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that both mother and childbefore Parliam...
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Tub Retcrxb ofthe K**gistrar-General for...
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Scotland
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As Explosion* startled the inhabitants o...
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The Poor Law.— This subject will bo almo...
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An Emigrant Ship Disahled. —On the 12th ...
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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.
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That Both Mother And Childbefore Parliam...
THE _NQRTH F / RN STAR . _FEbRWOT 3 , 1849 . _r * i i i iih
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Tub Retcrxb Ofthe K**Gistrar-General For...
Tub _Retcrxb ofthe K _** gistrar-General for the _fftek ending January 27 th , show the total number of _liirth-ito be 1 , 576 , and the deaths 1 , 208 , tho lai : er being an increase of 39 on the weekly average of : ; ve months . This result is more favourable than that obtained in the two previous weeks , when the deaths were respectively 1 , 448 and 1 , 345 . Thereturn shows that the deaths from zymotic diseases were 329 , bein _*» 103 abore the average ; from dropsy , cancer , and other diseases of uncertain or variable seat , 54 , being the usual average ; from tubercular diseases , 175 , being 23 below tho average ; from _dif-i-ases of the brain , spinal marrow , nerves , and Ki . ses , 150 , being 9 above the average ; from diseases ofthe heart and blood vessels , 22 , being 1 " ?
be ; - - _-W the average ; from diseases of the lungs and of Vie other organs of respiration , 245 , being 2 above thc average ; from diseases of the stomach , liver , and other organs of digestion , 63 , being 4 below thc the average ; from diseases ofthe kidneys , < fec , 14 , _bei-ig 1 below the average ; from childbirth , diseases of : ile uterus , < fce ., 13 , being 4 alwve the average ; frc _* : i rheumatism , diseases of the bones , joints , & . C . 10 , being 3 below the average ; premature birth and debilitv , 16 , being 7 below the average ; atrophy , 20 . _iieing 5 above the average ; a _** e , 45 , being 28 _be-ow the average sudden , 3 , being 6 below the average ; violence , _proration , cold , and _intemperate-. - , 23 , being 14 below the average ; smallpox , 16 beluz 5 below the average ; measles , 18 , being 9
below the average ; scarlatina , 76 , being 44 above the average ; hooping-cough , 55 , being 13 above theaverage ; diarrhoea , 17 , being 5 above the a \ vera . ge ; dysentery , 5 , being 3 above the average . The-number of deaths from cholera is stated to be 45 : and of these 14 occurred in the district of Wandsworth and Clapham , 2 of them being in the _inetisation at Tooting . The total number of deaths in :. _- « house , or among children who have been remo . cd from it , registered in four weeks , amounts to 1 & -. of which 153 were returned as caused by cholera . The rest are ascribed to dysentery , mesenteric _diseases , < fec . During the week 56 people have died fro :-i typhus , being 14 above the average ; from _bronchitis , 104 , being 26 above the average ; from
pneumonia , 95 , bemg 8 below the average ; from _asti-ma , 26 , being 12 below the average . The _Ite-lstm-General adverts to the facts , that the de * i ; iis from diseases affecting the respiratory organs were 245 , almost the same as the average , having deciined from 325 and 300 , the numbers ofthe two former weeks , while the mean daily temperature ranged from 24 ° 6 on the 2 nd day of the month to 49 f ? ij on the 25 th . Li the last week a boy was registered in the Kent-road sub-district , " who died of " n . _-- ! iiral causes accelerated by exposure to cold , " and at Clapham , a woman of 18 , who died of * ' peritonitis , brought on by exposure to cold and damp , " after seven days' iUness . Inquests were held in both eases . A woman and her child died in Leather
market , Bermondsey , of " diarrhoea from want of sufficient nourishment , " as certified by medical _certith-ites . The former was seven months advanced in pregnancy . It does not appear that an inquest was held in either of these cases . The medical man adds that the house was in a most offensive condition from want of drainage . SnciDE of Mr . _Varlet . —Late on Friday evening week , Mr . Mills , deputy-coroner for Middlesex , held an inquest atthe Holland Arms Tavern , Hi g h-street , Kenhington , on the body ' of Mr . Benjamin Moxon Varlcy , the well-known engraver and jeweller , of 2 fo . _r- 'O , Fleet-street , and No . 37 , Edwardes-square , _Kensington , who shot himself on Tuesday week last , it appeared from the evidence gone into , that the deceased , who succeeded his late father some years since , was a bachelor , and was found b y his housekeeper ly ing- on the floor of his bedroom , quite dead , and some blood oozing out of his mouth . An
alarm was instantly raised , and a surgeon sent for who promptly attended , and pronounced life to be qniio extinct . No suspicion was at first entertained thai he had laid violent hands on himself , but on the body bein < j * moved a small pistol , which had been recently discharged , was discovered under part of bis clothes , and under the body was the _fellowpist- 'l , loaded with balL On the deceased's mouth oein _; carefully examined , it was ascertained tliat he iiiiist have p laced the muzzle of the pistol in his mouth and fired into the roof of it , as the ball could be perceptibly felt under the scalp at the top of the head . Jib report was heard , nor had the pistols , "whivh were new ones , ever been seen before by the sen -nts or any of his friends . All the witnesses concurred that the deceased had never exhibited the sh _' g : "est sign of lunacy , or ever threatened todestro * . himself , and in the absence of clearer testi _mony the jury returned a verdict " That the _deceased had shot himself , but there was no evidence as to the state of his mind at the time .
Suicide from Fear . —An inquest was held on Monday , before Mr . W . Baker , at the Horse Shoes , Gos' _-ell-street , on the bod y of Amelia Clarke , aged 41 , Tue wife of a licensed victualler , and landlord of the above house , —Caroline Cox , servant of the _deciitscd , stated tliat her master and mistress lived on very happy terms until a fortnight since , when a quarreloccurred between them , arising from jealousy on h' _-r part . On Thursday week her master heard the deceased joking with one of the lodgers , which appeared greatly to eieite him , but he said nothing at the time . " About half-past eleven o ' clock at nig h *; he went up stairs to bed ; shortly afterwards the deceased closed the house and went to her
bedroom , followed by witness . They bad not beea in the bedroom many minutes when tho street-door bell was rung by a lodger , upon which Mr . Clarke came to the room door in an excited state , and called out io deceased to "let her men in , " at thc same time shaking the door violently . Deceased appeared in great terror , and told me to go and open the room door . Immediately she had turned round to do so she heard the window thrown open , and , turning to see what it was , she saw the deceased fling herself out of the window iuto the street . "Witness assisted in picking the deceased up , in an insensible state , and conveying her into the house . —Mr . Bacon , _surgeon , said that deceased had received a compound fracture of the bones of the right elbowjoint , an extensive lacerated wound ofthe same arm , and injury to the spine , of which injuries she died on Friday last . —Verdict , " Temporary Lisanitv . "
A Serious Joke . —On Monday , an inquest was held before Mr . W . Baker , at the Green Gate , Cityroad , touching the death of R . Hayc , aged 62 , " a shoemaker . On Friday evening the deceased was in the taproom of a public-house in _Old-stroot , when some persons present , who knew the deceased ' s love for beer , thougnt they wonld have a "lark with him , and whilst his attention was drawn to another part of the room , one of them mixed a quantity of jalap in a pot of beer , which thoy then gave him to drink , and before he put it down he nearly emptied it . He shortly afterwards became insensible , and was placed on some damp straw in an out-building , where he was discovered in the morning dead . The body not having been examined by a medical man , the coroner said that it was necessary a post mortem examination should be made , and the inquiry was adjourned for that purpose .
