On this page
- Departments (2)
-
Text (8)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Wfyt €*Xiisx# jetofcemwt.
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Leeds :—Printed for the Proprietor, FEAR GV S O'CONNOR, Esq. ol Hammersmith, Conntj
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
9 * ™ ' ¦ THE " REBECCA" MOVEMENT SOUTH "WALES . i from our own Corresponderd . ) Cr -IXICT BETWEEN TEE POLICE AXD RUECCilTES . V AlPxandeTs , ye Csb ^ tb , jp Napoleons , all ye TT&r ~ . oT 5 of bygone times , ye hoary-headed manslzjiTsof the pre > PDt day , all voa whose " -deeds . of bii-. cli- ry and blood have rang through every land , go i-Js your diminished head ? i Your bold exploits , joor daring feats , your brilliant actions , and all Tour -ieeds of chivalrous renown have been cast in-to ih ? :-: adc , nay totally r-d ^ sed by the achievements of Captain Kapier ai ' iho Pontarddnlais-gate . r ^ —
C ^ -i . iSspier , be it kaown to yen , is not the Commcd-Kwho battled « i-: h Ibrahim on the plains of Sy :- * Ko I eo ! our Cantain Napier Is 3 far greater jD 3 ' . for he is Captain Napier of the Glamorganshire police . " " i ^ k o : AlesaTsder the Great , indeed ! he was a fbi- < ~ - ^ j Captain Napier ; to him Casar wa > a child , au >» Sapweon only a seckidj ? pi « j . Alexander con-? u - i ; bui ii vrss at ihe head of a mighty phalanx , a . r conquered , but hs wielded the cohorts of iiD'v r . jj llome . Tizvoleon ccrqiered , bn ; it vrss out ween 5 upportei by the cho ? en . ch : valry of Pr j . ? e . Ertn the iron-hearted Duk « S the conqueror id i . nuii : rid battles , "was backed by the bull-dog br-i - - - > of British arms , by the tli-cip'ined array of
iL * 2 JJ 2 T cf Ensland : but Captan ! Nap : er , ai-ied tasl * i-y fonr rnrals , two Serjeants , oiie inspector , thr- magistrale =, and one limb of the law , slew , to -rif . -r .- ' -incr ? , asd rou : ed a wiole sray of R&bcccar--. 5 o ai least any one ¦ won d conclude , from the Soar -b of trumpets wkh which the affair has been heri ' .-ied m l > y the Welch newspapers . They tell up of a Oreadfnj battle which lasted a full half hoar , am ic be groans of the wonn . ded and the ratle of Ibe 5 e-snas . and which terminated in ihe signal over nron of Rebecca and her daughter * , seven of "wiiMti were captared in tee strnesle . Strar . ge to say . . o .- ^ eTer , not one of the police , not ODe of the 3 najP £ -rates , not one of the sergeants , neither the ia ^ ' , _ rr , the ekik , cor the captain wpre either
teliro or "wounded in the murderous eoaSict , No ; no : 1- t of them has even a scratch to exhibit as a pro- r of his v&ionr . alihoe ^ h the combatants are xee- ^ r ~ * -d to haxe waged the war at duelling cistance , only ; -acr fifteen yards interposing between the poh ^ v and the rioters dnripg tae whole period of the bfupdy battle . This circumstance led your corre ? j > - deiiito suspect that a nognirying-glass , ' of Eons t--venty-horse power , had been made use of by the rt-Doriers in drawing np their accounts of the affray . He has accordingly been at Eome trouble | a £ .-ring at the truth of the matter , and stiast suo - e < ied in obtaining a correct Tersion of the story , froc- in individual whose Teracity may be depended up - -. fer he vras an eye-witness of the whole afiL-r . O - Wedsesdat sight 1 J . ST , about half-past eleven o ' civ . s ., a large body of Rebeccaites mustered in . a j&alr n the immediate neighbourhood of Uanon . Ma * . " - cf them were armed with guns or pikes , ajfd froiL iO 10 50 were well mounted . They were disguised in i- - -tile atnre ; some of them with women ' s cloaks , sora - with bed-gowns , others with shirts over their clci :. .-, and no : a few aped the condnct of their bet :. — . antl , _ for want of better shift , contented ihe ;< - : ves with merely turning their coats . Altoyeii ' they mastered about a hundred strong ; and h 3 v . _ t £ formed their line of march , fired a rocket , aid ? : cfl for Pontaxddulais , which is situate on the eciiK-3 of Glaiaor £ ansbire and Qirinan . h " en ? hirp .
Oil th- it way thuher they amused themselves , as nsusi with blowing cows' horns , firing guns and ch&r ' ng from time to time a 3 they passed sJong . They ^ ere joined in their route by yarious persons who w-ere determined to witness the spree ; and irhc \ ihey reached Pontarddulais , their nnmbers SEio . ^ ted to abont one hundred and fifty , many of we * , o "were mere boys . They gave three cheers on pas-iEii the inn ^ which were distinctly heard by the teej- ! r of the gate , who concluded that it was lime he sh-jsld be somewhere else ; and fear lending him ¦ wintr he was speedily om of the reach of danger . The rioters were not slow in levelling the gate , Ein ^ ' iisng in the doors and windows , and otherwise
eoinp : te-j gutting she house . HaviDg finished the work ' - -f destruction , they gave three cheers more , Hew - . heir horns , firi-d off iheir gnns , and 100 k their departure . About half-a-dozin lookers on and three or f «« ar of those who ^ re supposed to have belonged to ti . e sard , remained behind their comrades , coniempiling the desolation which had been thus Epe < 'lily fc&ct&d , and perhaps arrangiDC : or fatore seen- - c-f a similar kind , information had been receiT ^ c by the authorities en tie previous day , that on that nr-ict this particular gate was to be attacked ; and Captain . Napier—tht gallant Captain Napierwas ii-OTcted to take measures for its defence , and if poWsIe to tecure the persons of some of the ring-2 ea « 'Tr . That hero ( having preiailed upon J . D .
