The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-15 00:00:00

The Fenians in Chester.

But little additional intelligence has been re-
ceived from Chester, but accounts of events in other
quarters tend to show more and more clearly that
the mysterious assemblage there on Monday was
the result of a deep-laid plot. A strange incident
has come to light. On Monday a stranger, speak-
ing with an American accent, applied at the works
of the Chester Waterworks Company for permission
to inspect the machinery. The man in charge said
he had no power to grant the request, but that a
superior servant of the company, whom he named,
would doubtless give the required permission. The
stranger said time pressed, and he could not stop to
see the manager, but if the man would take him
through he would make it worth his while to do so.
The Cestrian replied that he would be glad to take
his visitor through th 2 works, and receive his fees,
if the rules permitted him to do so ; but if, while
doing so in disregard of the rules, the manager
should come in, he would lose his place. The
stranger accordingly left, with many expressions of
regret. Not long afterwards another stranger
called, and preferred a similar request to see the
works. He also was refused ; but this circum-
stance excited the Cestrian's curiosity, and, watch-
ing the second man as he left the works, he saw
him join the first who had called, and they walked
away together to the banks of the canal, where they
dropped a goodly-sized parcel into the water. It is
supposed that the contents of that parcel (efforts
to recover which will be made) were materials to
interrupt the working of the machinery, so that in
case of the city being fired the water supply would
be wanting.

At the meeting of the Chester Town Council on
Wednesday,

Mr. G. BOYDELL said—Before calling upon the
overseers to verify their accounts, or proceed in any
way with the business, he could not refrain from
saying that, had it not been for the judicious energy
of the authorities in the city, it was doubtful
whether the members of that council could have
been there in peace and security to transact any
business whatever. (Hear, hear.) But through
their judicious energy, under Providence, the
authorities had been instrumental, he firmly believed,
in saving the city, and they must all feel grateful
for the steps which had been taken. But they must
also feel proud at the noble way in which the
volunteers came forward in response to the orders
of the authorities. (Loud applause.) He begged
to move the best thanks of the citizens to the
authorities.

Alderman G-ItIFFITII seconded the motion. Ile
fully concurred in the resolution, because the
magistrates and volunteers at large fully deserved
thanks for what they had done.
The motion was carried.

Major FRENCH, the senior city magistrate—.
Gentlemen of the Council, I take the liberty of
thanking you for the very kind resolution you have
pas.ed expressive of your approbation of the
magistrates' conduct. I take the liberty of doing
so because I see I am the senior magistrate of the
city present ; therefore I take the liberty of thank-
ing you in the name of the magistrates. I think
we are very much indebted to our deputy-mayor
Mr. Williams. (Applause.) He was the first
person who received the information, and without
a moment's delay he took all the steps in his
power to sift the thing to the bottom, so far as he
could do so with the facts before him. Having con-
vinced himself that danger was hovering around
us, he at once communicated with the magistrates,
and we assembled to make the best arrangements
for the safety of the city, as it was our duty to do.
(Hear, hear.) I quite concur with Mr. Boydell in
saying that the volunteers, the fire brigade, and all
the local armed forces in the city, were most prompt
in attending to their duties, rnd preserving the
city from the ravages of these deluded men, who
evidently had some mischievous intention. (Hear,
hear.) Upon these occasions every man who is in
authority of course comes forward to give what help
he can. Capt. Smith was very prompt in mustering
a great force that would have been of service to us
if anything had occurred. We have upon our bench
of magistrates now a good deal of young blood, and
they sh.)wed that young men in activity have a
great advantage over old men. (Laughter.) I must
say that the magistrates lately appointed gave most
prompt aid and valuable service, and I hope you
will always find the bench of magistrates willing and
prompt to protect the city. It was a proud thing
for the bench of magistrates to think upon this occa-
sion that, when sceptics pooh-poohed the whole
thing, said it was a hoax, and there was no necessity
for exertion, they were satisfied there was some-
thing in it, and took all the measures possible
to protect the citizens. lam satisfied that on
all such future occasions the magistrates will
take the same prompt steps for the preser-
vation of the peace. I think the authorities in
London also gave us prompt assistance. They,
like ourselves, were inclined to think there was
mischief, and you see the effect of their measures.
(The speaker pointed to a large body of Soots Fusi-
lier Guards, who could be seen from the council
chamber on parade in the Castle-yard.) The Com-
mander-in-Chief left the House of Lords for the
purpose of giving orders for these men to appear in
the city for our protection. There was another
feature in it—and I am only mentioning these cir-
cumstances to prove to sceptics that danger was
imminent. A number of these deluded men took
their passage to Dublin, and there, where the Habeas
Corpus Act is suspended, they have been arrested.
In their anxiety to get away and leave no evidence
that might cause their arrest, they threw away their
ammunition. That must prove that mischief was
intended, for they came here with ammunition upon
their persons. (Hear.) In the name of the magis-
trates I thank the town council, and hope they may
never have to regret the expressions they have used
to-day.

