The Express.
London, England, 1863-01-02 00:00:00

TAE EXPEESS;i ViNING, JAN VARY'

THE DISTRESS IN LARCASHIRE.

- -
1 !Hs FATAL cowzar ACCIDIS? nr-
.
Id aNsiox-norsz Comm irrsa.-In the course of I ZatROPSHIRE.
yesterday and Wades*.lay, the amount which came to hand ' The inquest on the bodies of the nine men and
in aid of the Lancashire Relief Fuud was about 5,7001• three boys who were killed on fdooday, at the coelpit be-
Amongst the amounta received were-1294 is. 8d- hem Logingoptedthec.Lillesw.d.d.ball Myinibengfo.Comenz, atice.,l7.:
laciLes,.
Brockville, Canada West; further remittance of 1001. from
Kingston, Canada West; (limo" per Colonel Wi1e`....,',n,, coroner, and in presence of T. Wynn, Req., °overawes;
F.V 158. Id.; Cheap Ward, 177/. 81.; City of Erters e""2" inspector of Mines. A jury of sixtem were sworn on the
___,"'ne_a_ .1, " .... Pr° Int•tme„...,of gomr,l w___,_,eekl, Pape,' 80"- inquest, of whom Mr. J. Tarbett was the foreman. They
M"..2 by the reader*, 1" Un. ."' i r'''." "n Epsom, then proceeded to view the bodies, while the Government
100/. ; Bath, per his worship the Mayor, 705& 15s. 9d. Inspector and the coroner went to look at the mine. On
Sstrottri.-At the weekly meeting of the COm- returning to the Caledonia Arms, at Oakengates, where the
mine., in the Salford Town hall, a letter was read from inquest was opened, the following evidence was taken, Mr.
Mr. J. W. tiedurs, the secretary to the Central Relief T.. E. Horton and Mr. E. Jonas, the smuts for the
Committee, in which he stated that he was requested to in- company, being meant
close the following resolution :-•• That the district cow- Noah Chiron rid-I am hooker-on at the bottom of the
mittee be regained to direct the attention of the Salford pit, 1 know all the deceased men and boys. I remember
relief committee to the high seal* of relief as compared going to work on Monday morning at about twenty-five
with that given by the guanliaes, and that some district and minutes past five o'clock. I think ell that belonged to the
relief committees give relief without sufficient information bank were there. The charter-master, John Howells, and
u to the relief given by the guardians, and as to the Richard Richards were there. I won't down in the fiat
earnings of indivuluals."-It was moved by Mr. Mukluk, skip. There were twelve of us (men and boys) in the skip.
and seconded by Mr. Alderman Turner, that the letter , Nothing was said in my hearing about too many going
should be referred to a committee consisting of the Mayor, down, and no remark was made by the Milkman. The
Messrs. Cawley, Davies, Turner, Warburtoo, and Black- banksman gave the signal to the engine driver. Richards
look, with instructions to investigate the matters referred mutat one end, and bad the catch to pull back. We got
to, and to make such a reply as the circumstances wor'd safely down to the bottom ' • and the skip was afterwards
admit, accompanying the letter with any explanations that drawn up. We were going to work, sad I was about ten
might be necessary. The committee were also instructed feet in the pit. I felt a great wind coming when the
to take such rota/lures as in their judgment would be most second owe was coming down, and I shaded my lamp with
likely to bring about an arrangement by which the Salford my jacket. I then beard • great noise, and then all was
committee would be put in direct communication with the quiet, and I knew that they had readied the bottom. I
central committee for the future, and thus avoid the in- said to the boys, "Tall the men to come back." I went to'
convenience attending the transmission of communications the bottom and all were quite dead. We got them away.
through an intermediate committee. The chairman then it is a common practice fore, many men and boys to e,c,
read the report promoted by Mr. Stern, at the meeting of down at once. I have heard John Howells call to the
the central executive committee, held on Monday. He men to come forward when there were not enough in. We
said the declaration contained in the report was of a sweep- have not always had twelve men and boys when we went
ing nature, and if there were any schools to which his re- down, but if they were there they usually went down. I
marks would apply, they ought to have been named. The have got a copy of the rules, and know that not more than
' matter should be referred to the school committee. Rs eight are allowed to go down at once. I have not (*Hid
understood that the statements on which the report wee Howells' attention to the violation of this rule, because there
founded were made by the girls who were in the schools. were foremen to look after him instead of me. There Wen
