The Press. — London, England, 1857-04-18 00:00:00

38 2 with him upon his conduct, and requested him to replace the cap, but he paid no attention to their injunctions, and the consequence of course was that an explosion took place. THE CORONER'S INQUIRY into the circumstances of the Lundhill explosion, by which no less than 189 persons hive lost their lives, was resumed on the 9th instant, when Mr. Joseph Coe, the viewer and underground manager of the colliery, was examined. Mr. Morton, the Government inspector of mines, the proprietors, and other gentlemen were present, as at previous sittings. The inquiry has now occupied seven days, during which forty seven witnesses have been examined. The evidence of Mr. Joseph Coe, the viewer, lasted upwards of five hours. This gen • tleman, who had the entire control and supervision of the underground workings, was in the pit on the day preceding the explosion, and made a minute examination of the whole of the north side, which he found to be well ventilated, quite free from gas, and in the best working order. With one or two excep tions, this favourable condition of the pit was deposed to by all the witnesses. On being asked whether he could form any opinion as to the cause of the explo sion, the witness said he was utterly at a loss to account for it, but that he had formed a notion (which was, however, merely hypothetical) that it was possible, after the lower roof had fallen, that the stronger roof above might have given way, and thus liberated large quantities of gases, which would ex plode on contact with the nearest naked light. He did not think the ventilation by trap-doors an effi cient mode, and considered double doors safer than single ones. He also thought that all mines in the Barnsley district ought to be worked exclusively with safety lamps, and expressed his opinion that the mode of getting coal throughout the district was the most wretched and dangerous within his knowledge. At the conclusion of Mr. Coe's evidence, the inquest was adjourned to the 30th instant. One of the bodies has been recovered ; it was found between eleven and twelve o'clock on Friday night, the 10th instant. The f %Mures were frightfully distorted, the legs and arms broken, the feet cut, and the head and other parts • • crushed as to render the appearance of it one Oiapeless mass of flesh, and entirely irrecolmisable. Tice body was buried with secrecy on Monday even ig, although not viewed by the coroner. The chair which was left at the bottom of the shaft has been recovered and hoisted up. A SHOCKING ♦ND FATAL ACCIDENT occurred in a Manchester warehouse on Monday. A hoist used for the purpose of lifting goods from one floor to another had been fitted by Messrs. J. Pender and Co., with Mr. Hugh Baines's patent self-acting safety apparatus, a contrivance for preventing accidents in cue of any of the ropes failing in the ascent of goods or servants from one storey to the other; and o I Tuesday evening a trial was being made of it with six persons in the cage. On the cage arriving at the upper storey the rope was disconnected (which would be the same as if it was broken), and the patent apparatus for checking the thscent of the hoist should have come into play. The apparatus, however, did not act, and the consequence was that the cage descended with frightful velocity to the basement floor, a depth of fifty feet. Two of the gentlemen in the cage, Mr. Peacock, head ware houseman, and his brother, had stepped out upon the upper floor just as the rope was disconnected, and were saved from injury, but the other four sus tained serious injuries, and were carried to the in firmary, where one of them, named Shaw, died the same night. Mr. Baines is one of the sufferers, sustaining severe laceration of one foot. MR. J. G. DODSON, M.P., met with a slight acci dent last week after the declaration of the poll. Driving home in his gig, with a spirited mare in the shafts, they came up with a body of electors cart ying flags, which being suddenly unfurled, as Mr. Dodson was recognised, so alarmed the mare that she ran up on the raised bank by the roadside, and, being pulled back too sharply by Mr. Dodson, fell over and capsized the gig. Mr. Dodson was extricated with. oat serious injury. THE SOUTHAMPTON BANQUET to the Lord Chief Justice, is fixed for Saturday the 25th. THE THUNDERSTORM which broke over the country on Friday week was very destructive in the West Riding. The house of Mr. T. P. Ramsden, of Pontefract, was struck by the electric fluid, which, passing down the chimney, struck Mr. Rams den, who was standing near the fire, and also his daughter, who was seated a short distance from him. Mr. Ramsden was not mach injured, but his daugh• tar was prostrated with great violence, rendered blind and insensible, and has lost the use of her lower extremities. The storm took a south easterly direction, and burst with considerable vio lence in the evening, at Boston, where the lightning struck the residence of Mr. Mowbray, farmer, of Hill-dike Bar, and completely demolished the gabls of the house, penetrated iato the interior, and injured three of the servants. One of the girls was paralysed by the shock, and remained for some tame in an alarming