The Express.
London, England, 1864-09-23 00:00:00

GREAT FIRE IN THE GRAND SURREY DOCKS.

TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE GRAND
SURREY RICE MILLS.
Late last night • fire of considerable magnitude took
place at the well-known rice nulls in the Grand Surrey
Canal and Docks, Rotherhithe, which resulted in the com-
plete destruction of the property, involving • loss of up.
wards, it is reported, of 30,0001.
The mills, which were the property of Messrs. Chapman,
Haigh, and Gray, were the largest of the kind in and about
the metropolis ; they were built some 30 years since, and
were situate on what is known as the Quebec Island or
wharf, on the south side of the docks. The main
building was four stories in height, and each
floor was fitted with valuable and complicated
machinery for the cleansing and dressing of rice ;
the boiler and engine-house adjoined on the west side,
and the whole formed a block by the water's edge of nearly
100 feet square. Owing to the pressure of foreign orders on
the firm, the mills have been fully occupied both day and
night, and last evening the work was continued as usual, a
number of the woekpeople being constantly in attendance.
The first intimation of the premises being on fire was given
by hands engaged on the second floor shortly before I t
o'clock. Flames suddenly burst forth from the inland
end of the main buildiog, and so rapidly did they sweep
through the department, that the men had to make a speedy
descent. This may be accounted for by the extraordinary
dryness of the interior of the building, and the heat to
which it was generally exposed. Without delay the officers
of the dock were communicated with, and it being apparent
that a serious conflagration was inevitable, a general alarm
was sounded throughout the docks for assistance, and tele•
graphic messages were forwarded to town for engines.
The progress the fire made, however, forestalled the
electric deoutches in calling out the fire brigade, for all of
• sodden the flames bunt forth through the roof, windows,
and the different apertures of the mills with awful
effect, lighting up the whole of the river and
the southern ►nd eastern portion of the metropolie,
creating, as may be supposed, the greatest anxiety for the
safety of the shipping and the immense mass of wood (some
thousands of loads) stored in the Surrey Dock. Fortu-
nately, but very few vessels were moored in this portion of
the docks. The superintendent, Mr. W. M'Canuoo. Captain
J. Arthur, the dockmaster, and other officers, had the com-
pany's engine brought into work as quick as the circumstances
would permit, and the Commercial Dock officers sent their
engines and several gangs of labourers to assist in subduing
the conflagration. On the arrival of the Rotberhithe steam
floating engines of the brigade at the entrance lock.
gate at Rotherhithe, the state of the tide enabled
the dock people to haul them in at once into the dock basin,
when they outhunted them alongside the burning
Captain Shaw, the chief of the Loudon fire brigade, reached
the scene very early with 10 or 12 engines—five of them
being powerful steamers—and a caps of some 50brigade men.
Owing to the rather remote position of the mills in the
dock, and the somewhat difficult means of approach along
the quays or wharves, some delay arose in getting the
engines well up to the fire, but it was quite apparent at
that period that all efforts to save any portion of the mill*
would he of no avail. Already had the fire descended
into the basement floor of the building, and the
whole structure from end to end presented one terrible
body of flame, the roof and floors with their ponderous
machinery falling in with the noise of thunder. On the
western side of the mills, stretching along the quay,
stand the granary and storehouses, also belonging
to the firm. They are built of wood, and con.
Weed rice of the value, it is stated, of more than
100,0001. This range of property at one time stood in im•
mime danger of being destroyed ; fortunately the wind was
light, and by the Jock firemen keeping up a constant play of
water on the wooden frontage, the buildings were saved from
destruction.

