314 History of the 



brethren in arms, were all-powerful for the time being, and carried 

 the day. After leaving Edenfield, where they demolished one 

 hundred looms, the crowd visited Rawtenstall. Here the mills of 

 the Messrs. Whitehead and Mr. Kay were the objects of their 

 vengeance, and they destroyed about one hundred and twenty more. 

 Gradually augmenting in numbers and strength, the rioters 

 proceeded up the valley. At Holt-holme Mill they left the marks 

 of their presence. After passing the Thrutch, the turnpike road 

 through which was then in course of formation, they halted at the 

 mill of the Messrs. Ormerod, Waterbarn. Here the ringleaders 

 entered, while their followers kept guard outside. An eye-witness 

 states that they first cut out the Warps, and destroyed the Reeds 

 and Healds, and then with a few well-aimed blows they demolished 

 the Looms. Tunstead Mill contained a number of the obnoxious 

 machines, and these next fell a prey to the vengeance of the 

 destroyers. Irwell Mill, Bacup, at that time occupied by Mr. 

 Holden, was the next on the route, and was visited by the mob 

 with similar results. From thence the crowd made their way to 

 the mill of Messrs. R. and J. Munn at Irwell Springs, where, 

 having repeated their work of havoc, they brought the day's 

 proceedings to a termination. It is easier to break down than to 

 set up, to overthrow than to restore, and the labour of many weeks 

 was thus destroyed in a few hours. 



The women, as has already been hinted, were not unmoved 

 spectators of these lawless proceedings. It is well known that 

 some of them, forgetting the decorum of their sex, took actual part 

 in, and afterwards prided themselves on having materially assisted 

 at the demolition. So enthusiastic in the fray was a certain 

 misguided female, that on the approach of the mob to one of the 

 factories named, she ascended the belfry, and rang out a welcome 

 to the rioters. 



The strong arm of the law eventually asserted its might, and 

 such of the perpetrators of the outrages as were arrested, suffered 

 fines, imprisonment, or transportation, according to the magnitude 

 of their offences. Others of them contrived to elude the grasp of 