state of prostration. THE PRESS. Numerous accident% of a minor character are re ported in the Midland districts, but there was no loss of life. gatal a glilitarg anttilignut. STAFF EDUCATION. HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE, General Commanding in-Chief, has issued the following General Order (No. 685 ), regulating from the Ist of January 1858, the educational qualifications of staff officers. This regulation is not intended to affect officers now on the staff : AIDES DT•CAYP. To write a distinct and legible hand, and compose English correctly. _ . . . . . _ . . To have a pod colloquial knowledge of one foreign language. To have a good eye for a country, and to be able to produce an intelligible sketch of it. To know the use of the sketching compass, or pocket sextant—in order to lay down and protract the leading features of a coentrytobe described. To have a thorough knowledge of regimental duty—and tactics, and field movements on au extended scale. Also a knowledge of field fortification, both as regards construction and correct description on reconnaissance• BRIOADE•MAJORS. To have all the qualifications of a good adjutant—the same acquirements as are exacted from an aide•de-camp— and a thorough knowledge of military law, and the army and War•otfce regulations. The following further acquirements will be required to qualify for deputy-assistants adjutant•general and deputy assistants quartermaster-general, viz.: DEPUTY ASSISTANTS ADJUTANT•6ENERAL AND QUARTER MASTER•6ENERAL. Practical sketching—both on horesback, called "flying sketching"—as well as correct and finished plotting ; practical trigonometry and geometry, with knowledge of logarithms. To write, read, and speak at least one foreign language ; to judge of ground and its proper occupation by ill arms ; to have a perfect knowledge of castrametation, and the principles of permanent fortification. And to be thoroughly acquainted with geography and military history•--especially as relates to the campaigns of ancient and modern commanders. ASSISTANTS ADJUTANT ♦ND ♦SSISTANTS QUARTERMASTER• GENERAL. To the whole of the foregoing will be added for assistants adjutant and assistants quartermaster•general, the elements of mechanics, hydrostatics, and geology; the construction of military bridges, dams, &c.; an acquaintance with the principles of strategy ; and statistics of the army. All staff officers should be able to ride well. By command of His Royal Highness, The General Commanding•in•Chief, G. A. WETHEBALL, Adjutant• General. THE BRITISH SOLDIERS AND THE FRENCH MEDAL. A SUPPLEMENTAL Lai. has been published of 173 non commissioned officers and soldiers selected for recommendation to his Majesty the Emperor of the French to receive the decoration of the French military war medal. Four hundred names have already been given. To each of the names is attached a brief report of the special services of the soldier selected for decoration. We select a few : 2ND DRAGOONS. Regimental Sergeant-Major John Greene, Troop Ser geant-Major George Tisley, and Private Andrew Wilson— Gallantry in the field at the battle of Balaklava on the 25th of October, 1t454, and exemplary good conduct during tho whole of the campaign, and during their periods of service. 3un Poor. Sergeant William Heves—Particularly mentioned for gallant conduct at the assault on the Redan on the Bth of September, 1855, with ladder party. Private William Brown—The first man of the regiment who entered the works at the assault on the Great Redan on the Bth of September. With covering party. Private John Connors, Private John Eagan, and Private John Hall—Distinguished themselves at the assault on the Great Redan on the Bth of September, 1853. With the covering party. Private John Walsh—Highly spoken of by the officer in cammand of the covering party at the assault on the Redan on the Bth of September ; mentioned also by several other officers under whose observation he came. The whole of these men have been repeatedly mentioned for their soldier•like behaviour throughout the siege.] 17TH REGIMENT. Corporal Philip Smith—Distinguished himself by going out on the glacis of the Great Redan several times on the 18th of June, 18.55, after the assault, under very heavy fire, and bringing in several wounded men on his back. Never missed a duty. Present during the whole time. 39TH REGIMENT. Private Michael Boyle—On the 25th of April, 1855, volunteered to bring in a soldier of another regiment who was lying wounded outside the advanced line of sentries beyond the Ovens—a work, at the hour of day when it was performed, of considerable danger. He performed the duty well, and was highly spoken of on the following morn ing by the late Captain Maunsell. Was also one of the party on the Woronsoff•road on the '2nd of August, 1855, when a sortie of the Russians, reported to consist of 2,000 men, attacked the chevaux-de-frise. He was always present, and never missed any trench duty. SATURDAY, Colour•Sergeant James Garrett--Conduct highly spoken of by all ranks for conspicuous gallantry, coolness, and intrepidity on all occasions while on duty in the trenches. It has also been stated that, while under medi cal treatment, and with an unhealed blister on him, he joined his regiment on the 18th of June, knowing that an important attack was assigned to the brigade to which he belonged, and was obliged to go into hospital immediately on his return. 