The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-08-19 00:00:00

MORE RIOTS AT BURSLEM.

----
On Tuesday morning, between ten and eleven o'clock, the
mob from Leek entered Burslein, where the only military
force in the neighbourhood is stationed, consisting, we are
told, of about forty of the Ist Royal Dragoons, under the
command of the Hon. Captain Powys. These troops were
drawn up in the principal street, near the house of a Mr.
Barlow, to prevent the mob entering the town ; and the
officer, addressing the rioters, told them they could not pass
that way, and that they had better retire. He was answered
by stones and brickbats, some of which are said to have
struck and hurt the soldiers, who, finding that the mob con-
tinued to attack them, at length fired ; and, according to the
statement made to us, and the general report in Burslem,
three men were killed,—one of them amongst the most ac-
tive of the mob,—and live or six others wounded. The mob
then dispersed, and the soldiers are said to have taken some
prisoners. Thus repulsed at Burslem, the rioters appear to
have returned to Hanley, where, dying the rest of the day,
they continued to plunder the shops, including even the
pawnbrokers' shops; and the greatest terror prevailed.
There were no soldiers hi the town, and the inhabitants
with some reason apprehended at night-fall a repetition of
the incendiary scenes of the preceding day.
During Tuesday, Newcastle, Buyslem (after the riot above
noticed), and Leek, remained quiet ; but much alarm was
felt, from the circumstance of the small military force in the
district, and the brutal and reckless character of the depre-
dations and destruction committed by the rioters.

Another letter we have seen, dated Burslem, Tuesday,
states, that " the following are a few of the many who have
had their houses destroyed by fire or other means :--The
Rev. Mr. Vale, Mr. Allen, Mr. Charles Mason, Mr. For-
rester, Mr. Bishop, the Rev. Mr. Atkin, and Mr. Parker.
All the police stations are destroyed, together with the Court
of Requests, with all the books."
WEDNESDAY MORNING.--I mentioned briefly yesterday
the loss of three lives at Hanley ; it would appear that the
fatal affray took place at Burslem. The troops were drawn
up in the principal street, near the house of Mr. Barlow, to

prevent the mob entering the town, and the officer, address-
ing the rioters, told them they could not pass, and that they
had better retire. He was answered by stones and brick-
bats, some of which strrck and hurt the soldiers, who find-
ing that the mob continued to attack them at length fired,
and, according to accounts, three men, as I yesterday stated
were killed. One of them was the most active of the mob.,
Five or six others were wounded, and conveyed to the in-
firmary. There is no doubt, however, that many others
were wounded, but, like the " winged birds," crept home
without notice. Thus repulsed at Bursletn, the rioters ap-
pear to have proceeded to Hanley, where, during the rest of
the day, the continued to plunder the shops, and the greatest
terror prevailed. There were no soldiers i❑ Hanley, and the
inhabitants at this time of the day appehended that at
nightfall a repetition of the incendiary scenes of Monday
would take place.

During yesterday, Newcastle, Burslem (after the riot
above noticed), and Leek, remained quiet ; but much alarm
was felt from the circumstance of the small military force in
the district, and the brutal and reckless character of the de-
predations committed.
I stated yesterday that persons travelling from Burslem to
Hanley observed the road on each side lined by some thou-
sands of the turn-outs. Scenes of the most awful character
followed. During the night the mob on their return visited
Shelto-hall, the residence of the bishop, which the rioters
surrounded and destroyed. Having forced an entrance into
the house, they set about the work of destruction, demolish-
ing windows and fUrniture, and finished by setting fire to the
premises. After this they visited the various residences
mentioned. The neighbourhood in which these frightful
scenes occurred presents most melancholy evidences of the
violence of the mob. There did not, however, appear any
disposition to carry off any property.
The mob which entered Burslem this morning consisted
of about 5,000 persons. Early information of their approach
had been given to the magistrates, and the Dragoons were
drawn up to receive them. When the advanced party of the
rioters made their appearance and discovered the prepara-
tions made for their reception, they came to a dead halt, and
commenced throwing stones at the military. The men im-
mediately charged and fired ; the mob was thrown into con-
fusion, and dispersed in every direction.
The Dragoons cleared the streets, the magistrates read the
riot act, and the entire district, although considerably ex-
cited, was soon perfectly peaceable.
The reports brought by passengers to-day state, that this
morning the Pottery districts were quiet, and it was ex-
pected, although the town was miserably supplied with mili-
tary, that the emelite was over.

,CFROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.)
George-inn, Burslem, Wednesday, Aug. 17.
With the presence of the military (a company of the 12th,
and part of a troop,of the Dragoons,) we have had the only
quiet night of the last week. The fatal charge on the mob
yesterday morning has had a salutary effect, and probably
saved two churches from the destruction threatened. It was
made about half-past 10, at the entrance of the Leek, or
Moorland-road,opposite the corner of Mr. Wedgwood's house.
The town was menaced by the advance of two columns of the
mob, one from the Hanley quarter, and the other from the
Leek-road, as stated, many of the latter consisting of men
from the town named,• all armed with sticks and bludgeons.
The company of the 12th had not then arrived, and about 36
of the troop of Dragoons drew their swords, faced, and ad-
vanced on the column. The mob came boldly up, menacing
the soldiery with their bludgeons, while some unarmed men
on their flanks commenced throwing stones, some of which
striking the horses made them unsteady. The Riot Act had
previously been read, and the commanding officer gave the
order to charge and fire. The men in front of the mob stood
firm, one more prominent than the rest. This man was aimed
at as their leader, and a Dragoon with his carbine shot him
through the head, and his brains were literally blown out,
with a hole as large as an egg, in a mass. Two more were
mortally wounded, since understood to be dead. The rest
were rode over, or dispersed like the wind. Many wounded
were got away, and it is currently reported and believed are
since dead, and their bodies thrown into the pits. The whole
charge was levelled at this clarity, band, and they were driven
up the Leek-road, and scattered in all directions. A number
of sworn in constables charged the mob on the other road
with spirit and decision as firm as disciplined men, and after
a severe encounter drove them out of the place.
Since then, this town has been in a species of blockade.
On the arrival of the company of the 12th yesterday, they
took possession of the Town-hall, which holds them very
compactly : windowed on the four sides, it is like a little
armed fortress. The dragoons are quartered at the principal
inns. Yesterday evening 200 or more of the specials, under
their leaders, formed themselves into small companies in the
court yard of the Legs of Man Inn ; and about seven o'clock
marched out, taking different directions, and clearing all the
people before them. As an old militia officer, I can say, that
I never saw men act better on such a short term. They
formed single or double files, went to the right or left turn at
the word, like veterans, and fronted as though they had had
a regular drill. Such is old Burslem, well deserving the
name of the mother and metropolis of the Potteries, and
always the only loyal place, strictly speaking, in the mass
in it.

The night passed in quietness. This morning a detach-
ment of the 34th came in with the Newcastle troop, escort-
ing some prisoners taken on the west of this district. 12
were taken up during the night here, and they have all been
just conveyed in carriages, under the guard of the Yeomanry
and a small detachment of the Infantry, to Newcastle, on their
route for Stafford.

During the night two houses were entered at Cobridge,
one belonging to Mr. Hughes, doing duty as special con-
stable in this town, where the money and all eatables were
demanded. The other house, belonging to Mr. Billings,
was regularly ransacked ; but three prisoners belonging to
the rioters were taken. Strange to say, one of them, a
deserter from the 12th, who was instantly indentifia.
All accounts from Hanley, Stoke, &c., are peaceful for the
present. Mr. Aitkin's house at Hanley is still a smoulder-
ing ruin. It is remarkable that the mob gave the old clergy-
man 10 minutes law to get away (being lame, and only able
to walk with two sticks.) They made a capture of his sur-
plice, put it on one of the mob in mockery, who paraded
in front of the house when on fire while others tore his
bible into tatters, and scattered the leaves' in the street.
Several Dissenters were calm and smiling witnesses of this
outrage !

I never saw such a perfect wreck as the house of Mr,
Parker, at Hanley ; not a vestige of anything is left.

