The Express.
London, England, 1864-08-17 00:00:00

THE EXPLOSION ON THE NORTH LOSDON

ItAILWA Y.

LAMM PARTICULABS.-(THIS DAY.)

The unfortunate fireman, William m Davis, after
undergoing excruciating army, expired at University
lege Hospital at half-past 9 o'clock last night, aid informs.
Hon of the event has bees forwarded to Dr. Lankester, who
is out of town. It is expected, therefore, that the official
investigation will not be opened till to-morrow or Friday, u
no doubt when it. importance to the public is considered,
the cormsdr will wish to viaduct it personally instead of
through his deputy, Dr. Hudwicke, who is at present dis-
charging the duties of the office.

Thismorning, after incesaant toil throughout the night,
a large body of engineers and fitters from the locomotive
works of the North London Company at Bow, aided by
others from those of the London end North Western at
Camden, under the direction of Yr. Adams, locomotive
superintendent, summeded, by means of screw jacks and
other powerful tackle,in raising the engine from the position
where it fell on to a trolley ; and at 8 o'clock it was con-
veyed away, drawn by some dozen bones, to the Camden
station, to be placed on the line and towed tot's. locomotive
station at Bow, where it will remain for the impaction of the
jury impaneled on the body of the fireman, Davis. Through.
out the night hundreds of persons crowded round the spot,
to witness theoperatioo, and it required thoraid of estrous body
of the S division of police, under Inspectors Fraser and
Gibson, to keep sufficient space for the operations of the
workmen. In endeavouring to get the ponderous machine,
which is stated to weigh •.*t tons, up the iodine to the trolley,
the tackle broke several times, and but for this circumstance
the engine would have been removed by 2 or 3 o'clock in the
morning.
. _

The statements of the passengers are very conflicting as
to the character of the explosion. By some it is described
to have been terrific ; others state that all they heard WU
a loud hissing of the steam, in which the whale station was
at the moment enveloped. One gentleman describes the Beene
when the steam cleared off as truly alarming. The screams
of the females as they escaped from the carriages were, he
says, truly piteous, whilst the male passengers who had
gained the platform crimped great terror. Colifidenoe
waii, however. restored when a 'timber of medical men
arrived and announced that there was no calamity to say
one of a serious character. It was some time after this that
the body of the etcher was found lying between the six foot.
The driver Ellis is progreolag favourably.

EXTRAORDINARY CARL-CIIARGE OF AT.
TEMPTING TO DISOWN A QUACK DOCTOR.

Between 7 and 8 o'clock last evening three
men were apprehended on the South Hackney aide of
Victoria-park, on the charge of attempting to drown
an old man, named Keretßib, 67 years of age, a
quack doctor, living at No. 52, Leonard-street, Finsbury.
The charge was supported by several persons who watered
the outrage, and whose statements were to the following
effect :—At the time aboverrieotimesd last 'seeing they
were bathing in Dackett's-canal of the Lea river, near to
the North London Railway bridge, on which the body of
Mr. Briggs was found, when they noticed the three pri-
souers, young men, bathing is the vicinity of the
entrance to the lock. They had ao old man
with them. Hs was standing on the verge of the wall
of the lock, looking at the fellows swimming, when one of
the party got out of the water unobserved, and going behind
the old man, deliberately pushed him into the lock.
At first the lookers on thought it wee • kind of freak
to duck the old man, but on perceiving the prisoner■ hold.
log him down under the water, they called out to them not
to drown the old gentleman, and finding they would net
desist, the other bathers and spectators went to the assist-
ance of the immersed old man, who was struggling violently
to save himself. The water in the lock where be was
thrown in ranee from 8 to 10 feet in depth. A
brickmaker, named Harting, in the service of Mr. White, of
Victoria-park, so/seeded to getting hold of the old man's
clothes and dragged him out of the water, and he was taken
to the Milford Castle tavern, kept by Mr. Hodsoo. near the
North Leaden Railway bridge, Victoria-park. Mr. Davy,
surgeon, of Florence-villaa, Old Ford-road, stated that he wee
sent for to the Mitford Castle tavero, where he toned
the old man in • state of Insensibility suffering from the
effects of partial drowning. His clothes had bees taken off
him, and the landlord had planed him in Waken, sod sp.
plied stimulants with • view of restoring coescioomen.
After some exertion Mr. Davy succeeded in restoring him.
It was stated that his name was Meredith, and that be prac-
tised as a doctor in Leonard-street, Finsbury, where he emu.
pied one room. He could give no amount of the prisoners
further then he had met them and forted them is bed
company. He remembered being pushed into the water,
but by whom be could not say. The poor old man re-
mained at the Mitford Castle for some hours,
whoa he wee removed to the police-station at
Bow, and then to the infirmary of the union
at Poplar. The prisms% it appears. were after-
wards mesa in trout of the Mitford Castle, and on
hearing the &among condition of their unfartrusans vic-
tim, made off. They, however, were followed to South
Hackney and gives into the custody of detective officer Jolts
Manisa°, No. 343 of the N and soother constable,
who took them to Bow police-nation, where the charge of
attempted murder was preferred. One of the men seated
that the old man, who practised an • vs-
serest quack doctor, was only pushed into the
water in order to give him a ducking, adding that they bad
been his patients, and finding that they had been imposed
upon, they Mailed him to accompany them to the spot
above described. where they said they would pay him what
they owed him, 21. 65., sod would introduce him to others
who wasted his advice. He accordingly accompanied them
and met with the treatment msstionad. The prisoners wen
Lobo examined to-day at Worship street police amt.