The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-11-19 00:00:00

DISTITABANDB AT BRIDPORT.

In the early part of last week report" gained immense
in BrWeed., that it was intended to make • publie
demontratiou against the high pries of bread and meat,
almonat to those which bees lately disturbed the western
wadies. These sinister retie-minim» strengthened
by anonymous Idlers sent to the authorities, mad infor-
mation of a more definite diameter was gmen to the
Mayor (Elias Cox, Req.) on Wednesday, to the effect
that • mob of malcontents from the surrounding parishes
had proposed to assemble in a body near the harbour,
thence to m ireb into the town on that evening. Public
belief in what mast have been • mischievoua communi-
cation was fortified by the fact of several country folks
coming into the town during the day, one of whom
openly avowed that the object of his wadi was to see the
"Irish Fenn= !" who were going to make the bakers
them the price of bread. Seeing the excitement and
caricerite to whith these rumours had given rise, it was
resolved to Mike similar precautionary measures to those
which had been adopted is many other places, and as.
eordingly the Mayor salted the borough authorities
together at the Townhall on Wednesday evening, and
In MM.'r to hie summons there atiendod--the Town
Clerk (F. W. Goodly, Esq.), B. P. Gandry, Esq., 5, W.
Whetham, Pep., J. Templets/in, Esq., F. Good, Esq.,
W. Rennet!, Esq. J. P. Stephens, Esq.. Dr. Hay,
H. IL Hommel!, Req., and R. Tucker, Esq. It had been
previously intimated that io case any emerceney should
arise in the town, the member, of the let (Bridpori)
Dofset Ride Volunteer eerie would be ready to do
moreion as 'pedal ethetables, and a requisition was im-
mediately forwarded to Ceptein-Contmandant Edwards
to ciall mot that substantial linden of • mthelireeerving
forth It was about six o'clock when the gallant
&Lenin received this notification, and he imam iiately
ordered the "assembly" to be sounded ; in half an hour
afterwards—all credit, be it amid, to the men of the let
Dorset—upwards of Indy volunteers had assembled at
the Drill-ball, under the command of Capt. Edward.,
Lieut. Loggia, and Ensign Reunion, though they
seemed to have but a mine idea as to the sort of
business in which they were about to be engaged. The
amps was speedily formed and they proceeded to the
Town Hell, when 'hey were infnrmed by their gallant
thinnender that, in ooeseqoenoe of • requisition he
bed received front the Mayor, asking him to hold his
men In readiness, In ease of • enntemplated riot, be had
I assembled them together, and he expressed the pride
I and gratification it afforded him to witness nth • ready
and spontaneous response to the call of duty, and at
such short notice. A mud, consisting of an officer
sergeant. corporal, and ten men, ems then told off, and
placed with tooled arms to protect the armosry of the
corps in case of es attack being made upon it. The
remainder of the corps were then duly sworn in as
special constables, and baying been supplied with
refreshments, they endeavoured to make themselves
conifireable in their "dormice," awaiting any &mane
for their services. About eight o'clock an alarm of fire
was raised, and a lurid glare illuminating tl • thy in
tie direction of North Allington told too plainly that
the alarm was not without good foundation. It was
soon known that the fire hae broken out in • rick-yaid
on the farm of Mr. Richard Vine, and a number of men
were quickly on the spot to render assistance. The fire-
, ingtne of the Alliance feminine, office was speedily got
I Oat, but before It reached the scene of the conflagration
I the men who had arrived previously had with great foie-
, thought removed • quantity of loose ',raw between the
' ricks, thus loathing the danger of fire spreading
rapidly to the whole i 4 the stacks in the yard. It is
generally believed that, in order to favour the ow break
of • riot in the town, some evil dinned person lied
fired a straw rick in the yard, and the flames
rapidly communicated with a small bean mow, probable
'outdating some four or five loads, thence to • been stack
aijoinining. and finally to &rick of corn. The exertions
of the hie brigade, which was under the command of
ftc gealous and active foreman Mr. John Clarke, were
to nice if possible the property surrounding the farm in
which the lire tram raging, awl fortunately in thit
endeavour they were eminently 'neonatal Almost
adjoining is there* berton of Mr. Daniel Siddleoombe,
in which is stacked a soneiderable quantity of corn and
flux ; and, had the wind beea high at the time, the
destruction of valuable property might have been
immenoi. Several digit' constables, ender the direc-
tion of Superintendent lic'Hale of the &minter
divisioo, and Sergeant Lavender, rendered good service
in seeing property, and • number of owes and weggens
were secured from the flames by well disposed persons
who lest their assistatce during the fire. The damage
is estimated at about £lsg, which is covered by insurance
in the Alliance Company, of whieb Mr. Good is the Ind
agent. The greatest credit is duet, the fire brigade for
the emelleat Working order in which the engine and its
appliances were fogad, and by tke energy and periever-
thee of the men there is no doubt a van amount of
property was saved. The oder: of the fire has not been
noettained ; but it certainly was not the work of •
mole as no person was seen near tine spot before the
discovery of the eonflegration. It appear" that Mr.