llewi Ka , L LI . Diilwin , and M . Moggridge , Esqurres , together with plain Mr . Atwood , to accom ; --ssy him ) took charge of the party of police , cons-5--inj ; , a 3 above stated , of one icspector , two Eerjf ^ ts , and four fell privates of the GcTils breed ot "bine bottles . " They arrived long before the licisr ? usade their appearance , scd took up their Pofu ; . -.: q bfchind a iedge , about a honored yard 3 froEi ihe fsted gate- Here they lay , shaking in their shoes , ¦ wliile the work of demolition was carried on 5 and it vnis only when the more distant bounding of the hvms announced that the retiring foe had with ' dxaTv ^ , teat thej screwed their courage to the stick '; s , place , icd reninred u > approach the scene © faction . Thenewspai > ers i ^ ll us th . at they were
anDfc <*; and in this matter si l-. asi we may give them credi- for being right , as these gentry seldom venture their precious carcass in the "rlcunty ' of a row without t- ^ ing absolutely armed to the teeth . "When they Baw Ae party of straggleis , who , as already stated , xem £ ned behind at the gate , the police immediately openc-d their fire , which such of the riotera as were ia possession of a gun as promptly returned . In Bnm ";> -r 3 the parties were pretty nearly equal , but jn po-at of weapons the police had decidedly the acvatage , as in addirioa to fire arms each of them had a stout cutlass by his side . The contest was maintained for about ten minutes with great spirit : when the leader of the Rebeccaites had his lorsr ihot under him , and his arm was shattered by
a bullet which penetrated the elbow ; but even then he w- nld not give in , but fon ^ ht stoutly hand to hand ani 3 he fainted trom loss of blood . The trampling -of the dragoons , who were approaching at a hand Hailop , warned those who were still maintaining ikr nnf § nal strife that it was lime for them to be off , ard itaTe the police victorious for once . But whilst these things wer > - going on , where was the gallsB * Captain Kapler ! and were where the sworn conservators of the public peace 1 KnmouT says that ibe Captain wa ^ sau ^ ly esconced behind the corrtr of the toB-honse ; bni yet doing his best to urge ^ n his , dare-devils to close wi : h their opponents ; and if "what rumour adds be vrne , he is better qnalijjed to fce a "bowler at cricket , " than an oSeer in cf rsral
commsDd -police . But no moral tonsue can tell wh * i part rha magistra-. es took in the affray ; for 5 : ; -- sbrawdiy snrjaised that they whoUy forgot to at-T >? rr until the firing had ceased and the rioters £ e < i . ' * The police now enjoyed a little breathing time to at . rvre the horse 3 ar > d hanccuS" the pri ^ jntrs , l > efori -. he cavalry came up to deprive them of their laurt !? . Tbty accorditj ; H made fast the three men whom ; hey had taken , iwo cf whom were severely wouu ~ : -3 . ~ The dragooDS were forthwith despaired in pB--cit , but were unable to capture a single indrricaai . They had , however , the honour of cscortin ^ tr . i three prisoners to Sv ? ansea , wlje 1 am ha ' ppT •¦» be able to « ate that they have met with CTerv v . iention wnjch- their simarion r < faires ; and
it is = jr ? ed that althongh seriously wounded , there is no v little danger of their ii juries proving mortal . I now-um to the doings of auother division of the force employed on that « venltul night for the capture of R-becca . A division of the 76 ih Kegiment of for * , stationed in tie Poor Law bastile , Llanelly , marchei towards Pontarddalais , under the cornmat - of Captain Scott , who was accompanied by Mr . W . Chambers , jun , who officiates as a CarmartheE > :: i : e magistrate , Ticy were uncertain whtiher theBtndy-Bridge Gave , or that at Pontardduiaia was to be the object of attack , and consequently © oncrslT& the Eolaier 3 behind a Ledge near the Gwiilj-bridge which is about midway between , the
two . While they were tkulkijg there they heard the ^ firing of gun 3 a ^ d the blowing of horns in the direction of Pontardduisis , wheu their officer ordered them to load , and fix bayonets . They were ^ bsequently divided iniu two bodies , one commancit < i by Captain Seon , a ^ d the oiher by Mr . Pajue . with orders to cut off the retreat of the no « r = between Hendy Bridge and Llaueliy . ' Those who have Tead the for ?<; - ? : ng accennt must havo observed that when the gate was destroyed the main body of the rioters withdrew . They , howerer . took an _ entirely different rou'e from that which the soldiers wers guarding so carefully ; but one ilsii of the name ol l , t ; wis Divies happened u > "be passing by this rosd at the time , and he was im metiiately grabbed by Captain Scott arsd llr . Qiambpr ? , and waslenra charge of Sergeant Gibb . The prisoner was auiivd in his usual are ? s . but he
had a woman ' s cap in his packet , which was produced against him by Mr . Chambers a ^ proof thatbe belonged to Bebecca . His face was also discoloured " with black paist and ochre . Sergeant Gibb was directed to detain him a prisoner , whilst Jlie p * rty xaoTed off ** double quici" towards the iarnpike road leading from PontardduLuB to Llanelly . Beres £ ftia th « j wore piaeed behiiid » hedge , and , « s a party of three or four of the rioters were retreating bj this route , they observed Mr . Chambers peering over the hedge , and Bent a little boy , who was dressed in girls' clothing over the gate , to ascertain who the parties might be who were Btationed there . Thi 3 youxgster , after a smart chase , was secured , but the others made their escape . 'The sergeant , who had been left near the Gwiliy Bridge captured two others ; and the four prisoners were forthwith taken to Lianelly . But prior to this ,
they advanced as far as the Pontarddulais gate , where they had " , nearly been charged by the dragoons , who supposed them to be Rehecoaites re-
Untitled Article
turning to tin a-tack , and n was with no small difficulty thai they could convince them of their mistake . Th 6 four prisoners who were removed to Llanelly were brou £ ht up next day for examination before the Magistrates , when it was agreed that as ihe toll bar which the prisoners were charged with destroying , was situated in Glamorganshire , the magistrates of Carmarthenshire had no jurisdiction in the matter but to order the removal ot the prisoners to Swansea , which order was carried into iff-jct at . an early hour on Friday morning . Your correspondent witnessed the arrival of the prisoners , and a greater exhibition of weakness he never saw manifested on any previous occasion . The ocort , which was composed of a strong detachment of the 76 ib , was headed by
inspector Ross on horseback ; and if ever two made a pair in this world , Ros 3 and his hortewere certainly the couple ; the Fame amount of intelligence , the same reasoning faculties , and about tbo same amount of brutal force being displayed by ths biped and quadruped in question . The prisoners were handcuffed ; n pairs in tie centr 3 of the party , and lest the threw boys and & man should have attempted resstance , the whole of the party marched with fixed bayonets . The very soldiers hang down their heads and Mushed as they proceeded through back lanes to the house of correction , amid tb « jeers of those who witnessed their progress . At the time I write ( . Monday ) , the examination has not taken pbee , but when it dots so I shall forward you full particulars . is in
ll ^ becca no wi ? e disheartened by the misadventure which she m-. twith' » n Wednesday night ; for on the following Friday - -ho and her children demolished another gale in Carmarthenshire , and also st-r fire lo a straw rick , 'he properly of Mr . Chamber .- - , who headed the military on the previous excurrion . Oa Saturday night ihey demolished another gate and toll-house somewhere near Pontarddulais , snti the old teaman who teas at the gale was shot hy the rioiers .
On Sunday night , the rio : ers stain mustered to the number of about seven hundred men , when they proceeded to the hou-e occupied by Mr . Chamber ' s gamekeeper , "which they wholly demolished ; they next proceeded to a farm-yard , which is in that gentleman ' s possession . They set fire both to the grain in ihe stack-yard and the office houses adjoining , all of which were speedily in a b ! aa » . Yvhen they had completed their work of destruction , the }' proceeded to that gentleman's residence , but he had got the hint and was nowhere to be found .
3 forgot to mention that an attack was made early on Wednesday morning , on the house of Mr . Lucroft , R . N ., harbonr master of LlaneHy , who had rendered himself obnoxious to c-. rtain parties by the introduct i on of new regulations reiraioing the pilotage . They threatened him that if these new regulations were not abolished in a fortnight , he should receive another visit , which would not bo so well for him . Several shots were fired into his hou .-e , but no one of tae family was injured . Tiiey passed Mr . Seville's copper-works , where they fired s-everal vo'leys , and afterwards proceeded to the village of V * linfoe 3 , where having obtained some retrebhments , tiey quietly dispersed .
EXAMINATION OP THE PRISONERS . At the time of my writing the above , I was informed that the examination of the prisoners was going on at the Town Hall , and having proceeded thither , I found the magistrates examining the wit nesses . 1 obtained a copy of the depositions , and new abridge them for the information of your readers . Jobs Hugh , John Hughes , David Davies , Lewi ? . Divies , Wm . Hughes , ( . a mere boy about ten years of age , ) Henry Rogers , and Taomas Williams , were placed in the do "* :, charged with being participators in the < . ntrage at Pontarddolais .