Another large eetebliahment, which adjoined the mills on
the inland side, viz., that of Moors. Barry and Co., the
&leery manufacturers, also stood in great danger for some
time. The firemen, however, strenuously exerted them-
selves in keeping the flames from extending to these large
sod valuable works, and although they were res.
cued, the roof has sustained some &mese,
but not to an extent that will interrupt
the business from proceeding in the usual way. The fire
continued raging in the mills during the whole night, and
the floating engines had to be kept in incessant play until
5 o'clock this morning. As may be supposed, the mills
present on. our of ruin, nothing being left but the bare
blackened end and side walls.
The Arm owning the mills are largely insured; the Leeds
and Yorkshire has 5,000/. ; the Royal, 3,000/. ; the Royal
Exchange, 5,0001. ; the Atlas, 2,000/. ; the Scottish Imp*•
rial, 1,0001. ; the North British, 1,0004 ; and other of6oes,
6,0001. on the property consumed.
As to the origin of the An, it is very doubtful whether it
will be ever satisfactorily elicited. It is exceedingly pro.
bible, however, that it arose from friction of the ma.
chinery or spontaneous combustion. This is a ascend
time the milli have been burned down—the former event
occurring some 50 yearn ago.
The Dock Company instituted an inquiry in the course
of the day into the circumstances attending the fire, and
considering the condition now imposed by the Large
iosa-
rance companies in insuring dock property, it is consi-
dered very doubtful whether the mills will be rebuilt in
the dock.

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE OP A MARRIED
WOMAN BY PARAFFIN OIL.

A singular case of suicide by means of paraffin
oil, the only iestance of the kind known, formed the subject
of investigation at an inquest held last night by Mr.
William Payee, coroner for the City and Southwark, on the
body of Mrs. Maim Elisabeth Brown, aged 44 years.
The deceased was the wife of John Brown, a gasfitter„
residing at No. 22, Pordand•place, Deptford Lower rand,
and she had one child. A short time since this child was
robbed it the street by a woman, whom the deceased prose-
anted, and was bound over to appear spinet at the Surrey
sessions.

John Brown, the huabsod of the deceased, deposed that
after she had taken proceedings against the woman that
had robbed the child she was so persecuted by the women
who were the friends of the thief that she became bed in
her mind. She was so affected that she used to say to
witness, " I shall be banged and you will have to attend
my execution." She used also to say, " The child was
not ours at all—l stole her." The girl in question was the
deceased's only child. Whams was not ewers that she had
taken paraffin oil twits. lie only heard of it after she
tried to cut her throat.

lire. Elisabeth Fenton, 22, Portland-plan, Lower-road,
Deptford, said that the deor•ed and her family lodged
with her. On Tuesday witness beard her scream out
"Now I have done it at last." Witness went into the
room and found ber standing on the floor with her throat
gashed, and • dinner-knife covered with blood, on the
table near her band. Witness sent for • doctor. De.
ceased had been in • very excited state ever since the
robbery of her daughter in the street. She bad always
been dalirato in health.

Emma Wakeham said that the deceased believed that
she would be destroyed for prosecuting a thief, and her
mind gave way.
Yr. S. Turner, surgeon, said that when he saw the de-
ceased she was in a nearly insensible state. There was a
alight wound in her throat, but it was not dangerous.
Her pulse was feeble, and she was very cold. She was
obviously labouring tinder the effects of poison. He sp•
plied the stomach pump, and she partially revived. She
told him that she had taken two large dress of paraffin oil.
She said that she had swallowed one half-pint on the evening
before and another that morning. She gradually sank and
expired. The post-mortem examination showed that death
had resulted from the effect, of poisoning by paraffin oil.
The cut in the throat bad bad nothing to do with the death
of the deceased.

The Coroner having Bummed up and remarked upon the
slaine nature of the came.
The jury returned a verdict, "That the deceased corn•
mitted suicide by taking and swallowing down • quantity
of paraffin oil while in a state of unsound mind."
The proceedings then terminated.

