Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

readily believe, that, in sitting down to narrate the lamentable events of last Saturday, we undertake a most laborious and painful duty. Harassed by the conflicting statements we have received of occurrences, to the far greater part of which we were not eye-witness, the difficulty of separating the false from the true must be self-evident. All, indeed, that we can pretend to do, is to weigh the evidence before us, to strike an impartial balance, and give what we conscientiously believe to be the best of our information.

The rumour very generally prevailed here on Saturday forenoon, that some individuals, apprehended and imprisoned in Paisley for political offences, were, in consequence of the crowded state of the gaol there, to be brought down to this town, during the day, under the escort of the Port-Glasgow Volunteers, on their return from doing military duty at Paisley. No positive information, however, to that effect arrived till four in the afternoon, when two of the local military came into town, and gave intimation at the gaol that the prisoners were bringing in. From that time the streets began to throng with idle people and children; aud when, about three quarters of an hour thereafter, the prisoners and escort did arrive, a considerable crowd had been attracted towards the line of street through which they were to pass, but nothing like tumult prevailed.Curiosity was the sole exciting motive with the old as well as young; and amongst the former, assembled in occasional groups, we remarked that the general sentiment was regret that circumstances should have caused the necessity of transferring these prisoners to our gaol, to the temporary in. terruption of the tranquillity of the town. Nothing like an expression of sympathy for the individuals, on account of the peculiar offences with

which they were charged, occurred in our hearing; and, knowing something of the general disposition of all the classes of the inhabitants, we are tolerably confident that no such sympa. thy was either generally felt or uttered. The escort, with five prisoners in a cart in the centre, marched along Cathcart-street, to beat of drum, with clear ranks, and without the slightest annoyance. In the same order they delivered up their charge at the gaol; and but a few minutes intervened, while they prepared to return homewards. During this time the first attempt at molestation, it appears, took place.— Some boys on the rising ground of Bank-street threw some small stones amongst the volunteers, and, to repress this disposition, two or three pieces were, we understand, discharged in the air. Their march was recommenced, and, in repassing Cathcart-street, the crowd became less orderly, and some annoyance to the volunteers was continued to be exercised as they went along. Occasionally, some of them were observed to turn round to intimidate the mob from pressing upon their ranks, and, from the Post-office onwards to the Rue-end, missiles were occasionally thrown. These, however, were few in number, and projected chiefly by boys. After turning the corner of Cathcart-street, the throwing of stones, though still but little remarked, perceptibly increased, and the volunteers had not gone many paces, when some of them, indignant at treatment which they considered as unmanly, and which, while in the strict line of their duty, they had so little reason to anticipate, fired off their muskets among the crowd. The number of shots discharged at this critical juncture, we believe, was considerable.Many supposed that merely blank cartridges were fired. Unfortunately it proved otherwise, as two persons fell wounded. Stimulated by passion, and

forgetting who were the original aggressors, others joined in the missile attack; stones were projected of larger size, and in greater number. Much, we understand, was done by the officers of the volunteers to restrain their men from the use of their arms, and, besides the many instances in which exemplary forbearance was spontaneously exercised, this was partially effectual. Still, however, a number of shots were fired within the distance of a few hundred yards; and from the narrowness of the way, and the compactness of the crowd, several of these continued to take fatal effect. The mob did not retire from the unequal conflict, in which they were invoking destruction on many innocent individuals, notwithstanding it was evident. that the temper of the military was progressively rising, and that they were now yielding more readily to its impulses. If some of the crowd dropped off in the rear of the local military, it was, in a similar degree, augmented in the front by the inhabitants of the suburbs through which they were making their way. Many of these were spectators and unconscious of their danger, and to this is to be attributed the circumstance, that almost all the sufferers in this melancholy affray were altogether unconcerned in its origin or issue. We have, indeed, heard of but one person who fell, that was known to have acted offensively against the volunteers. The strait passage of Cartsdyke, the skirmish being still continued, increased the number of victims; and here, of course, many narrow escapes also occurred. One window in a small ale house is pointed out which no less than seven balls had penetrated, and in which two men had almost immediately previous been sitting. It was not till the volunteers got clear of Cartsdyke that the annoyance of the mob, or the retaliatory proceedings of the former ceased; and when we con.

sider the extent of ground passed over from the commencement of the serious attack, being little short of half a mile, it will not appear extraordinary that in the numerous irregular discharges of musketry so many casualties occurred. We cannot state the precise number at any particular point, but from a general view it appears to us that the more mortal part of the conflict took place in Cartsdyke. On the whole, two persons might be said to have been killed on the spot, one died shortly after being removed from the ground to an adjacent house, and three the same evening in the Infirmary. The medical gentlemen in the town were almost all on the spot in the shortest time possible, and most indefatigably active in rendering their assistance. Besides the three above mentioned, six were immediately carried to the Infirmary. The rest of the cases were attended privately. In all, the persons who died on the spot and during the evening were six, and five more remained wounded in the hospital, of whom three are considered dangerous, making the total number of ascertained casualties, including out patients, 18. It is reportted, that the man already mentioned as so active in fomenting the disturbances, was also wounded. He has absconded. The number above is within that generally reported, but we have the authority of the medical gentlemen for saying, that, from comparing notes, it is believed the list subjoined is nearly, if not altogether correct. The previous misapprehension originated in several of the profession having at different times inspected the same patient, so that many of the casualties were enumerated twice.

