Durham Mining Museum - Newspaper Articles (original) (raw)

Whitehaven Herald

Article from the Whitehaven Herald, 16th September 1843

The Collier's Strike — Riotous Assault

The strike of Lord Lonsdale's colliers continues, and we regret to have to record the re-appearance of that bad spirit among them which incited them a week or two since to intimidate those who were willing to work under the prescribed conditions. Soon after one o'clock on Thursday morning last as four men, Thomas Garroway, David Garroway, Robert McLaughlin, and John McLaughlin were proceeding towards the New Town, where all the colliers reside, by way of Mount Pleasant, on their way home, having finished their work, they were way-laid by a number of turn-outs, about eighteen we believe, most of whom were disguised by masks and frocks, and armed with pikes and other rough weapons. They immediately made a ferocious attack upon the poor fellows whose names we have mentioned, throwing them on the ground by means of long hooks with which they were provided, and which they fastened on their legs. They then beat the objects of their vengeance in the most brutal manner, and left them on the road almost insensible from the rough usage they received. The poor fellows contrived with difficulty to crawl home, and when medical assistance was procured, it was found that two of them were most dangerously injured, so much so as to be unable to appear before the magistrates on Thursday to lay a complaint. Another man whose name we have not been able to learn was prevented from going to work by a party of turn-outs who "dodged" him on all the roads by which he attempted to reach the pit, though they did not offer any personal violence.

On Thursday morning Mr. Peile, Lord Lonsdale's agent, applied to the magistrates for protection, and the result of his application was a despatch to Carlisle for military assistance, which is expected to arrive this (Friday) night. As a further precautionary measure against any repetition of the riot, 165 men, chiefly stonemasons, smiths, overmen, and banksman, in the employment of Lord Lonsdale, were on Thursday night sworn in as special constables.

Some further disturbance was anticipated on Thursday night, but all passed off quietly. A meeting was held on the Bulwark, about six o'clock, and was addressed by a person named James Halliday and by Mr. Brophy, who has returned from his mission to Belfast. He said he understood Mr. Peile was at the moment engaged in summoning a lot of fellows to come and push the meeting into the sumph in the docks. They had better not try it, or they would find themselves retaliated upon. There was no danger of any breach of the peace on the part of those around him, but if they were attacked the law gave them liberty to knock their assailants down. They who were sworn to preserve the peace should not be the first to break it; if they did they must expect retaliation. Mr. Brophy, having announced his intention of visiting Dublin, Drogheda, and Dundalk next week, concluded by informing the meeting that he was going to address the colliers at Workington on Friday evening, and at Whitehaven on Saturday. The meeting, which was not so numerously attended as some of those held last week, then separated.

We understand that on Tuesday night £48 was received by the treasurer of the association here, as the proceeds of the collection in Northumberland and Durham, on Saturday last.

Newspaper transcript kindly provided by
West Cumbria Mines Research.