The Express.
London, England, 1863-09-02 00:00:00

FIRING OF THE WELLINGTON COALPIT AT

WHITEMAYEN.

It is an old saying, and a very true one, that
misfortunes seldom oome singly. For some weeks put
oar town hen been suffering from an unusual amount of
sickness, in consequeoce of which many persons bare been
obliged to withdraw from their daily occupation., and
much suffering and distress have prevailed ; and now we
have to record another calamity, the firing of the Wel.
Beaton Pit Colliery, by which 700 hands have been thrown
oat of employment until work can be found for them
elsewhere, or the water which has been let into
this pit can be pumped out and operates. resumed.
It Me= that the pit was first discovered to be on fire a
week ego; and the roam having been instantly cornmeal.
rated to Mr. Bourne, the Earl of Lonsdele's representative
at the Colliery Office, that gentleman forthwith repaired to
the spot, and took prompt measures for staying the pro.
grass of the digester. This was a work of extreme dig.
satiny sod &agar ; bat, through Mr. Bourne's consult
personal supervision sod direction, aided by the usisteace
of his deputy, Mr. Mulcaster, sod of all the officers sad
men employed at the works, it was thought that on Then.
day the fire had been subdued. In the afternoon of that
day, however, a quantity of gas unfortunately escaped, awl
ignitiog some timber, gave a fresh impetus to the combos.
lion of the coal, which afterwards so far increased as to
render it necessary to drown the pit. On Saturday it
was found that all ordinary means were insufficient to pt
the fire wider. The whole of the horses down the pit
were therefore taken cwt, preparatory to closing the shaft,
which we understand was resolved upon, sad we believe a
podia' of the lower workings in which the fire is situated
will be walled off from the dip workings, and then
inundated with water by pumping it in, and also probably
by • syphoo from the sea. These are extreme inft.
SUM to take, but we trust they will prove effective, sad
shortly enable the noble proprietor to again get this
fine oral mine into working order. The fire is said to have
originated in • fine which leads from the stationary eosin'
at the pit bottom. and in which the soot hail accumulated.
How long the soot in this flue may have smouldered is not
known. but eventually the fire seized upon the coal. sad
since Monday last cautioned to spread, despite the efforts
of Mr. Hour°e and his staff, aided by the great experience of
the eminent oolliery engineer, Mr. Foster, of Newcastle,
who was telegraphed for on the matter Resuming so serious a
shape. We regret to say that up to the time of our going to
peen this disastrous fire continues to spread, but it is hoped
from the measures adopted that its ravages will be confined
to • limited area. A syphon pipe is now laid down from
the pit, past Tom Hurd Rock, to theses at low-water mark,
while water is drawn from the Scalegill pond, from near
James' pit, and also pumped from the sea near the Bath
Houses. As stated above, the whole of the horses, upwards
of sixty in number, were taken out of the mine. The
closing of this colliery is causing vessels in great numbers
to leave this port for Workington and Maryport, eight or
ten vessels having cleared out for these ports yesterday.
As the Croft pit was closed some few months back, the
whole supply has now to come from the William and One-
teas pits ; we, however, feel sure every effort will he wade
to meet the demand, sot oily for local consumption, but
for shipment also from these pals—Cumberland Pacque.

