The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-21 00:00:00

The Colliers' Strike in South Staffordshire,

WOLVERHAMPTON, Oct. 20.

As previously reported, the central committee of the Col-
liers' Strike in the Bilston district ceased to act on Saturday
night, and on Monday and Tuesday mornings nearly the
whole of the pits in this district were in full work. The
example was to some extent followed by the men in the Tip-
ton and Dudley Districts, but they acted, as it afterwards
appeared, without the consent of their leaders. With the
exception, however, of a small meeting at Kinswinford, in
the neighbourhood of Dudley, on Monday, there were no
demonstrations until Wednesday. In the morning of that
day a large party of men paraded the district with drums
and whistles. One band congregated at the Fox-yards,
Cosely, and marched through Deepfields, Ladymocr, Dei,y
Bank, and Tip#on. They then proceeded to 13i1sten, They
were followed by Superintendent M'Jrea, of the county
constabulary, accompanied by a few policemen. The olej, et
of the men was to induce those who were going to work at
the pits to join them in remaining out on strike. Superin-
tendent ItleCrea, h is said, endeavoured by all peaceaLle
means to point out to them the illegality of their proceed-
ings, and the consequences to which they must give rise.
It is said their conduct justified him in taking some of the
miners into custody and dispersing the rest. When at High-
fields they sought to go to the top of a pit bank where the men
were preparing to descend to their work. He then drew his
men across the way, and after a struggle with one of the
miners who got away, dispersed them. In the Dudley district
similar scenes occurred, During the day several large
meetings were held of miners, both in the Tipton and Dud-
ley districts, and strong resolutions were come to to continue
the strike. In the evening information was recei•eed that
a determination had been adopted to interfere with the men
who had a fortnight ago resumed their work tee one of the
Earl of Dudley's pits on the road between Dudley and
Tipton, near Lipton-green. The men had to be protected
by the police going to and returning from their work. Some
were conveyed in carte, accompanied by a policeman, and
others were taken by the butties in their gigs. The bands
assembled before daylight with drums and tin whistles.
They shouted in such a way as to alarm the whole neigh.
bourhood. Complaints were made to the police authorities
that such proceedings should not be allowed to go on, if
peace, law, and order es ere to be maintained in the district.
The men who had returned to work in the neighbourhood
also stated that unless they were adequately protected they
would leave the district, for they felt their lives to be in
danger. Under these circumstances, the police authorities
considered it their duty to put the law in force, and with, as
little violence as possible to prevent these morning meetings.
Orders were given to this effect, and about 50 constables
want out at 4 yesterday morning. They were euat:ered In
different directions, seine under Inspector Oswell to guard
the pit of Earl Ward. A detachment, under the command
of Major M'Knight, and accompanied by Inspector M'Crea,
went to the Fox-yards, where they found a large number of
men on strike assembled with a band of drums and whistles,
and carrying stout sticks. The police accompanied them
in their march to a place called the Five-ways, near Tipton
Green. There they were joined by another troop and band.
They then marched through Tipton-green to the Dudley-
road, where they were met by a third troop and band. Thb
whole joined and counter-marched. There was by this
time, al well as the darkness would enable the police to see,
about 2,000 men,armed with heavy sticks,and marchingwith
almost military steadiness four abreast. Major M'Knight
remonstrated with them, es he had several times previously
done. lie told them their conduct was illegal, and that he
had imperative orders to stop their proceedings. They re-
plied that their leaders had told them to assemble in this
manner, and that they would do it if they went to prison
for it. It is said that the colliers were much excited and that
the more desperate of them gave utterance to very violent
threats. They wero about to turn up the road which leads to
Earl Dudley's pit, when Major M'Knight threw his men
across the road. Superintendent Orwell came down with his
men at the same moment. One of the colliers, with an oath,
ran at and kicked Superintendent ()swell, who sought to
take him into custody, but he was rescued by his fellows.
The police, though numbering but 25, attacked the colliers
with their staves, and in a few moments the road was clear
of the mob. 19 prisoners remained in the hands of the
police. They were taken to the Bilston lock-up, and th©
stipendiary magistrate, Mr J. Spooner, made arrangements
for holding a special petty session the same afternoon.
While the police were resting information was brought that
about 6,000 miners, armed with sticks, who had marched
at midday through Dudley Port to a miners' meeting in the
neighbourhood of Dudley, and about 1,000, who had
marched out of Tipton about 10 o'clock, were to return there
after executing some mission the nature of which the infor-
mant did not know. All available assistance was imme-
diately despatched in the direction indicated,
The 19 miners captured were charged before the sti-
pendiary in the afternoon with unlawfully assembling, in-
timidation, and conspiracy. The Earl of Lichfield, Lord
Lieutenant of the county, sat upon the bench, but took
no part in the proceedings. Mr Motteram, of the Ox-
ford circuit, instructed by Mr Travis, of West Bromwich,
prosecuted, Superintendent M'Crea was the first wit-
ness examined, and his evidence was to the above
effect. He spoke of his unsuccessful attempts to con-.
vines the men of their illegal conduct, and of their deter,
mination to persist in their course. The whole of the pri-
soners were identified as taking part in the proceedings by
constables who were present, and who produced some for-
midable sticks which had been taken from them at the time
of their apprehension. The whole of the prisoners were com-
mitted for trial at the ensuing Stafford assizes.
At the time our parcel was despatched no further infor-
mation had reached the chiefs of police relative to the con-
duct of the miners rho had proceeded through Dudley Port
to Dudley.