Stwoulaw Case.—Yesterday Mr. Hardwicke
commenced an inquest on the body of Maria Sharrow, aged
31, the wife of a stereotyper, in Broad-street, neer the Seven-
deli. She had been found on Tuesday afternoon, lying near
the fireplace in her own room, dead, and perfectly naked.
After taking some evidence the inquiry was adjourned.
ANOTHRR SHOCKING CRINOLINE ArtllENT.
An inquiry We. held by Mr. Payne last evening, at St. Bar-
' tholomew's Harlan', respecting the death of .Tana Kite,
lend 46. John Kite, a boy of about 12 yearn of age, said
that the deemed was his mother. On Sunday evening
witness was very ill in bed, and the deceased carried him down
enure in her arms. After placing him before the fire, she
removed the guard, in order that she might rout an apple
for him. While doieg so her dream caught fire. She was
instantly inflames. Witness was frightened, and ran out
into the garden screaming. The neighbours rushed into the
bone.. Mrs. Jane Clark said that the deceased wore a very
large ninnies. On Sunday eveolo; witness andeeveral of the
'nightmare found her standing in the middle of the room in
• roam of flame. Witneu covered her with two mate that
were lying on the floor, and with great difficulty estio-
guiahed the fire. Deceased stated that she had thrust her
crinoline between the ben of the grate. The jury returned
a verdict of " Accidental death by lire while wining crew.

THE POLICE COURTS.
(Tills DAY.)

CLERKENWELL.
DESERTING A WINE. _

, • , brae, a carman, haying no fixed residence. was
- efore Mr. lrEyneourt with deserting his wife and
' whereby they had become chargeable to the pariah
. . _

n the eridenoe it appeared that on the sth of last
the prisoner deserted his wife and child, having
r.iv broken up all the furniture, and, aa he had not
thiug for the support of hie wife or child, they had
. ,t Parents Workhouse for relief. A warrant was

• 1 for the appeeheosion of the • and Ca;
• rho parish officers went to the Bedford Music Hall,
rre found him in company with some young men and
Ile was told that there was a warrant for his ap-
.. • aud that he would have to go to the police-
which be became very violent, struck and kicked
- the officer, about the body. and grazed the akin of hie
. it was with great difficulty that he could he got to
• too, and on the way there he kicked and struck three

• other persons. -
:.*!:, ocourt asked the wife if she knew the reason'
. •kr prisoner deserted her!
ife replied that she met him out with a iv
• and when she told her that he was a • man
serr exasperated and ordered her home. She went
• ~ad in about an hour he followed her, broke the things,
• • kit her. He had behaved very unkindly towards
, • , in the frequent habit of getting drunk, and was
wit till 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning. She
,;.1 the prisoner that if he could not keep better bouts,
her more kindly he had better make her an allow-
• , leave her.
prisoner said that he bail knit his work through his
, using him, and he had goats into the country to
~„ for work, but could not get any. He would allow his
7 :noter if he had got any.
sit. Clarke, the relieving overseer of St. Pancras, said
the wde bore a very good character. She was an
industrious woman.
li'rrt.court said thin was a gross can, and sentenced
Tisotter to two months' bard labour in the House of
r • :tlOl3 as a rogue and a vagabond.
, prtsouer said he did not care at all about that lot.

- -
A DANGEROUS RIDE.
of King-street, Holborn, • surgeoo,
,5 charged with being drunk sod incapable, unable to
we of his hone and thaw.

.
constable, 2'24 S. said that last night he was on
• in the Crowodale-read, SL Noma, about 11
when he saw the defendant who was the worse for
. :r, !ring in the road ; there wee his hone and chaise
Lt..,t. sod the defendant wee quite unable to attend to them.
P.r defendant said he had been drinking, and haring got
, • I the chaise, slipped as he was getting in spin.
Mr le Eyncoul l ordered the defendant to pay a fine of 5a.,
b was at once done.

