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

BOLTON.

Several skirmishes have taken place between the nobs and
the 72nd Highlanders. On Saturday at noon the town was
frightened from its "propriety" by a mob, consisting of at
least five thousand persons, armed with bludgeons, staves,
bars of iron, or anything else calculated to knock a man's
brains out, entering the town, flourishing their weapons, and
giving loud huzzas. The mob proceeded up Deansgate,
Market-street, and through the market, to Hargreaves's and
other mills, which they immediately stopped, and also Hick's
and other foundries •, and, on their return, again passed
through the Market Place, and into Little Bolton, where
they visited theidifferent mills. No devastation during this
time was done. Several members of the mob entered differ-
ent shops and asked for bread, which was given them ; in
some instances they demanded money from persons of re-
spectable appearance in the street, and their demand was
complied with. The mob presented a most formidable ap-
pearance, and the weapons they carried were of a most deadly
description. The language used by them on many occasions
was exceedingly violent, levelled principally against the police,
which body of men they swore they would murder before they
left the town. On their return from the mills, very many of
thi mob were drunk, from the effects of liquor which they had
either begged or demanded. On one occasion, one of the mob,
addressing himself to a person who was looking on, said, " My
man, can you tell us where to get a quart of good ale, and we
will pay for it!" The reply was, " Well, there's a beer-
shop near to ; but I think it's closed in." The reply was,
" if they'll let us have it, we'll pay them ; but, if they re-
fuse, by we'll take it, and as much as we like ;—that's
what we're come for—meat and drink—for we are all nigh
clammed [hungered]." Up to the present hour, no out-
break has taken place. The Highlanders and cavalry are
under arms, and stationed before the police-office. The ap-
pearance of affairs now assumes a threatening aspect. The
market is completely deserted, and the shops throughout the
town are closed in. Business is at a complete stand still.
The riot act has been again read. The magistrates have very
judiciously made arrangements for the town to be lighted
to-night. Where the matter will end, no idea can be
formed ; but from the menacing bearing of the mob, a riot
which most likely will be attended with bloodshed, will take
place. The rioters are principally from Bury, Heywood,
Tottington, and surrounding neighbourhood. The town as-
sumed a peaceable appearance on Tuesday, the mobs having
decided upon visiting Wigan, and on their way there they
tore up the rails, used as fences, which they shouldered as
bludgeons. About noon a great party made their appear-
ance in Bolton, from Bury and the neighbourhood, but the
police were directed to prevent their entrance into the town,
and fourteen of the ringleaders were taken into custody, and
eleven committed for trial.

The cavalry made a charge at a number of persons, who
immediately took to their heels up the canal banks, hotly
pursued. They threw down their bludgeons; and a number
of them, who could not escape by any other means, imme-
diately plunged into the canal, and stood in the centre, for
some time, up to the neck in water. One man got into a pit
connected with Springfield paper mill, and, there being an
abundance of mud, he could not get out again without as-
sistance ; but fortunately there was no loss of life. Eighty
persons have been taken prisoners.