Current:

Northern Star (1837-1852), 10th July 1847, Edition 2 of 3, Page 2, Dediliti and conkibhed Astuha. — Extraor...

Page 2
Page 2
2 of 8

On this page

  • Departments (3)
    • HttHE «RBAT*ST SALE OF AM MBMCUiHS IH THE GLOBE.
    • THE LATE AWFUL COAL-P1T EXPLOSION.
    • /ir ^ *... ^^.*^^ - *.^.^^^ Correspondence*
  • Adverts (7)
  • Text (10)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      ' Nt The Korthern Sear. Jply 10m7 J_ * *...

      THE KORTHERN SEAR . JpLY 10 ' j _ * * _^ - ' ' """""~~"""""'""" "' 7 «! I

      Htthe «Rbat*St Sale Of Am Mbmcuihs Ih The Globe.

      HttHE « RBAT * ST SALE OF AM MBMCUiHS IH THE GLOBE .

      Ad00209

      HOLLOW A X * S PI ^ S . A A Ver y WtndcrW Ok * » t a Disordered IiTer aad Stomach . - ^» w «^ » f * Letter from , ifr OUrUs Wilson , 3 « , Pnnoes T » rrofe » sor H » Uoway . l _ ii- ^ .. taVen voar « UIs t » remove a du « t 9 e « t n ^^^ oliVwen ^ nrprfc-ttd instntcMons 1 havere-Uhf ^^ i ? J 5 th w ^ uch I h * d thoug ht lost for aver . 1 SS ^ SSMSM ^^ F tm * ma « lF spea » v j »«« . _ .. „ , j « nK « at hut

      Ad00210

      OK THE COKCEALED CADSEOF CONSTITUTIONAL Q & ACQUIRED ABILITIES OF-TH & GENERATIVE SYSTEM . Just Published . A new and ! mportaut Edition of the SUan Friend on irtraan Frailty . lice 2 s . 6 i , and sent free 4 a y part of the United Kingdom os the receipt of a Post Offiee Order for 3 s . Sd . 4 MEDICAL WORK on tee INFIRMITIES of the 6 E JO . HERA . TIVE SYSTEJf , faz'both sexes ; being an en quiry into tiie concealed cause that destroys physicaeoergy , and the ability of manhood , ere vigojbr has estal bHshed her empire : —with Observations en the banefu-

      Ad00211

      net * s $ * ee of time , withoat eonfinentent to the least ea poeuce . The above medietae * ate ted qb % by Henri . R usi L . PHRRY and Co ., Surgeoni . M , BenMrwfcwt , QsfenUttreet , Louden . Mutr * . FBRR T expect , tihtn oonsvHMh ymtr , ( to usual fee One Pound , wttftwt which newtraj ttwtfcter cm be tofcew * e eewwwmiwttoiv . Patients are requested to be as aumntsas . potsiblMn he detail ef their cases , as . . to thedarationtf-tfu comhunt , the Sfmptems , age , habits of fwing ^ nd general eeupatiou . Medicines can be forwarded : to » M & part U he werid ; no difficulty can occur , as t & ej will bo securely a « k « d , and corefully- protectecl from « WrvattoH .

      Ad00212

      CKJUr ! UOUTM GOUTJI ! "Btc Kea ^ pee ^ ietPatoKted 3 Tedichief * r < 3 e < it , tP * 1 cmised & y «« FacHUp . Kobility , and Gentry , ubc .

      Ad00213

      PM 'DOUGlKLL'S DROPS FOR GOUT . Rheuma-• - tism , Sciatica , Tic Dolorous , Lumbago , aud all painful Affections of the Joints . The unparalleled local reputation attained by these drops , during the time they have been beforerthe " public ( now upwards of eight years ) , has induced the proprietor earnestly to recommend them to the " attention el ^ hose persons who are labouring under the naitiful . effects , of the above-mentioned distressing complaints . Authority has been given by upwards of 300 persons , residing within a mile of the proprietors resi . rience , to use theirianies . aj vouchers of the extraordinary effects and wov .-Jerful efficacy of these drops , which effectually relievu , in the course of a few hours , tlieuiOStex . uerae coses . About-so . coo bottles have been sold , without a siugle instance of iailure having occurred .

      Ad00214

      SPINAL AFFECTIONS . THE tDISCOTERER OF THIS INrALUABlE SPECIFIC has , after great study and long practice , proced by facts that this fc the only efficient remedy for all Spinal Diseases ever yet discovered . The following are a few testimonials out of the many hundreds which might be aSduced : — I . John Barber , of Adlington , had lost the use of my limbs for the-space of eighteen months . By the use often pots I was enabled to walk well , and by persevering in the use of ten . more I was perfectly cured , and am nowable tO follfllV my employment . —Signed , John Barber , Adlington , near Macclesfield , Cheshire , September 19 th , 1816 . to mb n . tioe . Bear Sir , —J . eannot refrain expressing my gratitude for the perfect cnceil have received by the use of vour ointment . I was aflUcted for eighteen wonths , and had lost the use of my limbs . By using ten vats of your invaluble ointment I waS ( perfectly restored , and am now in the full enjoyment . of ; goed health . — Richard Jenkinson , New Mill , near Hialdersfield , Yorkshire , January 2 Gth , liS 17 .

      Ad00216

      Ad00215

      TflE POPULAR MEDICINE . The following important testimony to the efficaCT . of PARR'S IME PILLS haBJuat & eenreceiveibj tbe Proprietors .

      The Late Awful Coal-P1t Explosion.

      THE LATE AWFUL COAL-P 1 T EXPLOSION .

      Wega*E In Our Last Number Tibet Turns Ou...

