The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-15 00:00:00

RIOT ATIARIUNGTON COLLIERY.

A disturbance,a,
wit attendedn
l,
jury, though
las-, at Barrington c-eadi se
of
lif'' occurred on Tuesday
Longbridge and C. erY, near Bedlington. Messrs.
monthly
Colliery. The men
,i‘..rrekthe owners of Barrington
terminated by a month's notice agreements,
weeks agow they received notice
side. About sixnotice on either
less.
newThpeirte
the
ee
of a reduction in their
pits at this colliery, and in
had hitherto been paid a uniform men
per ton; but, as the seam varies Priceof ls. 4d.
thickness in different places,'les 'in
so that there ' considerably
greater difficulty in hewing a ton of is much
part of it than in another, the coals in one
owners resolved to
of
make a corresponding variation in the scale prices.
They accordingly gave notice that in future there
there
would be four prices—namely, ls. 2.d., Is, 31, is. 4
and ls. 6d. per ton, according to the thickness of
seem. This, though swore equitable mode of regulating
wages, amounted, it seems, to a reduction in the aggre-
gate, which, it is said, would amount to about ls. per
week in the average wages of the men in one pit.
In the other pit no reduction of prices has taken
place, though it was contemplated. After the month
had expired the men remained in their houses,
but refused to work at the reduced rate. In
consequence of this, the owners, being determined
to carry the new regulations into effect, ordered the
men to leave their houses and make way
for others who were willing to accept the terms.
On the men refusing to leave the two policemen
stationed at Bedlington, Drummond and Graham, got
such assistance as they could procure, and attempted
to eject them. This attempt was the signal for a de-
termined resistance on the part of the men generally.
They assembled to the number of from 200 to 300
men, several of them being from other collieries.
Many had provided themselves with sticks, and se-
veral blows were inflicted, the policemen and their
party defending themselves as well as they could. Two
men from Newcastle were severely wounded on the
head and in other parts of the body. Andrew Gra-
ham, policeman, Mark White, constable, and Michael
weigher at the pit, were also more or less
Barkas, a
injured. Some of the houses occupied by the " black-
. 3
legs," as they are called (that. i. , d .
tne men who agreed
were much injure , the windows and
to the change),
doors being- smashed to piece 3. One had to jump
,through a window at the front of his house, to escape
the violence of the crowd. At length it was
deemed prudent to desist until further assistance
could "e obtained.Aspecial train came to this town
for the assistance of policemen. Twelve of
the borough of a body
g. lice directed to give their assist-
ance,were
but declined larger number was
sent, 011 tl,etUed to go unless a
endangered. ' ~,zraund that their Jati
': , would be
next applied t-kot military authorities here were
dispatched te the A dotactiment of infantry was
o'clock un Wedna,raevne,,of diaturbance about two
completely quie'ter,r,"lng, and their appear-
anceasßembled in great naraber:r, men, who were still
military remained a few ho:ruc'llt the colliery. The
twee of disorder was past, 'd'atil. every appear-
,towa,,biit before their departurethten returned to the
dislodged from n equal number oflll families were
camped in then lanes. Fonr man, "sea, and en-
themselves conspicuous in resisting 411° had made
apprehended and taken 13gfore the masi;l4°lice, were
remanded them for further examination. who
irboanes