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William Rooke Eyewitness Account
- Occupation: Private '15th Hussars'
Saw a number of attacks on troops on the field, and further testifies that his own horse was struck with a gardening hook.
Account
Download accountWilliam Rooke sworn; examined by Mr. Starkie.
Q. Was you a private in the 15th. Hussars in August, 1819?
A. I was.
Q. In Captain Whitefoord's troop?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you advance with the rest of the troop from the Magistrates' house after you had halted there?
A. Yes.
Q. While proceeding, was you attacked by any one?
A. I was attacked by one person.
Q. Had that person any instrument with which he attacked you or your horse?
A. Yes; the instrument was in the form of a gardener's hook.
Q. Did you see if it had any iron at the end?
A. It had.
Q. Could you observe whether it was sharp or not?
A. I am certain it was sharp.
Q. In what way did he use it?
A. Drawing it across with both hands (the witness described a motion something like that of a person mowing).
Q. Did he use it as if striking with it?
A. Yes.
Q. What height was this from the ground; was it as high as your horse's belly?
A. No; it had a short stock.
Q. Where did he strike you?
A. He struck my horse at the end of the saddle flap, and it extended to the flank.
Q. Was you able to avoid the effect of the blow?
A. Only by one of the Yeomanry Cavalry.
Q. What did he do?
A. He said, "if you do not take care, your mare's entrails will fall from under you."
Q. Upon that warning what did you do?
A. I looked down at my horse, to see in what condition it was, and I saw the blood; I tried to catch the man; I could not, he got under the horses' bellies and escaped.
Q. Was you able partly to avoid the blow from the warning you had?
A. I did.
Q. Where was your horse cut?
A. From the end of the saddle flap to the flank.
Q. What would have been the consequence if you had not been warned?
A. I expect the mare would have fallen down right under me.
Q. The man, you say, made his escape; what became of you?
A. I proceeded on to the further end of the field.
Q. Were some of the 88th. there?
A. There were.
Q. What happened there?
A. I saw a shot fired from the roof of a house.
Q. Was it a gun?
A. A pistol.
Q. You saw it fired from the roof of the house?
A. Yes.
Q. Could you see what way it was directed; was it to the 88th.?
A. No; down below.
Q. At one particular man?
A. At one particular man alone.
Q. Did you afterwards go to the Quakers' meeting-house?
A. I did.
Q. What did you see done there?
A. I saw one of the Yeomanry Cavalry against a place, and several men attacking him with a pole.
Q. You saw one of the Yeomanry Cavalry against a place and several men attacking him with a pole?
A. Yes; the man they attacked, was knocked off his horse and they left him for dead, and he was carried into a house insensible.
Q. Were a number of persons near the Quakers' meeting-house.
A. Yes; many.
Q. Were there many with sticks?
A. Yes; I may say a thousand.
Q. Were they using their sticks?
A. They did use them.
Q. In what way?
A. Hammering both the Yeomanry Cavalry, and other people likewise.
Q. Did you see any stones thrown?
A. Yes; many.
Q. Against whom were the stones thrown?
A. Against us and the Yeomanry Cavalry, in particular.
Q. How soon after you began to advance from Mr. Buxton's house, did the throwing stones begin?
A. The instant, and before we began our march —they were flinging stones before we advanced at all.
Q. You had halted at first?
A. We did.
Q. And then the throwing stones commenced?
A. Yes; I conceive the stones began to be thrown before we left the place.
Cross-examined by Mr. Evans.
Q. What part of the field was you in, when this desperate attack was made on you with the gardener's hook?
A. Within ten yards of the hustings.
Q. When this attack was made on you, one of the Yeomanry told you of it?
A. He did.
Q. One of the Manchester Cavalry?
A. No; one of the Cheshire Yeomanry.
Q. When you got to the Quakers' meeting-house, had any soldiers preceded you?
A. There was a party of our men there before me.
Q. Also part of the Manchester Yeomanry?
A. Most likely.
Q. You marched very deliberately through the mob?
A. We did.
Q. Slowly.
A. We went at a walk.