The Express.
London, England, 1852-07-10 00:00:00

turrioN RIOT AT WIGAN.

Wei are exceedingly sorry (sap the Wigan Mnre)l
to have to record duriug this week Me octunence of a riot
in Sciulet, which has been the only thing war* settee that
has disturbed the mire of Vs in connexion with a eon-
geguan cued's. As far as personal Mee% na the spot an
bear or se Wiwi publication enables se. peliesdare are
are blame
On Wednesday night, about dusk, Mr. Bllsithores lead
bas.r OM asoolutt), or that a poems with aMe
deneseee_ (sesseilleg le umber) genie*
sad it is ellefid lbee be *get. is es esesseeli=
triumphant seemee. do de -el "gym Won." The
male of ibis ohs a esesideeelde eibienet of seemlier, end
1110 /AM Osedeg Wet We Wilt eventuate la a die-
tribenee. leak sew is piled the locality In
Methuen (mimed r/ Ws gustyoalisellaT
to robe swig at the dollies), until me o'clock.
Dudes the whets of Thivaeley, the unsettled state of
feeling we Nesedes essosil le 'matinee. Oa several occa-
sions in the defildieddhemi of Uniometreet and Orme-
bough's row (We Mess% adniart solely occupied by Irish
and Roman eMbldtirllsellSS were seen on the roofs pall-
ing bricks from Ms ye, and unroofing the tiler. In
several elms amoeba& privies were pulled dews, and the
Web. Wheeled toss hap in different quarters. An im-
mense camber at boulders and smaller stones were also
oeminulated, and, according to one story, some lade were
employed during the day in beeditao these materials into
convenient brick-bats. Some of the inhabitants coteuenvi-
cited their fears to the authorities, bat nothing definite had
occurred until half-past eight last night. Precisely at that
time, a volley of stones was sintultaneondy cast into the
street at any object from the upper windows and roofs of
the houses in Union-street. We could sot at all
gather any intelligible explanation of the cause or
the object of this. 112 e only suggestion we heard wee that
it was to be the preconcened signal for the Roman esthe-
tics turning out. The Irish population, to a great extent,
came into the streets, and the whole neighbourhood was
soon a scene of great 'tenement. Stones began to Sy at
every passer-by, sad were directed against the houses in
adjoining streets where the colliers live. The colliers are
almost all protestaats, and a esasiderablo portion are
orangemen. The alarm was gives, and the colliers soon
mustered in a large body, and made a determined attack
upon the assailants. The police stationed in &holes, about
four se five in number, proceeded to the spot, and at.
tempted to enter the street whither the rioters had gone. So
thick and fast were the TOWS% of stones that this was
quite impessitile. News was sent to the Town-
hall, and the major immediately sent out mes-
sengers to summon the inhabitants to be sworn in special
constables. Many obeyed, and the oaths haying been ad-
ministered, the Mayor immediately proceeded to lead them
down to the scene of the not. Ile was accompanied by
some other magistrates. and as he went along he called un
every straggler to fall in and aid in the vindication of the
law. As he entered Schulte, a considerable number of
colliers joined and offered their eminence. On arriving at
the end of Union-street, as we understand the dying
rumours. it was found impossible to force back the rioters,
owing to the stones which were sent, thick as hail, from the
toots and upper windows of the houses, and the close ranks
of the crowd who filled the place, audthe side streets and
passages. All these people were engaged in casting missiles
and brickbats at the special constables. The latter,and hun-
dred. of colliers who hail joined them, ultimately divided
themselves into two parties, under the lead of the mantis-
trans, one of which took the rioters in the rear. A very
man contest ensued, but at last the Irish were driven into
the houses, from which they kept up a continued fight for
some time. Others of the mob who were driven aslde from
the boosts lied into the adjacent streets, hotly pursued, and
some escaped, while the rest were captured. The riot was
by no means confined to Union street, but John-street,
tireenough's-row, and part of the main street of &holes was
also occupied by the Irish. The determination and courage
of the police, specials, and other assistants, at last beat the
mob from the street into the houses, and the riot wee effec-
tually quelled by the houses being forced by the authorities,
and every man found in them, hiding in chimneys and
under beds, furniture, &c., being systematically seized and
carried off in custody to the Mitigate police station.
Three despatches were forwarded by the electric tele-
graph, but no answer being returned (as the Preston
office was closed), Mr. Mayhew was at once despatched by
the mayor for the military. lie arranged ler the transfer
of the engine on the Lancashire and Yorkshire line to the
London and North Western, and himself proceeded slum it
to Pn:ston. There he attended at the barracks, and two
companies of the faith, under the command of Major
Waddey, Captain Ware, Captain Frampton, Dr. Parente
Lieut. White, lieut. Ilebden, and Ensign King, were oh!
mined. With these °theme and men he returned in a
spinal train. Some idea may be formed of the extreme
rapidity with which Mr. Mayhew accomplished this matter,
when we state that he did not leave Wigan till a quarter
past ten o'clock last night, and that the military men were
on duty in the Market-place at half-past twelve. As the
special train ran into the station it was received with loud
cheers, which were repeated as the military marched up
the Wallgate.
We are told that the number of prisoners is between 70
and en, live or six taken during the fight being wounded
about the head, the others not much punished. Two of
them are women. We are sorry to find that Policeman
Whatmough is somewhat seriously injured by a stone on
the head, and It. Bevan, Esq., narrowly escaped the shower
of missiles when the street was forced. It Irma little later
than half-past tee when the riot was pat down and the
streets began to clear. A strong patrol is now stationed in
the district. It may be mentioned that Mr. Blinkhorn was
taken into custody on Thursday afternoon before the riot
begets, and is bailed out to answer any charge that may be
preferred against him on Saturday.

We cannot but state emphatically that it is only to the
promptitude cud vigour of the mayor and his personal
ent•rg that we owe the eremptios of the town (rum a scene
kite that at Stockport.
Fel DAY Monza:in, Titus o'CLocc.—The military are
under arm in the market-place, and the town is quite
tranquil.