      Wega * e in our last number Tibet turns out to have been a very incorr ect account of the dreadful coal-pit explosion near Wigtn . Byoyersight it was not mentioned that that report was taken from the Mmzhattr Guardian , a p a p er aot t o o scru p ulous as reeards the truth when putsurag rts _ natural avocation of sheltering the masterclass from blame and punishment . We take the follewing account of this frighftul catastrophe from tbe Manchester Times of Friday , July-2 arL Thelihw htm Times commences its-report by saying :: —

      So'far as tho circumstances hawbeen elicited they are calculated to excite astonishment as well as horror , at the circumstance that any human beings should have been allowed to proceed with thoipwork hourly exposed to-such an awful catastrophe as that whiuhihas now overtaken'them . Xhe facts of tbe case are these . At'the . colliery in question , called Kirkless Hall tColliery , there are two shafts opening . into a considerable vein of-coat at about 266 yards depth , called p its No . 1 Mid No . 5 , and situated at a distance of-only , about 30 or 40 yards from each other . -The sinking of the shafts , as we understand , was completed . only about nine imonltis or a . year ago , and the workings are consequently all of them very vecentones . ( In . pit No . 1 , where -tiie . accident has

      oclOurred , the workings are divided irrto two . main -sections by . adrift way or road of considerable width , right and . leftfrom the bottom of the shaft , and extending to the diitance of .- € 80 . or 900 yards , ilu itfwse workings , at various points , a large number . of men were engaged on [ Tuesday , when a . eollitr named lilursi , employed in , getting « oalatthe < fai & he 8 t wnrking in theright-bandsection ( which does not extend near so far as the left-hand section , and who was not above two hundred and fifty yards from the sbafy . set fire to the mine . under the following circumstances . It appears that tbe . oe & liers in this pit ace allowed—or si , least if they are not " allowed , " properly speaking , by the masters , thepractice has been winked at by the overlookers and underlookers—to 6 re shots , or " blast tbe coal / ' in the manner adopted in

      stone quarries , and by tho sinkers of coalpits when they comeia contact with rocks . The process it one of using gunpowder and exploding it , thereby large frag , meats of rock or . coal-can be detached from tbe seam , and brought down wholesale , saving an immense amount of labour and time to the workmen , who would otherwise have to hew itdown by means of " picks ; " but in coalmines , so liable to accumulations of explosive gases , it will strike tbe mind of the most uninformed person in such matters that it is a dangerous practice . And wbat renders the practice more extraordinary , as brought to light through tbe present accident is , that in this minn , though a large number of persons were scattered about at great distances from each other , but in places connected by means of open passages , where all were ex .

      nosed to more or less common danger , these " shots" or "blasts" were fired without any intimation biing conveyed from party to party , so that they might be prepared in case of explosion to escape . On the contrary , it was no uncommon thing for the miners , after setting fire to the gas accumulated in their localities by resorting to this system of "blasting , " to struggle with it , and attempt to master it , by smothering it up , or walling it in , without evtn then communicating any alarm to their fellow-workmen . Hitherto they had hy such means succeeded in preventing the spread of these fires to such an extent as to cause wbat is called an explosion , though they must frequently have run the risk of such a c * astropbe . The fire in these workings on Tacsday murine had its commencement exactly in this manner ^^ i } , .

      Hurst and his companions had set fire to sooi 04 j > as accumulated behind the coal they had dislodged f -aadttiav , attempted to extinguish it themselves , as it bMflippbsc'd ; then they went for assistance to some of thorotkift-handii , and as a last resource to cut it off fromtheteair part of the mine an attempt was made to builS . walls up across the workings or roads , so as ; : chokeinrii ; but while these attempts were making , { be firoutot jsto eoimnuni cation with a more p ¦ werful body « nA > Ot air , and a fearful explosion succeeded . H < M-.- * mny were killed by this explosion it is not yet knownVstfut'Tho danger of those who happened to be in thoflMcttori it took may be ima gined , when it is stated that their position wcii .

      'dbesomothing like that of-partios { At ' cia in the ba / relofacannon during an c * ptosib ^ H «> dnnpo ' ltder in it . The result was , thatsomeo' >* it ?«^ fef s- ,, ' | d to wall up a portion of the \ torUin ^ : y ' ''^[ ' '<\ 'Vlhenisix of ( heir feliow workmen thus im ]> ns < HKp 2- ' ~ ! ' 't t )* r dead or alive is not known , though it-.:. <• , ¦ ¦ the ? ? i'd ^ htthere could be no possibility of their fci' . ' i : 1 ; ' r' ' 7 . M -aMd to ' muke iheir own escape , as they best i-frttf j ' , 1 aese man , upwards of twenty in number , more or ifS ?\ ii .-nt , escaped to tbe top of the shaft , or pit , carryi ^ irith them the lifeless body of one of their companion '( that » f J » hn Cartwright ) , and John Berry , who was ' sTv ^ aiSV ' bunit : Uathe died the following day , —the Vtmslmrlg six are still shut up in the mine )

      T .: e iolhTi ' mg will be found to be a more complete list © f tbefWUvd and wounded than previously given , and will serve rV ' correct some inaccuracies : — List op Persons still in the Mine — supposed to be Dead . —Joshua Penman , John Harding , Robert Saltbouse , or Southern , James Hurst ( the man who fired the mine ) , William Daintry , a boy , and James Harding . List of Minebs Bobht , and who have Died . —John Car twright , brought oat of the pit dead ; John Berry , rged 82 , brought out of the pit alive , but who died on the following day ; John Rhodes , died on Thursday , leaving a widow and five children . List op Persons hose or less Burnt—some vert SEVCTELT—BOX WHO JIBE YET ALIVE . — John HokrOft John Bolton , James Naylor , a boy , Robert Wilkinson Joseph Wilkinson , George Evans , Samuel Evans , a boy Henry Horsham , John Riely , Ely Monks , William Jackson , Richard Curry , James Belshaw , John Mills , Thos . Lsvison , Samuel Simpkins , John Webster , and Whittle .

