Highland tattie famine brought mob riots and troops on to the streets of Inverness
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THIS week's Down Memory Lane marks the 176th anniversary of soldiers of the 87th Regiment, based at Fort George, being used to restore order after rioting in Inverness over the exporting of potatoes during a time of famine and hardship.
The 70 soldiers arrived on February 2, 1846 and spent 10 days safeguarding the harbour from angry Inverness residents.
The Courier reported that, on Thornbush Road, “several potato-laden carts were turned back and conveyed out of town, a venerable dame leading the first horse” while in another incident “the shipment of potatoes was prevented, one load being emptied on the pier while the cart was thrown into the river”.
Led by drummer boy James Fraser (12), of the Merkinch Band, protesters marched through the town, smashing the windows of Provost James Sutherland’s house. Magistrates and councillors watched these scenes from the safety of a local brewery. Was this a party or a work event?
The paper added: “At one exciting time, the mob is said to have numbered 5000 persons. They were reinforced by navvies working at the canal.”
The focus for the anger, at a time when a potato disease had ruined the crop which was the staple diet, was farmers sending disease-free crop to Inverness Harbour for London-bound ships where they would fetch top price. The disturbances prevented the vessels being loaded.
The town’s professional classes fully appreciated the reasons behind the wrath of hungry people. The soldiers of the 87th – also known as the Royal Irish Fusiliers – inflicted bayonet wounds on two protesters and 39 were arrested and taken to the castle jail. The Courier added: “A Provision Society was formed to purchase potatoes and disburse them to the poorer classes of the town.”
That April, the Spring Justiciary Court arrived in Inverness with only three rioters going on trial, all being found guilty with two jailed for nine months each and one for four months.
By August, the potato failure, which was even worse in Ireland, was the major topic. The Courier editor wrote: “The mysterious potato disease, which baffles cure and prevention, is fast spreading its ravages over this and neighbouring counties. Black and withered shaws meet us in every direction. One gentleman who had a crop of fully £200 value last Friday informs us they are now wholly gone.”
He added: “To meet the calamity requires instant and comprehensive measures.” Provost Sutherland called a meeting which formed a committee to seek action, while the county council agreed to seek a low-interest government loan to provide employment. Work as a source of cash for hard-pressed people became an urgent initiative and the Courier reported that Lovat Estates was “carrying out improvements on a gigantic scale”. In Strathglass, roads and bridges were built and a road from Dingwall to Ullapool was agreed.
The government sent a commissioner Sir Edward Coffin – a grim name for a grimmer situation – and in December he estimated that “the suffering population of the Highlands and Islands numbered upwards of 100,000”.
The full effect of the blight was felt the next year. Large disturbances took place in Beauly, Dingwall, Avoch, Rosemarkie, Cromarty and Invergordon because oatmeal, which people ate instead of potatoes, had doubled in price.
When soldiers were rushed to an Avoch riot, the grain exporter announced that “to prevent bloodshed” the grain would be retained for local sale. On February 1, 1847, shops and offices were attacked after grain carts for shipment were turned back by protesters in Merkinch, one cart being thrown off Waterloo Bridge.
The Courier’s London correspondent said speculators had increased grain prices “to a grievous extent” and, of the Highland riots, added: “We are afraid the blame does not always rest with the crowd.”
In Sutherland, hundreds of deer were slaughtered to make soup for hungry families. From exiles in India, £10,000 was sent for Highland famine relief.
By June, morale was lifted by news of a bumper, healthy potato crop. The plight of the poor, however, continued for another three years. One route to a better life was encouraged by landlords – emigration. A solution which was to become a bigger problem…
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