_Determjked Scicice by Pecssic Acid . —On Monday morning , "William Yaux , late an estate and house agent , aged 45 years , was found dead in his bed , at his lodgings , No . 2 , Trafalgar-place , "W alworth , from the effects of a large " dose of _prusaic acid , which he had swallowed during the night . It appears that the deceased had latterly been sp reduced in his circumstances that he has been living upon his friends , and the circumstance , it i 3 evident , had very much preyed upon his mind . On Sunday he dined out , and having returned home , etired to rest about half-past twelve o ' clock . Finding that he did not come down to breakfast at
his usual time , a little g irl was sent up stairs to his bed-room to call him , and , after knocking several times at the door , she entered the chamber and found him m bed quite dead and cold . On his table was found a phial containing about two table spoonsfull of what was found to be prussic acid , tbou <* h the label on the bottle itself had been carcfufly scraped off . Ina memorandum , also found on the table , there were some lines , in the deceased ' s handwriting , to the effect that his friends should no longer be troubled with his support , as he should he found dead , and he cared not _u they buried him in a hogstye .
The Tooting Cholbea Cases . —On Tuesday two adjourned inquests bn the bodies of children who died after removal from the Tooting Pauper Asylum , were resumed ; one at Hackney , before Mr . Baker ; the other at Chelsea , before Mr . Wakley . —At Hackney , the coroner addressed the jury at some length , the purport of his remarks being that a - verdict of manslaughter having been returned against Mr . Drouet in another case , and that individual being about to undergo a trial on that charge , the justice of tho case did not require the jurv at Hackney to proceed with their inquiries—the more SO inasmuch ai Mr . Drouet was not in a condition to attend the inquest . He therefore discharged the jury from further attendance . The jurymen expressed much surprise at this decision , and one of
them handed to tho reporter a verdict stated to have been agreed to prior to the arrival of the eoroner : — " "We find that the deceased children , John Keen , John Burke , "William Neenan , and William Walton _, of the parish of Islington , died of cholera , at Hackney , and that the predisposing causes have arisen from had treatment and neglect on the part ef Bartholomew Peter Drouet towards the deceased while in his establishment at Tooting , and that the said Bartholomew Peter Drouet was actuated _thereto & mcTCensrf motives . "—At Chelsea , Mr . Wakley re-opened the inquiry , and after the iurv had sat aU day the inquest was once more adjourned " On Tuesday at the Bail Court , Drouet was admitted to bail , himself in £ 200 and two sureties in - £ 100 each , or four sureties in £ 50 each
AXOTHEH Yerdici op MASSLiconrE-j was returned on Wednesday against Mr . Drouet This second verdict was found by the jury who have been for some days investigating before air Wakley the cases of the deceased pauper children removed from thc asylum at Tootin"to Chelsea --
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jury retired , and after three hours' consultation announced their decision as follows : _>»*» the jurv , are unanimously of op inion t hat _Bartholomew Peter Drouet is guilty of _manslaughter in the cases of Marv Killick , Emma Ingar . J ** " Martha Hollington : that George Hartley died of malignant chofera : that thejury * f _^ J _* _g _* that ° the children have been p laced at so _^ great a distance from Ch elsea as to _^ f _* _S ! _jS forthe imardians to visit and pay that attention which thev Tali times imperatively demand ; and the jury earnestly request that the children be _henceforth maintained In their own parish . And the iurv cannot separate without expressing their o pinion that the guardians and the poor-law commissioners are reprehensible by concurring m allowing thc children to remain at Tootmg so Ion" after the dreadful mortality had commenced . The jury also beg to express their unanimous approbation of the-prompthumane , and
bene-, ficial conduct of the Board of Health , respecting the alarming circumstances attendant at Mr Drouet's establishment at Tooting . And the said jury urgentl y recommend the abolition of the system of farming parochial children . " Neglbct asd Starvation' . —An inquest was held on Wednesday by Mr . Baker , at the London Hospital , on the * body of Sarah Cousins , aged 75 , who died from neglect and starvation . — Elizabeth Roberts stated that thc deceased was the wife of a carman . Deceased had frequently complained to her of being starved by her husband , and witness had supplied her with food on many occasions , and knowing that deceased and her husband were in the weekly receipt of bread and money from Whltechapel Union , she asked the deceased to account for being in want under those circumstances , when the latter told her that her husband _alwavs sent the bread allowed them
by the parish to some of his relations ; and on several occasions deceased showed her the bread packed up , and she watched him take it away . For some time past her husband had kept her locked in , and would not allow any one to visit her . On one or two occasions he found that some of the neighbours had been to aee her , and deceased afterwards told her that he had dreadfully beaten her in consequence on Tuesday week . Witness obtained admission during her husband ' s absence , and discovered the deceased in auch a deplorable , filthy , and emaciated condition , that she gave information to Mr . Hughes the relieving officer , who removed her to the Whiteohapel workhouse , where she died . —Susan Peters , a sister of the deceased ,
corro-! borated the above evidence . — Mr . J . Nash , the parish surgeon , ascribed the deceased ' s death to neglect and want of proper food . —The husband of the deceased denied having kept his wife without food , but admitted having on several occasions sent the parish bread to some of his relatious . — The coroner said it was a very lamentable case . The husband of the deceased had committed a gross fraud on the parish , by giving away the bread which was afforded for his wife ' s support . —Verdict , " Natural death , accelerated by neglect , and the jury consider that great blame attaches to the nusband for his conduct towards her . "—[ A most ridiculous verdict . Is ' nt starving a woman to death , to say the least , manslaughter . ]
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_Lixcolxshirb . —Rbvoltixo Outrage . — -At the Epiphany Sessions for the Limisey division , held at Kirton , before Sir Robert Sheffield , John Sunm & n , aged 23 , a sweep , and Alick Johnson , aged 26 , were tried on a charge so barbarous as hardl y to be credited . They followed a young woman into a field at Winterton , near _Barton-upon-Humber , about six o ' clock in the evening of a cold day towards the latter end of the month of October , and then and there stripped her of every article of clothing , and then stood over her while they compelled her to go tlirough the whole of her work , that of milking four cows . The case came on for trial at the above sessions , when , although the prosecutrix , a youns
woman named Sarah Ann Seal , in the domestic service of a farmer at Winterton , and of prepossessing appearance , was put through a cross-examination of a very questionable kind , from which it was attempted to be shown that she was in the family way , & c , she very modestly replied to the questions , and the jury , having heard certain corroborative evidence , found the prisoners guilty of stealing her gown , skirt , petticoat , and other articles of clothing , of which it appeared that only thc chemise and an old great-coat were given up to her by the ruffians for her to go home in ; the field hi which the atrocity waa committed being above a mile from the neares _' t house . The prisoners were sentenced to be transported for seven years .