and be would ask whether the committee were to be three firemen down over night. Sometimes nine came rip
found fault with on such evidence as that, Mr. Davis from the bottom, and they are always anxious to come es
mid be thought the committee had been treated with great soon ee poeuble„ I hate come up eh.n nip. were °mins.
dieoourtasy, and the report was calculated to mislead the I could keep the men at the bottom for on hour or two if I
public. The statement that the Salford Committee was , liked, because the enginemen would not pull up until I
1 giving 4s. a week, besides dinner and breakfast, was simply aipaued.
I untrue, and it must have • mischievous effect on the public. ! Thomas Blower-I am the engine driver at the pit. I
' Seemly a fact in the report could be borne out ; and it remember Monday morning last. I got to the engine about
was, to say the least of it, a very objectionable triode of 5.15. I DID several men on the bank when I got there,
lily* information to the public. It could do no good, but ' sad) the bankeroen Howells and Richards. The engine
might possibly cause a great deal of harm. It was suggested started about twenty-five minuses to six, with the first
that the committee appointed under Mr. Blacklock's resolu- . band. Richards gave me the signal by calling out " Have
tiers could deal with the matter, and the milk** then ' up." I did so, and he then told me to lower down. I saw
dapped. Mr. Davies then read the report of the : the man in the skip, but I could not say how many there
Distribution Committee, from which it appeared that were. The second lot, to which the accident happened, got
from December 3 there had been dietilbuted 2,999 in after I heaved up the skip. At the signal, I gave one
blankets, 2,18;1 sheets, 1,867 chemises. 1,806 petit- - stroke of the engine, which lifted the men off the catches. I
mats, 8.074 pair of stockings, 1,338 shirts, 857 flannel ' was then told to lower, and I reversed the ene.re one
vests. besides a large quantity of other articles. He said ' stroke. The cage descended about ten yards, and thee slipped
that is there woe now an increased demand for labour' a the rope. I know the spring that la at the toe
he thought it would be wise to pause before sending more of the cage. I cannot say when it was examined
Wider' to the sewing schools. During the Past week lest, but it is the duty of John Marion to examine
employers bad sent for hands, and directly it use it. I saw him examine everything the week be-
announced there were numerous volunteers for employ- fore last. He examined the fastenings on to the verticals,
runt. He would add that in the eleven schools the and also the fastenings on to the cage. I drew up the
behaviour of the girls was very good. Those Lilies who cage mos, but did not let it down again, as the rules
were very diffident at first from taking any share in the donee,
management of the schools, from a fear of bad behavior, Thomas Corbett-I am engaged ajoiner, by the charter-
on the part of the girls, now found that their conduct us master, Howells. I was at the pit on Monday morning,
' quite the centeert. Mr. Davies said that, from inquiries about half-past five. I maw between twenty and forty
be had made of tin superintendent of police, be found le on the bank. When the first band went down,
that there was less drunkenness in the borough on Richards and Howells were there. I pulled back the catch,
Christmas-dal than bad been the Ca" fur the last twenty when the mooed band were going down. Richards asked
or thirty yrars. It was decided that this fact should be /DI) to do so. Richards was at the other end, and be said to
communicated to the Mansion-house Committee. The Ins. "are you ready r and I said, " All right at this end,"
Chairman read the following report :-Total number of and he DD4 "Pull up." The men were then lifted up and
families in receipt of relief 5,486, representing 17,419 per- lowered down about ten yards, when the cage slipped off.
sons. Of these there were out of employ and receiving [This witness went on to give evidence similar to the others
parish relief 6,272, who received 4271. 6e. 9d. • in partial already examined.]
2e":rant,, and receiving Parish relief, 2,729, who received John Marion-I am inspector of engines, machines,,
68 .11 74..; JD partial employment end not reeeirine ropes, and chains, for the company. It was my duty to
parish mad, 4,778, who received 3951. ss. lid. • and 2.00 examine these thins frequently. and I did examine them
peeress were without any moans of support and cot in gees/ally about two or three times a week. The last
receipt of parish relief. 2,837 cwt. of coda, value 471. ss. time I examined the spring and box wee on Friday,