      THE INQUEST . An inquest was held on Thursday on tbe body of John Berry , who resided at New Springs , Aspul Moor . The inquisition was taken by Mr W . S . Rutter , county coroner , at the Running Horses public-bouse . Mr Roberts , solicitor , and commonly known by the title of "the colliers' attorney-general , " appeared at the inquest as the representative , we presume , of the colliers' union . The following evidence was given : — Edward Hayes , of Scholes , Wignn ( a colliery boy ) , said he was employed in the pit , which was near to Springbridge , township of Ince . It was Messrs Lancaster's pit . The explosion took place about ten minutes to one o ' clock on Tuesday , just as I had come up out of the pit , and reached the brow . I came up because the pit

      was then on fire at the far end of the workings , and I saw there would be danger . I worked at the secondeyc , not at the far end , but I had been to take them two waggon loads-of stuff to put out the fire . Could not say how long the £ se had been burning at tbe time . I had been going aboct a good deal , and whilst doing so the time would knock on . A yeung man ( Hurst ) had been to the pit eye ( where I was , having taken a tub of coal ) , and said he had fined his shot , and the coal bad taken fire , and he could mot get the fire out , I cannot say . what o ' clock it was whether twelve o ' clock or earlier , I had two matters , that I drew for , one was Jno . Harding , and

      tbe other his ofusin . They had been driven to that place by the fire . 1 have seen none of the men since who were with him . -When we had been told of the fire Harding and I caoe to the pit eye , he with a full tub and I with an empty . one . " Well , "he laid pulling off his jacket , " we must go and help them to get the fire out , " and when we had getten to the second landing , where 5 . had met with Hardicg , we foundGeorge Evans , the un-( krlooker , who said he wanted two tubs full of bricks as . saati as he could get then , ano . we got tu « m for trim- — ¦ tbe bricks being found between the first and second land . ing . We then took the brisks to the other landing , fur . thoron ( the third ) .

      QJhe Coroner ( to Mr Johc Lancaster ) : What do you call a landing !—Mr Lancaster : A turn table , where the workings meet at right anglae , to turn carriages round upon , so as to move them in aswther direction . Witness : When we got to the third landing we opened tiie door , and took one tab into the part of the workings . where the fire was ; the fgee was at about thirty yards * distance , and we emptied the tubs , and there being anottwr tub emptied by another man , George , the underJooker , said he wanted them out of the way to make mora room far the current of . sir ; eo I pulled one out of the pit . He said , " What ' s the use of going out V and that he would not go till the fire was out . I was afraid to remain , and that made me wish to go , seeing the fin so big . Z then went out , and bad been in the cabin at the top of the pit about twenty minutes when the explosion took place . There are now several persons in the mine , for anything I know : I have never heard anything of them since . The Coroner : Where U Hurst ?

      lir Lancaster : He is tbe man who set fire to the place , and it supposed to be still iu the mine . ' The Coroner ; But George , —where ii ha {—Lie is badly burnt . Mr Roberts : What , trere you afraid ?—I was afraid ot the sulphur . —Was there much sulphur In the pit at tb * time!—Not that I know of . —Did you work with rafety lamps '—Yes . —Why work with safety lamps if there was no sulphur!—Because we tbovghtbaply theremig'ht bo some . I never knew of any sulphur taking fire in that pit before : cannot say whether there has or ha ; not been an explosion there before . The Coroner asked if tbe man who fired tbe shot was ih attendance ! Mr Lancaster explained , that he had never been found since , having been left in the mine .

      Peter Britton called : I am a hooker-on at tbe fur nace-place of No . 2 pit , and was there at the time of the explosion . The fire was not above 200 or 300 yards ft om i here . I heard of the coal taking fire about half-past eleven o ' clock in the morning . The man who had fired the thotcame there and said , " Where ' s the fireman ?" I said ' ,- " I don ' t know—what ' s amiss ? " He said "My place i * on fire . " I went up with him quick , and found all the place on fire , but the coal was not on fire . I then sent for the fireman , Geo . Evans , and he came and brought a number of other men . I went with them and to

      we beg'an build and atop up the place with bricks , that w < f might smother it out . I went down to get them a few more bricks , and in backing them up George said , " We shall rant some good clay to fasten up crevices . " We bad some at the shaft , which only wanted softening , and I went for it . It was betwwn the two pits ( 220 yards' distance from tbe fire ) , and the explosion took place while I was there . [ The pits are 30 or 40 yards asunder . ] I had been where the clay w . 's lying about two minutes , wbec » be explosion took nlact . I . Ott t kBOff dure it fired , I kucw * , fcW 8 „ d . J . *

      Wega*E In Our Last Number Tibet Turns Ou...

      Berry , and he was helping me to build up the stopping I have mentioned . There were about three-men , I think , there with the deceased . One was Samuel Evans ( brother toitheunderlooker ) , and Robert Southern , who is notfqunoSyet . I was not aware of any sulphur being in the mine : I had seenrno signs of any , By Mr Roberts : I do not'know the time , < but I staid toiielpthem . get all the hands out . When I say that tbe coal waa > not on fire , I-suppose it to have been tbe sulphur that was burning . The men have -never complained , that ' . Iiknow of , inconsequence of the foul state of the air , 'They loft the pit-one day , as soon as we had opened it nearly , in couaequsacc foul air . The pit has been open mina months . -There was only four men left working then . I cannot tell the distance 'between the up . cnstanditha down-cast-shofts . The Coroner- It is said between 30 and ^ O yards .

