The Express.
London, England, 1864-10-11 00:00:00

THE LATE GUNPOWDER EXPLOSION AT

FAITH.

INQUEST.—(THIS DAY.)
(nom ouz owl worm.)

The adjourned inquest upon the bodies of the
mem killed by the mead melancholy explosion at Erith
was resumed to day beton the coroner for West Kent, Mr.
C. J. Cartier. The inquiry took place in the Avenue-h►ll,
Erith, which had been fitted up for the occasion and placed
at the disposal of the coroner and jury. The same legal
gentleman appeared to welch the case in the interest of the
different parties affected as on the previa= occasion.
The first ankles@ called was Mr. F. A. Tipple, of Entb,
surgeon, who said—The diet body that I saw was Rayner,
who misdeed, the second was that of Hubbard, who was lying
upon his back away from the ruins of Silver's house, quite
insensible. There was a severe fracture on the back part of his
skull, and the brain was protruding. He lived about two
hours from the time of the accident. I also attended, with
Mr. Channel, upon all the other injured people.
By the Joey—Rayner was nearer Silver's hone* than his
own. Hs was, in fact, about midway between the two.
By Mr. Perrin—The boy Lewis is suffering under fracture
of the skull, besides other injuries, end his case is a bad one.
John Silver, re-called—At the time of the explosion
was in the washhouse, pouring out milk. I had been out
that morning, but not to the magazine. I belong to the
Liverpool company. There was no barge loading or
unloading at our magazine that day, but there
were two bargee at the Messrs. Hall's magazine, but
whether they were loading or unloading I cannot say.
When the explosion took plies I was standing at the wash.
house door. I could not my from whence the explosion
came, becalm it was all dark in a moment, and
I felt the bricks tumbling upon me. I had half a
pound of gunpowder in the nextroom, and my first thought
was that that had exploded ; but before I had time to think
I beard a second explosion, and I felt more bricks tumbling
on me, but whether I was knocked down or not I do not
know. When I climate myself I found that I was lying on
the ground among the ruins. Our magazine had not been
open at all that day. We generally open it every day to ~ve
the place an airing. Our windows are lattice windows
and I generally open them a little way, and put a piece of
wood in to keep them open. No one is allowed in the
magazine when there is no business going on. I know
Messrs. Hall's magazine. It is constructed like oars.

By Mr. Perm—The heaviest explosion was the second.
The last one did not shake me so much u the other, nor
did I bear so peat a noise. I was sensible to them all.

By the jury.—There was not quite tj tons of powder in our
mmaagga~zine, but I cannot tell bow much there was in Mears.
Hall'., because, though Mr. Rayner and I were like brothers,
we Dever tad each other our business. There was no canister
powder in our magazine—only barrel powder.
By the Coroner—l should know Rayner's handwriting.
A letter being handed to the withal', he said-1 believe
that to be his handwriting and his signature. I have seen
him write many times.
By the Jury—Our magazine was about twenty yards from
the wall of the Thames, and that of Messrs. Hall was about
the same distance. The distance between the two magazines
wu about 70 yards.
The Coroner stated that, as far as distance was concerned,
it would be all important to have the most accurate in-
formation, which would be forthcoming. At present be
proposed to ascertain, if possible, the exact spot where the
explosion took place. This witness would be recalled.
Samuel William Fletcher, a boy 13 of age, was next
c lied, and said—l got up about half-past 5 o clock on the
morons of the explosion, mad had been at the hack of the
hones milking the cow. 1 was steadier at the door, and
heard some one say "Oh," and I saw • flash come from the
barge towards the magazine. I Gould not see the barge, but
I new the sails, and saw the flash distinctly. I then
felt a blow, and I heard and saw nothing more
till I came to myself, wbeo the first words I heard was
about somebody (Singleton) breaking his arm. I then
noticed Rayner's Magazine Baring. I believe it was the
magazine sod not the hones. It was towards Bsyner's
magazine that I saw the flash go from the barge.
By Mr. Perrin—l had sees the barges the evening before.
They were oe the lower or Frith side, one of them being
alongside the jetty.
By the Jury—Mr. Hubbard was near me when the ex-
plosain took place, and it was he who cried "Oh" to me.
He was in the shed. I did not see him oome from the
spot ; be was laying on the ground looking like dead. I
saw him before the explosion, but did not notice that be had
any pips. Both the barges had sails. We once boiled the
kettle for the bargemen in Silver's house. I have seen
barges there before, but here never seen fire on board, or
smoke coming from them. I have never seen any of the
bargemen smoking.
Thomas Richardson, the elder, examined—l live at 9,
Queen area, Greenwich. lam a fisherman. On the wont-
ing of the explosion I was sailing sad rowing down the
river in a fishing boat. I was about 150 yards from the
shore of the river, sad nearly &avast of the upper jetty.
There was very little wind. I don't know whether I maw
one or two boats lying at the jetty. My little boy said to
me, " Father, there are some men at work, I think it mug
be getting late." 1 looked towards the barge and law men
at work. The next instant, quicker than I can talk, I law
• deose cloud of smoke which arose in the direction
of the barge. I immediately pushed the boy under the deck,
sod then I heard another most dreadful explosion, and •
large stone passed just over where the boy bad been sitting,
and soother struck me en the side of the head and stunned
me for a minute or two. When I came to myself the
smoke had cleared away, and I heard cries as of injured
and drowning men, and I helped to rescue one. The second
shock was the most dreadful, and quite lifted the boat out of
the water._

' By the Jnry—l saw no steamer. I know that they go
elose in there sometimes, and of course sparks oeaooselly
ey out of the chimney. A steamer parsed after the explo-
sion took place, my little boy said, bat I did not see it my-
self. He did not tell me so at the time.
Thomas Matthew Richardson—l am the son of the hat
witness, and was with him is the boat on the morning of
the explosion. I wee looking is the direction of the haw
by the powder magazine, and maw men wheeling. I told
my father that men were at work, and directly
after that I saw a greet black smoke and beard
• noise. The smoke wee from the stern of the barge. I wee
pushed down into the cabin, and then I heard another
shock, and my father and I fell down together. I saw •
sinew-steamer on the north-side of the river • moment oe
two after I saw the smoke.

