The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-04-28 00:00:00

iiISTIJICTS.

DISTURBANCES IN TIFF MANUFACTURING

I Abridged from the Illarkkrn Mail.l
Met week we communicetied the particulars which had then
tranepired respecting the proceedings at Accrington, &c. on Tues-
day evening.
During these tumults, the town was in the utmost alarm; the
.hops were closed, and business entirely suspended. Darwen-
sneer was crowded so that it was almost impassable; the church-
yard, and other places surrounding the factory, were also tilled
with a multitude.
A bout three the soldier returned from Accrington, and the de.
vasta.ion at Aired's. Eerie. and Co.'s beit.g then completed, they
were despatched to °Hinshaw Park, where there is a power-loom
factory, and towards which a part of the mob had gone. Here
they continued nearly an hour without much molestation, but the
crowd increased, and at length a general attack commenced. The
factory, being near the anal hanks, lies notch exposed, and being
likewise very limited, was unfavourable for the soldiers'. The
mob pelted them with stones, whilst others, armed with pikes, &c.
pressed forward, and, after three attack'', overpowered the soldiers,
and entered the lower watt of the factory, where they destroyed all
the power-looms, and then retired; but not before some of the party
had been captured. In the course of the affray, shots were ex-
changed between the soldiers and the mob, but it is difficult to
learn on which side it commenced. Two in the crowd were shot,
and their recovery is doubtful. Both, we understand, were merely
pecetatore, and did not take an active part in the affniy. Vie feel
hound to contradict a report, which was in general circulation on
Monday night and yesterday, that the shots which these persona
received were fired by Mr. 'heighten, jun. son of the pro.
prietor of the works. We are assured by persons who were in his
company all the time that he had no fire-arms whatever.
Some soldiers and their horses received serious damage from the
stones, and we are the more grieved at this, as they conducted
themselves throughout the day with the most exemplary forbear.
*nee, taking every opportunity of expostulating with the mob, and
endeavouring to prevent mischief.
After the mob had thus wreaked their vengeance on the factory,
at (irimshaw Park. they returned to the town, and proceeded to-
wards Messrs. Feilden and Co.'s factory; but they were prevented
from doing mischief by the firmness of the proprietors.
About eight in the evening, six men, who had been appre-
hended, were examined betore the magistrate, and, being remanded
for further examination, were sent off to the (louse of Correction at
Preston, in two postchaises, in custody of the constables, and
escorted by soldiers ; threats having been held nut, that if they re-
mained in the town, an attempt would be made to rescue them.
The soldier patrolled the streets, in which there continued coml.
doable number., who did not, however, appear inclined for nil,.
chief, and those who were the chief actors during the day, and who
w't e all from the country, gradually returned home, and by nina
the streets had become pretty tranquil. About ten another troop
of horse arrived front Burnley; but at that time the streets were,
quiet, as though nothing had taken place.
. The only objects of the vengeance of the mob appeared to he the
potver-loonts.. for they did not attempt to injure the spinning ma.
chinery, nor even to break the windows, nor did they offer moles-
tation to the property of any other of the inhabitants. The damage
sustained by the attacks cannot yet he ascertained with accuracy,
but by the most moderate computation it will not be less than ten
thousand pounds.
Several were sworn in on Monday night as enecial constables,
and two persons were apprehended by them for refusing to go
home; these were committed to the house of correction, fur trial at
the session,.
Aleut five o'clock on Tuesday morning, a troop of the Queen's
Bays arrived from Manchester, and nearly at the same moment
came an express front Clithero, stating that a disposition had been
,hewn, by the same party who had visited thin town, to attack the
works of Messrs. Garnett and Horsfall, at Low Moor. At six the
Dragoons and the Queen's Bays set off for Low Moor. It teems,
however, that the mob were not all at Low Moor, but a detachment
of them, amounting to near 4.04*, went to Over Darwen, and
being joined by some weavers there, attacked the factory of Mr.
Carr, where they destroyed all the power-looms (about Ili in nom.
her): they then went to the factory of Mr. J. Grime. where they
destroyed about 16 looms; after which, without doing any further
damage to the factories or other property, they departed for Has.
lingden, purposing to continue the work of destruction there. We
hare not, tip to, the time at which we are writing (ten o'clock, Tues-
day night), heard any thing of their further proceedings: but a
troop of horse has been for several days at Ilasingden. Various
rumours have been abroad as to attacks on other places, but none
of them are yet authenticated.
About four o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, about 50 men, be.
longing to the 00th Rifle Corps, arrived here from Manchester,
having left that place at siz in the morning. The poor fellows
appeared quite fatigued, and shortly after an expedut arrived from
Preston, with the intelligence that similar outrages were commit-
ting there, and requesting a supply of soldiers. None could be
sent : the Rifle Corps were unable to proceed further from fatigue,
and all the dragoons were at Low Moor.
A lid- before six, a party of the dragoons who had been des.
patched in the morning to Clithero, returned (being only forty
minute on the road.) They reported that no attack had, up to the
time of their leaving, been made upon the works at Low Moor,
(hooch the niob were in a manner encamped around them, to the
number., it was calculated, of at lewd twenty thousand!!!
A correspondent at Clithero writes us. that that town was all day
