir James Milne Wilson, K.C.M.G. though suffering severely from gout, having
joined the Regiment.

Major, Sir James Milne Wilson, K.C.M.G.,

Tasmanian Volunteer Rifle Regiment

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 The force was placed within the public buildings, and as they were not called
upon for any other active service beyond going through a little wholesome drill and using
their best endeavours to dispose of some very acceptable refreshments, they had on the
whole rather a pleasant time. We refer elsewhere to the very injudicious reply given by Mr
Grant, the Manager of the Main Line Railway Co., to the Catholics yesterday. He would
have found it rather serious had he brought a large body of infuriated men to the city –
and had they taken part in any riot. We can also only express our astonishment that the
Telegraph Department accepted telegrams for dispatch to all parts of the Colony calling
upon Catholics to come to Hobart Town in support of their local confreres.
The wisest course, now, is to allow the whole affair to pass over without any
further inviting action on either side.
The full impact and consequent legal obligation of being a ‘Volunteer’ were fully brought home
to the citizens and the government alike when Tasmanian Volunteer Force was called out by
Governor in aid to the civil power to quell the riots. Several Volunteers who failed to attend the
parade on 27th June, were later placed under arrest and brought before a Court Martial. On the
7th of July the Volunteers were paraded and released by proclamation of His Excellency the
Governor from service under the Mutiny Act, by the provisions of which they were called out on
the 27th June.
After the Governor’s proclamation was read by Colonel Windel Hill St Hill the riflemen who had
been tried by Court Martial and found guilty of failing to attend the call out, were brought before
the Rifle Regiment under guard, in uniform but deprived of their arms and accoutrements. The
Colonel read the sentence, which was 14 days imprisonment with hard labour for the offence,
but added that the Governor in his clemency as Commander of the force had remitted the
punishment. The men were accordingly allowed to fall in at the rear of their company, and
were given back their rifles and accoutrements.
The reasons which induced the Governor to remit the sentence of 14 days imprisonment with
hard labour, passed by the Court Martial were officially given as follows:
“I confirm the findings and sentence of the Court, but remit the punishment awarded to
the prisoners. First: - In consideration in the Courts recommendation to mercy.
Secondly: - As an act of grace in recognition of the excellent spirit evinced generally by
the Regiment to which the prisoners belong. Thirdly: - Because this was a first offence,
the gravity of which may not have been fully realised; and also because I believe that on
any future occasion that the force may be called out by the Governor, this warning will be
sufficient, and will not be unheeded by any member of the force (signed) Fred A. Weld,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief – Government House, dated on 7th of July 1879.”

Governor of Tasmania,
Sir Frederick Aloysius Weld

END

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 The Chiniquy Riot in Hobart Town

The key Personnel in this incident were:

• Pastor Charles Pasqual Chiniquy.
• Catholic Archbishop Daniel Murphy.
• Sir Frederick Aloysius Weld, Governor of Tasmania, 1875 – 80.
• William Lodewyk Crowther, Premier of Tasmania.
• William Henry Burgess, Mayor of Hobart.
• Lieutenant Colonel Windel Hill St Hill (19th Foot) Commandant and Commander of the
Tasmanian Rifle Regiment.
• Captains O’Boyle, Smith, Davies and Marsden, Tasmanian Rifle Regiment.
• Captain Edward Lodewyk Crowther, Captain Commanding, Southern Tasmanian
Volunteer Artillery.

References:
Father Chiniquy: Forty Years in the Church of Rome. London, Robert Banks & Son, 1899.
Charles Chiniquy: Forty Years in the Church of Christ. London, Hodder & Stoughton. 1900
Church News, Jul 1879, p. 487.
Tasmanian Catholic Standard, Jul. 1879, p.p. 97-103.
Catholic Standard, Jul. 1879, pp. 103-108; pp. 121-3; Sept., p. 133.
The Mercury, June 23-30, 1879 and Jul. 19, 1887.
The Examiner, June 24-27, 1879
Colonial Secretary’s Correspondence. File 1797 of 1879 (Weld Period).
Hobart Town Gazette, 27 June, 1879.
House of Assembly Journals, Vol. 37, Paper 99 (1879).
Despatch No. 38, Jul. 1879, Governor Weld to Secretary of State.