By Mr. Poland—l mw the smoke before I beard the mime.
There were two bargee at the jetty, Gee lyre( serene the
bead, and the other alongside. I saw the smoke owl*
from the stern of the barge that was lying amen the bead
el the jetty. The noise of the explosion was immediately
alter I saw the smoke, mid the whole thing blew up. I saw
the steamer ooming down with the tide.
By the Jury—We wore drifting down very quietly, sad
the steamer was riming down pretty fast. It was after I
saw my father bleeding that I saw the steamer.
By Mr. Morgan—We bad got down the river not quite a
mile when I saw the steamer, and we were then near
Erltb.

Robert Brats, • ballast man on board the ballut lighter
No. 32, said—On the monist of the explosion I wee au the
bergs and well over to the south side of the river. that being
the set of the tide. The wind wu blowing east.
Clarke and Grimes were on board with me. What
fint drew my &Ideation warn • great flash of light
ell round me, sad a shower of bricks, and we were
all knocked down. I Wins the barges before and noticed
that there wes a boy as board the barge lying across the
jetty. the head lyingep the river. It was abreast
the jetty at the thee of the exploits. I heard
the second ezplosics, which was worse than
the first. There wet & terrible lot of smoke. Grimes
wet Unshed over the boat sad I caught hold of him by the
hair of the heed. He was dreadfully injured. We weal
into Erith to est assistaoca I noticed a stainer after the
explosion. Bbe was steaming down the river is Harbour.
reach, the wind being dead against her, so that au' sparks
that came from her mast have blown away from and not
towards the magazine. I expected they would lower • bast
down and send unistacto, but they did nothing of the sort,
but simply passed on.
' By the Jury—l have seen steamers passing down the river
within a short distance of the magazine. lam not aware
whether there is any nation for them not to pia near ; but
I believe there is such a caution at Parasol.
J. Clarke, another balluttolin on board the barge, gave
precisely the tine evidence.
[lnquiry precluding when oar parcel left.]

A Munich letter states that Richard Wagner, the
well-knows composer, is at present seriously
PRtssihN MAucL—Tbe Augsburg Gazette states
that a number of the inhabitants of North Sleswig, who
had signed as address to the King of Denmark, have had
soldiers quartered on them as a punishment for so doing.
T. STATOR or FATHER MATHEW.—CORH,
MONDAY Evierifo.—The unveiling of the statue recently
erected is Oork is honour of Theobold Mathew, the apostle
of temperance, took place to-day, and wee the most im-
posing ceremony which ever took place is this city. Having
traversed the principal streets in the city, the praetorian
arrived opposite the statue is Pstrick•street, and after an
inaugural address by Use Mayor, the statue waa unveiled
amidst the deafening cheers of the many thousand tenons
present. The entire proceedings passed off without disturb-
ance or accident of any kind, and were totally devoid of any
sectarian or party spirit.

. -
AN ORPHAN Wilma. —At the weekly meeting
of the 8t Lake's beard of guardiaas a letter wee read from
• gentleman le the neighbourhood of the Cite-road, setting
forth that he had beam regulated, on behalf of a lady of
property, to ask if the board had " oomph** elphse,"
with blue eyes and flaxen hair, sot more that two yam of
sea, sod of goalie coseasr, to be giveu op to he adopted
the lady agreeing to take such a child, educate bee as a lady
should bs edusaied, sad finally to will over 3oot. psr
mourn. The letter was referred to the House sod Visittlig
Ooromittee, to see if there might be • '• bluie•yed, flaxen-
haired, complete orphaa " is the union.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
(THIS DAY.)

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Winslow ea Commissioner.)
yittcinow TO SLOCUM Al! MOIR ren 'Minn MON
CUSTODY.
The bankrupt in this ow. William Robert Bielneasiime-
betl as a general merchant, of HammeanniMt, sled
t. Nowell-square, had been adjudicated in prison, and
....,tuds applied to the oommissioner for his release from
...de. The application was refused in the first
.i.ed by Mr. Commissioner Holroyd, but, being renewed
• • Mr. Commissioner Goulburn, was granted on condi-
.4 the bankrupt finding two sureties of 2501. each, and
• .tug into his own recognisance of 5001., with 24 hours'
of bail. The requisite sureties were given, and the
.rcpt obtained hie release on the 30th of August. His
_ales are upwards of 9001.
•, geed now moved to rescind the order of release, on
round that no notice of the sureties had been given to
hamberlain, the solicitor to the oppceing creditors.
inquiry it turned out that the sureties, who had
that they were worth 2501. each, could not be found ;
Henry Harvey, described as a general merchant in
Asset, had occupied an attic there, but
since disappeared • and the other, named
was an omnibtis driver. Affidavit had
Made of the service of notice on the oppo-
. creditor's solicitors ; hut the person making this
tett, who called himself Greenslade, could not be found.
war contended that the roles'e had been obtained by
?rata and ought to be revoked.
r Cettlin appeared for the bankrupt.
After the ow was partially gone into the hearing was
t...l:ouraed.