      By MriRobtrts : Have nny . ettempts . been "made to get the other men *> ut since ? No , aad I don ' t < knoir who would -venture"to make it . —iHave not several « nen asked leave , and been refused f Wot that J know of . The Coroner- How did you get out deceased 1 Why we « awhimijuctas we were leaving , and die was nearly exhausted . -We carried bim-skty yards about , through tbe sulphur . > Ee was a little on this side the place we had walled up . ( By Mr , Roberts : I have neper told any one I could have got more . colliers out if I had hud proper tackle . Southern wasinear to Berry when I left hinvand I asked him to go with > me , but he would not . I do not kno * whether he may ba alive . I do not know whether any of the others in the pit may be alive ! Tho Coroner : i & ould tbernotfcaye walked out ; if alive , like the others ? MrStoberts : They are bricked up ! Witness * . Tbey ace bricked up .

      MrEobsrts ,: They are bricked up — they are murdered ^ Mr . ffefan Lancaster ; Tbe fact is I was there till we were nearly all chofced , and I knew no one could live were those men were , and so we bricked up the place for the safety of the others . Mr'Roberts : You ought to have them out by now , either fiead or alive . I hope to God that an officer from governmesH will be down here by to-morrow , to investigate the matter . These men might , or may be alive , and are out off from all escape ! Do you not know that you are liable to indictment for what you bare done ! [ Mr Lancaster here pointed out at the request of the coroner , on » plan-f the mine which he had brought , the position of the passages in the mine which had been blocked up . ]

      George Gough was next called . He said : I was in the mine on Tuesday , when this happened , at my place of work , which is about 200 yards from the bottom of the shaft . I was putting my clothes on there , when the explosion occurred . The first notice I had of it was a little stoppage , or sucking of the air , and the next thing 1 felt was a gust ef wind coming , with cobbles of coali and dirt against my head . I then made tbe best of my way to the pit shaft , and came . out . I did not know where the mine had exploded , but I did know it bad " fired " some time before , and in consequence of the smoke caused by that fire I had left off work three quarters of an hour before . I bad not seen the fire , and there was none where I worked . Iworked with a safety lamp . By Mr Roberts : Why did you work with a lamp f Lamps had been regularly used there , and it was given to me when I went to the mine .

      By the Coroner ; I did not senrch for any of the men , i was too ill and exhausted witb walking through the -moke to do so . 07 Mr Roberts : Is the place on fire ' now ? I cannot iiy .- -Have you ever known of any fires in that pit before ! V « b , 'hire has been several little flashes up , when firing sbots :--Sometimes , I suppose , there is no explosion when these " flashes up , " as you call them , occur t No . —And ' at other times they catch the sulphur , and then there ' is f Yes , The Coroner : What is the necessity for firing these shots ! Mr Lancaster : It is an easier way for the men of getting the coal . Mr Roberts : It is easier for the men and easier for the masters also—no doubt of it , sir . The Coroner : But it is not common to do it in coal mines f

      Mr Lancaster : It is common to do it here ; but it is not desirable , because it shatters the coal and renders it less marketable . Mr Roberts ( to the witness ) : Do you think the cage going down the up-enst shaft would render the ventilation loss perfect , and make such an accident more likely to occur ? It would interrupt the passage of nir to some we ent , perhaps . —Do you know if any colliers have atked leave to go down this pit since it was closed up ts recover these poor men who are buried in it , and have bien refused ? Not that I know of . The Coroner ; Durst you go down ? I should not like . " - > ¦ Mr Roberts : Why , what danger is there with year safety lamps ! Tfce lamps , I think , are not always safe when there is a fire . —Bo you think there is a sufficient current of air through the workings to prevent explosions , with care ! I think there has been aforetime but not in such weatheras this .

      William Whittle , sworn : I worked in this mine till Tuesday last , in the first drift of the second level . Recollect the explosion . Nearly an hour before it took place the firemen came for our spades that they mijiht use them in putting out the fire . He said there was a place fired , but he did not say the coal was on fire . It did not alarm me , and I kept at work till I felt the wind . I did not hear it . [ Mr Lancaster explained that the witness tvns working further up the workings than where the fire took place , but in another section ] I and my fellow-workmen then went out . We found no difficulty i nly from the after-damp , or choke-damp , to avoid whieh we laid down awhile . We had used gunpowder in our part of the mine last week , I cannot say whit others did .

      By Mr Roberts : I do not know that we ever played more than part of one Saturday in consequence of sulphur , I har « heard the men say the cage being let down the up-cast shait would be a little injury to the draft . I do not know that twenty men have offered to go down the shaft since tbe accident , and help those out who are in . I should not like to venture down , Mr Lancaster : I can assure you , Mr Roberts , we have not hnd one application . Mr Roberts : Tou may not have heard of it , but I can assure you that at least a dozen colliers have made the application . I could have them down to-night , if you will allow it . Mr Lancaster : Well , we should be very glad of any assistance to help our own men . The Coroner asked if any witness ceuld be had to speak to the explosion , Mr Lancaster said he thought not . Tbe Coroner : Are you prepared to be examined !

      Mr Lancaster said he was willing to give evidence , Vut would rather postpone it till he bad had an opportunity of going into the pit again , when he could discover the place where the firing took place , and probably give a more correct account of its cause . George Evans , he understood , who was getting better , would also ou a future day be able , probably , to give evidence , and tell the exact cause of the accident , Mr Roberts thought it would be best then to adjourn . The Coroner thought so too * Subsequently , at the request of Mr Lancaster , another collier , who was working in another part of the mine when the accident occurred , was briefly examined , the object of tbe examination being to show , as he ob . served , that the fire was only local , and confined to one part of the mine and his evidence tended to prove that it was so .