Vine has been subjected to many petty annoyances for
some time past, mischievous persona having stolen his
apple' and thrown his gates into the river, in cause.
quince of .ome disagreement WI to his placing gates over
some publics path, and there mit probably have been
• little malice that prompted the wicked act. Large
groups of boys and tem les loitered about the Town'
hill throughout the evening, shouting and making •
noise; but beramd stealing a few apples there were no
acts of vielethe sionimitW in the town. The rifle
corps remained at the Town-hall till near midnight,
but no cell wee wade far their active lervion. At that
time Caption Edwards addressed the volunteers,
Impressing his satisfaction at their conduct, and intimate
log how proud be was at the ethital muster, which was
made at no short • notice. He must say, that when he
received the communication from his worship that called
them out that evening, he did not think anything
serious would take place. He was born and bred is
Bridport, and he hail great faith in the loyalty and
good sense Of its inhabitant& He spoke in terms of
praise of the mayor and magistracy, who had proved
themselves equal to the emergency. and whose promp-
titude in a timed diMeolty perhaps prevented a with'
*amity. The gallant captain said be had been
requested by the obeyer and magistrates to thank in
the roost hearty 111•11111/f the members of the corps for
the alacrity with which they had come forward to
moist them in • tints of difficulty, and in conclusion
Captain Edwards tendered his own thanks to the men.
The company was then dismissed.
On Thursday the magistrates attended the Counsil
Chamber at intervals during the greater portion of the
day, when many of the merchants sent the men in their
outplay to be swore in as special oonstablee, so that
during the day upwards of two hundred men were
Provided with naves, as preservers of the Public pesos.
Major Templer and amend of the magistrates were
&boo sworn ; but there was nothing in the appearance
of the town daring the day to indicate any unusual
excitement or intended disturbance. About seven
o'clock a large number of boys and girls, with a few
adults, 000gregated near the Market-house, whim they
Domanneed yelling, and hooting, evidently " up" for
any mischief which might be suggested. The police ex-
bible's] great forbearance, nothwittinanding the rude
behaviour of the juveniles, who were set on by the
women, audit may be owing to their policy of nonenter-
vention that a riot was prevented, for there were many
"roughs" who ere said to have avowed their intention
of getting up a row if the police had interfered. About
eight o'clock the rabble left the Market plan and pro-
ceeded down South-street, and round by Mr. Houneell's
mill, audit is supposed their intention was to thumb the
windows of the mill; but seeing Mr. Honnaell and
others on the bridge, they altered their emcee, said
want up tbe Backwater into South-street again. From
thews they proceeded, shouting and cheering, through
Folly Mill-lane to what is known as the " Bake-
house Barton," where several stones were thrown,
one of welsh broke • kitchen window at the bath of
the house occupied by Mr. Allen, baker; bist no attain
was made upon hie shop. Strange to say, and show-
ing the purely miaellievoiss tendency of the mob, the
windows of several cottages, theopled by eery Pecfr
people, were smashed by stogies as the rabble proeseded
units way. A few windows at the bottom at South-
street, in houses principally occupied by tins woridoll
dames, were also broken. A plum of glass at Mr.
