The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-05-14 00:00:00

ALARMING RIOTS IN THE POTTERIES.

(From the Stafordshire Gazette.)
For the last three• or four days Lane End has been the
scene of riot and confusion fomented by a mob of miserable
and deluded men. The disturbances assumed a serious as-
pect, involving we fear, the ultimate loss of life. The ca-
valry and yeomanry were called out, and succeeded in re-
pressing the rioters, but not without being compelled to fire
several times on the 'misguided men, some of whom were
wounded, and a few of whom are not expected to recover.
Tranquillity is now partially restored, and we trust, that we
shall.not have to record any fresh outbreak. In this county,
indeed, little apprehenifon need be entertained of the violence
of Chartists or any other description of rebellious vagabonds,
for its yeomanry troops are both numerous and efficient, and
are fully prepared to meet any insurrectionary disturbance.
Below, we subjoin from our correspondents, a detailed ac-
count of the transactions at which we have glanced.
(From a Correspondent.)
RIOTS AT LANE END.—On Wednesday morning, an at-
tempt was made by the mob at Lane End, to rescue some
persons who had been taken into custody by the police. The
Watch-house became the scene of attack from the mob, who
continued to harass the police throughout the day. At 7p. m.,
14 of the Newcastle yeomanry were mustered, who immedi-
ately marchedinto Lane End, under the command of Captain
Tomlinson, to support the police. The violence of the mob
increased, as night drew on. After having patiently borne
for some hours a most violent assault of stones, and other
missiles from the mob, it was found necessary to fire upon
them. The first volley was directed over their heads, but
this course was not pursued. The darkness of the night ren-
dered it difficult to fire effectually, but at different intervals
3 were killed on the spot, or died of their wounds, and up-
wards of 40 wounded. Thursday morning,. the Stafford troop
rode into Lane End, and at one o'clock of the day, the Ut-
toxeter yeomanry, arrived at Trentham. We were much
struck with the soldier-like appearance of the men andhorses.
The concurrence of the Horticultural exhibition,, and the
meeting of magistrates, police, and yeomanry, assembled at
Trentham Inn, gave a air of unusual bustle to that beautiful
village. We observed there the magistrates—R. Adderly,
Esq., .Captain R. Mainwaring, and the Honourable Arthur
Talbot. Lord Talbot was also there. All of the 23 persons
were committed for trial at Stafford. The appearance of
those miserable wretches could awaken alarm no less than
pity. We understand that Captain Tomlinson, and Lieut.
Wilson, still remain with their troops under arms at Lane
End. No further attacks are anticipated to night. Some of
the mob are possessed with fire arms, which they employed
against the military. Whether. Chartists or not, it is plain
we have to deal with insurrectionists of a much more desper-
ate character than those who disturbed the Potteries at the
last election. We trust, therefore, that ill-timed mercy may
not be mistaken for clemency. The following is a list of
some of the prisoners who are now on their way to Stafford
Gaol :—George Turner, Thomas Bloor, Daniel Rhodes, Wm.
Heath, Peter Balderstone, and Edward Bethell. The mob
at different times is represented as varying from 5,000 to
10,000. The room at Trentham, in which were assembled
magistrates, policemen with bandaged arms, and faces bear-
ing witness to their own courage and the ferocity of the mob,
prisoners of a most unhappy aspect, clerks and witnesses, and
lookers on, all presented such a motley group, that if the
subject for whi,a this assemblage had met, had been of a less
serious kind, we :bould have been tempted to give a more
graphic sketch of this lively scene.
(From a Correspondent.)
LANE END.—On Tuesday a man took a prominent station
in the Market-place, whence he delivered some revolution-
ary doctrines. The pclice ordered him to desist, and, on his
not obeying, took him into custody and led him to the sta-
tion-house. A mob collected and declared they would
liberate him ; some of the most forward of the rioters were
captured, which so exasperated their companions that they
threatened destruction to the lock-up house. However the
assailants were interrupted by the arrival of a recruiting
party from Newcastle, and a detachment of the Pottery and
Newcastle troop cf yeomanry. Captain Mainwaring of
Whitmore, and another magistrate accompanied the forces,
and were followed by a carriage of ammunition. As the
evening advanced the mob grew more daring, and the
cavalry were ordered to fire. They did so, but' only in the
air. This had but the effect of emboldening the opponents,
who proceeded to greater violence until they were fired upon,
a measure which soon dispersed them. Thousands of black-
guards were pouring in from all directions to Lane End on
the Wednesday evening, but they received no countenance
from the respectable and thinking portion of the operatives
