In 1847 during the Highland Famine, a farmer tried to ship grain out of Beauly and was stopped by a group of starving men. The Sheriff tried to read the Riot Act and got a snowball to the face. 600 folk were at the Beauly Snowball Riot, which took 70 soldiers to break up.
Many in the English press had little sympathy for the starving folk of Beauly:
Whatever want of food may be felt at Beauly, there seemed to be no lack of whiskey [sic]. In the evening, the heroes who had volunteered their services in aid of the villages, were seen reeling home intoxicated. They had money to put themselves into this state, but they had none to buy bread!
Leamington Spa Courier, Saturday 27th February 1847
Sources
“The Beauly Rioters”. John O’ Groat Journal, Friday 16th April 1847, pg 3.