The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-24 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 24, 1862.

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

ADMIRALTY, Nov. 21. —Arponcrmnrrs. —Lieu-
teinut C. R. Buckle, to the Excellent.
Muter W. B. Goldsmith, to the Lily.
Acting Assistant Surgeons J. Lambert and J. Horrocks,
M.D., to the Victory, for service at Hasler Hospital ; J.
Buckley and A. Yule, M.D.. to the Royal Adelaide, for
service at Plymouth Hospital.
Mr. C. E. H. Deacon has been appointed to a naval cadet-
ship.

PORTSMOUTH, Nov. 23.
A court-martial assembled on board the Victory,
at Portsmouth, on Saturday morning, to try James Kent,
private of the Royal Marines, late of her Majesty's gunboat
Janus, for desertion from that vessel on or about the 28th
February, 1861, while at Shanghai, China. The court com-
prised Captains Coots (President), Connolly, Hire, Lacy,
and Commander Bonham, with Mr. R. Hoskins as officiating
Judge Advocate. Prisoner was granted leave to go onshore;
he never returned, and there was an entry made on the leave-
book as follows, " 66th company, James Kent, Feb. 22,
1861, deserted to Chinese rebel army, from leave at
Shanghae." The usual R was placed against his name.
He was afterwards arrested ender singular circumstances.
While the allies were capturing Tsing-poo, Kent was just
about to be thrown from the battlements and shot as a
Chinese rebel, when he declared that he was an English.
man. In defence he entered into". long statement, showing
that he went on shore and became intoxicated, and on re-
pining his senses, found himself on board a junk, aboutthirty
miles up the river from Shanghae. He was taken before a
Mandarin and ordered to fight for the rebels, but he refused.
His captors then put a band round him next his skin, and
chained him to a wall, where he was kept, almost starved,
for fifteen months. He made three unsuccessful attempt'
to escape. On the city being taken, he was made
prisoner, and taken to where the breach had been
made, where he saw some English aoldiett, whom
he told he was a marine. He urged these facts
in his favor.r, and begged the court's consideration on ac-
count of his long imprisonment and ill-treatment. He used
every exertion to return to his ship but failed. The court
I cleared to deliberate, and on returning
.found the charge of
desertion not proven, but were of opinion that prisoner was
absent without leave on the day referred to in the charge,
for which they sentenced him to six weeks' imprisonment,
with hard labour, in Winchester gaol, and to forfeit two
days' pay.

SCli IDE IN A BARRACK-RODE.—AII inquest wag
held at Portsmouth on Friday evening on the body of a
private of the 2nd battalion of the 60th Rifles, named John
Slayton, who committed suicide under the following cir-
munstances. !t appears that the deceased was absent from
his quarters at the Cambridge barracks all Wednesday
night without leave. He returned on the following morn-
ing, and was ordered by the colonel to have his leave
stopped for six days as a punishment for his misconduct.
He ate his dinner shortly before one o'clock,
after which be was seen reading his Prayer-book,
He afterwards appeared to commence cleaning his accoutre-
ments, when suddenly the report of a rifle was heard, and
it was found that the deceased bad discharged the weapon
at himself. The ball had plumed through his cheek and
head into the ceiling of the room. Several 1.-en were in the
room at the time, together with the sergeants and corporals.
Deceswed had been in the service about five years, and bore
an excellent character. The jury found that the deceased
shot himself, but that there was no evidence to show the
state of his mind at the time be committed the act.

SHOOTING AT RIFLE RA Noll3.—The following
circular has been issued from the War-office :—" War-
orrice, Nov. 14, 1862.—Sir,—The attention of the Secre-
tary of State for War has been drawn to certain fatal or
serious accident* which hare lately ea-lured at rifle ranges
belonging to volunteer corps, and he regrets to learn, from
the reports which he has received, that in several oases
those accidents arose from neglect of the precautions
prescribed by the regulations for the instruction and
practice of musketry, by the carers sod non-commis-
sioned officers whose duty it was to enforce them. Sir
George Lewis, therefore, requests that you will impress
upon the adjutant and sergeant-instroctors under your
command the necessity of observing strict regularity and
discipline when in charge of Bring parties; and that you
will point out to them that they will be in future bald
senously responsible for any deviation from the regulations
of the service in which they may be concerned. I am also
to inform you that, while Sir George Lewis desires that
every facility ahould be afforded to persons of all classes to
acquire a knowledge of the use of the rifle, he is of opinion
that the safety of the public requires that indiscriminate
private practice at volunteer rifle ranges should not be per-
mitted, and he, therefore, requests that you will take steps
to regulate the practice at the ranges under your control, so
as to ensure the presence of an officer or non-commissioned
officer on all occasions when tiring is going on. I am further
to observe that the practice of employing boys as maker'
at butts is highly dangerous and improper, and to request
that you will take care that none but non-commissioned
officers, or experienced volunteer, act in that capacity at
the ranges belonging to the corps under your command.—
I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Ue Guar AIM B. 1701."

