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Leader (1850-1860), 7th January 1854, Edition 1 of 1, Page 9, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      coloured marble , and is superbly . decorated . The new sect—for new it may certainly be called without disrespect , Mr . Irving having founded it little more than twenty years- ago—lias Churches in all parts of Europe , and of these that in Gordon-square is to be the central end chief .

      Untitled Article

      STRIKES AND WAGES . Thb Society of Arts has taken a most important step in relation to the strikes , as the following document will show : —" " The Council of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts , Manufactures , and Commerce , having had the recent disputes between employers and employed in the manufacturing districts under theii serious consideration , are of opinion that this society may be made , in soin « degree , instrumental in promoting a clear knowledge of the facts and principles involved in the questions at issue , " a » d may offer a neutral ground upon which both parties may fairly and temperately discuss the best modes of either preventing' the outbreak of such disastrous quarrelsor terminating them

      , as speedily and satisfactorily , as possible , to all parties , when they arise . " The council , therefore , propose , in the first place , to hold a conference , to which they will invite the general associations of masters and operatives at Manchester , and the local associations of masters and operatives at Preston , to send each a representative . They also propose to invite to the conference an equal number of . those vrho took the most prominent part on either side of the late dispute among the mechanical engineers . It will farther be the care of the council to bring to the conference , without bias on one side or other , as many as possible of those who , without being involved in the labour question as partisans , lave studied and mastered its various bearings . The council x > roDose

      to regulate the order of the proceedings so that they may have a practical tendency and a business character , and not degenerate into vague , noisy , or useless declamation . For this purpose , each speaker will be strictly limited to a few minutes on each topic ; and ,- that . digression may be readily decked , the whole ^ abject will be defined and divided into distinct propositions , snch as the following : — " 1 . Combinations . —Are they objectionable , whether set on foot by employers or employed , as a means of influencing the value of labour ? Would a law of limited liability in partnerships tend to render such combinations unnecessary ? Do they remove the questions with which they deal from the privacy of ordinary trade management and place them under public cognizance , and , if so , bow may that publicity he most

      simply and effectually secured ? Ought any legislative provision , or otter arrangement , to be made by which the right of association , if obviously exercised to the detriment of the community , might be controlled or neutralised ? " 2 . Strikes and Lockouts . —Should partial strikes , intended to take the masters of a locality in detail , be met by lockouts ? What other means are likely to b « effectual in terminating them ? " 3 . Wages . —Does payment by piecework alter substantially the mature of the relations which would exist between employer and employed , were the latter day or weekly labourers ? Can fists of prices for piecework be equitably drawn up so as to meet the varied , circumstances of different

      machinery , different management , different localities , and the constant progress of improvement ? Ought manufacturers to bind together their associations within the limits of a minimum scale of prices for piecework ? Ought the operative to share beyond the market value of his labour in the increased productiveness of improved machinery ? . " The council propose that no resolutions should be adopted except where entire unanimity prevails . While they venture , for convenience sake , to prescribe the order of the proceedings , they intend to observe a strict neutrality . They have fixed upon Tuesday , tho 24 th day of January , for holding th « conference , which is hereby convened at the ( Society ' s House , John-street , Adelphi , functually at 10 a . m . "

      The position of -the Preston men with regard to the masters is not altered . Last week they received upwards of 3000 / . for their support . We trust , however , that the movement initiated by tlie Society of Arts will be productive of the best effects .

