32 TALES OF THE TURF AND THE CHASE. 



ment by these deliberate preparations for battle on the part of 

 the thimble-men. The races, the favourites, the state of the 

 odds, all were for the moment forgotten in the stirring prospects 

 of a melee on quite a large scale. The mayor, the magistrates, 

 and the stewards met in solemn conclave to decide upon their 

 operations. The thimble-men were known to be reckless, re- 

 vengeful, and desperate, and it was, therefore, necessary to 

 exercise caution as well as courage in attacking them. It 

 was resolved not to call out the Dragoons or Yeomanry unless 

 it was absolutely necessary to do so. The mayor marshalled 

 the police, one hundred strong ; the stewards — Lord Wharncliffe, 

 Lord Milton, Lord Downe, the Hon. W. Buncombe, M.P., Mr. 

 George Savile Foljambe, Mr. Beckett Denison (afterwards Chair- 

 man of the Great Northern Railway) — supported by several of 

 the neighbouring gentry, headed their own mounted servants, 

 sixty in number, and the combined forces, horse and foot, ad- 

 vanced upon the field-gate. They found it strongly barricaded, 

 and behind the barricades they could see the big heaps of stones, 

 and the thimble-men arming themselves with the legs of their 

 tables, very handy and effective weapons in a hand-to-hand 

 fight. Howls and hoots and yells began to fill the air. The 

 spectators, who clustered in thousands upon the grand stand and 

 every available ' coign of vantage,' began to get a little nervous, 

 ladies shrieked and fainted, and a very serious riot seemed im- 

 pending. The leaders of the attacking forces consulted together, 

 and it was resolved to try to effect an entrance to the Town 

 Field by a smaller opening opposite the back of the grand 

 stand. Simultaneously with this strategic movement the police 

 made a determined assault upon the field-gate. The stones 

 flew fast and thick ; the yells and oaths of the thimble-men 

 were awful to hear. But while they were engaged in front 

 a party of the mounted men took them in the rear. The bar- 

 ricade Avas broken down. There was a hot fight for a few 

 minutes, sticks and stones were flying in all directions, but 

 a well-timed charge of the mounted men settled the business. 

 The thimble-men broke and fled. Several of the ringleaders 

 were captured on the spot ; the rest made for the open country. 

 And then came the amusing part of the scene. The mounted 

 men gave chase after the nimble fugitives. Lord Milton and 

 the grooms from Wentworth were conspicuous in the pursuit. 

 They kept well together, took the fences in splendid style, and 

 brought their game to hand in most sportsmanlike fashion. The 



