The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-08-12 00:00:00

RIOTS AT MANCHESTER, &c.

On Tuesday we gave publicity to a rumour of an intended
turnout from the mills in the manufacturing districts, which
has unhappily proved too true. The town above-named,
and the adjacent districts, have within the last few days been
disturbed by the outrages of a multitude of operatives and
others, who have combined into mobs, and evinced a most
riotous disposition. Though a turn-out for wages is the os-
tensible reason given for the outbreak, it is supposed to have
a totally different origin, and to be connected with the recent
doings in Staffordshire and Scotland, under the instigation
of the Chartists. Several of the manufacturers of Staly-
bridge, it appears have recently been compelled to give notice,
that the wages of their work-people would be reduced. On
Sunday last, a meeting of eight or ten thousand per sons was
held on Mottram Moor, where it is said the plan of the opes
ratives was agreed upon. On Monday morning their plan-
were carried into execution, and several of the manufacturers
at Stalybridge had much injury done to their works. Meet-
ings were also held at Ashton and Oldham, where the rioters
behaved in a very disorderly manner, but soldiers having
been called into the town, the disorderlies were kept in
check. The turn-out at Manchester was almost simulta-
neous with that at the places above mentioned. Meetings
were held on Monday and Tuesday, and on the last named
day a mob of upwards of five thousand people collected, and
visited several factories. and forced the proprietors to turn
out their hands. They were, however, checked by Colonel
Wemys and a party of cavalry and rifles, on encountering
which they broke up into small parties. In the afternoon
attacks were made by a party, consisting chiefly of lads, on
several bread shops, the owners of which thought it most
prudent in several cases to throw them a loaf or two. One
or two mills were attacked by women, who broke windows
to a great amount. Amongst the mills attacked was that
of Messrs. Birley. The inmates went to the top of the
factory, and threw down missiles, by which several persons
were hurt, and a girl was killed.
On Wednesday, about six A.M., as we learn from a second
edition of the Manchester Guardian, two thousand people
assembled in Granby-row Fields, in Manchester, and at the
close of the meeting they amounted to upwards of five
thousand, when they formed in procession, and proceeded
along Granby-row. In passing near the Manchester and
Sheffield Railway they forced the labourers, who were at
work on the line, to throw down their tools and go along
with them. "No one, " they said " should work till
they had got their rights." On their way to Ancoats-street,
they sent a deputation to the factory of Messrs. Waterhouse
and Thompson, Temple-street, demanding that the hands
should be turned out, which was done, and the greater
number of them joined the crowd. On making the same de-
mand
at the factory of Messrs. Barnes, Jackson-street, a
refusal was given at first ; but, on their commencing to break
a few windows, the engine was stopped amid the cheers of
the mob. The next resting-place of the crowd, who had now
swelled to nearly 10,000 persons, was in Ancoats-street, in
the neighbourhood of Messrs. Kennedy's mill, which was
protected by Superintendent Cochrane and the C division of
police. Having placed fifty of the police across the street,
in such a manner as to prevent the passing and repassing of
any one, this led to a collision between them and the mob ;
stones were thrown, and the police, who, however, kept
their ground manfully, succeeded in keeping back the crowd
till a party of cavalry arrived.
By nine o'clock, nearly all the factories and public works
in the neighbourhoods of Oxford-road. London-road, and
Ancoats, had turned out their hands. The mob visited nu-
merous shops and factories, and in every instance succeeded
in turning out the hands. In passing along Broughton-road,
one or two boys went into the shop of James Faulkner, pro-
vision dealer, and asked for bread. He gave them a 41b.
loaf, which was instantly torn to pieces in the crowd. There
seemed at first an inclination among some of the younger
portion of the crowd to enter the shop and see if they could
not get some more bread, but the main body of the rioters
forced them away, exclaiming that it would ruin their cause
should they begin to plunder.
About a quarter-past twelve, a body of between 300 and
400 people, including many boys and young men, came sud-
denly into Princess-street ; and a number of them, in passing,
entered the shop of Mr. John Howarth, fruiterer and pro-
vision dealer, and demanded some bread. Mr. Howarth
thought it prudent to comply with their demand, and gave
them five 41b. loaves, with which they appeared to be satis-
fied. About this time an attack was made on the gas works,
the doors of which were speedily forced open, and two or
three windows broken. Two prisoners, of whom the mob
was in search, were rescued from the custody of three po-
licemen, who were beaten severely.
About one o'clock, one of the mobs passing down Deans-
gate, came to the provision shop of Mrs. Aldred near the
Castle Inn. The shopmen, on the alarm that the mob was
coming, were engaged in putting up the shutters; but the
mob speedily pulled them down again and rushed into the
shop, where they took or had given them on their demand,
(we have not heard exactly which,) between thirty and forty
loaves. On the site of the Old Red Lion, some new pre-
mises were in process of erection. The mob compelled the
bricklayers and labourers there to desist, and twice turned
them off.
At three o'clock, 300 special constables were sworn in,
and gentlemen were thronging to the Town Hall for the
purpose. About three o'clock. probably 15,000 persons
were assembled about Messrs. Birley's factory.
MOTTRAM, GLOSSOP, AND TINTWISTLE.
On Wednesday morning, a large body of people, amount-
ing to about two thousand men, left the neighbourhood of
Ashton-under-Lyne, and proceeded by way of Mottram,
Broadbottow, Dinting, Glossop, Tintwistle, &c. &c. turning
out the
p hands at all the factories, printworks and other large
eestablishments;ds; but, we believe, without committing any
outragesofhave not
staAilu Bridge,
a serious character, either upon persons or pro-
perty.oth er
toos
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awr
pei e believe,fo r t
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any particulars of their proceedings.

TIRE NEW ....m..
TE %GRAPH FROM THE DowNs.—The new
telegraph (WatsoLn'-
place and the North'
was on Monday
put) between Tooley-street and the downs,
in full operation, the line from the latter
the erection of a reland being rendered complete by
of the Board of TelegraphOrtrna
vessels will be communinecaet.
at Sandown Castle by permission
The arrival and departure of
are Telegraphed.---London communicated
to
Lloyd's immediately they
MAN DROWNED, AND Lopser'
AT SEA.—On the night of Wan OF
, anedsday last the wind changed
TWO FISHING BOATS
Ness Head
camecn, on to blow strongly
' suddenly from N. to S.W.
just as the boats on the Caithness
having
ultiafnulllirnog,ctlhoecikr
men,d forty
nets and preparing to make for the IaUCIt were
~ a boat be-
.l.M., and while within five miles off
longing to Akergill, parish of Canisbay, was ea
on board at the time, it is supposed, between thirty and
crans of herrings. The crew, consisting of five
precipitated into the water, but fortunately four of
themw'ere
caught hold of the side of the boat, till rescued by a Grave;_
end cod smack. The other man, named Peter Bain, is sup_
to have got under the boat, and perished. About il;
same time an Avoch boat Was run down by a boat belonging
to the same place. Two of the crew were taken off the wreck
by the boat that ran them down, whilst a third boat came up
and rescued the three remaining men. The boat, nets, &c.,
were lost.—Jobi o' Groat Journal.