DARK SATANIC MILLS 73

was little physical violence for only in a few places was there
any resistance. Under threat of crowbar and torch, the owners
of bakeries, groceries and public houses distributed provisions
with the best face they could. Bills appeared on the walls calling
the "Toiling Slaves" to monster demonstrations: others, issued
by alarmed authorities, threatened transportation to those who
destroyed machinery or used intimidation.

Such was the position as the parliamentary session of 1842
drew to a close and Ministers, who doubted their ability to keep
the peace for more than a few days longer, prepared after the
imperturbable manner of England for the customary Cabinet
fish dinner at the Crown and Sceptre tavern, Greenwich, In
the seaports there were signs of a slight improvement in trade.
But the reports that poured in from every manufacturing
district continued menacing. The whole population was in a
state of intense excitement. It was difficult to say whether the
cause was hunger, wage reductions, Chartism or the popular
demand for cheap bread and repeal of the Corn Laws.

The explosion came on August 4th at Staleybridge, where
the employees of Messrs. Bayley's mill had received notice of a
further reduction in wages. The strikers, as though acting on
prearranged orders, turned out the workers at every factory in
Ashton and Oldham. Next morning they marched on Man-
chester. For a few noisy hours the main body was held up by
a small detachment of police and troops at Holt Town. But
other rioters swarming out from the streets on either flank,
the authorities were forced to fall back leaving factories and
provision shops at their mercy. At Messrs. Birley's mill, where
momentary resistance was encountered, the roof was stormed,'
every window broken, and two policemen and an onlooker
killed. On Saturday, 6th, while Sir Robert and his fellow
Ministers were embarking at Hungerford Pier on the Prince of
Wales steam packet for their outing at Greenwich, riots were
raging in every district of Manchester. Police stations were
demolished and more officers killed.

The great "Turn Out," long threatened by heady orators and
whispered among the people, had come at last. The workers
were on the march. On Sunday the rioting spread to Stockport •
and other parts of Cheshire. Mills were attacked, bakeries looted
and the police pelted with stones. At Preston the mob attacked
. the military, and several lost their lives. In the Potteries some