WESTIEWSTER.
LEVER MODE or DMETING • 10111311.
;1 • Robert Me•htttg. • youth between 13 and 14
a age, wu plead at the her charged with steeling

'Heath, of 25, St. George's-place, Knightsbridge,
..:irri sad that he had reoently lost • great quantity
cigars which he had purchased for his own private
-cent. He had the cigars in June last, and in order
they might get nice and tb7, and improve in
,ri he placed them in • cupboard, to which
t Cal and other persons in his employment had owe-
,ca access. The cigars were in boxes, some containing
t w hundred each, others a few less, according to their
. • .!bout ten days since he thought he would try obis of
ci;ara, and went to the cupboard to get it, when, to his
..7 r ,he found one box empty, two others with only
left in, and a fourth box with but a few. As prose-
.• r had many persons about him, he did not know who
rnspect, and the better to ascertain who was the real col-
be resorted to the following expedient. He wrote his
e on small pieces of paper, which he twisted up very
:t.tk and having made a hole in the cap at the end of the
.;:r;introduced the piece of paper, and covered it with
-• tobacco leaf. He also so peculiarly marked the cop-
.rd door that he could tell whether anyone went to
::. and he watched it day by day, but without
'ect for some time. The prisoner was errand
Fin prosecutor's service. and it was hie duty to go into
rte place on Fridays to clean it. He did so last Friday and
•t.::e in the room went to the cupboard and took some
-ars, bat not any of those marked. This morning he west
there again to clean and prosecutor Now him take a handful!
rf c gars, seined him, and found some upon him.
Le magistrate opened one of the cigars and found the
riane curiously concealed.

Prisoner gala Uothiog in reply to the charge. He was
anded till Tuesday.

RAILWAY ACeIDENTS.—A very melancholy acci-
1-nt, arising from drunkenness, occurred within half • mile
Downham on Saturday night last. Two men employed
r, the line between March and Ely, and who belonged to
.anham, proceeded by rail to Black Bank station (the
t,arest to Downham) after they had finished their week's
• and on their arrival there they went to • public-
use close to the railway station, called the Railway
:,sera. where they appear to have remained drinking till
prescribed hour for closing the house, by which time
::es were both far advanced in intoxication ; and it
kerns that after leaving the house, instead of going
ce they lay both down to sleep by the side
the rail. One of them. named Read, gee= to
'!—re moved during the night, and by so doing got upon
:Le metals. The mail train to Ely which passed shortly
..".,rwards evideetly ran over him, killing him on thespot,
' - on his companion waking up, which he did about 4
k on Sunday morning, he discovered some remains,
• .b, from their mangled state, he at first took to be
.e of some animal which he imagined had strayed upon'
t:• !ine, tut which, on a closer inspectioe, he found from
ow of the clothing to be those of his companion
.1. Read was • single man, but, strange to say, be
.!. after his arrival at Black Bank station on Saturday
oio^, sent the cash to the Rector at Downham for
publishing of the banns on the following day.—On
last an accident happened at Warrington which
r...tt have resulted in • great sacrifice of life; and,
it appears astonishing that such was not tbe case.
-,,r to Warrington the Great Northern and Midland Rail-
., Companies cross a road on the level, and on the day
tnn.el a cat drawn by one horse, and driven by • man in
:.- employ of Mr. Allatt, of Glinton, was crossing this road
+L.-a a passenger train on the Great Northern line came up,
I I,fore the horse could get across struck it, and the cart,
..:;c; the animal and breaking the cart to pieces ; but,
•thge to say, although the train was going at • rapid rate
,•• riot thrown off the line, and none of the_passengers
• .red beyond being slightly bruised. The engine
• however, very much damaged, and it is calculated that
el v•I to the company will be about 4201.—Stamford Mer.
A ilOr KILLED BY TWO SCHOOLFELLOWS. —At the
of Kilmarrenan there is a parish school taught by •
t rani. One day last week • little boy named Diver,
.•• e:eveu years of age, complained on two of his school.
r ,trt, named Diver sad Gregg for attempting to beat him.
teacher punished the lads for the offence, but, unfortn-
: the matter did not end there. When going home
school on the same day the two boys, true to their
c,mmenced beating the lad Diver, knocking him
ea• and kicking him severely. The boy, oa reaching
was hard by. complained to his parents of the
z-,tment he had received, and, on examining his payee,
t:ry found him blackened all along one side. The poor boy
• to bed, lingered a few days in great pain, and died on
lAth MO. The two lads who have taken away his life
nvre Instantly arrested.—DelAn Exprfat.
i'.`.l-Y..‘OI:DINARY TURN-OCT.—On Wednesday all
- employed at the iron works of Messrs. Boleirnow
v.,ughau, Middlesbru', turned out in a body on
the grossly inhuman conduct of Judas Bushel, •
• man :it the works. Au soginernen, named Taylor,
• ,eadfully injured on the works. His companions were
•.• to remove him to the infirmary, when they were
by the watchman from leaving the works. He
let them take him to the infirmary, and the poor
• ‘. tii,l without medical assistance being called. As soon
•• hecame known the men, to the number of 2,000,
. And held indignation meetings. There is great
..eat in the town, and riots are anticipated if the men's
.:•1 to discharge the watchman is not acceded tO.-
1,, hpentiot,.._

