Samuel Slack Eyewitness Account

• Place: Manchester
• Role: Demonstrator
• Occupation: Warehouseman

Was not alarmed by the presence of the crowd at SPF. Saw no large sticks. Went to the meeting, but left when the cavalry arrived. ‘They flourished their swords, and charged down towards the hustings.’

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Samuel Slack examined by Mr. Hunt—I live at Manchester, in Wind­mill Street. I was at home on the 16th of August last. I was confined the greater part of the forenoon in my warehouse in Oldham-street. I went home to see the meeting. I did not think my property in any dan­ger. My house was in that situation that I could look over the whole of the area (St. Peter's. [sic]. I was in an upper room, where I could see the whole of what passed. I was about 30 yards from the hustings, and had a view of Mr. Buxton's house. I saw no procession enter the field but that which came with the carriage. The others had previously arrived I was busy that morning—business went on as usual. I did not see any person shut up shop and give up business that day. I did not see or hear any person who expressed any alarm for the safety of the town that day. I saw no persons march by, with large clubs or staves; I saw walking-sticks —common walking-sticks. I saw no persons in the fields with staves shouldered as muskets, nor did I see any thing in the field, before the mili­tary arrived, which excited in me or in those about me, any alarm. I went from my own house to within 8 or 9 yards of the hustings; if I had wished to have gone to the hustings, I saw nothing to prevent me, ex­cept that the press was uncommonly great; that's all. My intentions in going to the hustings was to hear the speeches. I remained till I heard a man on the top of a house say that the cavalry was coming. I had seen all the meetings there before, and saw nothing in this different from the others, except that it was larger. I had seen 3 or 4 meetings before, and they met and dispersed peaceably. I did not see the dispersion of the Blanket-meeting. When I heard that the military were coming, I made the best of my way to my own house I heard some people say, stand still, and the military would not hurt them. When I got to my window, the cavalry had got upon the field, and were ranged parallel with Mr. Buxton's house. They were cheering the soldiers, and in a short time the cavalry cheered in return. They flourished their swords, and charged down to­wards the hustings.

By the Court, —At the time the cavalry arrived on the ground, was any thing done to oppose or resist them?

Witness. – I did not see any thing to resist them, except that the crowd was dense. I saw nothing done to resist them. There was no hooting, hissing, and groaning at the cavalry. I did not see any stones, or brick­bats, or sticks thrown at them, or thrown up in the air. I was looking that way. I saw no sticks held up at any time in defiance of the military I could not see over the hustings, but I could see a wing of each of the cavalry.

Cross-examined by Sergeant Hullock. —I saw several meetings before I went as a spectator, from curiosity. This was the largest I ever saw. I don't mean to say that the former meetings had come in procession. There might be 100,000 or 150,000 but I cannot say exactly. I am in the service of McFarlane and Barband, shippers, at Manchester. It was their property which was in Oldham Street. Neither of my masters are here today: we have only one in Manchester.

Re-examined by Mr. Hunt —I did not hear my master nor any body else express a fear for their property. If we had been afraid, we should have shut up the warehouse and gone home: we did so the next day.

Mr. Hunt—-How were you employed from the time you went to the meeting till 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

Witness. —Why, in the beginning of the afternoon we were assisting the wounded.

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