9.1., bed been given in relief, and 9951. 91. lid. bad been the 36th December, between eleven sad twelve o'clock in
gives in food and money. A diamesion arose as to the the morning. I went to the engine in the first place, and
best method of checking imposition, and it wss. agreed examined the ropes at the barrel ends, me to each pit. I
that there should, if possible, be more visitors obtained. then went from the engine to the pit, and examined the
and el • higher class than those now engaged In the duty pit led of the rope, the cage, and chain. I did not see the
The Imocial statement was reed :-BriblicriPtheas pro- hest defect anywhere. I had the engine to go slow, and I
taised,ll.3o6l. Ils. 4d. • gnats, 13,465/. ; subeariperne re- examined everything. The spring has been used about
mired. 6.2051. 19e 34.01. •' DM", received. 19,966& Ea- eighteen months, and was then put up new. I made a care-
MeManned , General relief and office =Peens, 349 t ful examination of this box about a fortnight ago, and
ad. ; relief in money, 594/. 15e. 6d.; in food, 5,1471.195. it was as good then as when first put up. I believe it was
11. d. • mewing school expenses, 14251. Os. bid. ' ' bon' the second or left side of the box that gays way first. There
nehold, ISt ss. • clothing account, 2,6354 ss. lid.; totels was no fracture, in my opinion, before this accident took
9,9671. is.
l-
place. The engine-driver told me that there were too many
Bozzow.-The returns presented at the weekly going dowe at once, but I made no report of it in writing.
1 meeting of the Bolton Board of Guardians showed that the John Lloyd-I am engineer to the Lillesbuli Company. I
somber of persons • relieved (including children) was 8,288, ham examined the box in question, and supposing there was
at a oast of 5711. 3e. Bd. ; being a decrease of 141. 2s. Ist. no fracture in the box at the time, the strain in the box
upon the week, and less by 411.135. 841. than was paid three would be 22j tons, supposing one side of the box to have
weeks ago. gone first. The strength of the iron is 51 Maim by s.l6ths
Boats.-The returns presented at the weekly of an inch, giving an area equal to 11 inch round bar. It is
meetinc of the Buy Board of Guardians showed that there impossible or me to account for the accident. I have ex-
was a nether decrease during the week of persona receiving ionised the iron, and think it of good quality.
relief. The total number last week was 10,843, and this Mr. E. Jona- lam managing engineer to the company.
week 10.511, showing a decrease of 272. Some of the The pit is about 260 yards deep, and the diameter of the
feetorke have bees working rather maw time of late, sad abaft is 8 feet. fitted with guide rods. It has always been
chic so deem, have operated to some extent in ie.. so worked, and satisfactorily. The ordinary wet drawn
ing the up between coal and dirt would be about 25 cwt. The
The supplemental fund applied by the Baptist we4ht of the men would be about 15 ewt The spring box
h mecum'. patent. Dune gone down myself frequently,
churches to the unemployed operatives of their own me-
, now amountsto 5,0001. The committee wantedalways quite
mid always thought it safe. I have never
.had My
Erretifsantrreration met he Liverpool on Tuesday, and had eemPlele" mode to me except one, whenl bard seat- a
lad Du rode on a small dirt rind. I wee aagry about it,
reports laid before "by dePetstis" which hed-eietted the ..d.id it must be ted Iha gi strict orders
not reps' . ve um local executive bodies in the several districts,
that the roles were not to be broke..
1 CILLRAZ 01 DIJILLUDING • Rl.lll/3 COMIITITZI.- 8.. p,......, . led who had been „Aid eat of the one
At the Salford Town-hell, oe Wednesday, Ehrobeth Robin. ham, it descended, acid that he saw twelve I. the ship,
ewe and Edward, her DOD. were charged with obteining and he we, formed out,
raid from the Pendleton relief committee under false per Moses Law and Daniel Humphreys gave evidence to the
tease.. The woman first 'polled for relief on the 4th No- effect thee they end others had objected to p down be_
umber, and was then refused. She again applied on the wee a the crowded stet. of the car,
114th of the same mouth. Os her stating that she and her Th. inquiry wen thee adjoureed.
two daughters only ennui 2s. 6d. a week by smelling, and
that her son was an invalid, an order was gives her autho-
rise,' her to receive weekly 2s. in stoney, and food to the
mho of 3a. 6d. From orcumstanses that came to the
loserisdge of the committee, *dries were made, and it
erne emertained that the mania mud ea an avenge 12s, a
week. The *bens vieoessmy hp pees that the amen
' bed received that eateetat a MOW were not pre-
sent; and as the inse hoi tees t paeriesely, the
prisoners were Ticcheiddbeisegol.