Cool Trick . —At the Hulme Cavalry Barracks , Manchester , on Saturday laBt , a valuable horse belonging to one of the officers ( a charger , worth at least £ 200 or £ 250 ) was stolen from the stable . A man entered the barrack-yard in the garb of an officer ' s servant , and g oing to thc stable deliberately brought out the horse , in presence of many of thc troopers , and , mounting it , rode out at the gate unchallenged by the sentry , and unsuspected by any one to be other than what he seemed . He got clear off with the steed , and neither of them have yet been traced . Ax Engagement wiih Smugglers . —An inquest was held at _Warsash , Hampshire , on Saturday last , on the body of B . Cork , who was found drowned on Friday on tbe mud in Ramble River . It appeared from the evidence taken that the deceased was a
native of _Cowes , in the Isle of Wight , but resided at Gosport , and on Thursday night week was one of the crew of six in a long French galley or tub-boat , laden with contraband spirits , and from stress of weather had been driven into Hanible River , where they encountered the coast guard , with whom it is believed there was some resistance , as upwards of twenty reports of fire-arms were heard _during thc night . The whole of the galley's crew abandoned her and went overboard , three of whom evidently stripped themselves , as their clothes were found on board , and one of them , a Frenchman , was the next morning found at Hook , near the spot , and removed to Southampton with the galley and its cargo . The other four men have not been yet heard of . The deceased Cork had no mark of violence whatever on liis bodv , and must have been drowned in
endcavourimr to get on shore . The verdict of the jury was " Found drowned . " The smuggler ' s lugger brought from France 146 half ankers , or 480 gallons . She put into Portsmouth on Friday . It is reported in the neighbourhood that one of the smuggler ' s crew was shot through the body and killed , but that his companions carried him off . Tire Stilton Murderers . —Theprisoner , Charles Burton , who was convicted at the last assizes for the murder of his wife , at Stilton , Huntingdonshire , and received sentence of death , which has been respited until the 10 th of April next , will , atthe next assizes , be tried upon an indictment for the murder of his child . The friends of the prisoner will thereby have an opportunity of producing evidence of his insanity at the time he committed the murders , which did not appear in court on his former trial .
_Jennt Lind s concerts at Norwich have produced a profit of more than £ 1 , 200 , which sum is , by her generosity , to be devoted to the charitable institutions of that city . Murder by a " Lunatic—At Portsea , on Friday week , a woman named Beveridge , went to the station house there and said she had strangled her child . Upon inquiry this statement was found to he true ; the deceased , a male child , aged five years , being discovered dead with a piece of calico tightly twisted round its neck . The prisoner was convicted at the Winchester assizes , two years ago , for the murder of her youngest child , which she strangled in a similar manner , a verdict of " Not Guilty on thc ground of insanity" being returned , and she was ordered to be confined . After about twelve months ' confinement in Winchester Gaol she was liberated , and sent to the Portsea Union , where she remained for a few months and was afterwards discharged .
A Model Water Compant . — A water company in Sunderland supplies 400 poor families , gratis , with service pipes and water-taps in their houses , and with an unlimited supply of water at the rate of one penny per week . Fruits of the Game Laws . — -A murder was committed on Earl de Grey ' s property , near Ripon , on Thursday ni ght week . A gamekeeper , named Harrison , on the earl ' s estate , went out about four p . m . on that day unarmed , for the purposo of visiting some ofthe plantations in his keeping . He did not return at night , but no alarm was occasioned , as he was frequently in the habit of being out at a late hour . On the following morning , however , the unfortunate man not having returned , a search was made , and his body was found in a plantation at no great distance from his own house , and where it appeared that he had been shot through the heart—it is believed by poachers .
Suspected Poisoning bt a Wife . —The retired village of Martley , about eight miles west of "Worcester , has been excited by a rumour that a young married man , named Solomon Cooper , who expired on the 1 st of January , after a very sudden and brief illness , was poisoned by his wife , who , it is stated , had formed an improper connexion with another person . The deceased was seized with illness just before Christmas , and having died on New Year ' s day , was buried in due time afterwards , though not
without some rumours having thus early got into circulation derogatory to thc character ofthe wife . These rumours , however , subsequently gained strength , and the coroner for the county directed that the body ofthe deceased should be exhumed , in order that it mi ght be examined . Thc exhumation accordingly took p lace . It is stated that before the death of Cooper his wife obtained a quantity of poison from a druggist ' s shop in Worcester through the means of another party , a woman named Susan Eaton .
