The Press. — London, England, 1854-09-02 00:00:00

-4 SEPTEMBER 2, 1854 ~. An IRON-UIRDER BRIDGE fell down last week on the Birmingham and Dudley Railway, which, being in course of construction, was so near completion that the final official visit of the Government inspec tor was to have taken place in a few days. The bridge was thrown over the road leading from Winsen-green to Handsworth. An engine with a train of ballast ww.ks was crossing the bridge, and the engine and two laden trucks had passed safely over, when the left hand iron girder gave way, doubling up as it were in its centre, falling into the highway below, and carrying with it trucks, rails, sleepers, andiron supporters. In fact, the destruction of the whole bridge was complete. Nearly one-half of the cross iron supporters (rafters) are smashed in two; and of the twelve trucks, three only escaped destruction. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the accident must delay the opening of the line. INFORMATION of an extensive robbery committed at the house of Albert Smith, the popular author, No. 12, Great Percy street, Tottenham-court road, was sent to the police on Monday. The property stolen comprised a quantity of silver plate, also a brace of pistols in a case inlaid with silver, a small clock, wearing apparel, ctc. A reward has been offered for the apprehension of the thieves. A BOILER EXPLOSION, which occasioned the death of one man and was likely to have seriously injured other's, occurred at a mine in the parish of Mogan, Cornwall, yesterday week. The man who met with his death was named John Spargo, and had charge of the pumping engine, which he had worked for many years. He had, however, allowed the feed to be exhausted, and then suddenly turning on a fresh supply of water, when the boiler was hot, an explo sion was the consequence. A portion of the boiler, weighing about two tons, was blown a distance of upwards of 300 feet. THE Baptist chapel in Mare-street, Hackney, re cently belonging to the late Rev. Dr. Cox, was nearly destroyed by fire on Saturday night. The edifice was of considerable size, containing seats for be tween 1,200 and 1,500 persons, and cost nearly 8,000/. The flames were first discovered by the organist, while tuning the instrument, and spread so fay,. that he had to throw himself down the steps from the gallery in order to escape. THREE INQUESTS have been held, in addition to the investigation before the Croydon magistrates, to in vestigate the circumstances attending the late unfor tunate railway catastrophe at Croydon. A third suf ferer is now added to the victims of the accident, the woman Harrison having expired in the hospital after undergoing amputation of the leg, and receiving all the aid which medical science could afford for her recovery. At the various inquests the evidence given at great length has of course involved the same de tails. It exhibits a singular mixture of complication, perplexity, and negligence in the management of the signal system at the Croydon station. Where the chief blame rests, except it be in the general orga nisation of the staff engaged at that point, and of the rules by which they are guided, it is difficult to say. The whole code of regulations, especially with regard to the transmission and interpretation of danger signals, appears to be clumsy and deficient to a degree which actually invites accident rather than averts it. A special act of negligence was, however, established against Simpson, the driver of the excursion, who confessed to having ran past a signal without stopping. The juries have accord ingly found verdicts of " Manslaughter" against him, and he awaits his trial in custody.—The inquest on the body of John Blincoe, who expired at the German Hospital on Sunday of injuries received in the late accident on the North London Railway on the 14th ult., was concluded on Wednesday. \Ter diet, "Accidental death." A FIRE broke out early on Wednesdey morning upon the extensive premises of Messrs. Baiss Brothers and Co., No. 125 and 126, Lower Thames street, wholesale druggists. Property to a very large amount was destroyed ; and the most remarkable circumstance connected with the outbreak is, that a former conflagration commenced near the same spot, on the same premises, six years ago. The two houses in question were near]) burned out, and no fewer than eight tenements in Lower Thames-street and Fish-street-hill suffered . considerable damage by fire and water before theflames could be mastered. As Exmostow OF GAB occurred on Wednesday, about midday, on the premises of Mr. Amadio, an optician, at No. 7, Throgmorton-street. Several persons were passing at the time, and one or two sustained some in juries. A gentleman named Hamilton was blown with violence against the wall on the opposite side of the way, his hands being turn ; whille another gentleman was struck down by the shock. Mr. Am adio's shop front was blown out, and his stock in trade was scattered in all directions. After the explosion the back of the house took fire, but the enginemen, who were quickly on the spot, speedily subdued it. Tne STEAMER ill inert. a, trading between Liverpool and Cork, was lost on Tuesday night off the Sherries. '1 he vessel struck on the rocks in a fog and soon went down. The crew and passengers escaped in five boats, three of which were picked upby the Mail- THE PRESS. steamer, and the others arrived safely on the Welsh ooast. No lives were consequently lust, though much property. THE CHOLERA. THE Registrar-General, in his official report, states : In the week that ended last Saturday the number of deaths arising from all causes was 2,039. lu the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1844.53 the average number was 1,114. which, if raised in proportion to increase of population, be comes 1,225. The prevailing epidemic has produced an excess amounting to 814 above the corrected average. In the thirty-fourth week of 1849, which ended August 25th, the total number of deaths registered was 2,456. In that week the mean temperature was 62 . 