rag W.INCHBURGH RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

We stated a day or two ago that the Edinburgh
and Glasgow Railway Company were understood to have
already settled a number of claims made on them for cow-
' palmation for the minor inkiries sustained in the recent
collision near Wiachburgb. In one or two cases, however,
where the injuries have been of a very grave character, we
are informed that the terms of compromise offered by
the company are not considered by the agents of the par-
ties to be at all an equivalent for the serious results
of the accident. A mill-girl at Linlithgow, named
Yarpret Clark, whose leg was amputated above the
knee by Dr. Gibb, in the infirmary here, on the morning
succeeding the accident, and who has thus been incapacitated
from any active @orrice in her after life, has been offered the
sum of 3001. in compermatioa by the company, which lies
been refined by the agents who have taken up the cans of
the girl. A lady, rending in Edinburgh, who was very
severely bruised, and who was in consequence of her in-
juries taken in premature &hour, with the result of the
life of her child being lost, has been offered as a compen-
sation for her sufferings in person and in feelings, the com-
paratively trifling stun of 1501.—aa offer which has
also not unnaturally been declined by her relatives.
The Soots Grey, Harris, whose whole system is stated on
medical authority to be so shattered by the shock of the
accident, and the dangerous injuries he sustained, that he
is to all appearance rendered of no avail for any active em-
ployment for long, if not for life, has had a sum stated at
WOl placed at his disposal as an offset to these terrible am-
sequences of the collision to him. We learn that Colonel
Derby Griffith' has taken the case of this poor man into his
friendly interest, and that he will endeavour to obtain for
the injured soldier a compensation which shall be regarded as
moire adequate—if anything can be considered adequate—
to what may prove a life-long suffering. But per-
haps a more painful ogee than any of those to which we
bays referred is that of the relatives of Jobe Cueing-
' ham, the stoker of the Glasgow train, who was killedon the
I spot, and whose death appeared, from the position of the
body, to have been the most painful of all the many pain.
ful deaths that night. This man seems to have been a good
servant of the company ; and it will be remembered that
the men on the
engines were proved to hays doze
everything in their power to avert disaster when, by
no fault of theirs, it seemed inevitable. lie was
unmarried, and it Is dated that the company,
urging this fact, have offered to hie parents the stun of
501., with an allowance for mourning and for funeral ex-
, poises. This offer, which certainly appears undoubtedly
paltry and altogether inadequate, has, we understand, bow
refused by Cunningham's parents as a compensation for the
injury and pain caused them by the loss of their son. All
these cases, we believe, are in the hands of counsel ; and
it is understood that unless satisfactory compensation for
these serious results of the accident be speedily made by
the railway company, the cane will be taken to the Court
of Seisloo.—Scoisman.

THE DESTRUCTION OP THE TOWNHALL
Ar CHESTER.