Alderman WILLIAM MAYSMOR WILLIAMS, the
deputy-mayor, thought it desirable that some steps
should be taken in the way of a memorial to Go-
vernment. When he was called upon on Saturday
night to discharge what was his duty, he tried to do
everything that was possible for the protection of
the city, and he was greatly assisted by Mr. Fen-
wick and two officers from Liverpool. He might
mention that au immense quantity of ammunition
had been found in the river. lie was at the police
office that morning, and a man made a statement
that two men were seen on the opposite side
of the river to the waterworks. One of them
by some means went across the river to the
waterworks and asked to see the engine, represent-
ing that he thought it was a chemical works engine.
But before he asked to see the engine he had thrown
away an immense, quantity of ammunition. The
man who made the statement dragged the river, and
recovered a packet which contained 12 rounds of
ball cartridges. A few moments after the first man
had come to see the engine, a second man made his
way to the works, and asked to be allowed the same
privilege as the first. This man spoke in a disguised
language ; it was thought he was a Canadian, and
the sharp, intelligent engineer refused to let him see
the engine. lie might here remark that both Earl
Grosvenor and Lord Richard Grosvenor came down
on hearing of this threatened attack. Both having
put themselves in communication with the Duke of
Cambridge and Lord de Tabley, they came down to
Chester by the Irish mail, and rendered every as-
sistance. At 12 o'clock on Monday night there were
upwards of 1,400 Fenians.—for lie might so call
them—in and around Chester. It was proved by
figures that there was that number. Ile, thespeaker,
had requested Lord R. Grosvenor to see Mr. Wal-
pole to urge upon him the necessity of having more
troops at Chester, and late last night he received
from Lord Richard a telegram which was to the
effect that he had seen Mr. Walpole, and had urged
upon him the matter he was requested to do, but
the Home Secretary waited for reports. Ile (Mr.
Williams) begged to acknowledge the services
of Mr. Binger, the traffic manager of the Chester
and Holyhead Railway ; in fact, but for the assist-
ance afforded him by Mr. Binger, the whole thing
would have been thwarted. Information stated
that a lot of men would come from Liverpool by
the 9.30 train on Monday morning, and it was ne-
cessary that the two superintendents then in Chester
Rhould be on the lauding-stage, LiTarpool, when

that train left, so that they might send information
to Chester. There was no train which could take
them. He went to Mr. L'inger's house, and that
gentleman at once placed a special train at the dis-
posal of the detectives, and they were thus enabled
to get back to Liverpool in time to apprize the Ches-
ter authorities of the departure of the men from
that town. The authorities in Liverpool, Manches-
ter, Leeds, and Halifax put themselves in commu-
nication with Chester during the day. Ilis object in
rising was to suggest that some steps should be
taken to ask the Government to place the city in a
more secure state than it had hitherto been. (Hear,
hear.) It should be borne in mind that in this
emergency there were only 54 men and two officers
in the garrison. It was a perfect disgrace that the
city should be left in such an insecure state. There
were 800,000 or 900,000 rounds of cartridges in the
castle at the present time, and it was very desirable
that the council should prepare a memorial on the
subject to be sent to head-quarters.
Mr. Sheriff BOWERS was in hopes that some cne
would upon that occasion have proposed a motion
with reference to this subject. He thought it biglll7
important they should pass the motion unanimously.
After what had been remarked so well by the ex-
mayor, nothing more need be said. He thought it
was a matter of the highest importance so far as
the city itself was concrned ; and it did appear
strange that such a depot of arms and ammunition
as was in Chester should be left so unguarded, close
to such an immense population as that lying in
Lancashire, vast numbers of whom they had reason
to believe were connected with this movement. That
nearly a million rounds of cartridge should be lef
t
under the protection of 50 men seemed a monstrous
thing. Now that the city had had such a narrow
escape, he could not but think the Horse Guards
would consider the thing, and order a proper and
sufficient number of men to be stationed in Chester.
(Applause.)

Mr. FAmslr said it had been a strong temptation
to those deluded men to know that the place was
so unprotected. The least the council could do Wag
to make a strong recommendation ou the subject.
The suggestions of Alderman Williams was a right
one, and they had been taken at the right moment,
but if the step had been taken two months ago they
would have been saved the anxiety and expense in-
curred.

Alderman WILLIAMS said he had forgot to men-
tion that the ammunition found was wrapped In
pieces of a Belfast newspaper.
It was agreed that a memorial should be Pre'
seated to the Government, and the town clerk We°
instructed to draw it up.
The ordinary business of the council then Pro'
ceeded.