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

WIGAN.

MONDAY NIGHT, 10 o'CLocx.—The greatest excitement
has prevailed in this town since the turn-outs began to make
their disturbances in Manchester and the surrounding vici-
nity. On Friday last the mob was expected by our towns-
men, and due precautions were taken to prevent a riot.
Most of the respectable shopkeepers and tradesmen are
sworn in as special constables, and the military (3 compa-
nies of the 72d Highlanders) kept within barracks, under
orders. However, the vast body never made their appear-
ance in Wigan, though a great number of unemployed
weavers and colliers were to be seen loitering about the
streets, both during the latter part of Friday and Saturday.
On Saturday evening, the Wigan troop of the Lancashire
Yeomanry received orders from the commanding officer
(Lord Francis Egerton) to be in readiness to march to Pres-
ton the following morning, at six o'clock. On assembling
in the streets previous to marching, they were hooted and
loudly cursed by a mob of 600 or 700 persons, who were be-

fore the Eagle and Child Hotel, opposite which were also
the cavalry. On the Sunday evening, written notices were
posted on the walls in different parts of the Scholes, calling
a meeting of the operatives, to be held this morning, and
calling on all miners to aid and assist their brother opera-
tives against the tyranny of their masters—" the coal lords
and cotton lords." The meeting was but scantily attended,
not more than 200 or 300 persons being present. A man,
named Gerard, read a letter from an individual, named
Dixon, (who is a leader of the Manchester mob, and an in-
habitant of Wigan,) calling on the Wigan operatives to march
towards Bolton to join the main body before they entered
Wigan. Accordingly, the few who were present set off,
soon after six o'clock, towards Hindley, and were joined at
Broom-street, in Ince, by about 300 or 400 more. The first
act of the mob was to stop the machinery at Rose-bridge
Colliery, and compel the workmen to leave work. Fur-
ther on in their march they came to the cotton
mill belonging to William Gidlow, Esq., in Ince, which
they stoppe. The manager at the mill very imprudently
threatened to stab any of the mob who came near the pre-
mises, and was compelled in consequence to join the
mob, and walk in front of them to Hindley, with a man
hold of each arm. The coal mines orMr. Gidlow were also
stopped, and the men compelled to cease working. A little
beyond Hindley, in Leigh-lane, the Wigan portion are join-
ed by that from Westhoughton, Leigh, and the neighbour-
hood, and soon after arrived the great body from Bolton,
where they immediately compelled the mill-owners in
Hindley to turn out their hands—the mob themselves taking
out the plugs from the boilers, and letting off the water.
This was about eleven o'clock, and not a constable or officer
in the whole village to protect the property of the inhabitants.
The Rev. H. J. Jenning, rector of Wigan, was sent for,
early in the morning, as one of the nearest county magi-
strates, to swear in some special constables, hut no other
county magistrates arrived until after the mob appeared, who
at once endeavoured to effect an entrance into the house in
which Mr. Jenning, along with Messrs. Pennington (ex-
tensive spinners), were staying. In this unprotected posi-
tion, it was expected the rioters would commit serious de-
predations ; a messenger was, therefore, sent by a circuitous
route to Wigan, to fetch some of the soldiers stationed
in our barracks. A detachment of whom was imme-
diately sent off, and remains there until now. After
plundering most of the provisions shops in Hindley,
the mob wended its way towards Wigan, stopping at the
Bird-i'-th-Hand public house to demand a large quantity of
ale, which was given to them without hesitation, for fear of
injury. The coal works of James Whaley, Esq., did not
escape the notice of the body in their march, and all the
men employed at them were compelled to cease working.
The mob now began to assume a serious aspect, for weapons
were procured from every place they visited. On intima-
tion being given to the magistrates in Wigan of the approach
of the rioters, they assembled in the Town-hall, and the
special constables who had been sworn in also repaired to
the same place as the general rendezvous. Every shop was
immediately closed, and business ceased for the day. At
about twelve o'clock, the body came through the Market-
place, shouting and brandishing their weapons, some being
armed with bludgeons, others with hammers, bars of iron,
pick handles, and every description of staff likely to
inflict a heavy blow. As they marched through the Market-
place, the mob occasionally halted, crying out in defiance
to the policemen ; and as they passed the hall, a careful
examination of the numbers convinced us that not less than
8000 strangers were parading our streets ; many of them,
however' were women and boys. All the factories were
visited by the mob, and the plugs taken out of the boilers.
Many of the provision dealers were giving away loaves,
and a butcher who was closing his shop was compelled to
cut up all the meat he had on hand, which was eagerly de-
voured in a raw state by those who were fortunate
enough to obtain a piece. After walking round the
town, they went up the Standishgate, and Wigan-lane, to
Leyland Mill, (Haigh Iron-works,l which had ceased
working at noon. The coal works of H. Woods, Esq., and
those of W. H. Bullock, Esq. were also visited, and the men
employed compelled to cease work. A portion of them
called at the house of Thomas Woodcock, Esq., and after
walking round the premises, went away without doing any
damage. They also entered the park of A. Halliburton, Esq.,
at Whitley, but committed no further depredation than
trampling down the shrubs and flowers. From here they
proceeded to Haigh Hall, the residence of the Earl of Bal-
carres, where a great quantity of provisions was given to
them, and which appeared to have good effect, for the body
then marched towards Bolton, over Aspull Moor, without
again entering Wigan. A many rough looking fellows how..
ever, still remain in our streets, but there is no appearance
of the least disturbance, neither is any to be apprehended,
for a proclamation has been posted in the most conspicuous
parts of the town, offering £5O reward for the apprehension
of any of the rioters. We cannot close our notice without
extending the meed of praise due to the officers and soldiers
of the 72nd, whose willingness sufficiently showed, that had
occasion required it, we should have received from them im-
portant service.

Eleven o'clock.
The town remains quiet ; but part of the special constables
will remain on duty during the night.
TUESDAY MORNING.—We have received a further com-
munication from our correspondent, which we regret to
say is not of a favourable character. It appears that in the
course of the night the same mob which invaded the town
yesterday morning returned in small numbers, and about
nine o'clock they concentrated in the Market - place.
Appearances being threatening, the authorities called out the
two companies of Highlanders, who drove out the mob at
the point of the bayonet. They proceeded on the Chorley
road, followed by the military for a short distance, to prevent
them from returning. The military then proceeded to their
quarters ; and in the meantime the rioters visited all the
mills in their way, and put out the fires from under the boil-
ers of those which were preparing for work. They passed
several corn mills, and these they insisted upon continuing
at work. Nine prisoners, guarded by the soldiers, were
brought into the town handcuffed, and taken to the Town-
hail, where they were examined before the magistrates, and
committed to Kirkdale, whither they were sent this after-
noon, by the three o'clock train. Since the above, up to the
present hour (four o'dlock), no further disturbance has taken
place. Should the mob return to-night, as they are ex-
pected, in a body, they will be dispersed by force, seeing
that the riot act has been read, and notice whereof, together
with the Queen's proclamation, has been posted on the
walls. All business is at a dead stand.
-FIVE O'CLOCK.—AII is still peaceable and tranquil. An
additional reinforcement of soldiers is momentarily expected
from Manchester.