Gossip in the First Decade of Victoria's ReignAshton, John
History
Gossip in the First Decade of Victoria's Reign
Ashton, John
Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
One of the boldest steps ventured on by the insurgents, whose confidence
was, of course, much increased by their uninterrupted success, was an
entry, which was made, at midday, into the town of Caermarthen, by a
large body of persons on the 10th of June. About noon, the rioters began
to march into the town, through the Water Street gate, which they had
destroyed some time before. They were headed by a band. The leading
body consisted of some thousands on foot, many of whom were Chartists and
rabble of the town; a large number of women was among the crowd, and men
bearing inflammatory placards. They were followed by a man in disguise,
representing Rebecca; some bearing brooms with which to sweep the
foundations of the tollhouse and the workhouse, and the rear was brought
up by about 300 farmers on horseback. They paraded the town, passing the
Hall and hooting the magistrates, and proceeded to the workhouse, which
they attacked. They climbed over the high wall with which the building
was surrounded, and then burst open the lodge gates and the porter’s
door; the horsemen rode into the yard, and surrounded the premises; and
the rioters on foot soon forced an entrance into the building, and
commenced their work of destruction. While the rioters were in the act
of pulling down the inner doors and partitions of the Board Room, and
other parts of the premises, and pitching the beds out of windows, the
governor was ringing the alarm bell; and, in the midst of the tumult,
came the military.
Representations of the excited state of the neighbourhood had been sent
to the Home Office, and a troop of the 4th Light Dragoons had been
ordered from Cardiff. An express from Caermarthen had met the Dragoons
at four o’clock in the morning, just after they had passed through Neath,
and were still 31 miles from their destination. They pushed on, riding
the last 15 miles in an hour and a half, two horses dying from fatigue as
they entered the town. They were met by one of the Magistrates, who led
them to the Workhouse and read the Riot Act. The rioters were summoned
to surrender; but they made an attempt to rush on the military. The
Dragoons charged, using the flat of their swords, and soon put the
rioters, outside the wall, to flight. Those within offered some
resistance; and, for a moment, the edge of the sword was turned upon
them, when they succumbed. Many escaped over the wall; but about 100
were taken prisoners, and several horses were abandoned by their riders.
The disturbance which menaced so seriously the safety of the town, was
thus happily put an end to, without any bloodshed or calamitous result.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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