Robert Wood Eyewitness Account

• Place: Manchester
• Role: Spectator
• Occupation: Chemist

Saw some of the processions arrive at SPF. Felt no alarm, did not feel it necessary to close his shutters. Did not see any attack on the constables from the crowd. Did not hear Hunt tell crowd to ‘put them down’ in reference to the soldiers.

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Robert Wood. —I am a chemist and Druggist at Manchester; my shop is near the New cross. I remember the 16th of August. I saw the Old­ham and Saddleworth divisions coming in. There was nothing extraordinary in their appearance; they came in a peaceable manner. I did not think it necessary to shut my windows until near night. I saw no reason to be alarmed for the safety of the town. No rational man could be alarmed. The divisions came in a good-humoured way, not like an invading army. I have no family. I did not observe any bludgeons, I saw nothing but walking sticks. About twelve o'clock I went to St. Peter’s Field.” No one expressed fears for the safety of the town.

Mr. Scarlett again objected to evidence being given of the feelings of in­dividuals. If 10,000 felt no alarm, and ten did, these latter were still entitled to protection.

Mr. Hunt replied, that it would at least prove the absence of fear in these 10,000 persons.

Witness —I went with Dr. Earnshaw to a window which overlooked the hustings. I saw from them thence the different parties arrive. Some of them bad flags and music I recollect they played “God save the King”, and "Rule Britannia''. Whilst ”God save the King” was playing, the people about the hustings had their hats off. It appeared to me they had taken them off in compliment to the tune. There was no violence offered to the constables or respectable inhabitants. I remember Mr. Hunt’s ar­rival. He was received with loud cheers. He addressed the multitude, recommending to them to keep the peace. Whilst he was speaking, here was a slight disturbance on the opposite side of the hustings. This was on the left, nearer to Deansgate, not near to Mr. Buxton's, but opposite to it. I heard you (to Mr. Hunt) express your conviction that persons had been sent among them to create disturbance, and advising the people to put them down. You turned round to that part of the meeting from which the disturbance proceeded. This was directly opposite Dickinson-street. I saw the soldiers arrive in Dickinson-street. It was some time before that you had addressed the people to be quiet. You never said, pointing to the soldiers, “There are your enemies; put them down, and when they are down keep them down. ” I saw the yeomanry arrive at Buxton's; they came at a quick pace round Brown's corner, and formed in a line be­fore Buxton's house. I saw them afterwards in their progress from Buxton's house. I did not see the people make any opposition whatever to them. There were no stones or brickbats thrown at them near our place if there had I should have seen them. I saw the cavalry the whole way from Buxton's to the hustings. There were no brickbats thrown at them; if there had I should have seen them. The place where they charged was opposite our window, so that I could not fail to see them. I saw no sticks but the constables staves held up. Where I stood was about twenty yards from the hustings; the cavalry passed within a short distance of me, but I did not hear them say what they wanted there. Dr. Earnshaw and Mr. Bancroft, of the Society of Friends, were in the room with me; Mr. Bancroft has a family and lives in Manchester; neither of them expressed any fears for the safety of the town, or of their families, before the ca­valry came. Dr. Earnshaw is also a family man. The cavalry passed opposite our window. There was no resistance made but from the pres­sure of the crowd, for the people could not get out of the way. I saw a double row of special constables from Buxton's to the hustings. I cannot say they reached the whole way; I believe there was a passage kept. I saw the Boroughreeve pass up and down several times. From our window I heard all yon said, except when you turned towards Deansgate. If I had said to you, "Mr. Hunt, there is a constable wants to come up to you," I am sure you must have heard it. I saw Nadin pass several times, and I was able to get nearer the hustings than our window; Nadin was more than once within hearing of Mr. Hunt; I did not see that he was at all disturbed in doing his duty. I saw no cordon of people around the hust­ings; the people seemed to stand very close to them. I believe from what I saw, Nadin could easily get to the hustings; I could have got there. There was nothing particular in the way; the people stood about them. I was in a second floor window; the elevation was rather higher than Mr. Buxton's, and 85 yards nearer the hustings. If there had been a general resistance made to the military, I could not fail to see it. I saw no men about the hustings like "disciplined troops, ready to defend Mr. Hunt and die for him, as occasion offered.”  I did not hear you say, when the cavalry arrived, "never mind, they are only a few, and we are a host amongst them,” but I heard you say, “give them three cheers.” As the soldiers arrived, I saw many of the people in the outskirts begin to run. After that the cheers were returned, and peace was restored.

Cross-examined by Mr. Scarlett —My shop is in Ancoats street. I saw the Oldham division coming in.

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