The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-27
THE LANCASHIRE RI0TING.
mons SMASHING THE WINDOWS OF THE
MILLS IN BL1CKBURM
The Mayor Compelled TO Read the Hiot Act
and Call Out the Troops-The Destruction
of n Conspicuous Masters House by Fire.


F,,p, he Lirerpooi Mercury
most serious state OF things has arisen
in connection with the strike and lockout In
North and Northeast Lancashire. The refusal
OF the employers at the Manchester conference.
on Tuesday TO consent to compromise. was n
bitter disappointment to tho suffering work
people minority OF whom have since given
expression TO their revengeful feelings in acts
OF desperate lawlessness For many. years
there has been no disorder in this county
equal In extent or in its terrible nature. to that
which prevailed in Blackburn during Tuesday
night. In that town and throughout much of
the surrounding district there was for some
time reign Of terror. Life was in danger. and
there was an extensive destruction Of property.
Blackburn s the centre OF a very large cotton
producing district. In the town itself there
probably $4,000 cotton operatives OF various
classes. tho great majority OF whom are on
strike. Fourteen mills only are at work. and
about 100 are idle. Though nearly month has
elapsed since the wages dispute arose and
though many thousands OF the operatives ARE
upon the point of starvation. n very determined
feeling OF resistance TO the requirements ~ the
solved not to submit to the mas,rrs' ron iiton.
namely. n ten per cent. reduction and full time.
Throughout Tuesday the .workpeope in
Blackburn INDUCED the hope that the masters.
a; TIN conference TO he held that day in Man
chester. would give way. There would seem TO
.
impression thata compromise might be- arrived
at, however, took possession OF the operatives
80 completely that many spoke OF IL rs an hc-
complished fact. In the afternoon crowds OF
men and women assembled IN the principal
streets awaiting the result Of the interview.
kilograms were at length received announcing
the resolve OF the employers 20 insist upon
reduction OF ten per cent WIN iuli ilme Soples
places and were eagerly read. II was at once
clear that extreme anger and disappointment
Dreadful threats were heard on all sides, Be.
tween six and seven o'clock large number OF
set out with the apparent purpose of making
round OF the mills. to break the windows. As
they went along they shouted in most wild
and frantic style. and struck terror into the
hearts OF many Of the inhabitapts. For The paci.
not to be afraid; they were. not going TO touch
anything but the mills. Children and women
F % Hs6eP kSGcT 's sree TIey
had n leader and on a signal from him avolley
OF stones was thrown at the windows. every one
windows Of the following mills were broken
Cscily Bridge. 1.-THE executors of John Baynesl;
Mr.. Harris min. belonging to Messrs. Taylor
Pr9tih,ers Messrs, J. and W, E. Briggs, R9 e.,
Eli Heyworths Audley Hall Mill; Messrs. W.
Coddington and Sons Ordnance Mill Copy
hS2E hsh H Mr f. E"Is MGsis
mill Greenhank Mr.. Birtwstle's house was
iG Eea w and eyr r wdoy was 1sa Srosea
tented themselves with breaking the ONCE win
dows. The watch house at Hornby's mill seems
20 have been the next place visited. and here,
too. stones were thrown and windows broken.
Next the mob went along Cemetery road. and
then. wheeling around to the left. mnde for
The Cottage" the Blackburn residence of the
Hornby family; Here shower of stones was
quickly dashed AZ the windows. and in a very
short time there WINS only single whole pane
In the house. and that WAS at the back.
posse OF policemen armed with cutlasses.
were quickiyon the scene. BY the time Of their
arrival. however the place had been rendered
totally unfit for hahtation.
MI a M n nj
were the scene OF great excitement. Church
street. Darwen street, and King William street,
vicinity OF the police station was also crowded.
mense crowd. The object OF all these poorle
seemed to be TO see what turn things would
take but many by their language and wild
gestures. showed that they were ready for vio-
ience.
passed n most anxious night, did not open their
shops. and business was entirely suspended for
tn Say Fen ocS S D he s6aes
and the principa! thoroughfares. Mr.. Fish, a
manufacturer. was attempting to pass ~ an
open carriage. and on seeing him the mob set
no yell and the coachman was obliged to turn
the horses heads and make hasty retrsat
The appearance OF every official and OF every
manufacturer WAS greeted with storm OF yells
and hooting, The Mayor. the ex-Mayor, and
in fact all who showed themselves. were peted
with Objectionable missiles. and so unruly was
the crowd that the Mayor was compelled TO read
the Riot act; As soon as this was done. the fact
over the town. Directly after the Riot act had
been read. mob, estimated az ABOUT 900. len
the square and marched toward Preston New
road with the avowed object OF wrecking the
Mayors residence, On reaching Preston, New
road number OF the crowd entered Mr.. Henry
Aspden's timber yard. and armed themselves
with sticks and slaves. The windows of every
house in the toad were smashed indiscrimln-
ately. body Of police, numbering about 80.
followed them and several arrests were made.
rioters reached Billing End. where four roads
meet. This lead TO division OF the crowd. one
%srG BRs in the drson S Se 6ous
Mr.. j. Johnston, J. r., and thlrd toward Re
vdge and the Park; They were followed by the
until the boundary OF the borough was reached.
At this point it was, decided once more to call
infantry. under the command Of Major Stark
who was accompanied by Mr. Johnston, with
the Riot act in his hand. The soldiers were
hooted. and. with view Of STRENGTHENING the
infantry. the Lancers were called in. and this
step was. n the opinion Of many, taken some
had at once the effect OF clearing the streets.
cided 10 communicate with the Home Secretary
with the view Of obtaining reenforcements OF
military. as 1t WAS feared that unless the dis
turbances We're quelled extreme measures
would have To be taken. The Home Secretary
was communicated with, nm, At about o'5ock
numbering hity-lye mon. arrived in town
s9me hfty of the Fifth Dragon Guards from
Manchester and similar number OF the same
regiment from Bury. atterward arrived,
FIRM he Mmehs'er Guardian.
Mr.. Raynsford Jackson. by reuson Of his po-
sition MS Chairman of the Masters Association
has from the commencement OF the struggle
been the object OF much Ill feeling. gang Of per
sons more tnfuriated than the rest raised the cry
ITO Col. Jackson's housew Thither the moi
at once fastened and IN an hour or two after
ward Mr.. Jacksons resdence-whlch stood II
its own grounds and WAS regarded rs one o.
the best and handsomest mansions IN the
neighborhood-was reduced TO a smoking hear
OF ruins. only the backened walls being lef
standing. Tho house was rrplete with the
choicest OF modern furniture, pictures. and va
rious articles much prized by Mr. Jackson
The library contained a large number of yalua
BILE works He also possessed many valuable
pictures and works Of art. Among these wac
Marie Antoinette by Grueze taken on
of the Tuileries As the mob marched
10 Mr.. Jackson's house. hootng and singing
snatches OF music hall songs. they encountered
one OF Mr.. Jackson's carriages. and recognizec
Mrs. Jackson within. The rioters gave tn
Servants a few minutes TO make their escnpe
aud they found Il temporary home at the Rev
Mr.. Harris the NicHraEe Upon seeing TIT
house wrapped in flames. the mob preci platel'
retreated. amusing themselves on the way TO
ward the town boy breaking the glass Of stree
lamps. several persons brought one Of Mr.