Charles Frederick Napier ol being sworn deposed that he is captain of the police , and in consequence of information he received he proceeded with a party of men to Pontarddulais . He arrived there between twelve and one . He heard a great noise « 'f horns blowing and guns firing . He heard also a voice like an old woman ' s crying " come , come , come . ' He heard other sounds like the mewing of cats . Tnese sounds seemed to proceed from the direction of the Red Lion Inn , which is a short distance from Poniarddulai 3 gate . When we came wittiin sight of the gate we saw a great number of men present ; they were in various disguises and seemed to have been destroying the gate . Some had white dreBses oe , others had bonnets on , and most of them appeared to be dressed like women atd had their faces blackened . About three of those who were mounted seemed to take part in the proceedings at the gate . Tiiey h 3 d their hor > es heads towards the gate and their backs toward dip . There was a continual
firing of guns kept up by the rioters . I formed my men and called on the par ; ies to stop . I made use of the word " stop" three or four times . TJftpn coming up to them one of the tnounttd ni » n who was disguised as a woman tunud round and fired a pistol at me . 1 was close to him at the time . I moved on a few paces and a volley was fired by the parties assembled in the direction of myself and my men . The volky was fired at us ; at least this was my impression at the time- 1 then endeavoured to take the parties into custody , bui we mot with considerable resistance . John Hugh , David Davies , and John Hughes were among them . John Hugh was dressed in a white clojk ar . d had something like a feather in his hat . I saw the pri-oner David Davies aim a blow at L . LI . Diilwin , E-q ., but
cannot say whether it icck tff ; et or not . . Afier the pistol shot and volley were fired as U 3 , I fired ana shot the tfl 3 horse on which the man was mounted . We returned the fire , and a general skirmish took place , during which a number of shots were fired oh both sides ; but in a sh- ^ rt space of time the rioters di .-persed . Three of the horses riddtn by the parties on that night are in my custody . After the rioters were dispersed 1 found that the turnpike-gate wa 9 de .-troyed , with the exception of the posts . The gate-bouse was gutted , the windows , w ^ ndow-framee , and doors were driven in , and a portion of the wall of the honse was pulled down . I discovered the marks of shot in the sash of one of the windows . I found two sledge-hammers , twocrowbars , and a pickaxe , which are now in possession of
my men . Price , a police-officer , deposed that he was on dnty at Pontarddulais gatr on the night in question , where he saw a crowd . He pulled a man irom his horse ; that man was the pri ? oner , John Hughes . He saw him on horseback , in front of the mob . He had then a white cloak over his body , a white cloth over bis bat , and a red handkerchief about his neck . He had also a gu ^ , and a tin horn in his hands . He fired the gun in the direction of the police . He ¦ was about ten or fifteen yards distant at the time ; was sure he was not twenty yards distant . This was from five to eijjbt minnte 3 before be took the prisoner , which he effected at last in front of the Red Lion .
William Lewis sworn . —Is a shoemaker by trade , and h 3 s been gate-keeper at Pontarddulais for the last year . Recollects last WedneEday night ; cannot remnnbi'r any thing particular , as he ( witness ) ran away . Between eleven and twelve he removed his good .- , as he heard " Becca" was coming that night . He stopped some time in the bouse afterwards . TVfaiie he was standing at the door , between twelve and one , he saw a great number of persons on the road near the Red Lion ; but when he saw them com « »> far as the bridge , he ran away . He heard sho s fired in the crowd . He went about sixty yards from tne house , when he hid himself . He remained there ror three-quarters of an hour ; when he retnrn *> d * o the gate-house he found that the door and windows were broken , and part of the house pulled down .
Gr-orj " Jone 3 , sworn—Is a sergeant in the Glam < rEau-hire police ; was at Pontarddulais on duty last Wedae ? day night . He was certainly afraid . He heard firing of guns and blowing of horns . There was a large concourse of people . After the mob had dispersed he saw David Davis run out of the to-l-bouse . Witness pursued and laid hold of him He pushed vtitneBS away , when a regular sceffl ¦ < -n-ued . Witness succeeded in keeping him iu en-1 ray , for he handcuffed him . WiSiiain Chambers , jun- the magistrate , and
Serjt-air- Gibbs , of the 76 jh Regiment , deposed to the lacts of the apprehension of the other prisonera , as I havt r-tated already , when the magistrates agreed to remand the first five prisoners on the list until tomorrow , a ; eleven o ' clock ; but there being no evidence against Henry Rogers and Thomas Williams , after a strict caution from Lord James Stuart , cnairman of the magistrates , they were dismissed from tne bar . Mr . Hush Williams , of Carmarthen , took notes on behalf of ths prisoners , but was not allowed to
cross-. La ? t week , two wheat stacks , ihe properly of Lord Dyntv . jur , were set on fire , and information was given implicating a person whose name 1 have been ' unable to learn . The case was heard by the magistrates at Llandilo , on Saturday ; but after sitting to a very late hour , the evidence was not conskie--e < i sufficiently strong to authorise the magistrates to commit , and the accused party was consequenriy discharged . In the Times of Wednesday appears the following relative to the burning of the stacks and barns belonging to Mr . Chambers , and the firing upon the
woman-keeper of the Hendy-gate . This step is the boldest yet taken by Rebecca . " It will , most probably , have a considerable elect npo » the measures adopted to put her down . " In my letter of yesterday I tt&ted to yon that the revengeful feeling of the Welch people of this district was exhibiting itself in actB of iacendiarisn agiintt the property of a magistrate ( Mr . William unambers ) of thiB town , who has rendered himself , it would appear , obnoxious from his efficiency and activity . I am sorry that I have to-day again to record similar cowardly and alarming acts against the property of this gentleman .
Mr . Chambers owns and cultivates a farm , called Tynywem , about seven miles from Llanelly , on the Pontyberrem road . Yesterday morning , between one and two o ' clock , the barns and outbuildings of
Untitled Article
this farm were set fire to , together with the hay aud corn stacks , all of which were completely consumed , and about £ 200 worth of property destroyed . One of the farm boys was awakened , and on looking out saw the outbuildings on fire , and about fifteen men disguised leaving them . The same men were then seen to go across tho country to another farm occupied by Mr . W . Chambers called GelbygUnoy , and there they set fire to the corn aud hay stacks . Three stacks of corn and oi ! e of hay , worth about £ 150 , were entirely consumed . . - _ .
The most shocking part of the night ' s history remains ? till to ba told . On the road from Llaneily to Poxtarddulais , and within 500 yards of the latter place , is a tnrnpike-gate called Hendy-gate . This was kept by an old woman upwards of seventy years of ago , who has received frequent notices that if she did not leave the gate , her house should bo burnt down . AboHt thteo o ' clock yesterday morning a party of ruffians set fire to the thatch of the tollhouse . Tne old weman on being awakened ran into the road aad to a neighbouring cottage within twenty yards of the toll -house , shouting to the people who lived in it , * ' For God ' s sake to come out and help her to put out the fire ; there was not much . " The occupier of this cottage , a stout able man , whom I saw last night , told me that he was afraid to go out , and begged the old woman to come into his cottage
winch she refused , and went back to try and save some of her furniture . It appears her exclamation had been overheard , for the villains returned and set fire to the thatch again . The old woman then ran across the road , and , 39 I am informed , shouted out , "She knew them ? ' when the brutes fired ai her and shot her dead . She staggered aa far as the neighbouring cottage door , and there sunk dowH dead in the arms of the cottager's wife . I drove over there last ni&ht . The ruins of the toll house were still smoking . In the neighbouring cottage lay the body of the poor old woman . She appears to Imve been shot in the face , which was covered with blood , and the cottager said there were slug marks iu the cheeks . But I turned away from the shocking sight . I could not bear to look at it .
Where i 3 all this to end ? A most foul and " cowardly murder has at last been committed . Much have those to answer for , who have produced this state of society . The stupid excuse— " We knew nothing of it , " will not exonerate those whose duty it was , from their position , to know it and to provent it . As may naturally be supposed , this town is in a strange state of excitement . A party of dragoons , in addition to the infantry , have come to the town , and were last night out Bcouring the country .
