Very few in the village closed an eye that night. Mothers went down and implored3 the pitmen on guard to release their sons, but the pitmen were firm; moreover Mr. Brook4 as a magistrate5 had placed the two constables6 of the place at the door, with the strictest order to allow none of the prisoners to escape. The six o'clock train brought twenty policemen from Birmingham, and these at once took charge of the schoolhouse, and relieved the pitmen of their charge. The [Pg 194]working of the mine was suspended for the day, and large numbers of visitors poured into the place. So desperate a riot had never occurred in that neighbourhood before, for even the attack upon the machinery7 of the mine was considered a less serious affair than this.
Not only did curiosity to learn the facts of the case attract a crowd of visitors, but there were many people who came from the pit villages near to inquire after missing husbands and sons, and loud were the wailings of women when it was found that these were either prisoners or were lying injured in the temporary hospital.
Strangers entering the village would have supposed that a great explosion had taken place in some neighbouring pit. Blinds were down, women stood at the doors with their aprons8 to their eyes, children went about in an awed9 and silent way, as if afraid of the sound of their own voice, many of the young men and lads had their heads enveloped10 in surgical11 bandages, and a strange and unnatural12 calm pervaded13 the village. The "Chequers" and other public-houses, however, did a roaring trade, for the sight-seer in the black country is the thirstiest of men.
It was soon known that the magistrates14 would sit at Mr. Brook's at one o'clock, and a policeman went round the village with a list of names given him by Mr. Dodgson, to summon witnesses to attend. Jack15 Simpson had strongly urged that his name might not be [Pg 195]included, in the first place because above all things he hated being put forward, and in the second, as he pointed16 out to the schoolmaster, it might excite a feeling against him, and hinder his power for good, if he, the leader of the young men, was to appear as a witness against the elders, especially as among the prisoners was Tom Walker, with whom he had fought. As Jack could give no more testimony17 than his companions, and as generally it was considered an important and responsible privilege to appear as witness, Mr. Dodgson omitted Jack's name from the list.
There was some groaning18 in the crowd when the uninjured prisoners were marched out under escort of the police, for the attack upon young women was so contrary to all the traditions of the country that the liveliest indignation prevailed against all concerned in it. The marquee used the night before for the theatricals19 had been hastily converted into a justice room. At a table sat Mr. Brook with four other magistrates, with a clerk to take notes; the prisoners were ranged in a space railed off for the purpose, and the general public filled the rest of the space.
Jane Haden was the first witness called. She gave her evidence clearly, but with an evident wish to screen some of the accused, and was once or twice sharply reproved by the bench. She could not say who were among the men she saw gathered, nor recognize any of those who had used the threatening expressions which [Pg 196]had so alarmed her that she went round to arouse the elder men, and then ran off to warn the returning party.
"Mrs. Haden," Sir John Butler, who was the chairman of the magistrates, said, "very great praise is due to you for your quickness and decision; had it not been for this there can be no doubt that the riot would have led to results even more disastrous20 than those which have taken place. At the same time it is the feeling of the court that you are now trying to screen the accused, for it can hardly be, that passing so close you could fail to recognize some of those whom you heard speak."
Mr. Dodgson then gave his evidence, as did several of the lads, who proved the share that the accused had taken in the fray21, and that they were captured on the spot; while two of the pitmen proved that when they arrived upon the spot a desperate riot was going on, and that they joined in the fray to assist the party attacked.
The examination lasted for four hours, at the end of which the whole of the prisoners were remanded to prison, the case being adjourned22 for two days.
Before these were passed, both the lads whose cases had been thought hopeless from the first, died, and the matter assumed even a more serious appearance. Before the next hearing several of the prisoners offered to turn king's evidence, and stated that they had been incited23 by the young women at the feast.
[Pg 197]
Great excitement was caused in the village when ten or twelve young women were served with warrants to appear on the following day. They were placed in the dock with the other prisoners, but no direct evidence was taken against them. The number of the accused were further swelled24 by two men belonging to other villages, who had been arrested on the sworn evidence of some of the lads that they had been active in the fray.
At the conclusion of the case the whole of the male prisoners were committed for trial on the charges of manslaughter and riot. After these had been removed in custody25, Sir John Butler addressed a severe admonition to the women.