      The inquest was then adjourned till Thuwday , July 8 th . Here ends the report from the Manchester Times . Should the report of the adjourned inquest reach us in time to appear in our second edition of this day ' s Stab , it sh a ll be given ; if not , we shall continue this frightful narrative in our next . We subjoin a copy of an important PETITION FROM THE COLLIERS AT WIGAN , LANCASHIRE , RESPECTING THE EXPLOSION AT KIRKLESS HALL COLLIERY . To the Honourable the House of Commons of Great Britain and Ireland iu Parliament assembled , The Humble Petition of the undersigned Colliers , working in the collieries , near Wlgan , in Laneashire , and other places in tho neighbourhood of the Kirkless Hall Colliery , ( Signed . July 3 rd , 1817 ) Humbly Sheweth , —

      That your petitioners have heard with sorrow and dismay that your Honourable House has postponed till the next Session of Parliament , the appointment of in . specters for the preventing deaths and accidents in collieries . Your petitioners respectfully crave leave to tell your Honourable House , that as the collieries are now managed , it is almost a certainty that many lives may be sacrificed before the next Session of Parliament , which might be saved if your Honourable House would interfere in behalf of your petitioners .

      Your petitioners inform your Honourable House , that the cause of the late explosion at Kirkless Hull Colliery was , that the colliers , with the knowledge of tbe master and the underlooker , were in the habit of using gun . powder for getting ( he coal , although it was known that the pit continually made sulphur , arid the men were therefore obliged to use lamps instead of candles , On tho blast being fired , it set fire to the sulphur , and then tbe coals were set on fire , and , a quantity of gas that bud been accumulated in another part of the pit , was blown upon the fire , and there was an explosion .

      . And further , your petitioners inform your Honourable ILouse , that the Kirkless Hall Colliery was not properly ventilated , and that if it had been tbe sulphur would have i > een carried away as fast as it was made ; and that there wW but one downcast shaft and one upcast , and that the M from tbe downcast was divided into six parts , to * ventilate different parts of the mine , instead of til going togetber , as ii ought to do , through the whole of tut workings , »^ tbe * therefore the part Where the explosion was ha ; *> one-sixth p „ rt 0 r thereabout of the air from the sh « ft > wMch was only about tin feet in diameter ; and , mo \ 'eorcr , that a cage was continually travelling up and dow . ' > the upcast shaft , thereby forcine back tbe foul air Into tl > works ; and for the truth of this statement your petii . ' oncrs humbly refer your Hon ourable House to the evidsm / c taken at the inquost be . ' tore the county coroneron Thu'wday last . '

      , Your petitioners are well awourfhat it will be said by the masters , and those who wish to prevent inquiry , that the oolliers need not use gunpowder , , > nd that it \» their own fault if tkey do ; anu that they &» ' * " » toeo ( old sot

      Wega*E In Our Last Number Tibet Turns Ou...

      to use It , and that their masters cannot P" « nt J *« J using it ; hut then , unfortunately for your petitioners , so it is that coal isgotten more cheaply by using gunpowder , and all parties , men , masters , and undcrlookers , have an intmst in getting as much coal as tbey con to bank . And If . one master weve to enforce the prohibition ofguupovrder , he wouldbe « t a disadvantage with other masters , who did not eaforce ^ he prohibition ; and tbe same argumeat holds good-with the men . And , therefore , it is that whatever is-said against using gunpowder , it is still continued to housed , and witb the knowledge of their matters and their agents . __ __ - * .. <«

      tfour petitioners-inform your Honourable House that ot . tbe inquest on TJwrsday , on sis « r seven of the bodies , thoraaster oftbe . pit , Mr Lancaster , said , that he could deno more than he had done to prevent the using of eunpowder , for that the men would use it , and he could not . hinder them ; for that , if he did hinder them , they woUld allg We overworking . And your petitioners , therefor * , fenr that , though gunpowder may not be used for a time , jet it will be resumed again before very long . Aad , moreover , that in other pits in the neighbourhood , where there is sulphur , gunpowder is censtantly used Honourable

      And with regard to what was said in your House about the power of tbe magistrates to interfere , your petitioners inform your Honourable House hat whether the , have po »« or not , it will be of very little use to your petitioners ; for that in aca «» of wages on Friday last ( yesterday ) at Wigan , it transpired that gunpowder was in use in the pit , and that there was sulphur there ond when the attention of the mag istrates was directed to this , they said that tbey could do nothing , and that the men had been repeatedly cautioned . Your petitioners pledge themselves to your Honourable House that if they are allowed tbe opportunity , they will prove ( aud they undertake to pay all the expenses by „ subscription among themselves ) , that all the recent deaths and ascidents would have been prevented , i ( there

      had been inspectors to make general rules for internment of collieries . The explosion ot Barnsley , in Yorkshire in March last , by which more than seventy lives were lost , was in consequence of the men working with candles , instead of lamps , close to old workings which were well known to be full of sulphur ; and your Honourable House will see that this was so , by referring to the report on the accident and inquest , published by the desire of your Honourable House . At Saint Helen's , in the neighbourhood of your petitioners , there was an explosion and severaldeaths , from the men breaking , in the course of their work , into old workings , from whence there was « rush of sulphur to a candle , which caused an explosion . And since the last explosion at Kirkless Hall Colliery , there have been three other explosions close by , and two colliers are now lying like to die from them .