u i , _™ . LoST AT I _^* caster . —An inquest was held on Wednesday week upon eight men , who lost their lives b y the upsetting of a boat on the river Lune , at Lancaster . The men were working at Denny Beek Quarry , on the North-Westem
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Hailw ay , about two miles from Lancaster . They Werc in the habit of crossing the Lune in a body to get to Halton , where they lived . On thc afternoon of M onday the boat had crossed twice , once with ten in it , and once with seven . The third time , eleven got in , but one , thinking it too full , jumped out . The others pushed off . The fresh was then running strong , and the wind being very hi gh , while thc _cdwsoftho boat was close to the water , the waves dashed into it and turned it completely over , throwing thein all into the river . Onc of them chin" * to the boat and was heard for some time _crvin- " * for help . Two others saved themselves by swimming , and the rest sunk . Verdict , -Accidental Death . "
_Allegkh _Poisoxino . —A further examination of Evans , who has been apprehended at Bristol upon a charge of administering poison to his wife with intent to murder , took place at the Council-house , m that city , on Saturday last . The first witness examined wa 3 a girl named Marshall , who had lived as servant with the prisoner for a few weeks previous to his arrest , and she confirmed the statement ofthe wife as to tho prisoner , ou Sunday , the 21 st ult ., giving her a dinner of roast pork , covered with a white powder . She stated that she saw him cut off the pork from the joint on the table , and go with it to a cupboard , where he remained about a minute . He then brought it to the table , carried it to the cupboard again , and on his return the second
time brought with him the pepper-box , sprinkled it with pepper , and gave it to his wife , who , on tasting it , complained of its being very salt , and then perceiving the powder upon it , called the prisoner ' s attention to it , and subsequently refused to eat it . She saw Evans place the refused plate of meat on the bottom shelf of the cupboard , and , on Monday morning , when , by the wife ' s request , she went to look for it , she found it on thc top shelf . — -Mary Ann Winter , the wife of a police-constable , who lived with her husband and the prisoner and his wife , in the joint charge ofthe Clifton Old Poor-house , deposed that Mrs . Evans had several times , in confidence , expressed to her suspicions that her husband wished to poison her ; but witness endeavoured to
dissuade . her from such opinions . About two months before she was confined , she mentioned to her her suspicion of some liquor which he brought home in a tin can . She said that she insisted upon his tasting it , and that , upon his sipping it twice or thrice , it made Mm sick . She only took one sip , and it made her sick also . On the llth of December , Mrs . Evans was confined , and at eleven o ' clock on the ni ght ofthe 12 th , witness left her quite comfortable and in excellent spirits . At between one and two o ' clock in the morning she was called up by the husband , and found her then in a most alarming state , with -violent retching and purging . Advised that Mr . Parker , a surgeon , should be sent for , and he arrived and gave her a draught , which relieved
her . He asked to see the contents of the stomach which had been vomited by her , but thoy could not be shown him , as they had been thrown away . The prisoner threw _theni away . Every Sunday ( but one ) since her confinement Mrs . Evans had been seized with violent sickness , always after dinner or her tea . She was also dreadfully sick on Christmasday . She was never sick in the week-days . On week-days witness usually gave her her food , and prepared it for her , but her husband was at home on Sundays , and he did it then . Before her confinement Mrs . Evans was a healthy , active woman , but just as she was about to get up , she complained of numbness of her hands and feet , and now she has lost the use of her limbs . —Mr . Herapath , thc
chemist , deposed to having analysed the white powder on the meat , which he found to be a corrosive salt of mercury , usually-sold as white precipitate . It was an irritant poison , though one rarely resorted to for the purpose of secret poisoning . It was calculated to injure extensively , and if sufficient quantity was given it would destroy life . Sugar of lead had a strong tendency , by its action upon the nerves , to produce palsy or paralysis . White precipitate would be likely to cause retching and relaxation of bowels . — Francis Blakewride , an apprentice to Mr . Burge , druggist , of St . _Augustine ' spnrade , proved , that on Saturday , the 20 th ultimo , the prisoner came to his master ' s shop nnd purchased a pennyworth of white precipitate .
The prisoner was remanded . —Committal op the Prisoner . —Bristol , Jan . 29 . —Owing to some observations which fell from the prisoner Henry Evans , in an interview with his solicitor on Saturday , that gentleman communicated to the authorities his suspicions that the prisoner meditated committing suicide . The desperate character of the man being well known , three constables have been since kept constantly in his cell ; and it appears that this precaution was wisely taken , for on his being brought up to the Council-house this day , in order that the depositions might be read over to him , he stated , "that if it wasn't for those three men , he should not have given much trouble ; " and he added , " I cannot stand this : everybody looks
upon me as a murderer . " This latter observation arose from the circumstance that this morning an immense crowd congregated in front of the Bridewell , where the prisoner was confined , to see him brought out , and by whom he was hooted . Prior to the depositions being read over , two additional witnesses were examined , whose evidence went to increase the weight of testimony against the prisoner . Evans was then fully committed on the charge of attempt to murder , and was re-conducted to Bridewell , followed by the mob as before . A strict watch will be kept over him to prevent his laying violent hands on himself . Military Proceedings . —Plymouth , Jan . 27 — A general parade of all troops in garrison assembled
this moraing at Mount Wise , for thc purpose of hearing the sentence ofa Court Martial on Matthew Tomey , a private of the 2 Sth regiment , belonging to Captain Frazcr ' s Company , No . 4 , who attempted to strike his commanding officer in the fall of last year , when near Apsley House , Hyde Park , on tho line of march from London to Plymouth . For the trial of this charge , a general court-martial sat at Government-house , Mount Wise , in November , and transmitted their sentence to head-quarters . The sentence having been approved and returned on Friday , to the Commander of the Forces , orders were at once issued for thc parade on Saturday . There were present five divisions of the 28 th regiment , consisting of about 100 each . The Royal
Artillery from Ligonier-squarc comprised two captains , one subaltern , and eighty rank and file . Six companies of Royal Marines , twenty files in each , from Stonehouse Barracks , and six companies of the 82 nd Regiment , about 400 rank and file . When on the ground the troops formed a square , each corps making an angle ; Major-General the Hon . Henry Murray , the Commander ofthe Forces for the western district , stood in the centre . Thc prisoner , who is a native of Ireland , and about thirty years of age , was placed inside the square , in front of thc left face , the 28 th , his own regiment , under charge of the _provost-sei-geant and two rank and file . He was dressed in uniform , coatee and chako , had no arms or accoutrements , and was handcuffed . Tho troops being thus prepared , the General read aloud the formal sentence , which was to the effect ,
that thc said Matthew Tomey be transported as a felon for the term of fourteen years . Theprisoner was then removed to the right bf his own corps , and General Murray shortly addressed thc troops . The prisoner was taken to the Mam Guard-room at the Eastern Barrier-gate to abide instructions for his disposal from the Secretary of State . Devon . — Attempt at Self-Destuction by a Lad * -. —On the 20 th ult ., the lady of Sir John Polo , of Shutc House , precip itated herself from her bedroom window , on the third floor , and sustained contusions of such a character that serious apprehensions were entertained for her life . Although pronounced out of danger , her ladyship's rash attempt will render her a cripple for life . Various rumours are in circulation as to the cause which could prompt a lady in her station , surrounded with every apparent comfort , to commit such an act .
Lincolnshire . —Game Laws and Poor Rates . — There is much reason to fear the winter will prove a severe one to the rate-payers as well as to thc poor in the district comprising the Stamford Union , The recent applications for relief have been ( says the Stam ford Mercury ) fearful in their numbers . Several of those now in receipt of parochial relief have become paupers in consequence of their husbands or fathers being sent to prison for poaching . Newport Arch . —On the night of the 10 th ult ., part of this interesting old Roman arch fell to the ground . It is the south portion which has given way . Hopes are entertained that a subscription will be set on foot , so that the arch may be repaired and further decay prevented .
