THE ROUT OF THE THIMBLE-MEN. 31 



force with force ; and they were mostly ugly-looking customers ; 

 indeed, one of the magistrates afterwards described them as 

 ' the most formidable body of desperadoes that had ever assem- 

 bled at Doncaster or any other place.' There was every pros- 

 pect of a free-fight, and those who were ' in the know' antici- 

 pated some very lively proceedings. 



On the Monday of the race-week some four hundred or five 

 hundred of the thimble-men took possession of a portion of the 

 ' Town Field,' just behind the rubbing-house, set up their tables, 

 and assumed a very menacing attitude. The police force, though 

 doubled, was no match for such a compact array of desperate 

 scoundrels ; and, besides, the stewards and the borough authori- 

 ties had not quite matured their plans ; so the thimble-men were 

 left unmolested for that day. Meanwhile the magistrates, seeing 

 that the thimble-men were bent upon offering a stubborn resist- 

 ance, took fresh precautions for insuring their defeat. The 

 police force was still further increased, and a troop of the 3d 

 Dragoons was ordered up from Sheffield, and directed, on its 

 arrival, to take up a concealed position near the racecourse ; the 

 staff of the 3d West York Militia were placed under arms ; and 

 the Doncaster troop of Yeornanry were ordered to hold them- 

 selves in immediate readiness. 



On Tuesday, an hour before the races commenced, the first 

 attack was made upon the thimble-men. Lord Wharncliffe, 

 Lord Milton, and several neighbouring magistrates, accompanied 

 by a strong body of their servants, mounted and armed with 

 hunting-whips, made a raid upon the tables. Contrary to expec- 

 tation, a very feeble resistance was offered ; the thimble-men were 

 dispersed without much trouble, but no arrests were made. 



Early on Wednesday morning, however, the burghers of Don- 

 caster were roused by the tramp of marching men, and, on look- 

 ing out, the thimble-men, to the number. of some six hundred, 

 were seen parading the streets. They had learned over-night 

 that troops had been sent for to disperse them, and they were 

 intensely exasperated. It was clear that their blood was up, 

 that they meant fighting, and that the stewards and the magis- 

 trates would find it no child's play to drive them from the course. 

 Before noon the thimble-men had occupied their old position on 

 the Town Field ; moreover, they had fastened and barricaded 

 the field-gate adjoining the rubbing-house, and collected for- 

 midable heaps of stones to serve as missiles against their assail- 

 ants. Public feeling was roused to an intense pitch of excite- 