YORKSHIRE.
(From a Third Edition of the Leeds Mercury)
TODMORDE'N, HALF-PAST Two.—At Dewsbury all con-
tinues in a state of tranquility, not the slightest manifestation
of a tumultuous spirit has appeared. The general topic of
conversations is, however, the threatened descent on Hali-
fax, Elland, and the surrounding districts from Todmorden,
and the contemplated turn-out among the colliers at Wake-
field on Monday. They have no fear of a descent upon
Dewsbury; and even the most distressed portion of the po-
pulation show not the slightest disposition to join the turn-
outs-should they ultimately reach Dewsbury.
At Wakefield everything hitherto wears a peaceable as-
pect. The people entertain no forebodings, except those
which arise from the rumoured strike of the colliers on
Monday next, which they are disposed in general to look
upon as what they term a mere " try on".
At Huddersfield the people are everywhere indulging fearful
anticipations, and the populace are talking over the Manches-
ter and Todmorden affair at every nook and corner. Nothing
has yet occurred ; but the disposition of the operative classes
seem to run along with the popular tumult. All the people
who have employment still continue at work ; and, so far as
outward demonstration is concerned, all is going on peaceably.
At Elland, rithibers of persons were early on the look-out
for the rioters from Todmorden; and, notwithstanding the
peace of the place was somewhat ruffled by the open declara-
tion of the Todmorden rioters, that they would arouse the
people of that place during the day, along with the people of
Hebden Bridge Mytholmroyd, Sowerby Bridge, and Halifax,
all fear had subsided, before noon, the people beginning to
look upon the thing As mere bravado. Yet the distressed
part of the operatives are giving loose to expressions of great
dissatisfaction with their quondam friends and potcompanions.
But these may be said to be the only parties that show any in-
clination to a rising, or that look favourably on the proceed-
ings at Manchester, Rochdale, and Todmorden.
Halifax bears In lgAiieral, perhaps, greater marks of tran-
quillity than any place in the district. The people have made
no attempt at a public demonstration, and the great bulk of
them are inclined to ridicule any expression tending to favour
the idea of the Todmorden rioters arousing Halifax. Man-
chester, Rochdale, and Todmorden, arc, however, much
talked about; and some of the very lowest class are enter.
taming the most favourable view of the riotous proceedings,
and making loud protestations that the charter' must be-
come the law of the land. They are also expressing the
highest approbotion at the proceeding of the meeting of
trade delegates at the Carpenters' Hall, in Manchester, last
night, which they say has done much for the charter. All
the manufactories and workshops continue in full operation
before the riotous proceedings commenced.
Sowerby Bridge in the morning wore much the same
aspect as Halifax, except that being nearer Todmorden the
riots are more general mid prominent topic of conversation.
About noon, however, the people began to manifest more
concern and dread of the turn-out, in consequence of a ru-
mour that the rioters of Todmorden were within three or
four miles of the place.
At Mytholmroyd a number of the rioters from Tod-
morden arrived early, and they soon succeeded in gaining
great accessions to their ranks. By twelve o'clock every
inhabitant of the place was on the look-out, men, women,
and children ; and by one o'clock every factory and workshop
was at a stand-still, the populace parading the streets in an
irregular procession of six;eight, and ten abreast, numbering
in the whole from 2,000 to 3,000. The rioters not only suc-
ceeded in stopping the factories at Mytholmroyd, but also
every one between that place and Todmorden. They in every
case demanded the turn-out of the workpeople. Every
attempt at non-compliance was met by the threat, that if the
workpeople refused to come out, they would reduce the place
to ashes. We hear of no material damage done to property
at Mytholmroyd. A great meeting was announced for two
o'clock, and large numbers of people were on the road h.-
tween Todmorden and. Mytholmroyd a 6 one o'clock to be
present.

Events similar to those of Mythohnroy have occurred at
Hebden-bridge, Winters, Cowbridge, Spew Hole, Bank,
Calis Mill, Calder Side, and Mytholm Mills, to each of which
places a detachment of the rioters proceeded from Todmor-
den early in the morning ; and a grand concentration of all
their accessions is talked of to take place at Mytholmroyd,
for making arrangements to penetrate the whole of Yorkshire.
In Leeds all is perfectly tranquil, and we believe our
townsmen have too much good sense to join in so insane and
desperate a course as that by which the cotton district is
agitated.

( From a Fourth Edition of the Leeds Mercury.)
Our reporter, on his return to Leeds this evening, has re-
ceived particular andpositive information that the ty." 1 hands
have been turned out at Huddersfield. This information
was given to him in the train by a manufacturer who en-
tered the carria,,e at Cooper Bridge, the Huddersfield sta-
tion, and who d'eclared that he himself had seen the move-
ments of the mob, and that his own mill had been stopped.
A railway guard, who arrived here at half-past four, brought
the information that the turn outs had begun their opera-
tions at Huddersfield.

(From the Fifth Edition of the Leeds. Mercury.)
SATURDAY, EL.EVEN O'CLOCK, P.M.--We learn by gen-
tlemen who have just reached Leeds from Huddersfield, a
full confirmation of the facts stated in our fourth edition, as
to the turn-out of all the mill hands in that town.
The rioters who invaded this town came from Oldham,
not, as had been stated, from Todmorden. They were about
5,000 or 6,000, with many women. They. arrived at three
o'clock p.m., and went eary to the mill of Messrs. Starkey
Brothers, who, being magistrates, blockaded the gates, and
declared that they would read the riot act. The turn-outs
disregarded these threats, broke opeu the gates, entered the
mill, and turned out every hand.
The rioters then proceeded to Mr. Ray's mill, and turned
out the hands.
At the mill of Mr. William Brook, the magistrate, in
North-street, that gentleman made some opposition, but it
was altogether fruitless; the mob broke into the mill, burst
in the plugs of the steam-engine boilers, and turned out all
the workmen.
In fact, the hands were expelled from every mill in the
town in the course of the afternoon. A meeting was held,
but we do not know the resolutions come to. After the
mills had been stopped. the invaders marched through the
town, ma
er.ny of them. begging, but not committing any acts
of plund
[The latest accounts from Huddersfield, Bradford, and
Leeds represent all as quiet, but anxiety and suspense were
predominant. None of the shops and few of the warehouses
were open •