Roper's, in Illeat-stien, was smashed, the oely
reason for which offense might be that he lea member
of the Board of Geardians. A window at Mr. William
Brown's, painter, u also some glass at Kr. Frost's, book.
seller, was broken, whilst some of the boys, where in.
cited by the women rapped with sticks_on the shutters
of one or two of 'the imbibers' shops, but no actual
canes was committed. The noisy groups cooneioosa
the streets till pest eleven o'olook, shouting, whistling,
and indulging in mans la'ffitiane, but ultimately they
went horn quietly.

The ',bah; of the vomit arms of the 3rd Dermot
Aram, prism well taken to tile patios station for gale
hoping. as It was considered tbe unwary al the corps
was not secure. Captain Strains and Uinta Gendry
Wended at the Totrnhall on Wednesday sad 'Wed
that the Gene had been wanted for duty, bad would he

ready to eomperate with their brahreo the rifle', if the
Deo...atty should occur. ithemiel co...mass were peeled
In • me of the streets os sight day.
Ito Thui.day afternous, Captain A..yatS !grown, the
neer eititof soneialle, samompaided by Supt. Ifutlerwood,
of the threhester eivioen, visited *idiom eurl intima-
tion was Oval to many alibi county polies to had them-
ailvessin reedicom In premed to Bridport, in met *el
were required ff.pphy, however, there wee no osmatiors
for melt extraordinary Meonuras Winn adopted.
Q iietude prevailed on F. lay night, bat the "specials'
were on duty in the principal etreelle. and did th-ir calm
with outworn labia pannier. •nd meantime.
On Ssturday night, it was feared that an attempt
might be made to each the butchers' ahanelehee, beet
there erere Do manifeetitions of eny such intiodem,
though t he apprehention accelerated to an enamel degree
the clearance of the market by the botchers at an early
hoar. In rase any rioting had been contemplated. she
authorities had considerately provided • twice Napoli of
dangerous missiles far the mob, for in the midst of ttest
promotions we bays enumerated, men were actually
employed in laying broken dints in the principal
streets, which to say the beet, Moat be regarded
as • very injodicions proceeding. Hither the pre-
cautions takon were unnecessary, or the mending
of the roads at such a time was the height of folly.
Tor ourselves, we mod confem that we think are paltry
dieturbense which did ommr was attributable, in soma
degree, to the manifestations of alarm by the authorities
themvelves for there is nothing in the condition if
things at Blidport to induce the rioting othieh has oc-
curred further woollier& The bakers are selling the
Ch. loaf at Bd., and the butchers supply good beef and
matron at from SI. to id. per lb., and the beet joints
for Tid. per lb. In the matter of employment agsio,
the working dames of Bridport have nothing to com-
plain. It,, true some of the manufacturers have been
oblig d to shorten the hours of labour, but this bee Lot
000tsioned such • decrease in the earnings of the
workmen as to muse distress amongst them. In short,
Bridport mindinues in Ito normal state —the peopte
generally have not the wealth which will 'ermined
many of the Intl:Moe of life, but they have wherewithal
to live comfortably and heoestly, end with that ars for
the most part content But the action of the authorities
In calling out the volunteers, swearing in them sod
other, as special constables, plat-ice • guard over tbe
armoury, he., attraated a crowd of big boys sod stria,
with a number of women, in the streets tome what had
happened. and finding Mere was nothing to me, Obey
sat about having a "lark" amongst themselves, whiele
ended is the breaking of the few windows, as we have
before described. Me Captain Edwards, we here
sufficient faith in the good sense and love of order or
the great body at the inhabitants, to be sure that they
will not take part in seuesiess riots, which can do rice
good bet are sure to bring evil upon those who pent-
Gloats is than.