Untitled Article
Newcastle . —The delegates of the National Conference of the Miners' Association of Great Britain and Ireland reassembled at nine o'clock on Tuesday morning . Mr Wakinshaw having been elected to the chair , the minutes of the previous sittings were read and confirmed . The Secretary read an address to the eoal owners , showing the objects of the Miners' Association , which was adopted , ordered to ba printed , and a copy sent to the Northern Star for Insertion . The Win ^ ate delegate brought forward a resolution adopted by the men of TVingate , at a public meeting of the colliery , presenting their most sincere thanks for the Eupport afforded them by each respective colliery in Northumberland and Durham during tho time ; they felt it a duty to desist working until the masters would give them some guarantee for the safety of their lives by the remoTal of the damaged wire rope by which
they wanted them to descend the pit . It was received , and the thanks of the delegates added thereto . Mr . Beesley gave an account of the arrangements made with Mi Roberts , on the part of the Wingate men , and the masters , -wherein the latter agreed to remove the wire rope , and substitute one that the men might go down tbe pit with safety by , if the men -would go to work immediately upon it being rendered » sfo . Mr . R . said the men would go to verb ; but unlea they would pay the men ' s wages for the time the pit was unsafe , be ( Mr . R . ) would be nnder tho necessity of trying if the law would compel them to do ts > e men justice , by remunerating them for the time which they had lost , before the removal of the unsafe rope . Mr . Beesley was londly applauded throughout his address , of which the above only forms a part , and the whule of the deiegttes approved of the manner in which Mr . Roberts acted for the men . Mr . Thomas
Mycroft , of West Auckland , was appointed a lectuTerfor the Miners' Association . The Executive were thtn requested to retire to another room to make
Untitled Article
__ _ — _ — - - - *— — — — out tbe routes for the lecturers , with instructions that one or more be appointed to Wes » rdaJe . That our brother Halliday ( one of the Cumberland delegates ) be requested to state the grievances of which the colliers of that district had to complain , which he did in a very minute manner , and was corroborated by several other delegates . We omit inserting the Cumberland grievances here , as they appeared in the repjrt of a former part of the proceedings . A delegate proposed" Thsteach delegate be requested to lay the Cumberland case before his constituents , and that they be entitled to the same support asthe Wingate man were , and that each district send their remittances , for the Cumberland men to Mr . Jude , who will make arrangements with Mr . Halliday as to the mode of conveyance . " Agreed to unanimously . Mr . Roberts then entered tho room omid enthusiastic applause , and stated the arrangements he had made , , so as to prevent any disappointment to ^^ - . —
any colliery that might bo necessitated t « cail upon him in his official capacity , when his duty to them mijjht require his absence from feis office . Mr . R . said that , having procured tha servicos of Mr . Beesley as cltrk , Mr . B . would be in the office in his absence , during office hours , and would take down the stateniunts that any of the colliers might have to make , and lay them before him at his onrlitst convenience , which would be equally attended to aa if he was present , and ha' 1 seen tha men on the sulject . Mr . Roberts' office is No 11 , Royal Arcade . Tbb fallowing resolutions were then agreed to : — " That a general public meeting of the miners on the Tyno and Narthumbt rland bo held at Scaffold Hill , on Saturday , Sept 16 th . Chair to b <> taken at twelve o ' clock at noon . " " That a general Dublic meeting of tho minors of Durham bu hel 1 at Pittington Hill , on S-iturdiij , September 23 rd . Chair te be taken at twelve o ' clock at noon . " On hath which occasions Mr . R > berts will be
present ; ' That each delegate be instructed , in the event of an accident ( injurious to the lives of any of the miners in his locnlity ) occurring to consHer it his duty to apprize Mr . Roberts of the same rs soon as possible that he may attend ami arrange such evidence as he may meet to adduce on the coroner ' s inquest ( if lives should be lost . l or in any other way to show the real cause of such misfortune . " —Cairied unanimously . " That all miners out of employment , be admitted members upon paying the usual entrance money . "Carried . "That each colliery be allowed to take their members in as they may think most advisable . "—Carried . " That the Executive be not required to attend all delegate meetings officially . " —Carried . * ' That the National Yearly Conference of the Miners' Association of Great Britain and Ireland , be held on the 30 Ui Oct . proxuna . " —Carried . " Tho yearly Conference was
intended to be htld in Durham , but we are given to understand that it is contrary to rule ( ami inconvenient to a majority of the societies now in the union ) to change the place of meeting until the six months are elapsed which it was agreed to be held in Newcastle , and consequently the forthcoming National Conference will be held in Newcastle on the 30 th of October , at nine o'clock in tbe fore-noon . The Percy-main case was next considered , when it was agreed that tho udvicu of Mr . Roberta should be had on the subject before the men should charge their position . That Mr . Andrew Fleming be required to attend the annual meeting on the 30 th of October . "—Carried . ' That a ' Miners' Journal'be immediately established in Newcastle , under tbe superintendence of W . P . Roberta , Esq and the Executive Council . "—Carried . Some local business was disposed of and the Conference was dissolved at five o ' clock , having sat four days .
The following is the address alluded to in the foregoing report : — The members of the Miners' Association of Great Britain and Ireland , do hereby set forth and declare what our objects and intentions are in forming the above Association ; and we feel it our duty to do so on account of the many and serious reports got up and set abroad % j parties to whose own conscience we choose at present to say must deeide the motive for so doing . Our object in forming the above Association is to better our condition , and we beg to apprise you that we would rather by far that coa 2 d be done by aa amicable adjustment of all differences than by having recourse to a strike , which we feel inclined to believe la equally disadvantageous to you as to us , and the inevitable result of which would be to engender feeJings of such a kind as eught not to exist between master and servant .
We intend to lay before yon the following speci 8 c and simple plan , vis-, that each colliery-owners shall be furnished with a copy of such prices as shall be thought necessary and reasonable , and which it is intended to go on the principle of making tho cost price as far aa labour is concerned equal o * nearly so at , every colliery in the trade , and to such uniformity of cost price the masters to add what they may deem a proper aud re&sonuAle return for their capital ; it buing our flrni and decided opinion that as we risk our lives and you your money to dig from the bowels of tbe earth a commodity on which it may truly be said the existence of Great Britain na a nation depends , it is not too much to request that the price of that article shall be such as ^ o give ampl e remuneration to both tbe labour and capital employed .
Something of this kind must bo done . We have bad to submit this year to a very great reduction of prices ; and we opine if you as coal-owners get once into the path of ruinous competition by underselling each other in the market , and then endeavouring to rertucn the wages to still keep a market , it is a process which is alike ruinous to both parties , and which must have a tendency to keep up a contentious war of Btrikts and stagnation—Labour and capital contending for the mastery ; while the public as consumers reap the benefit , without so much as soiling u finger in the dangerous undertaking of raising an article inuispeiiaibly necessary to tbeir comfort and existence .
The moral and tbe physical consequences of a contentious warfare between capital and labour does upp"iit to us to be fully illustrated by the fable of two noble animals combating or fighting for a piece of prey , and wl ^ ile the co m bat was going on , another animal of diminutive s ' . bq and strength came and carried eff tha prize ; while neither of the two , such wua their state of exhaustion , could prevent them . To conclude , we entreat you to bestow on this our earnest and sincere requisition , your careful and best consideration ; and if you should be pleased to agree with us as respects the principle on which it is founded , it will be alike creditable to your judgment and your interest . We remain , yours , &c , Tiik Members of the Miners' Association .
