The Sun. — 1846-05-21 (London, England)

NEAR  THE CLARENCE DOCK, LIVERPOOL. A riot took place near the Clarence Dock last night, which, though arising from a comparatively slight cause, was soon, partly from ignorance, and partly from the spirit of mischief that lurks amongst a portion of the dock labourers, and especially the " navies," and the boys, women, and others of that densely-populated locality, threatened for a considerable time dangerous consequences, and caused great alarm amongst the peaceable portion of the inhabitants. It appears that an emigrant ship called the Rappahannock had received on board in the Victoria Dock 460 steerage passengers, her complement being, according to her tonnage, only four hundred and fifty. The Government emigration agent of the port having gone on board and ascertained the fact, ordered the chief mate, Mr. Cushen, to transfer the ten extra passengers last entered to another, and we believe equally fine vessel, the Ocean. The mate on announcing the fact in the steerage, that ten of those in the vessel must relinquish their places, was answered by shouts and yells from the whole of the parties intending to go by her. An absolute refusal to quit, was, of course, the result. In this state of affairs, the Government agent told Mr. Cushen that he must exert himself to get rid of the supplement of passengers, and he employed the steward, we believe, to effect this object. A rope was fastened round the body of the most uproarious malcontent, which eventually fastened on his ankles, and he was hauled up by it from under the deck, partly in a frolic, and partly as an example to the others who had to leave. The man, thus rather roughly handled, and probably subject to fits, fell into, or threw himself into a fit, and when being carried on shore, and afterwards to the Northern Hospital, a hue and cry was raised that be was dead, and that the mate was the aggressor and the cause! Mr. Cushen (who is stated to us to be a gentlemanly and humane man), is son-inwlaw ()f Mr. Hickson, of the George the Fourth Inn, in ate ri 00-road, in the neighbourhood ; and, being recognised as he went to the house, an immense mob collected round it (at the bottom of Stewart-street), demanding the " murderer." Mr. Inspector Johnson was early on the spot, at first with only four police-officers, and by the most strenuous, yet temperate, exertions, prevented the house from being broken up and gutted. The assailants quite forced one of the doors, but were gallantly repulsed. The family of Mr. Hickson, including Mrs. H. and several young ladies—her daughter and others—were dreadfully alarmed ; but a reinforcement of police-officers was got up and protected the house, though unable to do so until many panes of glass were broken by the infuriated mob, who (men and boys) assailed the officers with successive showers of stone, pieces of brick, &c. Immense crowds, including females and children, continued to gather in the streets adjacent for a period of about two hours, bent upon mischief. The whole of that part of Waterlooroad, Stewart-street, Oil-street, &c., presented, from time to time, dense masses of the lower classes, chiefly Irish, who seemed to be much inclined for a bloody affray, but the disturbance was quelled by about nine o'clock. After all, the passenger who had been ejected from the ship remained only a few minutes in the hospital, being so little hurt that he would not remain, and he was soon afterwards walking about the inn, though not known to the crowd. Mr. Cushen was secreted in the house, which was protected through the night.— Liverpool Standard of Tuesday.