      Untitled Article

      THE BRITISH FLEET IN THE TAGUS . A sad accident occurred in the British squadron here on the 24 th instant . They were to have sailed on that day for a month ' s cruise , and about 10 a . m . b ^ gan to get under weigh . The St . Jean < TAcre , 101 , screw , Captain Hon . —Keppel , was tlie most seaward ship , and should have sailed flrat : but as she was watering at the time , she contented herself with getting up her anchor , drifting with tlie tide for a full half hour , with no canvas set , and this was the cause of the subsequent disaster . Next to her were the Duke of Wellington , 131 guns , screw , Commodore Martin , and the Cruizer , 20 , screw , Captain Hon . — Douglas , which ships weighed and made sail together .

      up on her anchor , which -was at once dropped . She immediately pulled royals and top-gallant saihj , and cleared topsails . After some delay she was safely hove off out of her dangerous position . The rest of the squadron , seven sail , were now under weigh , nearing the St . Jean d'Acre , some on tie starboard and others on the larboard tack . The Acre was at this time right before the wind ; and , unfortunately , this moment was chosen for loosing sail , when she at once began to run rapidly ahead ; and before her sails could be set , or steerage got on her , she ran right into the Desperate ( 6 guns , screw , Captain Chambers ) , which ship was nearest to herand had

      , first stood on the port tack , striking hei right abaft the funnel , carrying away her main and mizen topmasts , stovihg in her bulwarks , &c . 1 h& St Jean d'Acre lost her jib-boom and head rigging . This took place close to the south side of the river , and the line-of-battle ship , with the Desperate hanging on her bows , drifted so close to the rocks that persons might almost have jumped ashore from them . Here they brought up with their anchors , and for more than six hours remained in the iflost perilous situation . The mainmast of the Desperate was eventually carried away , and it was only ! at nightfall that they were separated and moored in safety . The great depth of

      water along the south aide of the Tagus alone saved tlie Cruizer , St . < &an d'Acre , and Desperate from ; incurring great' $ ainage , if not entire destruction . The lives lost in the last slip from the fall of her spars , &c , have been variously stated at two , four , five , and six * One report says that no lives were lost ; but though such might possibly be the case , it is scarcely credible that such an accident could occur on the crowded decks of a . war vessel without the loss of sorn « valuable lives . On the Prince Regent , flag-ship , one . man was killed in

      weighing anchor , and she lost her best bower and many fathoms of chain . . It has since been recovered . A sailor likewise fell from the rigging ' of the Valorous ( paddle steamer , Captain . Buckle ) . He was at once picked up by her boats , but died shortly afterwards . The St . Jean d'Acre has undergone a temporary repair ; the Desperate is lying a complete wreck off the palace . Immediately upon the occurrence of the accident the squadron was recalled and moored—and signal made from the flag-ship that no communication should be held with the shore till

      mid-day on Thursday , a proceeding little calculated to soothe the feelings pf the seamen , vrho had ., previously in several of the ships shown marks of discontent , if not of complete disaffection and mutiny , at being sent to sea on the eve of that general holiday Christmas-day . The effect of . this signal was to deprive the men of those many additions to their Christmas dinner ^ which they are accustomed to purchase on shore for that day ; and , indeed ; the entire policy of the admiral ' s proceedings may he justly questioned . On occasions of emergency British seamen have always shown themselves ready and willing to act ; bat it is liard to conceive that

      anything of importance had occurred to call for the sailing of the fleet on the 24 th instead of the 26 th of December , especially as Admiral Corry is awaiting his despatches by the Medea war-Bteam « r . The above is an impartial account of the accident , as communicated to me by an eye-witness . A court of inquiry will of course be held . Porthe present , beyond the inferences deducible ^ roni a brief recital of the fact s , I must suspend my judgment till an official decision has been given . I cannot , however , pass by without reprobation the conduct of several persons in the squadron , whp , from ignorance of the facts , or misled by prejudice , nave unscrupulously thrown the whole blame on the shoulders of Captain Chambers , of the Desperate . That officer has nothing to fear , but everything to hope , from a court-martial . I must

      not forget to mention that the Portuguese men-ofwar and the arsenal despatched a great number of boats to the assistance of the English vessels when in danger , and rendered every assistance in their power . It is remarkable that our large fleet of ten ships , all of them steamers except the Prince Regent , was got under weigh without one of them titeing unlei steam ; even the Valorous , paddle-wheel steam * frigate , was under canvas and beating out . The squadron remains for the present , and consists of the Prince Regent , Duke > pf Weilin ^ lonj St . Jean d'Acre , Imperieuse , Arrogant , Amphim , Tribune , Cruxzer , Valorous , Odin , and the unfortunate Desperate . The Medea is hourly expected , when the twelve vessels l » ere will constitute the finest steam-fleet in the world . —Daily News .