From the eastern extremity of Cartsdyke the volunteers proceeded homeward without molestation. Many of them received severe contusions; but these, from our own knowledge, we are not able to particularize.

At six o'clock, the release of all the operative classes from labour increased the throng on the streets, and fears began to be entertained that they would meditate some attack on Port-Glasgow; but in a short time the current of their feelings was impelled in a dif. ferent direction. The liberation of the radical prisoners from the gaol became the channel through which they decided to vent their turbulence. To this there is strong ground for believing they were instigated by strangers, and at all events, when assembled on the spot, it proved that they were to reap material assistance from such. The Magistrates, Justices of Peace, and a number of the respectable inhabitants were on the ground, entreating the crowd, by every possible argument, to withhold from their unwarrantable intentions. But to all these entreaties the answer was uniformly, that they were determined to persist. Those persons known to be strangers, of whom there were a great many, and evidently taking an extreme interest in the result, did not allow this determination to cool. They addressed the crowd around them in the most inflammatory language, and it is even said, were seen distributing money amongst them.They proceeded to assail the outer gate of the prison, which soon yielded to the great force applied. Against the door of the gaol itself they next impelled their offensive engines, still followed by the Magistrates, Justices of the Peace, Special Constables, and others, who repeatedly risked their personal safety, and some of whom were hurt in the attempt to avert the consequences. All was, however, vain ; the door was burst open, and no alternative remained but to allow the mob to carry off the prisoners which came from Paisley. None others were sought, or escaped. After a few minutes spent in clamorous triumph, the prisoners were conveyed away by different ways,

until they got clear of the town. None of them have since been found.

Unrestrained as the mob were by any military force, (to the presence of which we have long been strangers in this town), it was perhaps fortunate that the attack on the gaol occupied their attention so exclusively till their purpose was gained; as immediately after some desperate individuals shouted, "Away for Port Glasgow ;" and now, as easily led to mischief as impervious to reason, a sort of recruiting was commenced in the streets, and, proceeding onwards, they pulled up the iron railing on the premises of different individuals in their route; but, learning an express had been early sent to Port-Glasgow to put the inhabitants on their guard, they desisted; and after some further parade and noise, dispersed. At 10 o'clock, the streets were as quiet as if nothing extraordi. nary had happened; perhaps more so, indeed, than usually on a Saturday evening. The same tranquillity prevailed throughout the night and morning; so that when a party of 25 of the 10th Hussars (the Lord-Lieutenant having been apprized by official express of the disturbance, and military requested) galloped into town from Paisley, about two o'clock, they pushed right through, expecting to find the people congregated at some particular spot, and were in utter amazement when, on going to the farther extremity of Blackhall-street, they turned the heads of their horses, having scarcely met an individual.

DISTURBANCES IN YORKSHIRE.

10th. On Monday night, information was received at Huddersfield, by those active magistrates, Mr Haigh, and Mr Haigh Allen, that a large force was to assemble the following morning from Bradford, Keighley, Halifax, Dewsbury, and Mirfield. It was, without delay, communicated to

Sir John Byng, who immediately moved his head-quarters from Pontefract to Wakefield. During the night, a movement was observed on the west of Huddersfield; but this party, probably from the smallness of its numbers, and the want of co-operation, dispersed. The great movement was from the vicinity of Barnsley, where, early on Tuesday morning, large bodies of men, armed with muskets and pikes, and having colours and drums, were seen moving in the direction of Grangemoor and Flocton, between Huddersfield and Wakefield.

About one o'clock the malcontents, who amounted to 200, all armed with pikes or other offensive weapons, began to move by different routes towards Grange-moor, the appointed rendezvous, which is a large common between Wakefield and Huddersfield, and nearly at an equal distance between the two places, from each of which it is about six miles. In their line of march they did not proceed in a collected body, but took different routes, all avoiding the town, except a body of six, who, notwithstanding the patrol, fearlessly passed through the streets, each of them armed with a pike. Having gained the main road from Barnsley to Huddersfield, they re-collected their forces, and began to collect arms from the inhabitants at a little distance from the town. Their first call was at Mr Pickard's, where they were not successful. At Mr George Hurst's, of Bank-lane, they obtained a gun; and from Mr Richardson, of the Rose and Crown Inn, at Darton, after using considerable violence, they collected three guns, leaving a pike and an axe behind them.

