The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-06 00:00:00

THE RIOTS IN EXETER.

EXETER, Tuesday.

Last night a riot broke out in this city, a most
successful attack being made on the shops of the
butchers and bakers, the windows of which were
smashed, the shutters in some instances being taken
down and thrown into the street. A disturbance
had been anticipated by the city authorities to take
place to-day in consequence of the attempt to put
down the practice of holding a bonfire and letting
off fireworks in the Cathedral yard, which is in the
very heart of the city. The yeomanry and the en-
rolled pensioners were communicated with, and a
large number of special constables were sworn in.
The rioters, however, commenced operations before
the arrival of the yeomanry, and the police force of
the city proved totally inadequate to quell the out-
break. The 20th Regiment, numbering 300 men,
under the command of Captain Gethin, arrived
from Plymouth by special train, but by the time of
their arrival—two o'clock this morning—the mob
had carried on their work of destruction without
interruption, visiting in turn every part of the city,
and, where practicable, carrying away the provi-
sions of the shops attacked.
The riot commenced in the lower part of the city,
whither the police superintendent immediately des-
patched a body of officers. Of these officers, how-
ever, the mob, which gradually swelled till it reached
near 3,000, took not the slightest heed, and worked
their way through the principal streets, throwing
missiles in the most reckless manner. Wanton
mischief seemed alone to actuate them.
The Staff of the Ist Devon Militia, under the
command of Captain Savile, marched to the Guild-
hall shortly after 10, where the mayor and magis-
trates assembled. His worship called upon the citi-
zens to render every assistance to quell the tumult.
Prevention, he said, was better than cure. He meant
to show the city that there was a force prepared
to put down the riot. At present he did not deem
it prudent to read the Riot Act. The Mayor, ac-
companied by Captain Savile and others, then left
the Guildhall with a view of rendering personal aid
in stopping the riot, but the crowd of people was so
great that his worship deemed it prudent to return
to the hall, from the windows of which his worship
addressed them. He said be was exceedingly sorry
that a city so obedient to the laws as Exeter should
have disgraced itself by these riotous proceedings.
He was informed that the riot was still going on.
He much regretted that the mob had not been in-
duced by the lovers of order to disperse and return
to their homes. A discussion then arose as to the
propriety of reading the Riot Act, and also as to
whether it was desirable for the militia and the
special constables to act before the arrival of the
military. It was deemed inexpedient to make any
thing like a demonstration until the forces were
adequate to cope with the riotous proceedings. It
was decided not to read the Riot Act, but the militia
and the specials perambulated the streets and suc-
ceeded in dispersing a great portion of the mob.
On the arrival of the military the riot had been put
down, and it was not renewed. The forces were
divided into three sections, composed of the military,
the police, and the specials. Having marched
through the principal streets of the city, they re-
turned to the Guildhall, and were dispersed, ex-
cepting a strong guard of 50 of the military and the
night constables. There was no further damage.
In the event of a renewal of the outbreak to-day
there is ample power in the city to subdue it.
Bread is Bfd. per 41b. loaf, and meat ranges from
7d. to 9d. per lb. _ _

4 30 r. 31.

The food riot at Exeter last night raged with great
fury until 2 o'clock this morning. Scarcely a single
baker's or butcher's shop window in the city escaped.
Great damage was done. The excitement con-
tinues, a fresh outbreak being feared to-night on
the occasion of the customary Guy Fawkes demon-
stration, which the authorities this year have deter-
mined to suppress. It the present time, however,
all is quiet 300 of the 20th Regiment of Foot from
Plymouth arrived in the city this morning at two
o'clock by a special train. Two troops of Yeomanry
Cavalry, the Exeter pensioners, and the militia
staff have also been called up in anticipation of
their services being required to-night. The party
engaged in promoting the sth of November satur-
nalia have to-day abandoned their intention, for
fear that the scenes of last night may be re-enacted.
Two or three hundred special constaLles have been
sworn in and provided with staves. The Mayor
and several of the leading citizens took an active
part in quelling the disturbance last night.

5 P.M.

Up to the present time there has been no further
uproar, although the city is stin in great excitement.
The military, the yeomanry, the cavalry, the pen-
sioners, and about 300 special constables, together
with the police, are prepared for action. This
morning the Guildhall was densely crowded, in
consequence of an application by " Young Exeter"
that the bonfire in the Cathedral-yard should be
allowed this ye Ir. It was stated th:tt in the views
of " Young Exeter" the magistrates would, by this
concession, prevent an outbreak to-night, which
there were good grounds for anticipating. More-
over, the roughs of the lower quarters of the city
had resolved that there should be a bonfire under
any circums'ances, and at whatever cost or risk. It
was also suggested that in the event of the magis-
trates declining to let the bonfire take place in the
Cathedral-yard, it should come off in the New
North-road, which is in the suburbs of the city. It
was said that this was an exceptional case, and the
applicants urgently appealed to the Bench to grant
their request.
The Presiding Magistrate (\lr. R. Saunders)—l
am very glad you used that expre sion, " exeep-
dual case," It is indeed exception J. that persous?