The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-17 00:00:00

RIOT AT LURGA.W.

LURGAN, SATURDAY EVENING.
There has not been such a riot in this part of
the north these thirty years as occurred in this
town last night. The rioters were the cambric
weavers, who are at present in a state of excitement
in the rural districts, on account of a reduction of
wages which has taken place, consequent upon the
unhappy condition of the foreign market, and the
limited demand in the home market for linen
goods. About noon, a public meeting, attended
by upwards of 1,000 weavers, was held at a place
called Shane-hill, which is three miles distant from
this town, and at the meeting speeches weremade
denunciatory of the reduction of wages, and expres-
sive of the strongest hatred and opposition to the
power-loom weaving carried on by Mr. Malcolm
and others, of Lurgan. Between three and four
o'clock, after the meeting was over, the weavers
came into this town in a body, their numbers
having increased in the meantime to between
3,000 and 4,000 persons. Mr. Malcolm got intima-
tion of their coming, and he closed his factory, and
barricaded the door within, as he suspected an at-
tack. His power-1 oom wo t kers were all in the inside to-
gether with head constable M'Carron and nine of
the constabulary, who were armed, and determined
to resist any attack upon the premises. Mr. Haed-
cock, J. P , Lord leureae's agent, was on the ground,
and when the mob stopped in front of Mr. Malcom's
establishment, he addressed them and advised them
to go quietly to their homes. The mob shouted
vociferously, and u. d menacing lanugage, calling
upon Mr. Malcom to cicss his power-loam factory
and turn it into flour mill, or else they would e reek
it. A great many of tee crowd carried bludgeons,
and others had fire-arms. They then paraded the
town and when it became a little dark returned to
Mr. Malcom's establishment again, and literally
swarmed round the factory, which is situated in
the rear of the dwelling-house. They renewed
their shouts and menace,e, and then commenced a
most violent attack wilh stones upon the doors and
windows of the building. Firearms were discharged
frequently, and the police were obliged to sally out
of the factory, and charge the rioters will fixed
bayonets. They succo?ded in capturing three of the
rioters in the charge. The main body of the mob,
having been driven away fi rem the factory, though it
had been their determination to destroy tie machin-
ery, teen assembled in front of the dwelling-house
and the large building used for lapping rooms, and
flung showers of stones at windows anedoors. After
demolishing 210 panes of glass, they went away
uttering threats that they would return well armed
again, and destroy the factory. Two of the rioters
were severely wounded, one receiving a gunshot
wound in the jaw, and the other a wound in the hand.
The doctor who attended to them has serious appre-
hensions regarding thelife of the one wounded inthe
jaw. The rioters distributedthemselves over the town
and when passing the factory of Messrs. Armstrong
and Watson, attacked it -in like manner, and
smashed a great quantity of glass in the windows.
They remained in the town till about 9 o'clock,
when they left, much to the joy and satisfaction of
the inhabitants, who were thrown into a frightful
state of alarm by such lawless proceedings.

Between 8 and 9 o'clock telegraphic messages
were sent to Belfast, Portadowu, and Dublin by
Mr. Handcock, for police assistance, aid at 10
o'clock 20 of the constabulary, under the command.
of Sub-inspector Milling, arrived here, by special
train, from Belfast. They were kept under arms
all night, but there was no further disturbance.
Mr. Malcom, whose establishment has been so
wantonly singled out for attack, is a highly respect-
able manufacturer. He affords employment to 200
persons in his power-loom factory, and nearly 1,000
weavers, sewers, and hand-spinners in the country
daily. and if he were obliged to close his establish-
ment and give into mob law and violence, the loss
would be great to the community.
This morning, at 10 o'clock, the three prisoners
namely, Wm. White, Thos. Fugard, and David_
John
ll
el s—awnedic•eock:andj
brought boehfonre
Greer
W.
N. *.
exa-
mination. Two of them are charged
Me private, but
sent, per
the result was that the prisoners were
Gaol, it
with being
ringleaders. The investigation Esq Miller,rs., forß
train, under a police escort,l
Armagh
being unsafe to allow them to
are m
e be kept one nigitrin
the Lurgan Bridewell.B
days.

The Paris letters mention two mercantile failures, the
firms being Bourdon, Du Buit and Co., and Ponson,
Philippe and Viberr. The liabilities, especially of the
latter, are rather extensive.