Untitled Article
Hutton £ 1 16 s Id , Aspell Moor 183 3 d , Edge Green 12 s 6 d , Collier ' s Arris , New Spring £ 2 19 s 7 d , Bacnp 10 s , Pendlebury 104 Btadbury lOd . Total £ 21 13 s 8 d . The following resolutions were then agreed to by tbe delegates : — " That a subscription of 3 d . per member be requested from the various lodges in Lancashire for the purpose of assisting our Cumberland brethren in their resistance to the unjust requirements of their employers . " " That John Lomax accompany D . Swallow into North Staffordshire ; and that their expencesfor tbe present be borne'to ] the Lancashire District . " "That we will not countenance any partial or sectional Strikes ; nor will we recognise any Strike whatever unless sanctioned by a general Delegate meeting . " " That a pub-- rrrr : , ' „
lic meeting ba holden on Aspell Moor , near Wigan , on Monday , 25 th of Sept Chair to be taken at eleven o ' clock in the forenoon . The Delegate meeting to take place immediately afterwards at the Brown Oow , Scholefield-lane , near the infant school , Wigan . " "That Mr . John Berry , be elected a lecturer to this Botiety . " " That Henry Dennet and John Berry labour in tho Wigau and St . Helen ' s district ; Mr . Auty in the Burnley , and Mr . Thompson in the Oldbam Districts . " * ' That two ; gentlemen be appointed by the Executive to go into jtbe neighbourhood of Poynton , in order to agitate mor 4 effectually the district of Cheshire . " Tbanks being voted to the chairman and to the editor of the Northern Star , the meeting terminated .
Redding , Stirlingshire . —Messrs . Darnells aud Hammond visited this colliery on Tuesday , the 5 th instant , and hud an interview with some of the men , and were very favourably received . This work belongs to the Duke of Hannlton ; and notwithstanding tbe Act . of Parliament against employing females in coalpits , yet there are notjless than sixty women employed in Redding works alone ¦ Bentaskin , neaH Falkirk . — The men of this extensive colliery helii a meeting on the Public' Green , on Wednesday , the 6 th instant , Mr . Hugh Dyrample in the chair . The meetijig was addressed for upwards of two hours by Mr . William Darnells , after which , a resolution was passed in favour of joining the Miners ' Association . After a unanimous vote of tbanks had been given to the Chairman and lecturer , the meeting , which was a moat enthusiastic one , separated .
Boness , Linuthgowshire . —A public meeting of the colliers tif this place , and the men of Grange Panns , was held 0 : 1 Thursday , the 7 th instant , on the seashore . Air . James Barnes was called to the chair . The meeting was addressed at great length by Mr . Wm . D . iuiells , on the objects nnd laws of the Miners' Association , also by Mr . | Hammond ; whtn it was agreed " That tho men of Boness and Grange Panns join their English brethren " "this was a large nnd spirited meeting . The usual votes ; of tbanks Doing given , the meeting terminated . j Bent End , by Falkijik . —The colliers of this district heM a public 6 peu-air meeting on Friday , 8 th instant , Mr . TV . omas . M'Kwen in the chair . Messrs . D . miells and Hammond addressed the meeting , when the meeting pledged themselves to join the Miners' Society . Votes of thanks were given to the Chairman and each of the tweakers , when the meeting broke up .
Falkirk Delegate Meeting . —A delegate meeting of the colliers of this quarter was held at the house of Mr . Brodie , Blue Bell Inn , on Saturday last , Mr ; Thomas M'Ewen in jthe chair ; Mr . Wm . Daniells as secretary . The meeting was well attended , Bnd was Bhortly opened by Mr . Wm . Daniells , who said he trusted that meeting iwas met for business—not to hear speeches . He showefi the meeting how they should conduct the affiirs of the district , and advised them to choose a district committee to direct the s ime . A committee of five was then chosen , whose names for obvious reasons it would be divn ^ erous to give . A report from the different works [ was then given in , which was very favourable . A great deal of district business was transacted ; and theyiagreed to meet again on Saturday ( this day ) at the Barue house .
Glen End—A public meeting of the colliers of this place , St'jne-rigK , and Rtrddingtou was . held on Monday last ( lltb instant ) , at Wallace Stone , Mr . John Patterson in the chair , for the purpose of hearing Mr . Wm . Diniells deliverla lecture 011 the 1 > wa , organizition , and objects of the Miners' Association , which he did evidently with good effect ; for the meeting immediately after he had finished his discourse passed a resolution in favour of the Association . The pHcs of holding this meeting is one of jtha most remarkable in Scotland , being the ground where the battle of Falkirk was foueht , between thu ] English and Scotch , in the year 1298 ; and Wallace Stone is a square pillar erected to commemorate that event . On one side of the pillar is a latin inscription , signifying that a battle was fought there on the 2 nd and 3 rd days of August . 1298 ; and on the reverse the following : —Erected to the memory of that celebrated hero , Sir William Wallace , 3 rd August , 1810 . ;
Glascow . —A numerous meeting of the miners of the Glasgow Coat Bridge and Holly ton districts took place on Monday , near Tolcross . The meeting was addressed at c nsideruble length by Mr . Hammond , delegate from England on the necessity cf a National Union . Mr . H ., whose silvery lucks bespeak the work of the unerring hand of time , spoke with considerable fluency , urged the object of his mission with great earnestness , and sat down amidst tbe repeated cheers of the meeting . Mr . Cfochan , of Hoilyton , recommended that they petition tbe Lord Lieutenant of the cmnty , and that a copy of said petition be sent to every magistrate in the county : he would also urge upon them the propriety of appealing to the masters before doing anything further . Mr . Buntou , of
Shittleston , deprecated the idea of going to the masters . Lst them go to tho authorities , and it nothing was done there for them , then it would be their duty to do some thins ; for themselves . A nv . tu said tbe wen in the T . mkurton Pit did not know whether they should be allowed to work any more . Tbe master bad expressed his determination to add 4 cwt . to the standard ; tbe standard $ as 12 . ^ cwt ., but tkey were putting out near 13 . Another man said , that in bis pit they were putting out nearer 19 than 12 cwt . ; but there was worse than even that ; there were men ia that meeting who could prove that a few days ago one ot tbeir men Was standing on the pit-head wheu his own work came up ; but tbe man did not know at . the time it was bis own work come up ; -near half a cwt . wus thrown
off one of his hutches into a dross heap , the hutch weighed 14 ^ owt ., yet it wa * declared to be below the standard ; consequently the man lost his whole day ' s work . That was the way the masters made their fortunes ; they were not satisfied with giving the men low wages , but , in maayl instances , they gave them no wages at all . If 7 lb . of stone was found iu a butch , the man lost Che whole , and the men dare not complain for fear of losing their work . They wished to be paid every fourteen dajs . Another man said , that in one cose , where forty-eight men Wt = re employe- ! , no less than sixty-four carts were condemned in one week . It was not a question off wages so much as a question of justice . Previous to comint ; to any decision as to what should be done , the ! various districts separated to
consult amongst themselves . On their re-assembling , it was unanimously n ^ reed that tbey should act in concert as hitherto Mrj Cloclian said the men of the Hoilyton district wtrejfor a strike ; several belonging to the Glasgow district j condemned the very idea of a strike . A draft of a pV-Utmn , iti twrins of Mr . Clochau ' a motion , wai read by > ir . M'Nee , the Secretary , to the Glasgow district , and unanimously agreed to . The petition briefly Jset fuVth the ina , iu grievances complained of . Anii . 'n ^ sij ' oiL'er thills it evinced that thr iniquitouy truck sy » t « ni uiiuht ho dune away with ; that , they should be paul at le : ut every fourteen , dajs ; and in particular Uiat their work tnottlu bd > eighc-d at tho pit-bottom in their owa presence , instead of , as at
present , on the pifc-h . ad , whereby the man are prevented , from having any cheJi again -t ihe masxera . It was moved and agreed to that a delegate mestiog * be held at Lanj < lone on Thursday . Mr . Hamruimd cailcd tbe attention of the meeting to the or jvet of his mission , and appealed to them ; to give him au answer eithet for or against a National Union . Mr . Cloeh&n recommended that every oue pres-nt should press the matter on the consideration of vhniv respective works , so that the delegates should be present to stite on Thursday the feelings of their respective constituents on the subject . Tho motion beini ; seconded , was put from the chair , and carried unanimously . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings , which lasted from twelve o ' clock till four .