Liverpool . — Deaths from Starvation . — On Sunday afternoon , in consequence of information received , Inspector _M'Neill proceeded to an empty house in Oak-street , Birkenhead _, where he found a woman lying dead upon the floor , and a child , about nine months old , also dead , lying at her feet . Four young children , whose ages averaged from about four to ten , were huddled round the fire-place . The grate contained some scanty fuel , and the poor creatures were , in tho expressive language of the inspector , " attempting to squeeze the heat out ofthe bars . " Behind the children lay thc dead bodies of the mother and child . The house contained no article of furniture whatever , nor was there a morsel of food of any description within the walls . It
appears that the deceased ( who was about forty years of age ) , was named Ellen Kane . She had come with her children from Ireland only a few days ago , and , forcing in the door , took possession of the unoccupied house where the sad discovery was made . She must have sought subsistence by " begging ; but , as she never applied to any of the parochial officers for relief , probably from fear of removal , tho existence of the family _^ or their circumstances , was unknown to the authorities ofthe place . Thc children stated to the inspector that they had not tasted anything since Saturday morning , when their mother distributed amongst them a little bread . Mr . Downing , surgeon , was promptly called in by the officer when the bodies were discovered , and gave it as his opinion ( so far as lie could _arriye at any conclusion from
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an external inspection , that both mother and child had perished from starvation . Tho event has been notified to Mr . Churton , the coroner , who will hold _aninquestonthe bodies . Thechildren state that their mother died during the nig ht Till Sunday forenoon , however , they thoug ht that she was sleeping , and hence it was that they did not sooner give the aI pStsmobth , TuBSDAT . -An accident occurred on board her Majesty's ship President owing to the _partm <* ofthe chain cable , by which one man was dangerously wounded , one severely , and five others hurt . _ ' . i
_Suktcur Dkath at PhYMQUiii .--An inquest was held on Mondav afternoon at the Guildhall before John Edmonds , Esq ., the coroner , on the body of James Farthing , 34 , a private m the Plymouth Division of thc Royal Marines , who was heard by the mate ofa ship and tho captain to fall into the sea from the _ouav , at ton o ' clock on Saturday evening , the night being very dark and boisterous . The captain and his mate being below , immediately ran on deck when they saw a man and woman within twenty feet of the quay , and who must have heard thc splash in thc water , walking away as unconcerned as if nothing had happened . The captain with his mate , and the assistance of another man ,
soon succeeded in hooking up the marine , but , although prompt medical assistance was obtained , and the deceased had been placed in a warm bed and rubbed , even before tho arrival ofthe surgeon , life was quite extinct . The conduct of the two persons who were unknown was most extraordinary and heartless ; still nothing came out in evidence to lead to tho supposition that tho deceased met with his death from any unfair means , as neither the captain nor mate heard either a push or a scream . The deceased had been drinking during the afternoon . Although not drunk , he had most probably taken more than he ought , and had walked over the quay . The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental Death . "
Sudden _Dbam . —On Tuesday morning , an inquest was held by Mr . Cooper , the coroner for Cambridge , at the Little Rose , _Trumpington-street , on the body of Mr . William Gasson , of Christ ' s College , who was found dead in bed on Monday morning . The deceased gentleman was twenty-nine years of age , and had just taken an aegrotat degree on Saturday last . It appeared , from the evidence of Mr . Johnson , surgeon , who made a post mortem examination , that tho cause of death was enlargement of the heart , producing an obstruction ofthe valves in the left ventricle . It seems that the deceased , who lodged at Mrs . Rudd's , ncarAddcnbrooke ' _s Hospital , had been in precarious health , and was occasionall y attended by Mr . Johnson , during thc whole of his University course . On Sunday , however , he was able to attend church , and at half-past ten o ' clock on Sunday night , he retired to rest m much his usual state . On Monday morning , one ofthe members of Mrs . Rudd ' sfamily rapped at
his door , and receiving no answer , entered , and found that the deceased had been dead some hours . Thejury returned a verdict of " Natural death . " A IIiohwaymax Shot . —Mr . Steel , a spirit-merchant of Elmsall , near Ferrybridge , has shot a hig hwayman , in self-defence . As Mr . Steel was returning at nJg ht from Wakefield market , where he had been collecting-money , two men appeared before him , making exclamations which betrayed their purpose ; Mr . Steel cocked a pistol , put his horse to a gallop , and escaped from the fellows , who attempted to seize the bridle . A little while _^ after , another man rushed on him , and struck him with a bludgeon , knocking him from his horse ; the villain then _Prepar ed to strike Mr . Steel over the head , but the itter shot him in tho shoulder . Mr . Steel then remounted his horse , and made off , just as thc other two robbers came up .
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before Parliament in the middle of next session by Mr . Keogh , the Conservative and Catholic M . P . for Athlone . _ , ,, Savings Banks . — In consequence of tho apprehension felt amongst the people about the security of _savino-s banks , the directors of the National Bank of Ireland have resolved to take deposits as low as 10 s . ' ,. . Incendiarism , Incendiarism still continues in the north . Within two miles of Belfast the criminal disturbers have been doing their work of mischief in the open day . A public meeting was held m Belfast on Thursday , the mayor in thechair , and strong resolutions were passed . There was an account iu the Belfast Chronicle of an incendiary outrage . The i i iinii iiTiiin iifm it n iiiniiin
_stacics oi a _t-apt . ijariier were nreu , anu amuugou w thc amount of £ 50 . Denouement of the Newtqnbreda Romance . — The Daily News says : — " It appears that the ' heroism' of Miss _M'Voigli was an elaborately contrived fiction . " A correspondent of the Freeman s Journal ( who is corroborated by the Belfast papers ) says : — "Miss Grace M'Vei g h ' s laurels have been torn down . It was satisfactoril y proved before the magistrates this day ( Friday ) , that she liad been in Belfast on the day preceding the night that she made such courageous work ; that she was in several butchers' shops trying to get a bottle of blood ; that she got one at length from a very decent man of thc name of John Hammill , who , as well as his daughter , and ahoy about sixteen years of age ,
have all identified Miss Grace as the person who came for thc blood , and took it with her . The cap that was found as having belonged to tho man who was shot , has also been identified by the person in the old clothes trade as thc one which he sold to Miss M'Veig h on the same day that she bought thc blood ; he has identified Miss " M'Vei g h also . This the young lady seems to have riddled with shot , to assist in making the story appear like truth . " On the other hand the Northern Whig , a journal of high character , defends these young women against all assailants , and enters into an elaborate argument , to show the fallacy ofthe charges against tnem . Railway Outraoe . —The Clonmel Chronicle says — " We have just heard tliat some ofthe rails ofthe
Great Southern and Western Railway , between Dundrum and Thurles , were torn up on Tuesday night , or early on Wednesday morning . It appears that , as one of thc railway police was walking on the line , a fellow , with his face blackened , and having a blunderbuss in his hand , leaped over the fence on to the line , and accosting the constable demanded who he was ; he replied , 'lam one ofthe railway police . ' The fellow said , ' Well , I am one of Captain Rock ' s police , and have received his orders to tear up the line . ' Two other fellows then joined the firat , and collared the policeman , but , the whistle ofa train being heard at the moment , they let him eo unhurt , and fled . He then ran on
towards the coming train , holding up his signal lamp to warn it of the danger ; fortunately , he was in sufficient time , and the train slackened its speed to a very slow rate , moving along until it met with an obstruction . Tlie lino was immediately examined , and three of the rails were found to be torn up , and thrown on one side ; they were soon settled in their places in a temporary way , and the train passed over in safety . If it had not been for the presence of mind of tho policeman in being able to havo the train stopped , the most lamentable consequences would have ensued . No clue has as yet been obtained to the perpetrators of this demoniacal act ; but we trust that such steps will be taken as to insure their speedy arrest . "
The Pook-Law . —About a twelvemonth ago the guardians of the Athlone Union were—it is to be presumed not without good cause—summarily dismissed , and their places filled up by paid guardians , who appear to have discharged their duties to the satisfaction of the ratepayers—at least , no complaint of inattention or inefficiency has been made public through the medium of thc local press , at all times watchful for the slightest " slip " whereon to found a grievance . On Friday week , however , a sealed order from tho Poor Law Commissioners was received at the board-room of the workhouse , authorising the election of a board of guardians on the 25 th of Marcli next , on wliich day . the vice-guar dians cease to administer the affairs of the union .