TERRIBLE COLLIERY EXPLOSION AND LOSS
OP LIFE.

NEWCASTLE, SATURDAY.
_ _ .

Between 5 and 6 o'clock this morning, an explo-
sion occurred at Walker colliery, situate about three miles
from Newcastle. There were about thirty men in the pit at
the time of the occurrence, of whom fifteen have been
brought up alive, though they are injured from the effects
of gas. Seven are known to be dead, and eight more are in
the colliery, and have not been seen, but there is
not the slightest chance of their being got out alive.
The pit has two shafts, the upcast shaft being about a
quarter of a mile distant, near Walker factory. Before
seven o'clock three men were brought up at the upcast
shaft. They were named Chambers, Knox, and Collins.
They were all alive, but each was suffering from the effects
of
gas and fright, as wellas from the shock they had received
by being thrown down when the explosion occurred. From
their statements it seems that there would be about thirty
men in the pit, some of whom were working " in.bye,'
at a considerable distance from the mouths of the
shafts. It is supposed that some of those men
bad been at work in a •' trouble," and bad fired shots, from
which the explosion may have occurred. The injured men
are likely to recover. They describe the first warning they
had of the explosion as like the sound of a hurricane, and
its effect on themselves was to throw them violently down.
The 'toppings, bratticee, &C., in the colliery workings are
all destroyed, and the mine is thrown into confusion ; some
of the coal in the further workings of the pit is on fire, and
men are employed in carrying water to extinguish it. Mr.
Cole, the resident viewer, was among the first to descend
the pit, and since that time parties of miners had gone down
to explore the workings, at great risk to themselves. Mr.
Jobling, the principal engineer, and one of the owners of the
colliery (which is the property of Messrs. Lambert,Nicholson,
and Co.), has also descended; and shortly before the despatch
of our parcel, Mr. Matthias Dunn. Inspector of Coal Mines,
and Mr. Potter, of Crandington, mining engineer, had been
lowered down the shaft. Those who have walked as far in
the workings as they possibly could had seen three dead
bodies, and it is feared that several others had shared the
fate of their unfortunate comrades.

It is to be feared that those men who have not yet been
brought out of the pit are dead. The miners who descended
to explore the mine coins up much exhausted, and state
the air to be very had. A small crowd is mumbled at
the pit mouth, but there is very little excitement. The
pit workino are very extensive, and those men who have
been brought up alive were at a great distance from what
believed to be the seat of the explosion.
The whole of the horses and ponies down the pit were
killed, and were very much charred. There were about 10
horses and 24 ponies down in all. The stables had been on
fire. When Mr. Dunn and Mr. Jobling were down, several
of the 'toppings bad been restored, and the air wan much
improved. By the time we left, the whole of the stopping"
had been temporarily restored, and the pit made safe for
the men to go down and bring the bodies to bank. A large
hand barrow had been provided for that purpose. We may
mention the providential escape of George Mitford, who,
at the time of the explosion, was working in another part of
this pit. As soon as he heard the concussion, he ran for his
life as hard as be could, but was overtaken by the after-
damp and was struck down like • shot. He gave himself
up for dead, but was fortunately rescued by some men rent
down to save the lives of u many aa they could. A con-
siderable time elapsed before be came about a little, bat he
is likely to experience the baneful effect. of the after-damp
for some days yet.

StINDAT NICHT.

.........
The bodies of the sixteen men and lads have been brought
to bank in coffins, and despatched in carts to their homes.
The pit is little the worse, and will be made tit for work
Inc shift or two. The cause of the accident has not been
ucertabsed.

