A most disgraceful scene occurred at the Paddington Sta. tion
on Monday night, before the departure of the train which was to take Mace and Goss, the prize-fighters, into Wiltshire, —a scene which the City police will, no doubt, retort on Sir Richard Mayne's force whenever they are again taunted with the unsuccessful arrangements for the Princess Alexandra's entrance. From midnight to the departure of the train at four o'clock, a constant succession of cabs were arriving with spectators for the fight. The company's servants and special constables kept the way open to the train ; but no police were on the ground, and the " roughs " in attendance set to work systematically to plunder the cabs and foot-pas- sengers. One of the passengers writes that he himself knew of four cabs whose inmates were openly plundered ; the most powerful men were savagely beaten or " scientifically" struck in the stomach and robbed ; and this continued with- out the appearance of the policemen till just before the arrival of the train. Yet the plundered and beaten people thought less of their pain and their losses than the danger of missing the fight. The excitement to get places was tremendous • as the train started at 4.24 some 20 men jumped on the footboard and clung to the carriages, while the people who had not sueceeded in getting into the station were seriously concert- ing a plan for breaking in the doors and a last dash at the train. The heart of universal ruffianism was profoundly stirred, but divided against itself. The upper stratum of ruffianism was occupied in the delightful prospect of seeing blood and money flow like water—the prize was 1,0001. to the winner—the lower stratum was enraptured by so ex- cellent an opportunity of mauling and despoiling the upper stratum.
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