9 degrees, last week it was 61'2 degrees, which is 1 . 1 degree above the average. From cholera the deaths last week were 847, while those from diarrhoea were 214. In the corresponding week of 1849 cholera carried off 1,272 persons. In the present summer its weekly progress is traced in the following numbers:-5, 26, 133, 399, 644, 729, and 847. In the first seven weeks of the epidemic of 1849 the deaths were 9, 22, 42, 49, 124, 152, 339. In that-year it com menced about the end of May, the healthiest part of the year; it began six weeks earlier than the present epidemic, and its progress was slower; hut in the fourth week of August, as has been shown, it had reached a higher rate of mortality than the disease which now prevails has yet attained. 2,783 persons have already died of cholera ; and 1,700 of the number have fallen on the low grounds of London, out of 595,119 people whose dwellings are not ten feet above the Thames ; 700 have died out of 648,619 en the higher ground, extending from 10 to 40 feet above the same level ; and only 345 out of the 1,070,373 who live on the ground that has an elevation extending from 40 to 350 feet. The mortality from cholera to 100,000 living at the three elevations is 2R7 at the lowest, 109 at the middle, and 32 at the highest region. - - The following report appears in the Northern Whig on Wednesday :—" Within the last few days there have been some serious additions to the list of cholera cases. From Saturday to Sunday the number of cases of cholera was 9, and of diarrhas 4 ; from Sunday to Monday the number was 14 of cholera, and 5 of diarrhcea. The proportion of deaths to attacks is stated to be not loss than 43 per cent." The number of deaths from cholera in Liverpool last week was 30, as compared with 20 in the previous week. In other respects the town is reported as being in a healthy state. From Naples, of the 22nd ult., we learn that the intensity of the epidemic was ceasing. The last week the deaths had gradually declined. The Italian doctors, who behaved so well at the last visitation of the fearful malady (1837), have lost all courage this time. Dre. Roskelly and Whyte have set a noble example, as also Dr. Chepmell, at the island of Ischia. They have saved many a poor wretch who had no one to doctor him. Princess Cimitale chose a native doctor to assist at her acconchement, and, as he was afraid to enter Naples, she was obliged to leave her beautiful palace near Compo es Monto, and go to him at Portici, where she was safely de livered of a boy ; but the Prince, her husband, died of cholera four days afterwards. The King and Royal Family were at Ischia, but would come to Naples for the grand ffte of the Madonna Piedigrotto on the Bth inst., which will be a thanksgiving for deliverance from the pestilence. Accounts from Palermo were frightful : with one third of the population of Naples, the daily deaths had increased to 300. A letter from a private soldier in the Duke of Cambridge's division says:— " But in justice I must say that our officers in command here are doing their utmost to ameliorate our condition, and our commander. the Duke of Cambridge, especially, is never at rest, visiting the hospitals, and cheering the drooping spirits of the soldiers. He has surprised the whole of us, for when he was in Chobham, in command of the cavalry, he was rather supposed to be overbearing ; but since he came out here he has gained the heartfelt devotion of every soldier in his division, and if ever he has an opportunity of leading us to battle moat nobly will we stand by him, for he has proved himself our friend, and from his high rank has got us many comforts that no other commander would have dared to ask for." THE DETECTIVE POLICE 01.* BERLIN made an extraordi nary capture some few days ago. Having obtained infor mation that the produce of several daring burglaries com mitted in the vicinity of Berlin, especially in the abodes of village pastors, was concealed on board a river-barge on the Sproe, a large detachment of constables, under M. Steiber, proceeded to Charlottenberg for the purpose of a general &dine. Having taken possession of the issues and approaches to and from the stream, they at Nat disco vered a barge moored doge to the royal gardens, which upon examination proved to be fitted up as a regular ma gazine for stolen goods, as well as a habitation fur thieves. 'The latter, subsequently arrested in the town, were not on board. but the magazine was filled with enormous quanti ties of plunder of every possible kind and denomination, the greater part being the property of the plundered cler gymen. It is hoped that this skilfully-conducted operation has broken up the band of malefactors, who were the terror of the neighbouring villages. isalima. 