THE LATE SUICIDE ON THE STOUR VALLEY
RAILWAT.—On Saturday evening Dr. Birt Dairies, the
oorooerfor the borough of Birmingham, held an inquest at
the Birmingham Arms, on the Oldbury-road, on the body
of Edward Persona, who was killed on the Stour Valley
Railway on Thursday under the circumstances mentioned
in this paper of Saturday. It appeared from the evidence
that the doomed, who was 55 years of age, and carried on
I hostess, u a gun furniture maker in Bath-street, Birming-
ham, had been previously in a lunatic asylum. On Thurs-
day be left hi office about the usual time, and soon after
was observed by one of the platelayers engaged on the
line lying throes the rails sear Les-bridge. The piste-layer
ordered Lim off ; and on the approach of the Liverpool train
be observed the deceased lay himself across the rails within
about 300 yards of the approaching train, which ran over
bim and destroyed life isstantaaeously. The jury returned
a verdict of "Suicide in a state of temporary ithanity."
Ds. DI Jonas's LIGHT BROWN COD LIVEROIL.—
• rekesnee to the unprecedented number of opinions from mi-
ssal merahers of the ?acuity who hare remsd their emphatic
of this 011, affords the es-planation of its great cele-
:4"ba
.ri ate dbtingedshed physician, Dr. Unhands, Y.E.1.. ob-
earres—" I deem the Cod Liver Oil sold tinder Dr. de Jamb's
guarantee to be fere..le to any other kind as regards genuine-
ness and efficacy " Sold only in (speeded bottles,
Ea. ad., 4a. Id., and In, by Dr. de .1 auntie agents. Amor, Ear
ford, sad Co., fl, Strand, London, and chamisia.-lAdrertles-
seest.l

Lab Intdlignur.

business with her sister as a wholesale confectioner in the
Bermondsey New-road. They had no one living with them
but a female servant. On Wednesday night witness counted
out 1101. in gold, of which 89/. was in hall-sovereigns, and
having tied it up in a cloth she deposited the money for
safety under the fender in the parlour' where a fire waiver,
seldom lighted. On Thursday night she counted out the
money in her till, and was going to hide it with the other
901., when she found that the money bad been removed.
Upon making inquiries she found that the servant had taken
up the ashes in the morning, and had thrown them into the
dust-bin. She also found that the dustmen had emptied
the dust-bin that very day, and the money was all gone. I
She then gave information to the police of what bad
happened.
Mr. Burcham expressed his surprise that the money bad
not been placed in the hands of a banker, and the witness •
said she had before that hidden 5001. in the same way in the
fender, and it was always safe.
Henry Hurrt., a constable, said that he went on Friday
to the prisoner, and asked him which of his men had
removed the dust from the prosecutriz's house, and
whether they had found any money there. lie
answered that he did not know who the men were,
and that he bad beard nothing of any money being
found. Subsequently be traced a particular half-sovereign,
which the proaecotrix could swear to sabering formed part
of the money, into the possession of a person who had re- I
ceived it from the prisoner in payment for some clover.
He then took the prisoner into custody, and at the station
he admitted that he always divided with his men any
valuables that were found in the dust collected
iby them.
On Thursday the men found 851. in gold, all n half-
sovereigns, which was equally divided between them, be
receiving 251. as his share.
It was further proved that the prisoner had paid away
several sums on the same day. all in bell-sovereigns, one of
which ',misidentified by Mrs. Steddulph, owing to its peculiar
apgr. Burch= decided upon remanding the prisoner, in
order that his men might be apprehended.
Bail was taken for his appearance, himself in 100/. and
two sureties in 50/. each.
THAMES.

Susan Thompson, who has often been in custody, was
brought up on remand before Mr. Woolrych, charged with
being concerned with a man not in custody in assaulting and
attempting to rob Mr. Levine, a cigar maker, of Wellesley-
street, Stepney.
On the night of Friday, the 14th instant, Mr. Levine, a
young man, was on his way home from the Pavilion Theatre,
and was accosted in the Commercial-road, near the George,
by the prisoner, who made proposals to him, which he re-
jected, and told her to go away. A man whom she had
just left was following a abort distance behind. She con-
tinued to importune the prosecutor, who said, "Go away,
there is some one with you ; I believe you want to rob me,"
and crossed the road. The Fiore'. dill the same, arid put
her hands upon him and mud, Pay the mono you owe
me." Mr. Levine became alarmed, and appealed to two
gentlemen who were passing. They ref to interfere,
and she put her hands on the prosecutor again, and said,
"My money. Pay me the money you owe me." He im-
mediately called for the police, and gave her into custody.
He swore positively that he bad never aeon the prisoner
ntil she accosted him in the Commercial-road, and that he
owed her no money.
Edward Dillon, a police sergeant, No. 191 E, said that one
month ago the prisoner was charged with stealing a gold
watch, chain, locket, and ring from a gentleman whom @hal
decoyed into a house of ill fame. The prosecutor was afraid
of an exposure, and did not appear against her. She had
been repeatedly charged with similar robberies, sad was a '
most dexterous thief. She was almost invariably followed
by a bully who was ready to receive 'any plunder, or knock
down anyone who resisted her importunities. The prisoner
was convicted some time ago.
Levine was recalled, and described the personal appear-
ance of the bully ; and
Mt. Woolrych requested the police would look after him,
and said that a great many serious robberies had been com-
mitted by women who assailed respectable men on their way
home and charged them with improprieties of which they
had never been guilty, for the purpose of extorting money.
He committed the prisoner for trial.