It had, he said, been decided26 not to press the charge against them of inciting27 to riot, but that they had used expressions calculated to stir the men up to their foul28 and dastardly attack upon a number of young women and girls there could be no doubt. The magistrates, however, had decided to discharge them, and hoped that the inward reproach which they could not but feel at having a hand in this disgraceful and fatal outrage29 would be a lesson to them through life.
Trembling and abashed30, the women made their way home, many of the crowd hissing31 them as they passed along.
When, six weeks later, the assizes were held, four of the prisoners, including Tom Walker, who was proved to be the leader, were sentenced to seven years penal32 [Pg 198]servitude. Ten men had terms of imprisonment33 varying from two to five years, and the rest were let off with sentences of from six to eighteen months.
Very long did the remembrance of "The Black Feast," as it came to be called, linger in the memories of the people of Stokebridge and the surrounding district. Great as was the grief and suffering caused alike to the friends of those injured and of those upon whom fell punishment and disgrace, the ultimate effect of the riot was, however, most beneficial to Stokebridge. Many of the young men who had most strongly opposed and derided34 the efforts of their juniors to improve themselves, were now removed, for in addition to those captured and sentenced, several of those who had taken part in the riot hastily left the place upon the following day, fearing arrest and punishment for their share in the night's proceedings35. Few of them returned after the conclusion of the trial, nor did the prisoners after the termination of their sentences, for the feeling against them in the district was so strong that they preferred obtaining work in distant parts of the country.
A similar effect was produced upon the young women. The narrow escape which they had had of being sent to prison, the disgrace of being arrested and publicly censured36, the averted37 looks of their neighbours, and the removal from the place of the young men with whom they had been used to associate, combined to produce a great effect upon them.
[Pg 199]
Some profited by the lesson and adapted themselves to the altered ways of the place; others, after trying to brave it out, left Stokebridge and obtained employment in the factories of Birmingham; while others again, previously38 engaged to some of the young men who had left the village, were sooner or later married to them, and were heard of no more in Stokebridge.
This removal by one means or another of some forty or fifty of the young men and women of the place most opposed to the spirit of improvement, produced an excellent effect. Other miners came of course to the village to take the places of those who had left, but as Mr. Brook instructed his manager to fill up the vacant stalls as far as possible with middle-aged39 men with families, and not with young men, the new-comers were not an element of disturbance40.
The price of coal was at this time high, and Mr. Brook informed the clergyman that, as he was drawing a larger income than usual from the mines, he was willing to give a sum for any purpose which he might recommend as generally useful to the families of his work-people. The vicar as usual consulted his valued assistants the Dodgsons, and after much deliberation it was agreed that if a building were to be erected41 the lower story of which should be fitted up as a laundry and wash-house upon the plan which was then being introduced in some large towns, it would be an immense boon42 to the place. The upper story was to be furnished as a reading-room with a few papers and a small library of useful and [Pg 200]entertaining books for reading upon the spot or lending. Plans were obtained and estimates given, and Mr. Brook expressed his willingness to contribute the sum of eighteen hundred pounds for which a contractor43 offered to complete the work.
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1
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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2
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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3
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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5
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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constables
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| n.警察( constable的名词复数 ) | |
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7
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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8
aprons
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| 围裙( apron的名词复数 )； 停机坪，台口（舞台幕前的部份） | |
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9
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
surgical
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| adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的 | |
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12
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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13
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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15
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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16
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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17
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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18
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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19
theatricals
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| n.（业余性的）戏剧演出，舞台表演艺术；职业演员；戏剧的( theatrical的名词复数 )；剧场的；炫耀的；戏剧性的 | |
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20
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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21
fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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22
adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
incited
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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25
custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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26
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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27
inciting
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| 刺激的，煽动的 | |
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28
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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29
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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30
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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32
penal
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| adj.刑罚的；刑法上的 | |
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33
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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34
derided
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| v.取笑，嘲笑( deride的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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36
censured
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的过去式 ) | |
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37
averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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38
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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39
middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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40
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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41
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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42
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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43
contractor
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| n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌 | |
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