Wingate Grange Colliery — We are glad to hear that the persecuted men of tn-9 colliery have , thanks to the gallant labours of Mr . Roberts , got back to work again . We understood that this is the result of an agreement between Mr . Roberts and the solicitor for the pit-owners , the obnoxious wire-rope has been removed , and is at present under the safe custody of two loc&s , the key of ] ene of which is kept by Mr . Roberts . An action for the men ' a wages will shortly be commenced under the management of Mr . Roberts . Erratum . —The is lOd from Hopple , published in our last , sbou d havt > ib-. en £ l 10 s . Tne following ia a farther list of subscriptions received for the Wingate men : — \
Subscriptions to Wingate Men , Sept . 1 st , 1843 . —Oueton £ 3 8 s ; K'aa Pit 7 a ; South Shields £ l 14 s 3 < J ; Nova Scot a £ 1 14 a ; Sealon Deleval £ 2 18 s 5 : 1 ; WalridgeFell £ 119 s ; Darwent Iron Works £ 1 6 s 3 d ; South Moor 7 s 9 . 1 ; Ritcliff £ 2 63 6 ii ; East Crimlington £ b \ . 81 ; Heiton £ 3 13-s 8 Jl ; Whil-Iey £ l 2 sj Oxclose ilus 10 1 ; Wylam £ 1 143 Id ; Netherton £ 2 7 s 3 d ; Spring well £ 2 , 2 s 6 J ; Goose £ 2 ; G'sforth £ 1 10 s lOd ; S > uth TanBeld 12 s 6 d ; Pontop 16 s j Fawdon | £ l 2 * 81 ; West Moor £ 4 5 s 6 d ; East Holy well £ 2 4 s ; Sleekburn £ 2 Is ; Boratcepeth £ 2 la l ^ d ; jEawdoa £ 1 4 s 6 d ; Wa \ laen « l £ 1 178 < Jd ; Benwell £ 1 2 s 6 d ; Jarrow £ 2 15 s ; Greencroft 14 s 6 d ; Marlow Hill 13 s 6 d ; Rlblesworth
£ 1 6 s 4 d ; West Townley £ 2 4 a 9 d ; Seg bill £ 18 % 7 d ; Andrews * Hoase Us 5 . 1 , South Elswick £ 1 14 a ltd ; Washington £ l ; Farnacres £ 1 13 s , South Peplow 9 a ; Sheriff Hill Quarrymen £ 2 ; West Cramlington £ 3 17 s ; Sheriff Hill Colliery £ 2 « s ; Trindon , £ 15 is « d ;\ Castle Eden , £ 8 14 s ; Thornley , £ 4 : 183 6 d ; Cassosa , £ 4 10 s ; Kelloe , £ 5 ; Quarrington Hill , £ 1 15 s ; TysocJrs , £ 3 Salld ; Hfjtton , £ 1 13 s 7 d ; Ellemore , £ 2 0 s 6 d ; South Hetton , £ 4 12 s 3 d ; Datton , £ 1 16 s . lldj Huugh Hall , £ 1 16 s 6 d ; Pfmerton , £ 4 16 aj Framwell-gate-moor , £ 2 lls fd ; Hnnwiok , £ 1 6 s 84 ; Cragg Head , lls lOd ; Wingate Friemds » £ 2 is ; Black Boy , ! £ 2 9 s ; St . Helen ' s Aucklaad * lla 3 d ; South Moor , ! £ 1 3 s .
Untitled Article
. — — - _ a To the Cilixens of Dublin , and to Hie Con&Uihersof Coal in the various towns on the N . Coast of Ireland , and t * the People of Great Britain . We , the colliers working at Whitetuven , In the em < ploy of tbe Right ; Hon . the Earl of Lonsdale , in Conjunction with our brethren in other parts of Cumberland , having been forced from our employment , for exercising the privilege which every British subject ia entitled to , namely , the right to unite or combine to reduce the hours of toil , or to increase oar wages , hasten to lay before you eome of the grievances under which we labour , and to remedy which , we are now forming a general union of our trade throughout Great Britain and Ireland . In Whitehaven , two-thirds of the colliers are Irishmen , who have been forced from tbe land of tbeir
birth , to eke out a miserable existence in the sunless mine ! and to suffer greater privations than any other class of men iu employ . Within the list ten years , the wages of the miner have been reduced , in most cases , one half ; and , in many instances , two-thirds . It is true , the nominal price for " bagging" tae coal has not undergone so great a reduction as ia here stated ; but tbe enlargement of the baskets , and a diminution in the price of such baskets , warrants us in saying that the above reductions are considerably under . In Croft Pit , the price formerly paid for " hagging and trailing" a bnsktl of from 111 cwt to 12 cwt . was 7 d ., and from Is . CJ . to 2 ? . 6 ; i . yard price ; that is , for every yard of coal from six to eight feet wide , and from four to five feet hicb . the Miner bagged out of the mine , he ? ot
the above-named yard-price . The present price is 6 jd . and no yard price ; and for this sura tbe miner h ? n , after bagging , to trail or drag these baskets from 100 to 200 yards . In many cases horaes are used to draw the < oal from the bagger : when it is so tbe miner gets but 5 jH- la some places the coal rises from the level from seven to eight inches to the yaid . The miner was formerly paid for every fifty yards one halfpenny per basket ; be is now paid the same sum for the first 100 yards , but not a farthing after , although , in many instances , the poor miner has to trail them from 600 to 600 yards , and the distance is continually increasing . The average hours are from fourteen to sixteen , and the wage 3 for such hours , when there are no off-takes , from 2 a . to 23 . 6 d .
At Wilson Pit the yard priee , which was a shilling , bas been taken off : tbe miner is paid 8 d . per basket , same size as above , and has to hag and trail them a distance of from 400 to 500 yards , rising some seven or eight inches in the yard . Tbe men work from fifteen to eighteen hours for not more tha 1 2 s . per day . Afc Dukts Pit the basket is ten cwt ., for which the miner receives 4 id . for hagging and trailing it upwards of 300 yards . " The hours are fifteen , and the wages fet s « cb hours 2 s . 4 d . The basket at the Countess Pit was formerly but nine cwt ; it was then eigbtpence : it is now eleven and a half cwt . and is only sevenpence . The hours are from twelve to fourteen , and the average wages about 2 s . 6 d . The William Pitt . ( alias , the " Slaughter House" )
former price 6 d ., present price 5 Jd ., fur haeging and trailing 150 yards ; tbe hours from twelve to fourteen , the wages is . lOd . At Ougbterside , tbe hours are from twelve to fifteen , tbe number of days worked in the fortnight from five to twelve , and the average waqes , exclusive of off-takes 2 s . Bi per day . At Oughterside-isoor and Gillcrux , tbe hours are from fourteen to seventeen , the number of days in the fortnight , which tbe men work , from four to twelve ; the wages about 2 a . 6 d . Mr . Wood ' s Pit , at Dearham , from foot to twelve days , from twelve to sixteen hours ; average wages 23 . Mr . Walker , of Dearham , his pit works from six to twelve days in the fortnight ; from twelve to fourteen hours ; average wages , 2 s . 6 d . At
Greengill , the pit works from three to twelve days * from twelve to fourteen hours each day , tbe average wages 2 b . 6 d . The men in this employ are compelled to deal in a "Truck Shop" where they have to pay from 4 d . to 6 d . a stone more , for flour and meal , and every other article which the poor miner and his family consumes are higher rated than at any other shop or market . Clifton Colliery ; the men work from three to eleven days , from twelve to fourteen bonrs ; the wages 2 s . 4 d . Greysouthen , from one to twelve days , from twelve to fifteen hours ; average wages Is . 9 d . Bat here , the men , as well as the men who work for tbe same owner at Ougbterside , are supplied with beef at ( t » m a penny to three-half-pence per pound more than the fair-dnaline butcher would sell it for .