      Your Honourable House bas no knowledge how constant these explosions are , for tbe newspapers do not speak of them , unless there are a great many colliers killed at once . Your petitioners submit most respectfully that , to say that some of them are careless , is no answer to tbe case of this , their petition ; for it is not only the careless who suffer , but all who happen to be iu the pit at the time . Labouring men , not brought up as colliers , are frequently employed , and young boys ; and , besides , some men are naturally reckless . But all in the pit are alike subject to the danger , although only one may have been guilty of neglect or ignorance . Your petitioners humbly implore your Honourable House to grant them some protection . It has been said that your petitioners do not care about tb « se things—but the iruth is hot so . And this petition , signed in less than an hour , is a proof that tbey feel tbe necessity for appealing to your Honourable House .

      Your petitiosers take leave to remind your Honourable House that the explosion at Haswell ' s colliery on the 28 ; h of September , 1844 , by which nearly 100 colliers were killed , was brought under your notice at the time , and commissioners appointed , and a report made ; and that then it was said that the government had taken the matter into their serious consideration , and that some general measure would be passed ; and since then in reply to letters , and whenever & targe number of colliers have been killed during the sitting of parliament , the same promise has been repeated . But still nothing has been done ; the old plans have been continued , aud many scores of lives have been lost . Your petitioners humbly submit that the usual observation , that no harm will occur from a delay of a few weeks , docs not apply to their case , for almost every day some accident is occurring .

      Your petitioners are anxious not to appear intrusive to your Honourable House , and they admit with sorrow that the time of the present session may be too short to allow of the passing of any large measure of protection . But still they venture to implore your Honourable House not to separate without passing some short act to last for a limited time ; or , until a more complete law could be passed , rendering it highly ' penal to suffer the use of candles or gunpowder in collieries , where it was known or suspected that there is sulphur . Your petitioners humbly submit that there could be no fair objection to a law , that the Secretary of State might require the owners of collieries to send him an

      account of tbe state of such collieries with regard to sulphur , and the mode iu which they were worked , and therefore to direct the same to be inspected and reported upon , and afterwards to give orders for tbe alteration of any mode of working or circumstances that appeared to endanger life . And j our petitioners , with even more confidence , submit that there could not be any fair objection to a law doing away with the use ofcandh'S orgunpowder where , there was sulphur cither known or suspected ; and inflicting high penalties , and making it an infamous crime in the owners and agents where such use was allowed , and an infamous crime also in the men who used candles or gunpowdtr at any time when warned not to do so .

      Your petitioners hare no desire to screen the working colliers from punishment , but they venture to submit that the guilt of permitting the continuance of any practice dangerous to life is much greater in the masters than in the men , Your petitioners firmly , believe that such a law , however imperfect as a government measure , would save more than 100 lives in six months . Had such a law been in existencejEixJmonths ago , at least 150 lives would have been saved . Such a law would not take long to prepare and pass , and it would claim and obtain the lasting gratitude of your petitioners . And your petitioners , as in duty bound , will ever pray , July 3 rd 1847 .

      ANOTHER COAL-PIT EXPLOSION . On Thursday , July 1 st , an explosion took place in a pit belonging to A . T . llaliburton , Esq ., adjoining the North Union Railway , in Wi ga n , known as t ho No . 2 pit . At the time of the explosion taking place , four men were in the pit , engaged in sinking lower down to a bed of coal called the Arley Mine . I t a p pears the men , on account of the quantity oi damp in the pit , carried on th e ir works wi t hou t th e u s e of li g hts ; and , in blas t in g , came to the top of t he shaf t a nd fir e d t he tr a in , by a process called " ringing it , " each explosion of which caused the damp also to be fired . A shot was laid on Tuesday

      l a st ; and i t would seem , from some part of the train being imperfect , the main body of powder was not i g ni t ed , the damp alone being fired with part of the train . The men , on Thursda y mornin g , were at work with the boring-rods again , and , at the explosion , it is supposed they were boring through the powder laid on Tuesday , from the friction of which the powder was fired , and the explosion produced . It i a also su p p o s e d , in the blowing up of the recks , the damp would also be fired . Two men , named Winstanley and . Morgan , were taken out very seriously injured , with , it is fear e d , very little hopes of their recovery ; but the other two , who were at the time behind a tub of water , escaped a p parentl y unhurt .

      Dbgkadiko Exroscre Op Pnisoners Before T...

      DbGKADIKO ExrOSCRE OP PniSONERS before Trial . —We cannot refrain from an expression of our feelin g s which were indi gnantl y exci t ed on Tu e sda y morning last , by the utter want of all moral feeling and such coraon decency aa all ranks of society , in the improved age in which we live , most properly indul ge in and cherish . As Englishmen , we blushed for our country , to see , in the streets of Winchester , six countrymen of exceedingly decent appearance , hand-cuffed and heavily chained together , and surrounded by policemen enough to eat them , if the y had been fricaseed in the last New Zealand fashion . We conciuded , of course , they were all murderers , or hi g hwa y m e n , or burglars , and on their wav to

      the hulks , after cenviction ; instead of which , we found they had not even been tried , but wer on their way for such ordeal from the gaol to the County Hall , and their offences , wirin g a hare , destroying partridges' eggs , neglecting to provide for an illegitim at e child , aud rebellion in a workhouse , or such other minor offences as the magnates of the land ( county magistrates ) adjudicate upon . We denounce this improper and disgraceful exposure of men , who may in a tew minutes after be found to be innocent , and insist that the Visiting Justices ought to have had them conveyed in a covered vehicle . The G eorge Inn would hare f o und a bu s s gladly at six . pence per head ; and the county-rate is not yet so