of Stoke. Such of the rioters as were apprehended by the
police were conveyed by the recruiting party out of the town
to a place of safety, to undergo an examination. One police-
man has been shockingly maltreated, and one of the cavalry
is said to be hurt, a crate having been thrown in the way of
his horse, who stumbled over it and unseated his rider. A
boy was shot and carried out from the mob, aria many others
are wounded. The Uttoxeter and Stafford troop of yeomanry
came into the town on Thursday morning. At twelve on
Wednesday night the streets in Lane End were perfectly
quiet and clear.
(From another Correspondent.)
The populace have for some time past manifested much
ill-
feeling towards the new police who have lately been intro-
duced in Lane End. On Tuesday night a mob collected for
the purpose of rescuing several prisoners ; the police resisted
the attempt, but being very few were soon overpowered,
when great excesses were committed by the people. There
was a total cessation of business on Wednesday ; in the
evening several prisoners were brought to Newcastle. The
yeomanry passed a rough night at Lane End. The rioters
were throwing stones, and the' troops were firing on their
assailants nearly all night. Several persons are wounded,
and some of the cavalry have been hurt. No individuals are
reported to be dead, but there are one or two whose recovery
is deemed hopeless.
(From another Correspondent.)
TUNSTALL CHARTISTS.—SeveraI strange rumours have
reached us of certain proceedings of these misguided men,
in the town of Tunstall and its vicinity. Our information
pies to the extent of stating, that the lives of certain indivi-
duals obnoxious to the chartists, have been denounced. We
shall have an eye to this matter. Meanwhile, we know that
the greatest excitement prevailed on Tuesday evening, and
Wednesday morning last, in consequence of the non-ap-
pearance of a chartist delegate, who had been dispatched on
some secret message to Manchester, and who, not returning
at the time anticipated, was supposed to be apprehended.
[From an Eye-witness.]
In the evening of Tuesday, the 6th inst., some of the po-
lice officers were called to stop a disturbance made by some
drunken fellows in a beer-house. When the officers arrived
they were insulted by some of the men, whom they afterwards
took into custody : in consequence of which, the police were
pelted with stones by some of the companions of the men.
Several of the party were secured and lodged in the lock-up.
The next morning persons to the number of 4 or 500 as-
sembled about the lock-up, annoyed the police by throwing
stones at them, and threatened to rescue the prisoners when
night came on. It was, by the principal inhabitants of the
town, thought prudent to call in the aid of the whole police
force from Fenton and Stoke--ipon-Trent, as well as the
Newcastle troop of yeomanry cavalry, and accordingly mes-
sengers were dispatched for the purpose. The populace con-
tinued about the lock-up the whole of the day, and until the
arrival of the cavalry. The cavalry and pi 1 cue were pelted
with stones, brick-bats, &c. A car• was sent from Newcastle
for the prisoners confined in the lock-up, under an escort of
10 foot soldiers, and the prisoners were accordingly conveyed
to Newcastle. After repeated ineffectual attempts to restore
order, the riot act was read, and the mob were desired to
disperse, but they refused to do so, and continued to throw
stones, &c., at the police and cavalry until about 9 o'clock,
when things beginning to wear a serious aspect, the cavalry
were ordered to clear the streets. •Blank cartridge was fired
at first, but that not having any effect in dispersing the mob,
the cavalry fired ball cartridge, and also used their swords.
Several persons were wounde d—mie very dangerously, a ball
having entered his abdomen. Another was wounded in the
thigh with a ball—another is cut very seriously cut on the
head, and is not expected to recover. Others were wounded
less seriously. Eighteen were taken into custody, and con-
veyed to a meeting of the magistrates on Thursday morning,
at Trentham. A part of the Stafford troop of yeomanry ar-
rived this morning, and a number of toe Uttoxeter troop
have come in this afterncoa. Lord Talbot has sent a special
messenger to Birmingham for the dra„oons.
BY EXPRESS.—Lane End, Friday, One o'clock.—The
rioters are subdued, all is quiet. The yeomanry ar•e still in
attendance, six of them are very badly wounded, we hope not
dangerously. Nothing could exceed their courage, firmness,
and forbearance. If anything occurs I will send another ex-
press immediately. Ten prisoners have been sent in chains
to Stafford.—(From our Reporter.)

On Thursday morning sixteen of the rioters, handcuffed
and chained together, were escorted to the Inn,at Trentham,
by a party of the Newcastle troop, and the pottery police.
Captain Mainwaring and the Hon. and Rev. A. C. Talbot
formed a petty sessions, and after taking the depositions of
witnesses, committed the whole of this party of rioters to
Staftbrd gaol, whither they were conducted in the evening.