The Express.
London, England, 1864-10-25 00:00:00

- -
THE GREAT STRIKE OP COLLIERS.

The authorities in Staffordshire and Worcestershire are
acting in mime, and on Saturday the Dudley magistrates
met and instructed the Chief Constable of Worcestershire
to taus a notios declaring all assemblies to the early mars-
ing and processions Milt to pits at the time men are going to
or are Marines from their work to be illegal, and warning
all persons offending in this respect that the police have
authority to arrest them.
A great mass and indignation meeting was held at Tipton
yesterday, for the purpose of protesting against such inter.
faience with the men on strike. Soon after nine o'clock
small companies of men, many of them with their wives with
babes in their arms, and their children, began to dock
towards Tipton from all directions, and by two o'clock, the
time appointed for the commencement of the meeting, there
wee* upwards of 15,000 present. The whole of the ironed
known as Trautees-ground was literally packed with hu-
man beings. Many thousands of those present were noteitber
colliers or miner., but puddles, and others who had come
either as sympathisers or lookers 00. The meeting was the
largest that has been held since the strike began, and was
considered by the men on strikes very important one. The
meeting was not only addressed by oolliers,bat by peddlers and
other workmen of the district. Every speaker severely cen-
sured the conduct of the police in stopping their " bends"
from playing along the highway when near any pits. They
also charged the police with haring put out the lamps in the
morning, for what purpose we cannot say. This was the
first time we have heard of the lamps being pat out. The
speakers complained very loudly of the conduct of the po-
lice on Thursday morning, and gave quite a different version
as to the cause of the row—that they were going peaceably
'along when the police, without any warning, knocked in
the sides of the drums, and then turned upon the M6O with
their cutlasses. The speakers said the various lodges bad
come to the determination to defend the nineteen men DOW

in custody to the best of their ability, by employing a
counsel for their defence at the next examination. At ter
passing a vote of censure upon the police of the district for
their pest sod present conduct, they again expressed their
determination to still stand out until they had their wages.
The meeting passed off very quietly considering the rut
numbers present. There was a large body of police, as well
as two troops of BMWS, in the town daring the time.
During the forenoon of yesterday about 5,001.1 people were
present at a meeting at Weetbromyrich, at which it was
resolved, that subject to the committee, the men who were
employed for masters who were willing to give the terms
which the men are asking should be allowed to have the
men back.

The cuksra among the colliers have wittily turned the
BP
preseuce of the military to their own account At the
meeting on Saturday, a reeohition was pawed pronouncieg a
benediction on the Queen for sending the military to protect
them from the police; and a request has been sent to
Captain Paley, who is in command of the Hussars, asking
him to accept a testimooiaL