The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-14 00:00:00

STRIKE OF WEAVERS AT BLACKBURN.

In acconlanco with the resolution passed at the
monster meeting of operative weavers, held in a field at the
Mother Redcap Public-house, on Sunday. deputations front
each mill have this week—some on Monday, others on Tues-
day, but the greater part yesterday—waited on the masters,
to again press upon them the adoption of short time
in preference to a reduction of wages. The general
result has been • refund on the part of the masters
to accede to the demands of their operatives. The inter-
views have been very friendly, but the masters exhibited
great firmness, and a:premed their determination to shut
up if they may not decide for themselves whether their
machinery shall work full time or short time. The notices
for the five per cent. reduction expire this week ; some
expired yesterday, some will to-slay, and others will
to-morrow. At Messrs. Lewis Brothers' the half of the
notices expired yesterday at noon, when the operatives
whose notices were then up left work, and refused to work
to the end of their cuts. At Mr. Fish's mills, Livesey, the
notices expired yesterday afternoon, and the operatives
refused to work more than four (lays a week, and they are
now out. At Major Graham's mills, Uvesey, the notices
expired last night ; the operatives refuse to work more
than four days a week, and • notice has been put up that
those who are not at work this morning at six o'clock
will be understood to have left. The feeling in the other
mills, where the notices have not yet expired, is similar on
the part of both masters and operatives ; but while some
of the Theaters gave the deputation which waited upoa
them a decided answer, others said they would be guided
by the decision of a general meeting of the trade,
which was to be held on Wednesday afternoon.
The meeting thus referred to took place last even.
iog, at the Old Bull Hotel, and was very numerously
attended. There were present, representatives of all the
Blackburn firms, with very few exzeptions, and also
masters from Derwen, Accrington, Church, Enfield, Hare-
wood, and the whole district. The feeling was unanimous
as to the necessity of the reduction of five per cent., and
equally unanimous as to the necessity of the masters re-
sisting what they regard as dietatiou on the tart of the
operatives, in requiring them to work abort time so long
as the reduction continues. After the -matter had been
fully discuased, the following resolution was adopted, and
signed by eighty firms, representing 44,000 loom.. We,
the undersigned, hereby agree to reduce the wages in the
weaving department five per cent., noel not to work short
time until another rule of the trade admits that the opera-
tive dictation on this question is withdrawn." The above is
exclusive of the Ai:ern:4ton masters, who were to have •
meeting last night, when a similar resolution would no
doubt be adopted, as all present at the Blackburn meeting
expressed themselves of the same mind.

SHOCKING COLLIERY ACCIDENT.—THRIE MILK
A shocking accident took place at the
Copperhouse Coal Mine. Hardsley, near Oldham, about
half-past six o'clock on Wednesday morning, by
which three men lost their lives. It seems that
Jamas Wilson, of Charlestown, Ashton ; Joshua
Street, of Waterhouse., collier ; and Thomas Moaned,
of Waterloo, on the Oldham road, collier, each aged 20
yawn, were working in linking the pit, on Tuesday night,
and as they were being wound up about half.past six o'clock
on Wednesday morning, the wire rope broke in two, and
they fell about sixty Finis down the shaft, sod the greater
portion of the wire rope, which was more thou 300 yards in
length, fell down upon them. As soon as possible the poor
fellows were attended to by their fellow-workmen. Wilson
was found quite dead, Street died before he could be re-
leased from the rope, and Holland died about eight o'clock
the sense morning, as he was being conveyed home in a
cart. Street was a single man, and Wilson and Hodand
were married, but they have no children.