 As the group slowed down to climb the gate guarding the bridge over the Teville Stream that would take them out of Worthing into open fields, horse-mounted excise officers opened fire at point-blank range on the crowd, who were armed only with wooden staves.They shot dead William Cowerson of Steyning and injured several others.Civil unrest was feared and the military were brought into the town for two years to ensure peace was kept.