      The Duhe beat away to sea beautifully , with the wind W . N . W ., and during the whole time she was under canvas astonished and delighted eveiy one by her speed and easy steering . She is acknowledged on all hands to be the fastest ship under canvas in the squadron , and it is quite a new thing ia tho navy for a three-decker to leave the fastest frigntes far astern on any wind . The Cruizer was not so fortunate , owing to th . 0 drifting about of the St . Jean d'Acre . Captain Douglas could not tack as soou as desirable , and by carrying on , in order to reach to windward of the Acrt , the Cruizer got too faroinder the cliffs on the south bank of tho Tagus , and , refusing to stay , would have gone right ashore had not she brought

      Untitled Article

      A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS . Thbkis have been several remarkable accidonts of late ; not only from the rail whence wo get auch an unfailing supply , but from fire . There was a great firo in the City on Saturday—the third last week . It broke out in the premises of Messrs . Townend , hatters , Bread-street , Clieapsido . Mr . Braidwood , with a strong force , vras speedih on tho spot \ fcut in spite of tho mreat efforts of tlie brigades , tho premises were burnt down , and no fewer than eleven houses , chiefly warehouses , were very inucli damaged . The fire whs not finally extinguished until Tuesday . Loss estimated at 80 , 000 ? . There has been yet " another" great tire in tho City . It

      broke out on Thursday morning in Benaet-atreefc destroyed the . premises of Mr . Coombes , builder , and ditaiseOt . Bonnet ' s Church and other property . < : ¦ .-.--But a more serious Conflagration ' took place , on T&e * difc at Rochdale , resulting in loss of life . A mill belonginfilt * Messrs . Kelsall was . destroyed . The mill is situate in £ nutfc < streef , on the right bank of the river Eoach , and extends from Duncan-street , to Peon-street . It was a good substantial building , erected eighteen years , ago , about 90 feet loxg . by 72 ., wide , and coasistedof four stories and an attic . The manufacture carried on is chiefly in flannels , and the whole of the first , second , and fourth stories : and attic were , filled with machinery for spinning , weaving , and other processed , belong * ing to- Messrs . Kelsalfy while the greater part of the third

      floor was let off as a carding-.-room" to . Mr . Thomas Stott . About 150 hands were employed in the concern , of whom 24 worked for Mr . Stott . At the Duncan-street end of the mill , over the engine-house , there was a machine in tho tULrd floor called a " deviL" It is a machine which is used in tne first process of manufacturing for tearing asunder and cleaning the fibres of wool . Ibis " devil" is separated from tie ij-est of tiie machinery on the same floor by a wood partition only . About an hour after the mill commenced running yesterday morning , or about 7 o ' clock , while Samuel Stott ( son . of the owner of the machinfe ) and another man were at work at the " devil , " the flame of a gaslight suddenly ignited some " floss , " or light portion of the wool , flying about the room

      in the wind from the machine , and the fire communicated quickly witW the wool in the machine itself .. There is a bucket usually kept over the machine , and a pipe from a cistern of water on the roof was near , intended for use ia case of fire , ' but on this occasipn the backet lvas oat of place , and had to be sought below stairaiS ^ &ei ticne was lost owing to this before water could be thjpiifr | in tie flames , andt inucli more valuable time was wasted ; in the first abortive attempt to extinguish the fire by these meats , « ce the police and the fire Jrigade of the town could be comnarinicated with . The fire Irigade received notice about a quarter past 7 aad were quickly , on the spot ; bat much time was again lost , owing to the river being frozen over , as well as the water in the street plugs , by an intense frost prevailing for some days past .