Incendiarism in Ulster . —The Belfast Chronicle gives thc following as the result of a second investigation into the case of the M'Veighs , wliich was held on Saturday : — " On Saturday last another private investigation was held at Newtownbreda , before Major Brownrigge , Sir Robert Batoson , and James _M'Cance , Esq ., R . M ., for the purpose of hearing additional evidence respecting the alleged fabrication of the statement put forth by the Misses M'Veigh . It had been previously stated that there was another butcher in Hercules-street who could identify onc ofthe girls at the person that had purchased blood from him on the day before the sanguinary affray with the incendiaries , and this witness
was examined on the present occasion . The plan adopted for identification was that of putting a number of young women together , among whom were thc Misses M'Veigh , and calling on the witness to point out the onGto whom he sold the blood . Thc man , however , completely broke down , having selected another girl , who resides in the neighbourhood , as the identical one to whom he sold the blood , and not either ofthe Misses M'Vei gh at al ' Thus , then , has the question ofthe blood-buying and the entire fabrication of the story , ended , aiid the plain and straightforward statement ofthe two _s-irls stands in every single point uncontravened , and wc iil ' e Oonfidehi will remain so until time and
circumstances bring about its entire confirmation . Respecting thc circumstance of the girl whom the man identified as having purchased blood from him , we may add that it is a very common thing for country people to purchase blood to be used in thc preparation of their food , and this , therefore , goes for nothing . As a proof that the magistrates believe the story , we can state that a guard of constabulary is still nightly kept upon Mr . M ' Veigh ' s premise * . Iii the entire history of falsification there never has been recorded a morobaseconspiracy than that concocted to destroy thc character of theso two poor girls , and throw discredit upon tlieir statements . " Importation op American Fresh Pork . —Tho
Freeman s Joimialhas the following : — "Mr . Michael Smith , of Copper-alley , provision merchant , has just imported into Dublin the very novel article of fresh American pork . The importation consists of fifty pigs , as fresh and sweet as they were on the day they were slaughtered in America , preserved bv being packed in ice . The fifty pigs imported by Mr . Smith into Dublin have been brought by him from Liverpool , to which port they wero imported direct from Now York . Mr . Smith having invited us to sec the pigs as they hung in his stores . When wc saw them yesterday they were hanging , the carcases split in two . They were of great size , weighing , wc arc informed , from 3 cwt . up to nearly 5 cwt ., some of them being full 4 cwt . 3 qrs . Some
of thc larger ones certainly looked , for size , move like Beeves than like pigs . They were very hi hly fed , and thick fat . Being split down the chine , several of them measured seven inches in thickness at thc thin part of the loin , and ton inches at the deeper part of thc back towards thc shoulder . This included , of course , thc thickness ofthe chine , whieh , however , was not much , as thc pigs were remarkably small in bono . The pork was of first-rate quality , firm and as sweet as if it had beon slaughtered only yesterday . Thc pigs wore of a superior breed , and promissed to cut up with as little offal asithe best breed of Irish pigs . We noticed some time ago an importation of fresh pigs thus preserved into Liverpool . The present importation
into Dublin is a portion of a second importation made into Liverpool . We notice this importation as significant of what we are coming to in Ireland , and as marking with singularly emphatic indication the terrible dislocation of industry in this country . Ireland , which a few years ago used to export pi _£ 3 by millions to England , now imports not only salt pork and bacon , but even fresh pork , from America . Ireland , which was the granary of England , now feeds her own people with flour and Indian corn from America . " Secret Societies . —A report that secret societies were again in progress of organisation throughout the country , calls forth the subjoined remarks from the Province of Munster : — " Wc cannot allow an
hour to pass without warning the people against being induced to join them . We do not hesitate to say that we would rather turn out in thc most desperate forlorn hope on the hill-side , than trust ourselves to the perils of secret associations . Secret association !—the name is an absurdity . No one act of those who fancy that they plot in darkness against the institutions of thc State is secret from those who can turn their knowledge to the most deadl y use . The Executive has never failed to obtain possession ofthe most p rivate counsels of those engaged in such combinations , and therefore it is that every man who has had the interests of the people sincerely at heart has warned them constantl y against the risk they incur in joining those so " - cieties . "
Scotland
_Scotland
As Explosion* Startled The Inhabitants O...
As Explosion * startled the inhabitants of Edinburgh on Thursday week . An intense vibration of the earth shook thc houses near thc Canongate ; the inmates were in some cases thrown down ; and windows were broken . The cause of the disaster was soon ascertained , and the attention of the crowds who now thronged to the spot was drawn to a sheet of brig ht flame arising from the gas-holder of the Edinburgh Gas Company , which told too truly that the immense quantity of gas wliich it contained had , by some unknown means caught fire . In another moment the whole was one sheet of flame , the crowds which lined the Calton Hill , Regent-road , and the adioininjr points , from which a view of the burning
mass could be obtained , forming as it were an immense amphitheatre in the distance . The fire continued to blaze with great fury until graduall y , as the gas was consumed , the gas-holder immcrged in the tank amongst the water beneath , and the conflagration was ultimately extinguished by means of wot blankets and coarse sacking being spread over the shattered remains of the gas-holder . Themjsterious p art of the matter is , by what means the gas in thc holder became ignited . The gasometer was completely isolated , surrounded by a wall , and no fire or combustible allowed inside . There were in the gas-holder at thc time nearl y 300 , 000 cubic feet of gas , the greater porton of which would of course be consumed . Tlie total damage was estimated at about £ 2 , 000 .
