The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-11 00:00:00

REBECCA AND HER DAUGHTERS.

On Saturday night week the town of Rhayader, in Rad-
norshire, and its neighbourhood were thrown into a state
of great excitement, in consequence of a report being
circulated that " Rebecca" and her children were once
more going to make their appearance and parade the
streets of Rhayader, before the shops closed. Nearly all
the townspeople were standing in groups from the close
of the evening until half-past nine, when suddenly the
sound of a horn was heard from a distance, and in a few
minutes was answered from an opposite quarter. The
boys and girls ran from all directions towards Cwmtoyd-
dwr, and returned with the news that the Rebeccaites
were blackening their faces, and would be up immediately
to parade the streets, before they went to kill the fish.
At about a quarter before 10 p.m. "Rebecca" made her
appearance in Cwintoyddwyr and from thence proceeded
over the bridge to Rhayader, accompanied by about 80
of her " daughters, forming a procession of 4 abreast.
First went " Rebecca," carrying a gun, supported
by two sword-bearers, right and lefrt
theirwith
c toht he iars ,f aa feteesr
the fashion aonfdstmheoicrksfhroirctkss,wowraithovea handkerchief tied
around their heads. These were followed by five ranks,
four abreast, each outside man carrying a cutlass or
sword, and the inside men spears and poles. Then fol-
lowed 4 men, carrying a carriage similar to a stretcher
with a large quantity of straw tied up in bundles.
These were succeeded by a long train, four abreast, car-
rying guns, spears, pitchforks, and other Weapons.
They proceeded to opposite the Lion Hotel, where they
fired two guns, and thence marched round the Market.
place, where they fired again ; thence they proceeded
y
same
a w t
to Cmwtoyddwr-bridge, where they were joined b a
c
reserve of about 40 or 50 more, all with their faces
blacked, and in the same kind of dress. They arrived
of therivedaaest
the Grove, the first ford and the bedding la
salmon, the horn blew, and a gun was fired, which was
the signal for commencing the attack ; but the depre-
dators did not succeed accordingeede fordfidve to too af
felltheir
into extpheeci rtahtai expectations, ns
Theedestruction. whole
as only
smte Jre eipgea fishsignal
yl
thenwupon
gp
given--five
vhe n_eo
c first
stehceomn d
enteredford,
water
the
hthirspeaTrhsearendmlulgst hts, and commenced the
m
here have been a great
slaughter had it not been for the conservator of the
river, Samuel Owens, an old salmon fisher on the river
Wye for upwards of 40 years. He, anticipating the
visitors, with the assistance of police-superintendent
Jones,
and his two sons, well disturbed the fords a few
minutes before the enemy approached. Had not that
plan been adopted there must have been a great destruc-
tion of fish ; but we hear that instead of " Rebecca"
having
20 salmon from that ford, they kiiled only six
small ones. During the time they were in the act of
killing the fish, Mr. Taloc, steward of Mr. T. Prickard,
of Darw, advanced nearer than was considered desirable,
and a gun was fired at him ; but fortunately only
one shot readied him, and entered his elbow. David
Price, a sawyer of the town, who out of curiosity
went towards the river, had three spears placed at his
breast, and was ordered to retreat. The marauders then
proceeded to different fords on the Wye and Ellen, but
did not succeed in killing so many fish as they expected.
The whole number was supposed not to exceed 30.
Bristol Mirror.