From Flockton, which is about a mile from Grange-moor, and where they arrived about break of day, they were watched. Here these poor infatuated dupes had been led to expect that they should find from 50,000 to

60,000 companions in arms; but, perceiving that all these flattering representations were mere delusion, they threw away their arms, exclaiming that they were betrayed. Soon after their dispersion, a detachment of cavalry from Huddersfield, consisting of 16 of the yeomanry and 10 of the 4th Dragoon guards, under the command of Major de Barth, appeared, but they found that the enemy had fled in small groups towards their respective homes. The pikes left upon the field amounted to upwards of 100, which the soldiers picked up as trophies, and conveyed to Huddersfield, with a green flag, edged with a black fringe, on which was inscribed-" He that smiteth a man so that he die, shall surely be put to death."

The only prisoner made during the night in Barnsley was a boy about 14 years of age, who was found with a scythe in his hand, preparing to fix it into a shaft, and he was sent off to Pontefract, where the magistrates were sitting, but he was discharged on his master's recognizance. On Wednesday three men were apprehended, and on Thursday morning the Barnsley troop of yeomanry were sent to Dodsworth, a neighbouring village, where they apprehended nine men on suspicion of having been amongst the armed men at Grange-moor; another person was also apprehended at Barnsley the same day, and underwent an examination before the magistrates. Of these persons nine have been committed to York-castle, and one to Wakefield house of correction. Four other persons, one of whom is represented as the captain, were apprehended by a patrol of cavalry. That the exchequer of the insurgent army was not very full, may be inferred from the fact, that when searched, the captain (Constive), and his three men, only a single halfpenny was found amongst them. Another patrol found, in the same neighbourhood, a knapsack

containing a white flag, with a fringe round it, and black crape at the corner, on which was inscribed-" You have condemned and killed the just, and he doth not resist. And he that hath no sword let him sell his garment and buy one!" Amongst the persons taken is a man of the name of Schole field, of Horbury, and another named Pilling, of Almondbury.

SHEFFIELD.-Soon after eight o'clock on Tuesday evening, a number of disorderly persons assembled in the market-place at Sheffield, but with what object it is difficult to define. About the time of meeting a pistol was fired in the street, and after giving a loud shout they marched down King-street over Ladies-bridge, and advanced about half a mile on the Attercliffe-road; in the course of their march their numbers were somewhat augmented, but never, we believe, exceeded 200. On their return to the town, which they re-entered about 10 o'clock, some of them proposed to stop the mail; others cried

All in a mind to the barracks ;" and others, "Not till the 14th of April." "Remember the 14th of April." The proposed adjournment of the insurrection (which the number and appointments of the revolutionary army seemed very strongly to suggest) met with general approbation, and after a ittle more firing, and a few more exclamations, they retired to their respective homes. On the following morning, a person of the name of Black well was arrested while he was at work, and in the shop in which he was employed were found a loaded pistol, a bayonet, and two pike handles. Soon after his arrest Blackwell underwent an examination before Messrs Alderson and Chandler, who had been sent for from Pontefract, and he very frankly admitted that he was the person who had fired the pistol on the preceding night. Some pains were taken to discover what was the plan, or what the object of the

assembly, of which the prisoner seems to have been the head, but all inquiries on that point were fruitless, and Blackwell was committed to York-castle, to take his trial for the offence. 11th.-GLASGOW.-This

city is now quiet. A considerable number of the leaders of the radicals in it and the surrounding villages have been apprehended and safely lodged in our gaol and bridewell. The military, aided by the civil power, are every where on the alert in searching for arms, &c.

Numbers of the weavers have again begun to their looms. Few or none of the public works at which the men had struck are yet going, the proprietors being determined to receive back only those workers who are of peaceable habits, and who give up the rames of their leaders.

12th. Pursuant to a requisition, a highly numerous and respectable meeting of the manufacturers and proprietors of public works was held yesterday in the Town-hall. The Lord Provost was called to the chair.

Mr Kirkman Finlay, in proposing the resolutions, remarked, that the present treasonable confederacy had been in contemplation for a number of years. This spot was the very centre of the rebellion; and he stated with the utmost confidence, that an audacious attack was to have been made on Glasgow on Wednesday, by a large armed force. On Tuesday, however, it was generally known that the English had not co-operated; and, in consequence of this disappointment, the rising on Wednesday was not so general as it would otherwise have been. If the attack on Glasgow had been made with the numbers which were expected, it would not have been defeated but with considerable difficulty. Almost the whole mass of the population were concerned in these desperate designs.

The following declaration was then agreed to:

« AnteriorContinua »