punishable by death. the government sent thousands of troops into areas affected by the riots. in the spring of that year, several factory owners were killed during luddite riots, and a number of textile workers died as well. following one of the largest incidents, when rioters set fire to a mill in westhoughton, four rioters, including a young boy, were executed. in another incident that spring,a group of over a thousand workers attacked a mill in lancashire with sticks and rocks. when they were beaten back by armed guards protecting the mill,