      ruined but that it might have borne the expense . — Hampshire Telegraph , Watbbi . 00 . —A drive of about two hours on the high road to Namur and Liege will bring the excursionist to this field of slaughter . The distance is ten miles . A carriage with two horses , to go and return will cost about 20 fr . A vigilante ( cab ) may be hived lor about one-half , there and back . About two miles tram Brussels tiie road passes through the forest of boigmcs , a gloomy track of woodland , nine miles long a nd seven and a half broad . On the outskirts ol the forest is the little Tillage of Waterloo , whence the principal portions of the plain will bo found about two miles distant . May no " citizen of the world » set

      foot on this sadly memorabld plain without -iTi rf ? ectl , S that " seventy tii'ivwanu men were slaughtered on the field of Waterloo . ' " And may no one return from it without a firm resole to do something towards the prevention of war , and : he promotion ofthat feeling which recognises the perlect brotherhood of tho great family of nations ! - hraekland s Continential Guide . Sir William Burnett ' s process for the preservation ot timber from dry rot has been extended to surgical pur p oses , ennabling dissecting operations to be carried on in tbe hottest weather without injury to health or danger of losing life . The fluid , chloride of zinc , constituting his process , has no effect wpon t iJekwm

      /Ir ^ *... ^^.*^^ - *.^.^^^ Correspondence*

      / ir ^ * ... ^^ . *^^ - * . ^ . ^^^ Correspondence *

      What 13 An "Eqrjivalejft !" To Tub Idito...

      WHAT 13 AN " EQrjIVALEJfT !" TO TUB IDITOB or TBB KOltTHEBH STAI . Deak Sib , — " At length , and at last , " the grand problem is solved as to what really is an " equivalent , " " It is , " sajs Lord Holland , " in acts not words , to rob the public of the right of way ; and to restore to them one of which they have been robbed some time ago : that is an equivalent ; " ay , and a pretty equivalent it is too , about as pretty a one as the " equivaleat " of the pedlar iu the Winter ' s Tali , who makes a man » present of his own motmy . How would Lord Holland like to be robbed , this year , of one-half of Holland Park , and nexfyear , to be told by those who had stolen such half , that they had taken a fancy to the other half , but would give him an " equivalent" for the tame , in

      the shape ot the hal ( already stolen ? ( Vould he coniidet it an " equivalent I" and if he did not , ( and ho could not ) how , in the name of common sense and outraged feelings , can he think , that the public will , ever consider his "New (?) footway" through Holland Park an " equivalent , " when it is nothing more than an old way of which they had been robbed , and is intended as a substitute for one of which they are to bs robbed I Olfiiig to the public thiir own is no " equivalent , "it is nothing more than an act of justice , and I reall y am surprised that tho son of 80 distinguished an advocate of public rights as the late Lord Holhind was allowed to be , should prove himself so ignorant of first principles an , in this ca « e , he has done . The late Lord Holland would not shut up the public footway before Holland House , though it was suggested ( as an aid to the Hip .

      podrome scheme , ) that he should do so ; and why ? because , as he said , tiie public valued it . Such respect for public feeling is above all praise ; but the respecter is no mora , and we are now to be robbed of one of the most convenient thoroughfares in Kensington , public feeling being no more considered than public conve . nience . It is not of tbe aristocracy tha t the people complain , but their acts—their most oppressive acts—and let but the present Lord Holland respect public feelingin this case as his father did , and he will find tha * those who honour bis father for such conduct will honour him . " All men have their feelings , brother , " as the late George Colman observed , and although Englishmen ( from the wrong they have suffered ) may be quick to censure , they are not slow to praise . Trusting that y .. u will give publicity to the above , I remain , Dear Sir .

      Yours , for respect for Public Rights , Tub Secbetabv or the Wnsr London Cbntiai Akti E . yctosuhE Association . —Marjlebone , July 6 th .

      The Leeds Election. To The Editoss Op Th...

      THE LEEDS ELECTION . TO THE EDITOSS OP THE HOITHlKlf STiB . Gentlemen , —From the announcement at the head of the leading articles in this day ' s Star , I anticipate a rich repast being laid before us in the forthcoming nam . ber ; I am therefore glad thut " A sincere Chartist" ol Holbeck has not imposed upon me a task requiring a multitude of words . Hts letter is no reply to wbat I advanced , yet it may require n remark or two : He alludes to my motive—that is on the head and front of my communication , I wish to see the same spirit evinced by the Chartists throughout the provinces ,

      aa wa g manifested , by the men of Wesiminsuv . I also deem it an act of consummate folly , on the part of the Chartists of Leeds , to sacrifice their energies in aid of tbe forlorn hope of a disjointed and almost defunct . fastion . Tbe tumult at the Black Bull , Woedhouse , the other evening , was the ou'pouring of "Whi ggery ' s eapiring agony , which I would rather increase than assuage . We are quite strong enough to fight our own battles ; but we should beware lest faction shears away our strength while we loll in its lap . The writer next thinks I am wrong . I allow him to think so . However , I think if we tbe Chartists abide by the piinciples which distinguish us from faction , we shall not find ourselves long wrong .

      Next , h « "thinks" I have " abused" Joseph Sturge hy alluding to the " Complete" humbug . I allow him to think so too . I recollect the Baines' clique gulling the people with unmeaning jargon about" full , free , and fair representation . " Many nibbled at the bait . At length wt got their definition of tbe " full free , and fair , representation , " in the shape of " the bill , the whole bill , and NOTHING but the bill . " The " full representation , " and the " complete suffrage , " are synonymous termegilded pills prescribed for gulls . " A sincere Chartist" says he heard J . Sturge say he would " vote for the Bailot . " Who are we to believe J Our reporter in the i'Utr of the 12 th ult . gives us these words : —' - " He was not friendly to vote by ballot , " s » e page 2 , col . G . Perhaps Joseph can harp ou two strings . We are told that it is the government scheme of education that bas driven Edward Baines to the support of Joseph Sturge . If that be the only reason I roust codfess that my mind is too obtuse to foresee any mighty effect result from such a tiny cause .