Tbese are a few of the facts connected with tbe pnee , the weight , and tbe hours which the poor miner works , and which he bears and receives . But bad as the prices are , hard and unremitting as the toil is . we would be content did we gel thaljbr which we labour I But , it not unfrequently happens , that after a man baa toiled and produced a number of baskets of . coal , he will have from four to si * taken irom him in the vxekl and these baskets of coal for which the miner receives not a farthing , are sold at tbe same price that other basftets 1 having the same quantity . of coal in are sold at . We by no means deny that there are unprincipled men , as well as unprincipled employers ; men Who would take an advantage , and send to bank baskets containing foul coal , or short of measure ; bat while we
admit that the employer has an undoubted right to make sneb rules and regulations as will secure good coal and good measure , we are willing to prove upon oatb before any of her Majesty's justices of tbe peace , that thousands of baskets are taken every year from Colliers that bad no bad or foul coal in them , and that were not short of measure . With facts like these before you , will you say we have not a right to be united to put a period to such injustice ! 1 ! Bat this is not all , tbe majority of the mpn in the employ at Whitehaven are , as we said . Irishmen , whose circumstances are indeed poor ; but bad as they are , they are made worse
by tbe fact that they are worse treated than the natives . The employer , or rather his agent , takine advantage of tbe poverty-stricken circumstances of tbe poor Irishman , employs him at such prices , and uses sueh means ' , as make him more tbe child of misfortune than be otherwise would be . Every species of insult exists , and that exterminating and intolerant spirit which so generally characterises tbe enemies of Irishmen is fully pourtrayed in the servants of the Earl of Lonsdale towards the Irishmen in the employ . They are not only deprived of tha full value of their labour , but they are frequently insulted by the " dogs In office , " on account of their religious opinions .
We produce an article of vital importance ; yet we are robbed of the real value of our labour . We toil some sixteen or eighteen hours ; yet we must increase these hoars . We are liable to greater and more numerous acclden s than that of any other class—we are accounted tbe most ignorant ; yet this ignerance is to be continued . We are accounted immoral aud profligate , yet we are to be denied the right to unite to reduca the hours of labour , as a means to increase our moral and physical condition ! and to secure' to us a better remuneration for oar labour , and to pat a peribd to the manifold grievances under which we groan , and whicb our unmerciful taskmasters wish tn continue !
Irishmen I—Countrymen ! and Brethren !—haters of oppression , lovers of justice and of liberty , we appeal to you . as the consumers of tbe produce of oar labour . We ask . is it rii ; ht to force us from our labour , for exorcising the ri « ht which a corrupt government dare not deny , —the raht to unite to protect our labour ? We . have sowjhl mo advance of price . We have asked no reduction or alteration in the sisa or weight of the bnsk ^ ts ; al . we ask is , the right to unite to protect our labour—tbe only estate a poor man bas . Irishmen I Cip a'ns of Vessels , used to transport coals from the W > st of Cumberland to Ireland : we conjure you , by the love that you hear to your country and your countryman , and to your English brethren , to speak out against tin s act nf oppression , concocted and carried into operation hy John Peile , Enquire (?) for the express purpose »( depriving the poor man of his rights . Weaskyoa to feel for , and sympathize with as . This is all we
s * "k . this is all we ask . But let it be remembered , that John Pelle , agent to the Earl of Lonsdale , was the first man who askad tbe men to sign a paper of bis : dnwing-up ( or drawn ap at his instigation , we know not whether . ) which paper precludes the possibility of tbe working man ever be ' ng enabled to stem the torrent of injustice which is likely to be cast at the feet of every honest miner . Many signed a similar paper ,, in 1831 , —and by it they secured more misery and wretchedness than they before experienced—misery such as is not excelled in any colliery in Great Britain . G > od G > d [ Irishmen ! Lovers of Virtue ! think of mothers and of daughters having to prostitute themselves to ovet-men and deputies , in order te mitigate or lessen tbe penalties imposed upon husbands , sons , and brothers , and to secure to either of them an additional days work . Think of the « e things ! and then say whether or not we are justified in uniting to protect the virtue and property of our children !
We are , Fellow-countrymen , f < ir and on behalf of tke Miners of Whitehaven and the West of Cumberland generally—This address bears the signatures of three hundred and tbirty-six of the oppressed and ill-used colliers , and is the one alluded to iu our report of the meeting of the Irish Universal Suffrage Association , at DabJia . We give it insertion in our columns , in the hope that the exposure of tha heartless tyranny it details may ba the means of putting an end to It . Correspondence with General Secretary . — *> nv of the miners wishing to correspond with the Gfinnral Secretary , may address to John Hall , care of Mr . Martin Judo , Three Tans , Masor Chare , Newcastle-upon-Tyne .
Untitled Article
MORE OF " REBECCA . " CONFLICT BETWEEN THE MILITARY AND POLICE , IN SWANSEA . ( From our own Correspondent . J Last night , Monday , wascharactcrised by another of those bruJal exhibitions which have lately been of freqiiLnt occurrence in this country , via . —a collision between the raw lobsters and the boiled . The quarrel setms to have originated as follows : —On Sunday evening , one of the horse soldiers now billeted in town had been taking a walk , in company with a female , when one of tho town police Tather officiously interfered , and offered some indignity to his companion . This was resented by tho soldier , who told the policeman that they should meet
again at some future occasion , as he had no wish to cause a row when a lady was in company . Last night , he wa 3 as good as his word ; for having fallen in with the policeman on his beat , he gave him a denceof a pummelling , and it is said made " Charlie" go down on his marrow bones , and promise never to offend } a like manner again . But as the soldier was going away some other policemen came up to the aid of their suffering brother , and as some of tbe infantry came up about the same time , the affray speedily became general . But while the soldier had been " hammering" the original offender , he appealed to the sympathy of the bye standers , imploring them not to see a Swansea lad ill-used by a stranger . But he found little sympathy at their
hands ; a 9 policemen are considered to have lost all claims of citizenship ; and the soldier was urged on to pitch into him well . More polioemen kept pouring in , and the news of the fray having reached tbe barracks , the soldiers also began to increase , tbe late corners being armed with their bayonets . The riot now began to assume a formidable aspect , and continued for a considerable length of time . Two of the soldiers of tbe 76 rh were at length secured , but the affray only ceased on the appearance of the picquet . The two soldiers were brought up for examination to-day ( Tuesday ) , bat were eventually remanded until to-morrow . Tbe soldiers are vowing vengeance against the police , and it is expected consequences of a very serious nature will result from this quarrel , the town altogether being in a very excited state .
TINAL EXAMINATION AND COMMITTAL OP THE PRISONERS . The five prisoners , charged with being participators in the outrage at Pontardriulais-gate , were brought up to-day ( Tuesday ) for final examination . The Court was crowded at an early hour , and the utmost anxiety was manifested to know the 'result of the investigation . The Magistrates having taken tbeir seats on tho bench , Lord James Stuart addressed the prisonera , statins that it was not the intention of the Magistrates to examine any more witnessi-a or to enter further into the investigation of the case , they being of one mind that the prisoners be severally committed to take their trials at the next general sssixe . The prisoners were committed accordingly .