      By the time the fire-engines were ia full play , the fire was bursting from nearly all . the front , windows of th » third stor « y in Smith-street . The operatives in the t ^ ird storey had to pass almost through the fire to reach this staircase at the Duncan-street end of the mill , and were sftrnewhat scorched in the effort ; but those be 3 ow escaped without difficulty . From some cause , those in the fourth story and the attic were not informed of their dinger until this mode of ' escape was cut off by the spread of the fire . " TJifc result was that a rush was made to the \ rindows of the different

      fronts of the rooms on the fourth and attic floors and to the roof by the operatives , who ' . chiefly consisted of women and children , and a most appalling spectacle , soon presented itself to . those outside . The poor terrified creatures shrieked in an agony of terror , and held out their hands for succour , while the names wrapped the walls beneath them from the windows upward . There were but few men among them , but three of these , Henry Ratcliffe , Hichard Duckworth , aad Thomas Taylor , are reported to have acted most heroically in braving the heat ofthe fire to . assist in lowering the women and children with ropes irom the % pper stories before they descended themselves . Unfortunately , the alarm of some of the women overcame every other feeling , " and

      they resolved upon the desperate nsk of a leap . One of these unfortunate creatures . Hannah -Amber leaped from the top of the mill into Smith-street , and was takea up in a state of insensibility . She disd soon afterwards , having broken her back . Margaret Scott was « linging to a rope from the roof of the building , by which an attempt was made to lower her , and unfortunately let go her hold after descending a few feet . She fell in Penn-street , and was killed . Jane Standring jumped from the fourth story into some lime in the back-yard , and but little hope is . entertained of her- recovery . . A girl made tho same desperate leap , and did not sustain much injury from it ,, except to her eyes , which are burnt by the lime . Of those who had to be carri ed to their

      houses with fractured limbs and other severe injuries , the following is a list : —Jane Kershaw , Jane Standring , William Butterworth , Alice Shore , Mary Wolfenden , Elizabeth Armitace , Mary Hardnaan , Reuben Sutcliffe , Martha Heywood , ana Emma Stott . " The fire was got under with great exertion by 10 o ' clock , and was extinguished by about noon , but not till the whole of tlie main building except the engine-house had been destroyed , the greater part of the front wall falling into Smithstreet . The entire loss sustained by Messrs . jKelsril and Co . is estimated at 12 , 0001 .. a considerable part of Which is believed to be covered by insurance , and Mr . Stott has suffered to the extent of 1000 * ., of which , unfortunately , no portion is insured .

      An Irish boy is missing , and ia supposed to have been buried in the ruins . Axgreat fire took p lace at Bradford on Thursday week , and a warehouse with much property was destroyed . Between five aad six o ' clock on Tuesday th « immense " shears , " or crane , on the south side of the Southampton docks , for the purpose of raising boilers in and out of ships , dbc ., and other dead weights , suddenly fell . So strong wm the construction of this machine , that as much as nity tons could be raised at one time by its beautifully constructed levers . The exact cause of the accident has not yet been satisfactorily ascertained , but it is conjectured tha ^ the founto bear its

      dation could not have been sufficiently strong immense weight ; In its fall it carried away a very lfcrge portion of the dock wall adjacent , and had it not happened that the shears fell inland , and not into the dock , there ia little doubt but tliat the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Madrid , which has been undergoing repair for some time past , and which ia placed directly leneath them , must have ken partially , if not wholly , destroyed , as well perhaps as some lives have been sacrificed . Th . e " pair of shears" was orccied some few years » go by the Dock Company at an enormoua expense , and from their now damaged appearance there ia no doubt that they must le replaced by new ones , which will incur an expense of some twenty thousand

      Untitled Article

      \ N . January 7 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . * ¦ ¦ " I ' ¦ . ' . ' ' ' i . E T

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 7, 1854, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2020/page/9/