      There is nothing more in the letter calling for remark , save the exertions spoken of , as being made by Joseph , and lauded to the skies by the Editor of the Northern Star . The Editor of the Northern Star and I may differ is our opinions of Joseph Sturge as a politician , or we may agree in opinion . I don ' t ask that question . How . ever , I find the following crumbs of comfort for the Sturgeites in the Northern Star : — " Dr . Wade told us at Birmingham , that it was our principles , and not our name , that the Sturgeites dreaded . This is tho fact ; and gloss their deeds over as tbey may , that belief will never be disturbed from the mind £ of the Chartist body . " Sec leader in lVorttern Star , Aug 19 , 1843 .

      Another crumb : — " There needs no other argument than this one alone , to satisfy the mind of any unprejudiced man , who is not a fool , that the object of the Sturgemen has always been to perpetuate divisions when they ( ound them among the Universal Suffrage ranks , while many other portions of their conduct show equally their determined purpose , and the deep , dirty schemes resorted to for the creation of divisions , when they found union in those ranks . " Again , in the same leader , ( Jan . 14 , 1 S 43 , ) the Editor speaking of unity on the principle of Universal Suffrage , says : — . " This was the very thing the Sturgeites nsver wanted —the very thing they always dreaded ; hence the constant doctrine of Friend "NO , " that he did not wish tho Chartists to join him . " This is " lauding to the skies , " aint it t—Tours truly , July 3 , 1847 . Wihiam BiBiB .

      Misplaced Leniency. — A Man Named Les O ...

      Misplaced Leniency . — A man named Les o urd , who was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment for thett , appealed against the judgment . The President represented to him that he had been very leniently dealt with , since he had confessed the offence . "That leniency , " said the man , "is the very thing I complain of ; for as I am to be imprisoned from MUy 29 , 1 shall get out on Jan . 29 , which is an inclement season of the year that I do not like . Could you not , therefore , give me a few months more , to bring me into the spring ? " The Court rejected this prayer , and confirmed the formerjudgment ; bnt the prisoner gains something by his appeal in the way that ho desired , as it caused a delay of nearly two months , which will not count in the imprisonment on the first sentence . —Galignani .

      Pension to Mr Leiq h lluNT .-We last week adverted to the terms of the letter in which Lord John Russell had conveyed to Mr Hunt her MaiestyW-• f t £ urtoward 2 - T "e following is the letter itself . There are few who will not read it within terest and admiration : — "Downing-street , June 22 , 1847 . Sir , —I have much pleasure in informing you that the Queen has been pleased to direet , that in consideration of your distinguished literary talents , a ptaeion of tiro hundred pound * yearly should be settled u » ou you from the funds of the Civil List . " Allow me to add that the severe treatment yoafor * merly received , in times of unjust persecution of LiHerol writers , enhances the satisfaction with which I t » aie this announcement . " I have the honour to be , Sir , yourfaithful servant ,

      "Leigh Hunt , Esq . "J . Rdsseli . " " Unjust persecutions ot Liberal writers has now , it is to bo hoped , taken its place with other unjust persecutions ; and in such a letter as this we hare an excellent guarantee against its possible return . All writers , no matter wbat their opinion may be will know how to value such expressions from the ' foremost statesman of the time . — . Examiner . [ We are not quite so sure as the Examiner seems to be that there will be no more unjust persecution of " Liberal writers ! " Such p er s ecu t i o n h as , before now , been countenanced by Lord John Russell himself . As that may happen again , we think it well to place " his lordship ' s' letter on record ; it may be useful toreier to in days to come . —Ed . N . S . ]

      Royal Polytechnic Lvstitutio . v . —At a recent visit to this excellent establishment we observed a splendid engraving , " Head of Christ , " from a painting by Mty . This engraving , which appears quite original m style and execution , is e n g raved wi t h great vigour and freedom of hand , and is highly creditab . e to the talents of Mr Nass . There is no subserviency of copy , nor any preconception from the heads ol the Messiah , so repeatedly produced by the Italian and Spanish masters . It partakes of the human attributes , and is not idealiz . d , or rendered e ffeminate b y an attempt to refine ! It is engraved in a manner that preserves solidity , and b r in g s it nearer to the style of the painter and to the imitation of painting than heretofore has been met with . There is something original in the manner in which the engraver has produced this effect—it being certainly quite a novelty in art , and also a great improvement in portraits engraved from oil paintings .

      Dediliti And Conkibhed Astuha. — Extraor...

      Dediliti and conkibhed Astuha . — Extraordinary Cure by llollowny ' s Pills . —Extract of a letter from 3 . ' . "hompson , Esq ., proprietor of the "Armagh Gnitrdiau , ' Al ) l -il 17 , 1847 :- " To Professor llollowuy . - Sir ,-A serjca'Vt living iu this city , lately returned from the East Indies , . "aught a severe cold by the change from a tropical to a iuo . ' climate ; he became very ill , weak , and usthinnticai . * ' happy to say that he is not only quite' cured o . ' tbe asthma , but is also now so strong a »* rigorous that h . '« n run round the mall with any persoa in the city . This euro has beou efftcted entirely by usiue your wtuiwues , —fc . !< jucd ; J , ThowwvaJ

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), July 10, 1847, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_10071847/page/2/