:u.l/IS.. SERMONS. —A meeting of the
•. i.r,sbyt..ry was held on Wednesday last Mr.
m moderator. A lengtheeed discussion took
• - s-veral of the pleas in answer to the libel filed
f.ir. Porteous. presentee of Bellebouston, who, it will
• ~,‘,ered, hod been proceeded against os a charge of
-..-rmons that were sot of his own composition.
t ~f the l'reabvtery's findings was to hold the libel
-.. 'Lt. Nlr. Galbraith, on behalf of the libellers, ap-
the Synod.
t." PARK.—The completion of the
.. p u.'haee of this park by the corporation of Binning-
taking possession of it by the mayor on behalf
f..iine.to,l4llleo, wee made the occasion of •

- h. at which the mayor, Mr. W. Halliday, entertained
le three hundred of hie fellow-citizene yes-
the lei::heon took place in the dining-room at
4." ~Y " change of
ruion•volre. on Thursday night, will not save
`.,tieipttin4 this (his single strategy). the Han. John
•• in a speech at Portland, Maine. " brought down
with the remark. " If Welellan couldn't take
making Washington hie bees, you may safely
i 3 never take Washington, making Richmond his
-.v• Trri•une.
I.•rsey Docen and Harbour Board yesterday
• •••pl,ce ices on the Croebrem.de to indicate a
at a net of 400/. The necessity for having a
n.e.•iiieed distance has recently been much felt
.peed of ve.sels has been tested.
vernnient criutract for rum was yesterday
••i T.. me . Ruck, Fenwick, and Rock for 31,000
• Ito Messrs. Thus. Lowndes and Co. for 23,000

from Port Phillip July 4, has passed
'he I.rings 2004 passengers sad 41.736 miaow
‘41.1e 16,'44. starling.

, Wham Earley. Mali oats. Floor.
qra I qra gra On brla. sacks.
(rich ash& and Scotch 1450 1 5W1310 1440 .. 1040
forolgta
- -
Total

1310 153560

2820 i 1240

LIVERPOOL COTTON k CORN 3i.
(THIS DAY.)
(sT sz.noraio AND INTIMIIATIONLL 116101
Irma( ous owl( coaar.sromart.)

ARKETS.

COTTON. —Rather steadier ; salsa about 5,000 balm.
COR.V. —A this atteedance at market. Wheat slow sale,
sad 2d. per rental lower. Flour offsrtd at Q. decline.
Indian own. 6d. lower ; mixed, 27e. bd. Beans, oats, and
oatmeal unchanged.

WAKEFIELD CORN MAR KET.—(T HIS DAY.)
(IT UNITED ampos MIMIC TILMILAPIL)
(nom osa OWN cosassrosusarr.)
Wheat is moderate dossed, at a redaction of Is. per qr.
Barley dull sale, and also la. chewer. Other 'Akre'
unchanged.