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Bha mi ag innse dhuibh mu Aimhreit an t-Sròim ann an ochd ceud deug, ochdad ’s a trì (1883). Dh’fheuch ministear às Na Hearadh ris an sluagh a shocrachadh. Ach cha do dh’èist iad ris.

            Leig na h-ùghdarrasan leis a’ ghnothach a thighinn gu ceann gu nàdarrach. Bha seirbheis air a’ chidhe, agus èildear bhon Eaglais Shaoir ag ceann an adhraidh. Dh’fhalbh an t-Àrd-chonstabal le ceathrar phoileas a dh’Inbhir Nis. Dh’fhàg e triùir phoileas ann am Port an t-Sròim.

            Aig meadhan-oidhche, dh’fhalbh an luchd-iomairt. Thòisich an luchd-obrach air bogsaichean èisg a chur air an trèana.

            Ach cha robh an gnothach seachad. Thàinig Dihaoine, agus bha e follaiseach gum biodh an luchd-obrach a’ briseadh na Sàbaid a-rithist. Agus bha mòran anns a’ choimhearsnachd a’ dol a chur stad orra.

            Cha robh an Eaglais Shaor buileach aonaichte. Nuair a bha an aimhreit ann, bha na ministearan air falbh aig an Àrd-sheanadh ann an Dùn Èideann. Thill iad sa bhad. Bha iad ag iarraidh air na coitheanalan aca gun a bhith an sàs anns an iomairt.

            Bha an Riaghaltas a’ dèanamh deiseil airson tuilleadh aimhreit. Cha robh mòran phoileas air a’ Ghàidheal-tachd. Dh’iarr a’ chompanaidh rèile air an Riaghaltas saighdearan a chur an sàs. Chaidh a’ chùis gu Rùnaire na Dùthcha ann an Lunnainn.

            Ach cha robh an Riaghaltas ag iarraidh saighdearan a chur an sàs. Chuir iad feachd poilis ri chèile de cheud gu leth duine. Thàinig iad à mòran sgìrean de dh’Alba.

            Ach chuir iad tuilleadh shaighdearan a Dhùn Deòrsa sear air Inbhir Nis. Bha iad deiseil airson a dhol don taobh an iar nam biodh feum orra.

            An turas seo, bha ro-innleachd èifeachdach aig na poilis. Bha iad ann mus robh cothrom aig muinntir an àite cruinneachadh. Aig naoi uairean feasgar Disathairne, thàinig trèana a-steach don t-Sròm leis na poilis air bòrd. Ghabh iad smachd air a’ chidhe. Cha robh an luchd-iomairt ann fhathast.

I was telling you about The Stromeferry Riot in 1883. A minister from Harris tried to placate the crowd. But they didn’t listen to him.

        The authorities let the matter subside naturally. There was a service on the pier, with an elder from the Free Church in charge of the worship. The Chief Constable left for Inverness with four police officers. He left three police officers at Stromeferry.

        At midnight, the protesters left. The workers started to load boxes of fish on to the train.

       But the matter wasn’t over. Friday came, and it was obvious that the workers would be breaking the Sabbath again. And many in the community were going to stop them.

        The Free Church wasn’t entirely united. When the riot was happening, the ministers were at the General Assembly in Edinburgh. They returned immediately. They were wanting their congregations not to be involved in the campaign.

        The Government was preparing for further rioting. There weren't many police in the Highlands. The railway company asked the Government to send soldiers. The matter went to the Home Secretary in London.

        But the Government didn’t want to get soldiers involved. They got together a body of police consisting of 150 people. They came from many parts of Scotland.

        But they sent more soldiers to Fort George east of Inverness. They were ready to go to the west if they were required.

        This time, the police had an effective strategy. They were there before the local people had an opportunity to gather. At 9pm on Saturday evening, a train came into Strome with the police on board. They took control of the pier. The protesters were not yet there.