The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-11-25 00:00:00

TEE CIIA.PTER OE ACCIDENTS.

A HEARTRENDING Sneirst.—A Scotch contemporary
narrates one of the most heartrending sceres that was
ever published in a newspaper. On Thursday last she
Comet put into the harbour of Garli.ostown, and took
the ground on a sandbank at a short distance from the
quay. Next day, al the tide was flowing, five men
were engaged in docking the vessel, when a person
standing on the quay observed that she was about to
heel over. He forthwith gave an alarm, and four out
of the five succeeded in keeping clear; the fifth, a man
named William Loch, was caught by the hull of the
vessel SR it went over, the bulwarks resting on his
loins, leaving his bead, arms, and the upper part of his
body free. The tide was coming in rapidly, and it was
known that the prostrate body would be submerged in
the course of an hour if the weight of the vessel could
not be shifted. In the course of a few minutes all the ,
Seamen, carpenters, and able-bodied men in Garliee-
town were upon the spot, and every effort was made
to lift the vessel a few inches, but in vain; and by the
time the water had reached the prostrate prisoner it was
evident that his fate was sealed. The scene which
ensued was troly pitiable and most heartrending; it
was witnessed by a large number of spectators, among
whom there was hardly a dry eye. The Rev. Thomas
Young walked into the water beside the drowning man,
engaged in prayer, and drew his attention to thoughts
befitting the sudden and inevitable change awaiting
him. His last words to his companions were, "Oh,
take off my vest and cover my head no that I may not
gee the water." An effort was made to do this, but
the garment could not be removed, and his face was
covered with a napkin just as the tide was rising
around him. In the course of a few minutes after this
the cold green waves covered the body, and the sorrow-
ing crowd dispersed.
MARVELLOUS ESCAPE. —On Monday a man named
Shakspeare, employed at Messrs Hall, Holcroft, and
Pearson's Colliery, at Brierley-hill, was crossing along
to his place as watchman, when it is supposed that, he
became dazzled by the glare of a large fire, and missed
his way. The consequence was that he walked into a
pit. He, however, by the instinct of self-preservation,
threw up his arias to clutch at anything whith might
be in the way, and fortunately there was a bar across
the pit, which he caught, and held until assistance
arrived, and he was rescued from his fearful position.—
Birmingham Paper.

ARGENTINE v. SILVER.—MT. Benson, of Cornhill, has
sent us a specimen of the material whioh he calla
"Argentine." and which is extensively manufactured
by him as a substitute for silver. The invention is not s
very new one ; but as it is for the first time brought 1
under our notice we can have no hesitatich in saying
that the imitation is admirable, and ifexperienoe prover,
it to be but one-half all durable as represented. it Ritlat
commend itself for its cheapness, as well as, font.
similarity to the more precious metal. It is stated
that the duty payable on a silverservice of spoons and
forks would amonut to as much as the whole cost of a
similar service in " Argentine."—Morning Star, March
7th, 1861. J. W. Benson, Prize Medalist, No. 6606,
International Exhibition 1862, has just publiehed a
moat elaborate and complete catalogue of hie manu-
factures, both in Argentine and Silver Plate. It
of 430 Pl'. Iww,rial Bro., and -iaoludes toil
and carefully arranged price list, and upwards of 300
en" -ravings of articles of various kinds. It will be sent
pest free by enclosing six. stamps M./. W. Denson, 44
and 47, Oornbill, London, La