827 DußlNti the just closed session of the American assembly Congress witnessed some curious scenes. Among others there was a speech on the Post-office appropriations by a Mr. Wright, of Mississippi, which is described as being the grossest faufaronade of nonsense ever delivered upon that floor. The house formed a ring to witness the exhi bition. The orator ffilminated and, not gesticulated, but writhed. His hearers, within and without the bar, roared in response. The orator shouted, and the members cried " Louder!" He raised his voice to a higher pitch, and they still cried " Louder!" At length, while bellowing at the utmost stretch of his voice, in rebuke of Harry Hibbard, who had unfortunately interrupted him, he exclaimed : " 1 find, sir, that they who are the most stupid always make the greatest noise ! " and this was vociferated so loud as to be exceeded by nothing but the laughter it provoked ! THE Rvssiass have left thirty-five millions Turkish piastres in buns at Bucharest, as a memorial of their inva sion. These papers are scarcely worth a pars teach. The bear of lB3ot have not yet been paid. THROUGH THE ACTIVITY OF THE PRUSSIAN POLICE a gang of Hebrew swindlers have been detected iu that country, whose object was to defraud Engfishlife insurance companies. This gang sent emissaries into the provinces, who, by means of bribes and false certificates, were enabled to pass off aged and infirm individuals for young and able bodied. Two instances were discovered, where a horse dealer, aged eighty-two years, was insured for 20,000 thalers, as being only fifty years old; and another where an aged woman was insured as a healthy middle-aged per , son for 31,000 theists. Several persons have been arrested in different parts, and among them individuals belonging to rural municipalities, who had aided in providing false certificates. Two master printers of Berlin are also among the delinquents. Two IMPORTANT AND HIGHLY-INTERESTINO DISCOVEr HIEN have been lately made in the lower old sandstone beds of Wick and Thurso by Mr. Peach, well known as a natu ralist and zoologist in Invernesahire. Fossil wood and shells, the existence of which in 4'attbness was hitherto unknown, have been abundantly found is situ, the former at Thurso, and both wood and shells at Wick and in the vicinity; the shells having undergone considerable abrasion. These facts. extremely interesting to geologists, will doubtless give new life to the explorers of the old red sandstone formation, bestowing, as they do, positive evi dence of what has formerly been considered at best but doubtful—the existence of vegetable °ramie'ss of the land at the old red period. Tue. 'll'imax Clior or . l'eri:ll CANADA will far :exceed that of any other year in its amount. According to the Oncepfr Times, it is estimated that a third more was sown last year than the year before, and it all looks flourishing. The surplus last year is estimated at 7,000,000 bushels; this year it is calculated the surplus will reach 12,000,000 bushels. Extimating the price at only 1 dol. Kb. per bushel, it gives the farmers 19,000,000 dots. ibr wheat alone for a foreign market. The Canadian farmers best year enjoyed great prosperity, and this year bids fairly to add largely to the contents of their coffers. Some. statistical (Wails, relative to the state of episco pacy in different continental countries, have been collected by a commission recently issued in France to inquire into the subject. From their report it appears that— Prance has a bishop or archbishop fur every 400,000 souls. Bavaria .. 375,000 Austria .. • . 668,000 Sweden .. 239.000 Spain 203,000 Portugal .. 11),009 Sardinian States .. :10,000 Sieiliee 106,000 Greece .. 41,600 A SOMEWHAT NOVEL APPEAL (Pals the Bucks Adver tiser) was last week made to the inhabitants of Stony Stratford, iu consequence of the combinatiou of the bakers to keep up the price of bread. The crier was sent round the town to call upon the inhabitants, now that potatoes were so plentiful and cheap, to abandon as much as pos sible the use of bread, and thereby force the bakers to re duce their prices, which are at present Id. snd lid. higher than most towns and villages around ; and the bread, moreover, of very inferior quality. It was stated by the crier that the inhabitants of Leighton had adopted and carried out. a similar resolution, and that consequently the bakers had had twelve hundred loaves thrown upon their hands. A FLIGHT OF ANTS of two hours' duration was seen on the 11th ult., between four and six p.m., passing over the little town of Buren (Berne) in successive squads, resem bling small clouds. The oldest people of the place do not remember having ever witnessed the like. A communica tion from their clergyman states that the same phenome non was observed in the Jura in 1810, near Breslau in 1697, and Preaburg in 1079 . Many people are construing its appearance into a promise of plenty. 'THE quantity of silk produced this year in the provinces of Piedmont has attained a considerable extent. The cocoons sold amount to 9,109,860 kilogrammes, fur a sum of 13,635,709 f. That quantity does not comprise more than one-third of the whole produce, which represents a value u f from 42,01.0,000 f. to 45,1100,0t5if. Mn. WILLIAM STORY, of the Abdy Farm, near Wath, made a bet of five guineas with a cultivator in the neigh bourhood of Rotherham that be could produce an ear of wheat containing 110 marketable grains, to be produced on a given day at Rotherham. Accordingly, at the appointed time the ear was produced before a large company. Each party selected a gentleman to count the grains, and an umpire was appointed to decide as to the quality. To the astonishment of every one, 114 corns were rubbed out of the ear, but the umpire, after a careful examination, de cided that three grains were not marketable, but declared that there were 111 perfect grains. Consequemtly lir. Story won. 41%06AWialOw Mllliiim.