SERIOUS RIOTS AT ASHTON.

Southland Times, Issue 986, 15 July 1868, Page 2

SERIOUS RIOTS AT ASHTON.

On Sunday, 10th May, the borough of Ashton-under-Lyne was the scene of great rioting and disturbance, arising out of the spirit engendered between the English Protestants and Irish Romanists by the lectures of the well-known Mr Murphy. A j unction of processions from Dukinfield, Stalybridge, and Ashton having been formed, two of the principal Irish quarters of Ashton were attacked, and a good deal of furniture was destroyed in the houses of the residents. As may be supposed, all this was not accomplished without some severe fighting, in which many people were badly hurt. In the evening St. Omer's Catholic chapel and school were attacked by the mob, and much damage done. After that St. Mary's Catholic chapel and school were attacked. The bell was , sounded to give notice of the approach of { the attacking party, and a considerable j force of Irish. Romanists called to defend the buildings. These were ultimately overpowered, and a good deal of injury was sustained, the fittings and windows being destroyed. Some shots were fired, and one person is said to have been wounded, but no lives were lost. The magistrates were assembled, and the borough and county police were reinforced as soon as possible by special constables, but it was not till a late hour that order was restored. Many arrests were made, aud the prisoners were taken before the magistrates the next day, but only to be remanded while evidence could be obtained against the principal offenders. A notice was also posted on the walls, under the authority of the mayor and magistrates, stating that the Riot Act had been read, and warning the inhabitants of the consequences that might follow any renewal of the disturbances. Altogether twenty-six persons received, injuries. On Monday evening, 11th May, there was a renewal of the disturbances, and it was found necessary to call in the aid of the military to quell it. S T -.rtly before 7 o'clock the English ok;. nent assembled in Henry square, ra\-A marched direct to Charles street a:jd Hill street, better known as Reyne;* vow, and commenced sacking the hou&od in that locality, which are principally inhabited by the , lower classes of the Irish people. The

rioters met wifch little or no opposition, i and in a very short time every house in I the row was forcibly entered, the window- ■ frames and doors were smashed to atoms, < and the furniture and bedding were , hurled into the street where they were ; burnt. Tables, cbairs, sofas, pictures, . chimney glasses, ornaments, carpets — all j were thrown into one heterogeneous mass, ■ and consumed by the flames. Information^ tße^work of devastation was convened to the "town hall, and in the absence df'themiyorrvMr Hugh Mason, Mr James Kenwor thy; and other magistrates, were speedily onthe spot. It was found that the rioters had received a considerable accession of numbers from Stalybridge, armed with the most formidable weapons, and it was determined at once to have recourse to military aid. Accordingly, a messenger was dispatched to the Ashton Barracks, where the troops had been kept under arms the whole of the day. In the course of a quarter ot an hour a troop of the 6th Inriiskilling Dragoons arrived at the trot and charged the mob, who fled in all directions, merely to meet again and renew their work of destruction when an opportunity afforded. The arrival of the dragoons speedily followed by two companies of the 70th foot, the "Whole being under the command of Colonel Cowper. The . soldiers were heartily cheered by the mob ; but no sooner had they cleared one street than the rioters returned by another route, and resumed their work until again interrupted by the soldiers. This state of things did not, however, last very long, for the specials were so disposed that the mob were kept continually on the move and those who " possessed dangerous weapons were disarmed The military were set at liberty about 11 o'clock, and the special constables were also dismissed to their homes. A meeting of the magistrates was held during the night, at which the mayor suggested that a committee, consisting of the whole of the magistrates, should be appointed, for the purpose of inquiring into the necessities of the poor people who had been rendered homeless, and to make temporary provision for their wants. The appeal was promptly responded to by the magistrates present. The town was patrolled throughout the night, but no further disturbance occurred.' During the riot on Monday night a respectable woman, the wife of Mark Bradbury, of 50 Park street, was trampled to death by the crowd. The unfortunate woman had gone to the end of the street, about twenty yards from her door when the rioters made a sudden rush from Hill-street, pursued by the police, and in the confusion which prevailed Mrs Bradbury was knocked down and literally trampled to death. When picked up her breast was found quite black with footprints. The ; deceased was sixty-seven .years of age. St Ann's Catholic Chapel was again attacked, bnt the police prevented any damage beyond breaking the few window panes that remained. When the rioters in Reyner row found that they were overpowered, the cry was raised, " To^Stalybridge," whither a large body of them at once proceeded, followed by the borough police to the boundary, at Cock Brook. Here they were met by the Stalybridge force, strengthened by a large body of special constables. The mob, seeing the preparations that were being made to receive them, turned off at Reyner's mill, the object being to get at their destination by Bayly's new road. In this they were partially successful, reaching Lee's row, Bridge street, which is thickly populated by Irish ofthe lowest class. The houses of the poor people were attacked, and the work of destruction speedily commenced, but this had not continued long before the constables arrived on the scene, and charged the rioters in capital style, driving most of them into the Eiver Tame. A section of the mob succeeded in re-uniting themselves in Caroline street, where they were again charged and dispersed. A number ofthe rioters on both sides have been committed for trial.