At Bradford all was quiet on Tuesday afternoon, the mob
attacked the mills of Messrs. Rouse and Messrs. Horsfall:
but in both cases were driven back.

A band of from four to five thousand colliers entered
Wakefield on Monday, and held a meeting on the Heath
about a mile distant.

Accounts from Leeds to Tuesday evening represent mat-
ters as hourly getting worse. On Tuesday, about eleven
o'clock, a large party of persons went in a body to 'Brunt-
cliffs. Thorn, distant about six miles from here, and attacked
the extensive manufactory of Messrs. James Ellis and Sons,
and turned out the whole of the bands, amounting to be-
t.ween aix and seven hundred persons ; also those of Messrs.
1-lagues and Cook, Dewsbury, There are large gatherings
of people, many of them strangers in the neighbourhood of
Gomersal, Dewsbury, and Babley Carr.
A daring attack was made by the mob this morning, near
to the Elland Station, on a detachment of the lith Lancers,
who had just conveyed a number of prisoners from Halifax
so Elland (the railway station), who had been committed to
Wakefield House of Correction. Two ,of the lancers were
severely beaten, one of them having his eye completely
knocked out ; and the' lives of both are despaired of. The
sword of the commanding officer was broken in such a man-
ner as to be entirely useless, and another was forwarded him
from Leeds this afternoon. This place is quiet, but we are
under serious apprehensions that it will not remain so many
hours longer. His Royal Highness Prince George continues
in hourly communication with the magistrates, and is to be
seen very frequently riding between the barracks and. the
Court House, and at the railway station.

The magistrates have just issued a proclamation, declaring
their full determination to use all the means in their power
to prevent and repress, and, if necessary, forcibly to put
down.and disperse all assemblages of persons in considerable
numbers.

The Earl of Cardigan, Lieut.-Colonel of the 11th Hussars,
left Leeds by the half-past one o'clock train this afternoon, for
Todmorden, where he was at three, intending to proceed to
Colne and Burnley.
There is a strong rumour that we are to be visited to-mor-
row with parties from Lancashire. and the more western part
of this county, to force the mills to cease work. If they
come, they will meet with a determined opposition from the
inhabitants of the town generally. News has just reached
us that at Bradford the mills are being stopped, and there is
great disturbance. At Halifax and Huddersfield all works
were stopped yesterday. At both places an affray took place
.between the military and the mob. Several were wounded
at Huddersfield. and eighteen of the ringleaders of the rioters
taken into custody. At Halifax one or two were wounded,
and several.taken.

A gentleman who left Leeds on Wednesday evening, at
eight o'clock, states that there had been much rioting in
the course of the day. A large mob, consisting chiefly of
strangers, had entered the town, and proceeded to stop the
factories ; but, from,the timely preparations which had been
made for their reception, they were not so successful as in
most other places. The civil force, supported by the mili-
tary, had come into collision with the mob in several in-
stances, and a number of the rioters had been captured. In
one disturbance which had taken place, the superintendent
of police was said to have been dragged off his horse by the
mob, and seriously injured, before lie could be rescued from
them. At eight o'clock at night the town was comparatively
quiet ; but the soldiers and civil force were in readiness to
check any renewal of the riots.

We have seen another letter from Leeds, dated Wednes-
day, Aug. 17, quarter past five o'clock, p.m., from which we
take the following extract :—" The rioters have reached us
about three hours ago, and have stopped several mills by
pulling the plugs out of the boilers. At Holbeck, they have
stopped Titley, Tatham, and Co.'s mill, in the face of a large
body of the troops, as well as artillery. The riot act was
read, but the military did not act. The rioters, however,
dispersed. I have just heard that another disturbance has
taken place at Holbeck, :and that Mr. Read, the chief con-
stable, is hurt, some say killed. The military have galloped
off to that neighbourhood. They have been all round the
neighbourin,g villages, and have stopped all the mills."
LEEDs, THURSDAY, 9 A.M.-All is quiet this morning,
nor has there been any further attempt at disturbance.