The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-08-01 00:00:00

THE AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS'
LOCK-OUT.

On Saturday the labourers under Mr. Henry Taylor
completed the fourth week of their march from New-
market. On Saturday they proceeded from Keighley
to Saltaire by train. Sir Titus Salt was absent, but
Mr. Titus Salt presexted Mr. Taylor with five
guineas. The troop marched four miles to
Bradford, where a great demonstration took place.
The pricessitni extended nearly half a mile. The trade
societies which took part included the carpenters, the
painters, the coachmakers, the stonemasons, and the
basketmakers ; each society carried a magnificent
banner, and there were four brass bands in attend-
ance. Great enthusiasm prevailed. At the large
meeting held on the playground under the chairman-
ship of Mr. Scott Taylor six local speakers delivered
addresses. A resolution was passed in favour of the
enfranchisement of the labourers. The different trades
in Bradford subscribed liberally to the funds of the
union.

On Saturday set the London committee of the
Federal Labourers' Union received letters from Mr.
Banks, the secretary of the Federal local committee in
the eastern counties, stating that in the districts of
Peasehhall and Bardwell the whole of the locked
out men had been re-engaged by the farmers with-
out any question as to delivering up their union
cards. In the other districts the men are generally
re-engaged for the harvest unconditionally, though
in some places where the harvest is backward
several men are still out, probably to the number
of from 200 to 300, who will require to be sup-
ported for another week or fortnight. The copmlite
diggers and the strangers—swarthy tramps who have
been taken on by the farmers are not sufficient in
manbers to fill up the gaps in the ranks of the regular
labourers of the district, caused by migration and emi-
gration, while the strong appeal addressed by the union
labourers to the town labourers to keep away on this
occasion from the harvest fields appears to have been
generally responded to.
The treasurer of the Federal London Committee has
up to this date sent close upon £2,000 to the Federal
local treasurer of the Eastern.

DESTRUCTION OF THE LIVERPOOL
LANDING STAGE BY FIRE.
The most disastrous fire that has occurred in connexion
with the port of Liverpool throughout all the period of its
history broke out on Tuesday afternoon, and resulted in the
total destruction of the landing stage, the most extensive
and magnitkent structure of toe kind in the world, he
following particulars are extracted from the account given
In The Times

The fire broke out about ten minutes past three p.m.,
and on rapid was its spread that in less than hall an
her afterwards the entire population of both aides
of the river were made aware of the fact by the rish
of dense volumes of smoke that in the ueighbourhi
of the river a tire of great magnitude hadl broken 0
It was generally supposed, in the first instan e,
that one of those great blocks of warehouses which
face the river, and which are so suggestive to visitors
of the vastness of the trade of Liverpool, formed
the scene of the conflagration, and as fires within
the structures are far from being rare events, few
people troubled themselves for the moment to inquire
into the matter. Fears also arose that some vessel is
dock had taken fire. Soon, however, the incredible
story went round that it was the landing stage which
was on fire ; but the possibility that a floating struc-
ture, isolated but for the iron bridges connecting
it with the piers from every other structure, could be
the scene of a gigantic conflagration could scarcely
find place in the ordinary mind. But the smoke
arose in great volumes, and after a brief time it
became known that, in spite of the ample supply of
water, there was every probability that the splendid
promenade was doomed to destruction. The after-
noon was fine, clear, bright, andwarm. There had been
showeis during the forenoon. The afternoon settled
into the clearness that An a rule follows rain, and the
scene on the river was in consequence as cheerful and
gay as it usually is in ordinary tunes. The river itself
was thickly studded with craft, ferry boats and tugs
innumerable plying their ordinary trade. In mid
river were three of our magnificent ocean steamers—
the Parthia a Cunard liner, outward bound; two Allan
steamers, one if which also had her voyage be-
fore it ; and the huge steamship Spain, of the
National Line. The landing stage itself had
been immensely thronged during the day, and it
was in the very height of the commotion that
the alarm of fire was raised--an alarm that left
the least possible interval for saving anything from in-
evitable destruction. The whole length of the stage,
which had been recently completed by the addition of
a new portion joining the old George's, and the more
recent Prince's stage, was nearly a quarter of a mile.
The cost of the structure was about a quarter of a
million sterling. It is conjectured that the origin of
the fire was a gas explosion underneath the newly
added portion, which was being fitted with gas pipes.
The fire spread quickly underneath the deck of the
stage, catching the timber-work over the pontoon.
In 18-47 the engineering skill of Sir William
Cubitt put an end to the antiquated system of
embarcation that had existed on the shoals of
the Mersey for many years. He designed the

George's landing stage, and that structure, which occu-
pied a considerable Lime in formation, was, on the Ist
I June of that year, fixed to the moorings to ',Lich it
Was attached until a few days ago, when it was re-
moved to make way for a stage so adapted as to jobs
that portion of the structure th it was destroyed on
Tuesday. It consisted principally of 39 Sr. al pontoons
and a wooden decking sin. in thiekness. In length it
was 507 ft., and in width 1801 t. Pin. ; its weight was
2,000 tons, and it could bear 40,000 persons. With the
bridges, the total co-t of the stage, which was built
under the superintendence of the officers of the Dock
Committee, a body which at that time performed the
duties of the present Dock Board, was about £40,000.
The Or, continued to burn throughout the night,
! there was little hoped saving except the new Pontoon
Bridge, which runs far in towards the street. This
structure in itself is valued at about £25,000. So ad-
mirably aid the George's stage fullii the purpose for
which it was intended, that it was decided to provide ,
additional accommodation of the same kind. Accord. !
ingly, Sir W. Cubitta services were again brought
into requisition, and from designs furnished by him
the Prince's stage was constructed. The total cost
of the fabric was a'ssut £140,000. It was opened on
the Ist of September, 1857. Nothstanding the extent
of the accommodation provided by the two stages,
one of which was devoted to river and the other
to coasting and foreign traffic, it soon became apparent
that still further improvements would become neces-
sary, and various schemes were proposed for the im-
provement if these and the extension of the stages.
One was at last selected, and two years ago the
operations embraced in the design prepared by
Mr. G. F. Lyster, the Engineer to the Board, corn.
menced. The chief features of his scheme were the
union of the two stages and a floating bridge extend-
ing from the street known as the new Quay. A few
weeks since, an has already been stated, the George's
Stage was moved and united with the Princes Stage,
and a structure was thus formed' that was unrivalled
in the world. It was upwards of 2.000 ft. in length, and
joined by seven bridges, one of which, the Pontoon
Bridge, is 590 feet in length and 38 feet in breadth.
The principle adopted in the construction of the Princes
and George Stages was employed in that of the
additions that were made to it, the woodwork of Which
was impregnated with creosote for the purpase of ren-
dering it less liable to the action of the water, and tar
was plentif oily used between the planks and elsewhere,
and this, of course, made the upper part of the struc-
ture exceedingly inflammable.
It WAS from the river that the full extent of the fire
could best be seen. The spectacle was grand and would
have been terribly so had darkness prevailed instead of
the sky being clear aid almost unclouded. The wind
WAR light from the north-west, but gradually freshen-
ing, and it carried the smoke with it southwards. At
this time &portion of the stage to the southward of the
embankment WAS burning brightly, the flames being red
and clear, with comparatively little smoke, while the
northern half Was wrapped in impenetrable smoke,
through which lurid flames played only at intervals.
Just beyond could be seen the tall masts of the
! shipping in the Brince's Dock. The quays. both to the
north and south, were crowded with spectators.