Mr . Hugh Williams , solicitor , Carmarthen , applied that the Court would admit tho three prisoners , who wera taken at the gate and stand charged with felony , to bail ; as he was prepared with bail to any amount they might see fit to exact . Lord James Stuart replied that the magistrates had taken Mr . Williams' application into consideration prior to entering the Court , and were of opinion that it could not be complied with . Mr . William 3 wished to know if that opinion was
. Lord James Smart could see no occasion to reply to tha * question . Mr . Williams next applied that the two prisoners , Lewis Davis and Wm . HngheP , who , it will bo remembered were taken by Mr . W . Chambers , at some distance from the gate , and were chargod only with a misdemeanor , be admitted to bail . The application was agreed 10 . Lewis Davi 3 was then bound to appear , himself in £ 100 , and two sureties in £ 50 each ; and William Hughes , being a minor , in two sureties of £ 100 each . The required sureties being immediately forthcoming , the two prisoners left the Court , warmly greeted by the hundreds who were awaiting them outside . Mr . Williams next applied that the sum of £ 3 3 ; . 10 d ., taken from the prisoner John Hughes , a » abo tho horse which he rode , which belonged to his father , and is now in the custody of the police , be returned . This also was agreed to .
A coroner ' s inquest sat yesterday on the body of the old womon whd ° was shot at the gate in the neighbourhood of Pontarddulais on Saturday nisriit last ( 9 th inst . ) Several medical gentlemen deposed to the fact , that death was the effect of gun-shot wounds , they having extracted several slugs from the body ; but the Jury , having doubtless a fellow feeling with the rioters , returned a verdict of— " Died by suffocation , produced by the effusion of blood , but owing to what cause this is to bo attributed , is to this Jury unknown . " It is supposed that the old woman had seen Borne persons among : the rioters whom sho knew , and had thrpatened . to divulge the part they had taken in the affair .
I re-open my letter to say that some more outrages took place last night at L ' anelly . Mr . Chambers had some more property destroyed , and I have heard that a policeman has beon shot . Placards are out in the country places stating that *• as the Authorities have shewn their taste for blood , they shall have plenty . "
Wfyt €*Xiisx# Jetofcemwt.
Wfyt € * Xiisx # jetofcemwt .
Untitled Article
Delegate Meeting of Colliers . —A meeting of Staffordshire delegates was held at the house of Mr . James Bollason , Oldbury , on Monday last , September lltb , Mr . William Thomason , chairman . The number of members having been reported from each place , Mr . Richard Butler , delegate ts tha North , gave in his report . The following objects are among those to be carried out : —A reduction in tbe hours of labour . That the death club stand as before , viz ., that tho widows of deceased miners receive three shillings weekly , and one shilling for each child . That the men be not compelled to go to work so early in the morning . That there be an equalization of wages between tha thick and thin coal men . That the stone men have 3 s . 3 d . per day , for eight hours ; and that miners have 4 s .
daily . Mr . Butler gave some cheering reports on the prospects of the Association . The following resolution was adopted : — " That this delegate meeting returns thanks to Mr . Butler , aa tho Staffordshire delegate , and we recommend our fellow workmen to aid us in breaking down oppression , and defending the sacred rights of labour . " Mr . Thomason then read the balancesheet It was moved and seconded , " That the books of each lodge be brought to the district meeting when next assembled . ' Two delegates were deputed to go to Shropshire . A Shropshire miner was appointed to accompany them as a guide ; and it was agreed that
money be forthcoming against Monday , 18 th , to meet the necessary expeaces . Mr . B . Pyle moved , and Mr . George Jones seconded , " That it is the opinion of this district meeting , that the Coal , Lead , and Iron-stone Miners' Association be kept inviolate by all the members and 1 districts ; and that no man be called out among us to lecture who is not brought up to tbe trade ; and that all who are now employe ! as lecturers be discharged from their office , to make room for those members who are out of employment on account of the Association , —the engagement of any but members being opposed , to its rules , and against its prosperity . " " That f-he resolutions be transmitted to the Northe ? ii Stay for
publication . " t Halshaw Moor . —A public meeting of miners was holden in the above township , on Monday last , Sept . 11 , < which was ably addressed by Messrs . Lomax , Auty , Swallow , and other friends , upon tbe necessity of union as one means of improving the condition of the miners ,, and raising them from the awfully degraded position to which they have been reduced . Each speaker was ' listened , to with the most marked attention on the part of the audience ; and Messrs . Lomax and Swallow , in particular , were loudly applauded . The meeting Was a very good one ; and the following resolutions were j passed unanimously : — " That we , the miners of Hal- i sbaw Moor and neighbourhood , are convinced , by sad experience , that the present rate of wages paid for our
labour is wholly inadequate to procure even the common necessaries of life ; we therefore cannot consider ourselves sufficiently remunerated . " " That wo now resolve , as one means of improving oar condition , to immediately connect ourselves with the Miners' Association of Great Britain and Ireland . " Tbe business of tbe public meeting having been dispensed with , the delegates from the various collieries proceeded to the Bowling Green Inn , and the chairman who had presided over the public meeting having been again called to the chair , he briefly addressed the meeting . Tbe secretary then read over the various items of Income and expenditure , which , upon being audited , were
found to be correct The following Bums of money were then handed over by tbe delegates , ai the contribution * of their constituent * for the last fortnight : — Bradford Colliery 6 s 4 < t , Chorloy Mour 3 s lid , Wigan , Crofter ' s Arms £ l 17 a 8 d , Glazton Colliery la 3 d , Hurat Brook 7 b 8 d , Coppull 0 a 2 d , George and Dragon , Wigan 63 £ d , Bull ' s Head , Ditto 5 s , Hanging Bank 9 s 4 d , Bolwn £ 1 63 3 jd , Fleece Lodge , Bolton £ 1 4 a 8 d , Little Lever £ 1 19 s 7 d , Stand Lane , Pilkton 3 s lOd , Darcy Lever 17 s 5 d , Top o'tn Line 8 a lOd , Bank Top 4 s 5 d , Farnbill 3 s lOd , Ratclrffe 10 s , RiDgley Horse Shoe £ 1 1 b 8 d , Ringley , Grapes Inn £ l 3 a 6 d , " Hala ! iaw Moor 7 s 2 d , Dixon Gresa 12 s 6 d , Lane End , Over
Untitled Article
Middlesex , by JOSHUA HOBSON , at bis Printiag Offlcea , Nos . 12 and 13 , Market-street , Brfggatei wd PublUhti by the said Joshua Hobson , { for tbe said Fbarqus O'Cowmob . ) aihU Dwelling-honst , Ho . 5 , Market-rtrert , Briggater » internal Cwnmnnication listing between ti » sal * No . 5 , Market-street , and the said Nob . 12 and 13 , Market-street , Briggate , thus constituting tt » whole of tb » Baid Printing and Publishing Office one Premises . All Compinnications must be addressed , Post-paid , to M .-. Hobson , Northern Star Office , I < ee ( Satnidty , September 16 , 1843 J
Untitled Article
THE NORTHERN STAR fc — — — "" ¦ *~ - - — ' ¦ —— ——in ~—^ ¦ - 7 ^ - —¦ """ tz— : — — — : : — ~ ~ i ¦— - —¦ - ~*— = n" ¦ ¦ - ¦ -i
Leeds :—Printed For The Proprietor, Fear Gv S O'Connor, Esq. Ol Hammersmith, Conntj
Leeds : —Printed for the Proprietor , FEAR GV S O ' CONNOR , Esq . ol Hammersmith , Conntj
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 16, 1843, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct947/page/8/
-