Extensive Forgeries ix Glasgow . —On Wednesday week last a scries of forgeries were discovered to have been perpetrated by Mr . Alexander Buchanan , the senior partner , in thc firm of Buchanan and Anderson , gingham manufacturers , 62 , Quccnstvect . The extent of the forgeries is variously stated at from £ 12 , 000 to £ 20 , 000 , but at any rate it is generally believed that there have been forgeries to the amount of £ 7 , 000 on one of tho Glasgow banks , and £ -5 , 000 on another . There are a number of other bills for various amounts in the hands of different parties , bearing thc same signature , as also a signature purporting to bo that of John Fyte and Co ., merchants , Renfield-strcet , all drawn by Alexander Buchanan , and likewise pronounced forgeries . Buchanan has since absconded . Calamitous Inundation . — The weather inthe north of Scotland , and particularly in Livernessshire , was tempestuous to an almost unprecedented
degree all last week . Onc storm of wind and rain followed another for several days and ni ghts , without intermission , accompanied by vivid lightning . Thc greatest calamity which has hitherto come to our Knowledge , arising from theso storms , is the complete destruction , on Thursday week , of tho fine old bridge over the Ness at Inverness , which , after bravely standing thc floods and tempests of more than 160 years , has been at length , in the apparent plenitude of its strength , carried awav at one fell swoop . There is much interest of an historical and antiquarian kind attached to the brid ge , and its local position and thc elementary peculiarities it had to battle with gave it an uncommon celebrity . It was built at tho foot of the romantic hill , on which , according to Shakespeare , Macbeth ' s castle stood . Thc building of the bridge began in 1685 , and was finished in the year of thc revolution ( 1688 ) . It spanned the swift waters of the Ness by soven well-constructed arches . Tlie Iato eminent
engine-r _, Mr . Ielford , c itecmed it the handsomest old bridge in Great Britain ; although it had a slight rise in the centre , yet the arches partook more of thc modern elliptical form than was at all common in days of old . It is stated in the statistical account of Inverness that tho ancient gaol of that burgh consisted only of a single damp dingy vault of one of the arches of this bridge . This strange place was always pointed out as a curiosity to strangers . The Caledonian Canal is carried through the great g len of Scotland , by joining the three great lakes of Ness , Oich , and _Lochie , by short cuttings between them . The summit-lock of thc canal , on Loch Oich , about thirty-five miles from Inverness , is ninety-five feet above high water at Inverness . Some of tho banks and locks of tho
Oich , near Fort Augustus , are said to have given way , and to have allowed the waters of the upper level to flow into Loch Ness , which became swollen to such a size as to produce a fresh or spcat in the river of unprecedented violence , causing the lamentable catastrophe to the bridge we have just mentioned . All thc lower part of Inverness was hid under water , the houses forsaken , and the inhabitants glad to make their escape in boats , and such other craft as could be got at . Happily no lives
were lost , but there had been great destruction of property , and much inconvenience must follow from the lines of communication being interrupted . Thc wooden bridge , now the only means of land communication between the two districts of the town and between the eastern and northern counties of Scotland , is left tottering to its base , and in momentary danger of being swept away . Other accounts ascribe the calamity solely to the rise of water in Loch Ness from heavy rains and molted snow , and make no mention ofthe inundation from Loch Oich .
Ivtlm*.
_IVtlM _* .
The Poor Law.— This Subject Will Bo Almo...
The Poor Law . — This subject will bo almost the principal one which will occupy the Legislature connected with Irish affairs : — " The poor Taw—the whole poor law — and nothing but the poor law , " will be the talk of honourable members of all sides . In fact , it is the only social or political Irish question talked of . An important meeting Wft 3 held at Mullingar , attended by the representatives of all classes and parties . There were present tlie Marquis of Westmeath and tho Catholic bishop , Dr . Cantwell , Sir Percy Nugent , Mr . Tuitc , M . P ., & c . Its main object was to adopt a petition to Parliament , embodying a series of resolutions in favour of a radical amendment of the existing poor law svstem .
In the union of Listowell , in _Kon-v , tho rates are 12 s . in thc pound , and in thc union of Trim the average rating is 7 d . in the pound . There are 14 , 000 paupers receiving outdoor relief hi the Listowell Union , besides 2 , 000 paupers now in the workhouse * Roman Catholic _Ekuowment . — The question of endowing the Irish Catholic Clergy will be brought
An Emigrant Ship Disahled. —On The 12th ...
An Emigrant Ship _Disahled . —On the 12 th ult the Atlantic , a shi p of more than 1 , 000 tons , sailed from Liverpool with emigrants for New Orleans It appears , that she encountered very boisterous weather , sprang aleak , and was otherwise in a deplorable state , when a steam-tug , the Conqueror foil in with her off Pladda lighthouse , and took her m tow for Ardrossan Harbour . In _crossing tho bar there she ran aground , and the emi grants , 300 in number , chiefly Imh , were taken l y the tug o Glasgow , where they now remain . s We learn that the cold has been so severe in Massachusetts , that in some ofthe ponds the fi _E W « _T _^ _ttv thou _? ? ' a d taken in that _conditooonnit ? _bs' / _, bass from _rocha Pond , and
Importation of Gold from California .-TIic _paries Bvownwell , arrived at Liverpool from _Valli _^ nnn _i ? bl ' ought _goW bars to the value of ¦ tis uuo , which had been received at that port from California .
An Emigrant Ship Disahled. —On The 12th ...
APPALLING COLLIERY EXPLOSION AT BARXSLEY .-EIGHTY-ONE LIVES LOST . Another of thoso sickening catastrophes , for the prevalence of which Barnsley and its neighbourhood have obtaiued a painful notoriety , occurred at Dar . ley Main Colliery on Wednesday week , and has resulted in a sacrifice of human life perfectly , appalling . No less than eighty-one human beings and eight horses have fallen victims to an explosion of fire-damp—an explosion so terrific and unexpected that of 105 persons employed in thc pit at the time , only twenty-four survive . The precise cause of this , as in too many other colliery accidents , is at prosent shrouded in mystery ; but , without desiring to prejudice any party by tho present deplorable cala-MrriTn'Tr colliery explosion at
mity , we cannot but express an opinion that some strong legislative measures should be taken for the purpose of throwing , as far as practicable , some semblance of protection over the lives ofth . it hard _, working and deserving portion of our industri al community who labour inthe bowels of the earth . This colliery has been the scene of two former exp losions ; the first was hi the early part of 1847 ,-when six lives were lost ; and in Augtist ofthe samo year a similar calamity resulted in the death of two colliers . Within the distance of two miles at furthest is situated the Oaks or Ardsley Main Colliery , where on the 5 th of Marcli , 1847 , an explosion of fire-damp kiih * c } no less than seventy-three persons . Darlev Main Colliery is tlie property of Messrs .