31ST REcnxEsT. Private John Spelman—This man was one of a party en- gaged in taking possession of the ride pits in the advance of the right sap advance trench ou the night of the 4th of September, 18455, whose conduct was particularly men. tinned for their coolness and bravery by Captain Rowlands, of the 41st Regiment, in keeping possession of the pita for half an hcur, till ordered to retire. He was severely wounded on this occasion. 62ND REGIMENT. Drummer Thomas Finnigan—Served with the regiment from its arrival in the Crimea, on the 12th of November, 1831, and was present at the attack on the Quarries, 7th of June, 1853 ; the attack on the Redan, 18th of June, 1833, and on the Bth of September, 1833, upon which later occasion his conduct was most conspicuous. 63RD REGIMENT. Lieutenant John Brophy—tth Lancashire ➢lilitia, late Colour-Sergeant, 63rd Foot—Was colour-sergeant of the regiment at the battle of Inkermann, and accompanied the colours. The regiment and the enemy were engaged in a hand to-hand struggle. Ensign Clutterbuck, who carried one of the colours, which was separated from the other, was killed. Sergeant Brophy immediately took it up, and, though severely wounded, defended it, and brought it safely from the melee. Sergeant Arthur Roberta—At the battle of Inkermann, carrying one of the colours, the ensign having been severely wounded, he received a wound, a hich caused him to fall. He got up quickly, took up the colours, and, re fusing to leave the field, continued to carry the colours until incapacitated by a second wound. Colour•Sergeant William Morris—At the battle of hiker man, finding himself far in advance, with a number of men, he collected thtm, took the command, and, though attacked by superior numbers, he maintained his post, re pulsing the attacking party. Sergeant William Ahern—During the battle of Inker mann a portion of the regiment in their ardour having gone beyond their position, and on their return it being known that Ensign Clutterbuck was killed, and that his body was left on the field, Sergeant Ahern instantly volunteered to fetch it, and being accompanied by a private, he went far in advance, and brought in the body. On the same day, the only officer of his company being wounded, he took the commando( the company, and held it during the charge, maintaining discipline and conduct. Private Daniel Sullivan—One of his comrades being made prisoner at the battle of Inkermann by five of the enemy, he rushed at them, killed three, and rescued his comrade. He was in the battle, and on every occasion, whether in the trenches or in open field, distinguished fur his valour and spirit. 71ST REGIMENT. Colour•Sergeant James Hughes; Privates William Don, Rorer Martin, and Alexander Rattray—For distinguished conduct. 9TH FOOT. Corporal Michael Monaghan—Rendered valuable ser vice on the 18th of June, by conveying a letter to the Brigadier• General under a most perilous fire, by which he was wounded on his return. Again wounded in the trenches on the sth of July, 1855. Tide man's gallantry has been always conspicuous. t.:ND BATTALION RIFLE BRIGADE. Private Mark Bean—Present during the whole campaign. Gallant conduct during the siege and at Alma. ROYAL A RTILLERY. Sergeant Thomas Walsh—Served in the trenches from November, 1854, until the fall of Sebastopol, and displayed on all occasions great bravery and coolness under fire, setting a good example to young soldiers. Bombardier J. Bower—Gallant conduct at the assault on the Redan on the Bth of September, on which occasion he was wounded. He always behaved well under fire. Gunner and Driver Hugh Davis—Served with gallantry at Alma and lukermann. Specially mentioned by the late Lord Raglan for his conduct with tho two heavy guns at the latter engagement, where he lost both his arms by a round shot. Sergeant J. M`Kown—Served with great gallantry in all the bombardments since November, 1854. ROYAL SAPPERS AND MINERS. Corporal John Murphy—Served in the Crimea five months. Was present at the capture of the Quarries. oth of June, 18.55 ; assault on the Redan, 18th of June ; bom- bardment of the 17th of August, and capture of Sebastopol. Distinguished himself by carrying into the trenches a wounded soldier from the open, under a heavy fire from the enemy, before Sebastopol, in August, 1855, for which act of gallantry be was awarded the sum of 31. by the Com manderin-Chief of the Forces. Corporal William James Lendrim—Served in the Crimea from November, 18.54, and has been several times recorded as having displayed great skill and coolness under fire. COLONEL THE HoN. W. L. PAKENRAM, C. 8., who it will be recollected served as adjutant-general during the latter part of the late war in the Crimea, and who bas been appointed in that capacity to the military expedition destined to act against China, has departed for Hong Kong. Colonel Wetherall, C 8., quartermaster general, also left for the seat of war a few days back. Both gallant officers were to have embarked at Marseilles on Sunday last for Alexandria.