EXHIBITION OF PICTURES BY SCOTTISH MASTERS.
—lt was mentioned some time ago that the Royal Scottish
Academy intended to open en Exhibition of Pictures by
Scottish artists io connection with the meeting of the Social
Science Association in October next. It is gratifying to
learn that the prospect of an excellent exhibition
is now highly encouraging. Circulars were issued
by the Academy to the proprietors of works by de-
ceased artists, soliciting their support; and already
• number of replies have been received, all of the
most favottrable kind—indeed there is not as yet
• single instance of refusal. As the exhibition is
intended to represent the whole Scottish school, from the
earliest period in so far as it is possible or desirable to do
so), there is every probability that it will be one of very
great interest, and the display of works will be such u to
revive the reputation of not • few artists famous in their
day, but whose names were becoming more and more led
sight of by the rising geoeration of amateurs of art. It is
not doubted that there will be abundance of material to
form • collection that will do no small credit to the Scottish
school, and for that reason we bcpe it will receive the hearty
support of proprietors of pictures and the public in general.
ENCLOSURE OF WA NUSWORTH-OOMMON.
of MO ratepayers have signed a memorial to Earl Spencer,
in which they say :—" That diniug the past few years
enclosures to the extent of upwards of 103 acres have
taken place on Wandsworth.commoo, and that some of
these enclosures have heed effected by private individuals:
that within the last few months an enclosure to the
extent of eight acres has been effected by the Brighton
Railway Company, • footpath has been stopped, sod this
has taken sway a pleasant and much frequented part
of the comma). That for centuries the parishioners
and their families have enjoyed undisturbed the
healthy walks on Waodsworth•comnion, and the custom
of you., right or wrong. has given them an apparent right
to this enjoyment. Your memorialists view these encroach-
meets with deep sorrow and regret, and if permitted to go
on they must at no distant period lead to the entire extioc.
tire of Wandsworthcommon. Your memorialists, there-
fore, humbly pray that your lordship would be pleased to
exert your Menem* to preserve to the public those privi-
leges which have been enjoyed from time immemorial, and
to institute such inquiries with reforetas to enclosures not
sanctioned by your lordship as will lead to their speedy
removal, and secure to the public the inhabitants of Battu-
sea, and their children, the continuance of those rights they
have so long and so freely enjoyed."

AN AWKWARD SHOT. —A few dAyS ago Mr. A.
Meant Surgeon Reeves, of the Carlisle Artillery Volueteere,
bad the ill-luck to shoot a bullock, at the Cummins&le
range. A drove of cattle had previously got upon the
range but bad been driven away, the bullock, however,
managing to get back uonteened. On inspection it woe
found that the bullet had almost pierced it througb—from
one rib to the other. Neat day it was slaughtered and sold.
The bullock belonged to Mr. Ellwood, of Brow Nelsoo,who
of course will suffer nothing from the unfortunate but
somewhat ludicrous ron:rdrame.—Culeberland Parquet.
FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE SUDTICRY RAILWAY.-4
shocking fondant occurred no our line from Sudbury to
Buren' near Little Cornard, on Saturday evening last, by
which a tradesman of the town lost his life. Mr. James
Ginn, a carpenter, for many yea resident in the town
was driven by a lad in bin tumbril along the Coemrd
read, about twenty minutes to nix on Saturday evening.
Mr. Ginn, who was food of shooting, baring his gun
and doge, intended to have some sport with a number
of moor fowl on the river. Bowleg to cross the rail. on
leaving the tumbril he walked down a lane, got over the
gate, and proceeded deliberately to do so. The unforty•
pate man was very deaf, and very strangely, apparently,
neglected to look up and down the lies. At the vary
moment he was about to erase, the down luggage train was
due, and was proceeding in the direction of Sudbury. The
driver saw hint, and whistled loudly and shut off the
steam. and the lad who drove Mr. :inn down hallooed, bat
it was all of so avail. The deceased walked slowly as,
one of the buffer' street him on the aide of the bled, he
was knocked down, the misfire and tracks ponied over his
lege, out off one of feet, and broke his gun into several
pieces. aid his bead was much shattered.—Bury eel
Noruark Pool.
HEAVY STOEISIR IN THE NORTH.MALTON, TCS4.
DAY.—During Sunday night and Mooday, in Mahan.
we have had nothing but continued falls of bean
nits, with thunder last night. The country ie
literally drenched, water standing everywhere. It is
really pitiful to see the state of the crops in the field.;
in some CAMS the sheaves have been wet for a week or
more. Dormers, indeed, are beginning to speak of sprouted
corn. All harvesting is quite stopped, and it is stated that
the storm of last night has laid the ripe corn flat on the
;round in some parts. and must have done much damage.
So heavy have the rains been to-day that the streets have
worn the upset of rivers, and the rivers themselves shoe
too plainly bow general the rainfall has bees.
The Toxteth Board of Guardians, not being
edified as toile right of the Poor Lew Board to make cells
epos them far the rate in aid, metalled Mr. Horatio Lloyd
on the subject, sod as the monthly meeting of the board yes.
*today It was slated that, in the opinion of that gentlemase
the Poor Law Board ware fully justified in making the calls.