Jeftcock and Jarratt , of Dohcaster , and is situated about two mile * to the south of Barnsley , a short distance from the Barnsley and Sheffield _turnpike road . Thc works are very extensive , extending in one direction nearly a mile from the shaft , and this appears to be the "dip end , " or deepest portion of the workings . Thc surveyor of the colliery is Mr Charlss Locke , who resides at Rothwell , near Leeds ; and is also the surveyor , or inspector , of the Duke of Norfolk ' s collieries . A fortnight since , we understand , Mv . Locke minutely inspected the pit , and stated that he liad never seen a colliery iu better working condition . Addey , the fireman , whose duty
it is daily to inspect the -pit tor the purpose of ascertaining whether there is any accumulation of foulair , began his inspection ofthe works at four o ' clock on the Wednesday morning , and at eleven o ' clock , when he ascended the shaft , he pronounced all safe . The men began to assemble at their work , soon after four o clock in the morning , and continued descending thc shaft until after six , when there was , it was supposed , 104 men ami boys in the pit , besides Mr . Thompson , the bottom steward , whoso duty it is , as the name of his office implies , to superintend the operations underground , and adopt any precautions for the safetv of the colliers that mav seem to him
necessary . About twenty minutes before twelve o ' clock Mr . Thompson , who had observed nothing to cause the suspicion in his mind , felt a sudden and most alarming change in the atmosphere ; and before he could take anv steps to ascertain the cause—indeed , almost before he could turn round—there was a frightful explosion . Judging from thc nature of the report , and from the devastation committed , thc explosion did not appear to have been confined to any particular spot , J _but extended nearly from end to end ofthe works . All the stoppings , trap door .- * , and gates in the pit were blown away by the violence of the explosion ; and it was felt that the wreck of human life must be appalling . Terrified by the noise , and knowing from sad experience the result of these explosions , the wives , parents , and children of those employed in the pit , hastened to the scene , each fearing the loss of a nusband , a son , or a father ,
am } there are few families in that part ot _vvorsbro Dale who have not to bewail the untimely death of one-or more of their kinsmen . As soon as the rusli of foul air up the shaft had subsided , men were lowered for tlie purpose of exploring the pit . Amongst thc most active and praiseworthy in this search was James Beaumont and others , who remained so long in the pit that thoy themselves became insensible , and wero drawn up apparently lifeless , in consequence of inhaling a noxious gas known among colliers as the "black damp , " and which always , we believe , succeeds explosions of fire-damp . About half-past one o ' clock thc explorers gave evidence of their activity by sending up Mr . Thompson , the bottom steward , and one or two other survivors ; and from this time the arrivals of dead and living colliers at the mouth of the shaft were rapid—care having very properly been taken to send those first who worn found to bo alive . Prior to this
messeng ers had been despatched to Barnsley for medieil aid ; and Mr . Ayrc , the surgeon to thc colliery , being at tho moment absent from his home , Mr . Wainwright , surgeon , and Mr . Ayrc ' s assistant , with one or two other medical gentlemen , hastened to tlie spot , and afforded every possible aid to the survivors , who continued to arrive at the surface till midnight , and were , as speedily as practicable , removed either to their own homes , or to houses in the immediate neighbourhood . At five o ' clock in the afternoon , sixteen men nnd bovs had been
rescued alive , and five dead bodies had been raised . During the night other cloven survivors were discovered , but moro or less injured ; making in tinwhole twenty-seven ; three of these have since died of their injuries , and two or three others are in imminent danger . Some delay aroso in tho search of the pit , as it was found absolutely necessary to suspend operations , in order to repair the traps , & c . m the passages , for the purpose of procuring a supply of pure air . The search , with tbis brief interruption , continued during Wednesday night and tim whole of Thursday , on the afternoon oi which day there had been seventv-five dead bodies
recoveredmaking , with the three who had expired , seventyeight corpses ; and it was also known that of ten horses that wore in pit oight had boen killed . X <> record is kept of the number of men and boys _wlio go down every morning , but from tho sets of tools taken , it was judged tliat there were three workmen still unaccounted " for , and a party proceeded to tho * ' dip" end already referred to , a distance of nearly three-quarters of a mile from the shaft . After a laborious search they succeeded in recovering three dead bodies ; thc dreadful injuries they had sustained proved that their death must have been instantaneous . As the mutilated and blackened corses ot these hapless men and boys were raised to the face , and were over and anon _recoiniised as thc
husbands , or fathers , or brothers of the persons around _, thc scene -was most piteous . The blanched feature ? and quivering frames of mothers and wives , as they hurried to the shaft side , and gazed earnestly and fearfully upon each fresh arrival , proved that ' thoy were not idle spectators of these wrecks of humanity . And it was to many a matter of astonishment how bodies , mutilated and torn and burnt till not ; i feature was discernible , wore recognised by their relatives , who bore them to their homes in despair . It is impossible to describe the horrors that surrounded us on every side on our arrival . As we approached the scene of this dread calamity , wc met two cartloads of dead bodies ; and thero was scarcel y a house which did not contain one or more of those
witnesses of thc extent of tho explosion . Four cottages , adjoining the colliery , contained no _lcs . _- than fifteen corpses ; and every male in more than one large family , we learnt , had been killed . The bodies of some of thoso colliers whose homes were at a distance , or of those who wero so horribly mutilated that identity was next to impossible , " were conveyed to thc adjoining public-houses ; the other s were taken to their homes . We saw at Mr . Harrison ' s the Masons' Arms public-house , a sickening array of ei ght bodies—ono with the head torn oft '; another torn open from thc neck to tho abdomen ; another with tlie skin and flesh of thc arms stripe from tho bonos ; and the others shockingly mutilated . At tho Darlev Inn beer-house there were
several bodies ; at the Keel beer-house ( the landlord of which , George Field , was himself killed ) , many more were lying ; and a great many were taken to their homes at Barnsley and thc _Jjadjoining to _** "iships . Many of the bodies were so crushed , ami ground , as it were , into an almost shapeless mas * , that the surgeons were extremely anxious to procure their interment , as decomposition would within a few hours take p lace . Thc explosion is supposed to have taken place on the northern side of the pit , at a p lace known as "the dip , " wliich is about 1 , 500 yards distant from thc shaft , and near to it is what is called " a thorough , " or "a break in the seam . " In what wav the foul air entered , and the manner of its
ignition , will , perhaps , over remain a mysterv ; for , unhappily , every soul in that part of the workum _* perished . It may be mentioned , as a confirmation of an old expression amongst colliers , " that the cold blast kills more than the hot , " that the greatest slauclucr appears to have taken place in the different levels , or roads , whither the men naturallv run upon hearing the explosion , hoping there to meet with pure air - , but , In place of ensuring their own safety , they had rushed to their : own destruction . To some per sons the terms "hot blast" and "cold blast" w . r . y not be perfectly . intelli gible . It is simplv this : when there is an explosion of foul air , or the " _hi-t blast , " a vacuum is created , and there is an unu sual rush of foul air through the up-shaft . Of course , there is a corresponding rush of pure air along the down-shaft to fill this vacuum ; and the men \ vl > . ' > have run into the levels or roads , in the hone of
escaping contact with the foul air , are dashed by tlie descending current against the sides or corners of thc passages , and almost invariably killed . The following aro the names and description ot the deceased so far as they aro at present known : — James and Uriah Berkinshaw , brothers , single men ; Edward and William Billinton , brothers , single ; Joseph Sagar , married , with six children * , William Guest , married ; Edward ltennington , single ; Charles Wood ; Georgo Barraclough , married ; James Littlewood , single ; John Burton ( _bettet known as " Shadow , a prize-fighter ); Geoi ' Le Turner , and his son ; Charles Brooke , jun ., and his son ; __ George Guest , and his son ; William Winter ; William Rollings ; George Field , married ; Thomas Firth ; John Sykes ; John Winder ; John Smith ; two brothers named _Sellars ; John Vevers , niarri' d ( and had a son killed » t , tho last _exploaion ia t *** _°
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 3, 1849, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_03021849/page/6/
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