in a most agitated state : the shops closed ; business, of course,
suspended ; the soldiers patrolling the; streets ; and at Low Moot,
they were in momentary expectation of an attack. Ile likewise
says, that they have there two or three troops of Lord Ribblesdale's
Yeomanry Cavalry, besides the Dragoon,' ; and that the proprietor
of the works having also provided some means of self-defence, it
was expected the mob would not be able to accomplish their object.
The dragoons had scarce arrived, when an express followed, re.
questing them to return, as danger was apprehended. Their horses
were, however, completely tired, and the soldiers, with their gal-
lant Captain, instantly resolved to march back on foot, though it
was then raining very fast ; and without stopping even so much as
to take refreshments, they carried their resolve into execution.
Post-chaises and other conveyances were, as soon as they could be
mustered, despatched after, but have just returned without having
overtaken them.
The market coaches from Manchester arrived a little before
seven, being more than an hour sooner than their usual time, and
we are happy tosay no attempt was made to molest the passengers.
A number of persons were then assembled in the streets, and it
was deemed prudent to read the Riot Act; after which they quietly
dispersed ; indeed the rain, which fell fast, contributed in some
degree to produce that effect.
A coach has just arrived from Preston, a passenger by which in.
forms us that no disturbances hail, when they left (about eight
o'clock). taken place there, though the people were assembled in
numbers.
A gentleman just arrived from Clithero state'', that the rain was
falling fast there, and was dispersing the mob by degrees.
WEDNESDAY, ONE O'CLOCK, A.M.—We have just been in-
formed that the mob attacked the factory of Mr. Turner. at Helm.
shore, rear Haslineden, and after some resistance, an entrance was
made, end the power-loons destroyed. About thirty were made
prisoners, and catried to Mr. Turner's house ; but the mob, after
they hail finished at the factory, went to the house, and rescued
their com conform.
HALF-PAST Tiler!' —We arc just going to press, and are yet
without further imelligence from Low Moor.
EXTRACT OF • PRIVATE LETTER, DATED BLACKBURN,
APRIL 2:t.
It was my intention to have written you, last night, a description
of the confusion wbich is now going on here, but to attempt a
minute description is impossible. You are aware, that in this
neighbourhood we have a dense mass of population, which are
all in confusion ; hunger, it true, will break through stone
walls, and unless something be very speedily done to relieve a
starving community, I fear the consequence will be awful in.
deed. The weavers seem to gather strength, and, is appears, are
more and more determined on the destruction of toe power-loom
manufactories. which they suppose is the cause of robbing them
of their bread. Yesterday they destroyed the following mills :
Sykes's, of Accrington ; and Bury's, at White Ash. After
having ''' finished off' the above, they marched into the town,
seven abrenst, for about a mile long (many of whom were
women), with pikes and staves, tire emir, hammer'', sees, ate.
and, in the short space of forty minutes, eestroyed about 4000/.
worth of looms, in B. Cedes and Co.'s mill. During the latter
proceeding, a stoop of the Ist Dragoon Guards surrounded the
mill, and took about 60 pikes from the insurgents, and a few pri-
soners; but I consider it highly prudent of Captain Bray that he
did not make a more fornildale't%asteck on thaw infuriated mob.
Their next attack was on the Park Male Mill, hut here the mili-
tary was completely beat off Mr. Noble. the Magistrate, and se-
veral other gentlemen, knocked down, and the mill left to its fate.
This completed the day's work. Early this morning (25th) an 'A-
mes arrived from Low Moor, ten miles distance-, for all the sol-
diers we had, to protect the extensive and valuable power-weaving
concern of Messrs. Garnett and Horst-all. Two troops of dragoons,
who had just arrived here front Manchester, and who had merely
time to bait their horses, and refresh the men in the street, imme-
diately set off for that place. A troop also of riflemen arrived here,
part of whom were immediately conveyed in chains to that quar-
ter, and the light of next day will, I fear, bring us tidings of bloody
work from thence.
In the course of the day we have had expresses from Preston and
Chorley, for the aid of the military on the like occasion. It is sin-
cerely to be hoped that the Legislature will tales some speedy and
effectual measures to remedy the present existing culls.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER. 12 MILES FROM MANCHESTER.
1 am just returned from Manchester—all quiet there, but a very
bad market.
Blackburn has been tolerably quiet to-day. The poor starving
creatures have broken all the power-looins belonging to Messrs. W.
11. Carr and Co. The rioters are busy, it is said, at Chorley and
Preston, but I don't think there is any truth in the various reports.
The poor creatures are injuring themselves the most. It is alarm-
ing to be here. We have had several expresses from various quar-
ters, all wanting soldiers ; in fact, all this part is in a most dread.
ful uproar; we cannot tell where this will end, but at present all
looks dark. They have commenced entering houses for victuals.
Blackburn Mail-office, Tuesday Evening,
Half. past Seven o'Clock.
This moment about twenty of the Ist Dragoon Guards have Set
off for Ilenfield and Accrington, a report having reach d Mr.
Kay, our deputy constable, that an Immense number of persons
had assembled, for the purpose of attacking and destroying the
power-loom manufactory of Messrs. Sykes, at Accrington ; in.fact,
we believe, the windows have already been completely demolished.
This report canoed the greatest alarm in this town, and thousands
Are now assembled in the streets.
BALE-PAST Ell:MT.—The market coaches are just arrived, and
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