PAPAL DEMONSTRATION AT BLACKHEATH.

On Sunday, the LAIL inst., printed notices were
freely dutributed at the various Roman catholic places
of worship in the metropolis to the effect " that on Sunday,
the 23rd (yesterday), the catholic" of London would unite
with those residing in Deptford and Greenwich in holding a
public demonstration of sympathy with the Holy Father
on Blackheath." The notice especially invited the atten-
dance of Irishmen, and appointed Bermondsey-spare as the
rendezvous of the London division. This notice had during
the past week created considerable excitement amongst the
catholic body, and the object was almost universally con-
demned byths clergy and respectable laymen as inopportune
and unwise. So strong was the feeling amongst the higher
branches of the catholic clergy against the proposed demon-
stration, that special reference was ordered to be made
on the subject at most of the catholic chapels yes-
terday morning, cautioning the members of the
church from attending. At one o'clock yesterday
about 10,000 Irishmen, amongst whom were many
respectably dressed men, assembled in Bermondsey-spare,
where also a strong body of the M division of police, under
Inspector Reed, had been previously posted. An attempt
was at once made by the Irishmen to organise themselves
into a procession for the purpose of marching to Deptford,
but this was frustrated by the police. About 2,000 per-
sons, however, arrived at Blackheath, somewhat in the form
of a procemion, at a few minutes before 4 o'clock, where
from 8,000 to 10,000 people had been for some time as-
sembled, amongst whom were a body of Irish labourers
connected with Woolwich dockyard, and a large number
of soldiers belonging to the Artillery and Marines, regiments
largely recruited from the sister country, but the great body
evidently drawn together by curiosity, and, if sympathisers
at all, not with the Pope or his supporters. On the road im-
mediately oppositetheentrance toGreen wich-park the lead ers
took possession of a mound sitrtted in the middle of a
hollow, their followers closing round with great promptness,
and effectually preventing any other persons gaming • foot-
ing upon it had they been inclined to make the attempt.
No bludgeons or sticks were carried in the procession.
About 200 of the it division of police were drawn up on
the heath, outside the park gates, but they made no attempt
to interfere with the proceedings. The business of the
meeting commenced by a Mr. Looney coming forward and
asking all Irishmen present to take off their hats and give
three cheers for the Pope. This appeal was responded to
amidst loud cheering by about one-fourth of the crowd,
and was followed by loud hissing from another portioa.
Mr. O'Leary having been called on to preside, Mr. Mylie, of
Deptford, came forward, and said he stood there sean Irish-
man and a catholic to maintain the temporal power of the
Holy Father against all assailants. He then went on to
denounce the late attempts of Garibaldi to conquer
Rom.,
and praised the conduct of those of his countrymen whoTal
signalised their devotion to the Pope in Hyde-park. Ha
concluded by proposing &resolution in favourof the tempera
power of, and sympathising with, the Pope in his present
troubles. Looney seconded the resolution in • violent
speech, in which he stigmatised Garibaldi as a tyrannical,
heretical, buccaneering, unprincipled, and piratical filibuster,
well deserving the fate he met with in his late an.
holy expedition. This opinion was received with tremendous
cheering from the Irishmen, and by loud hissing and
laughter from the other portion of the crowd. Several
other speakers having supported the resolution in speeches
abusive of Garibaldi and his principles, the chairman de-
clared the resolution carried unanimously, and immediately
declared the meeting dissolved. The Irishmen then re-
formed into a procession and proceeded homewards.