What actually happened The wagon was about halfway down Cable Street when  the Extraordinary Company engaged the Commune.  Long-ranged rifle fire proved effective with no less than  four drivers being shot off the wagon. However, the  fanatical courage of the Commune’s diehards kept it  moving.  Napier led one section forwards and engaged in brutal  hand to hand combat around the wagon. This seemed to  be going well until the infamous Lizzie Sparrow stepped  forwards and hurled all three of her Brick Lane Bottle  Grenades into the melee.  Five Soldiers and three  Anarchists were killed and injured leaving only the  wagon driver with Napier and Tyler fighting on the back  of the wagon.  As it approached the warehouse Napier jumped clear  and gave a hand signal. Tyler followed him as Sapper  Jones fired the fateful Congreve rocket into the back of  the wagon. This set the warehouse and the end of cable  Street ablaze.

Anarchists slipped away In the confusion the remaining Anarchists slipped away  leaving Napier to face the music. Eleven Anarchists were  killed and Emile Dreyfuss was captured (though he was  later freed by the Commune). Four members of the  Company perished and Captain Napier spent two months  in the London Free Hospital. Twenty-seven civilians,  fifteen of whom were dockers, were killed and several  dozen injured. Abel Caine lost his hearing in one ear,  something he blames to this day upon Captain Napier. All  six wagon horses perished in the inferno.  Commissioner of the Police The press had a field day and the Commissioner of the  Metropolitan Police demanded the disbandment of the  Extraordinary Company and the court martial of Captain  Napier. Instead the Secretary of State for the Home  Office, Lord Digby, resigned and the Prince of Wales  himself drew a line under the matter. Without Lord Digby,  a charismatic speaker, the Whig government fell in the  next election in the spring of 1895.