Aa already reported, the Exchange and Town-
hall of Chester were totally destroyed by tin on Tuesday
leak The building contained the policeoffies, cells, and
,cis on the ground Boor • and polka-mart, town-hall,
mid maned chamber on the fent floor ; above them • num-
bur of rooms, some of which were aped as cams, and others
for storing papers. The stricture, which is situated in
Northgatesueet, was comploted in 1698, at a eat of
1.0001.. towards which the Mayor of the day—Roger
; Whitley contributed largely. The bailding was af
brick, ornamental with stonework • the first floor
was supported by stone pillars, through which Ina
• spacious thoroughfare from south to north. On
the pound floor of the building there were market
stalls on the Saturday. The whole presented a curious
mixture of architectural design, and was as town-
easiest • build* is every department as could possibly
have bees designed. Visitors to Chester will remember the
statue of Queen Anne, arrayed in coronation robes, which
stood in a niche in the south front, and which for nearly
two centuries has been the silent witness of many strange
I charges in the old city. There were several tablets on the
I front, the blaxoary on which was considered remarkably
floe. The police, or poetics, court was a quaint place.
The room win small, and afforded but sorry accommodation
for the public and the of who assembled day after day.
nomad one side of the room, on penels, were the portraita of
lold C,estrians, who, is the course of 500 years past. left sums
of money for the comfort of the poor ; which sums, as is
! usually the case, hem in the lamps of time been diverted from
Itheir original purposes. In the room and others there were
several valuable paintings, one by Gaisaborough and Rey-
nolds. one by Jackson, and another by West. As the firs
is said to have originated in the roam room, it is to be
I feared that most of Mame osiattsgs have been seriously,
if not totally, destroyed. The town-hall was fitted up
as • sessions court, and was impelled in the old fashioned
style, and ornamented with baton' fasces and spears.
Round the walls were full length portraits of Ceetnaa
worthies. Above this room were • number of lumber room
which were filled with castles& of old papers of all de.
scriptione. Another mom on the same Boor as the town-
' hall was nicely fitted up, and used as the council chamber.
Hers maim were a number of portraits. The Are was first
discovered about six o'clock, in the flooring of the pentice
court, on account states. Cowie% to the exceeding dryness
of the wood, the flames made raped progress. The rope of
the Graben was burnt, sad this prevented the alarm from
being rung out to the inhabitants. Several paintings are
destroyed, but it is impossible to etas„e whose portraits thez SUSPICIOUS MUTH or • WOMAN AT NIEWCAB-
were, Yak As scsns as tin liamen maid 'b. "ands, 112.—The morning of the new year at Newcastle bas been
hope of saving the building was abandoned, as the fire rap:d marked by an event of • suspicious and fatal. if not min
with great fury, and, fad by the storm of Inver, sit the nal 'afore. About three a.in., two men walking along •
• available resources of the fire brigade were found ineffectual narrow and dub alley or wend, known as the West Walls,
to stay the progress of the tire. All the psintiors that could discovered the body of a woman lyiog in the mod quite
•be reached "re removed ae sinssalll as la*mbls, plepty deed. Her face mu covered with blood, which had op-
:of willing bands being extended to save the property.person. The porosity issued from her nostrils, her eyes were swollen, and
Beside. the city engines, the fire engine from the Caste was her dress was torn from the upper part of her
brought into use, sod, worked soldiers, did good service, police were informed of the facts, and the body was con-
The roof fell in witbiu half an hour fro:n the commence- veyed to the dead house, where it was examined
meat of the firs. and then huge burning flakes were borne by by a medical man, to, pronounced we to
the wind acroes the city, exciting great apprehension for be extinct. The woman, who has not been identi-
the safety of the New Market-hall, which is being erected about 40 years of age ; she is of slender form, moot
elms by the Towo.hell, and also for the houses in the city. miserable appearance, and baa been wretchedly clad. now
The inhabitant, were, however, on the alert, and prevented is, however, too much reason to belles* that her death has
farther destruction of preinerty. All the valuable record.: been the result of brutal violence. The locality where she
we Wove, were lured- no wee of the ea Regimen. was found is one of the moat ow of the old part, of
rendered valuable service. The building was insured in the Newcastle• and is under v
in
per of the strong wall and
Unit) Mika —Afandteekr ancient towers, which having served their purposes as wens
_ lof defence, are slowly, bit surely falling into decay. On
Importing tea without colour on the leat New Year's-eve noima in the streets are commonly prevalent,
mem the Chinese pawing ell Interior brows heves se tn and the people living in the neighbourhood do not recollect
.
must Mode. Rornimaier Is unioa.d. Yemen aw . e). anything more on the morning In question than I
geed Mika WM le pickets by •Sen sassAL—pgrertiaeasens.l might loam s ..em caused by • drunken brawL

I Yitrai ranaOrTlrsyr BArrzar

(Prom the Nem Yost Tina of Dee. 17, 1862.)

Yesterday morning, in compliance with orders
from the Navy Department, the United States iron-clad
battery Montauk started on her trial trip. In order that
there should be no doubt about the result of the Important
experiment, Secretary Welles appointed • naval 00.0113111-
sion to witness the trial trip and report upon it. The com-
mission consisted of the following c ffimrs, all icentlamen of
the highest professional reputation in the sernoe • Commo-
dore Stephen C. Rowan, commander of the iron-clad frigate
Roanoke; Captain Rogers, late of the Galena, and Captain
John Rogers, of the Ericsson battery Catskill. The follow-
ing distinguished officers were also on board :—Captain
Lacoffski, of the Imperial Navy of Russia Captain Erma-
leoff, naval constructor in the same service, and a Russian
colonel of ordoence, Commodore Gregory, Engineer Samara
Captain Worden, and others.
At ten o'clock all embarked on the Moutank at the Navy-
yard, and at half-past ten o'clock, amid a severe shower of
drizzling rain, the vessel shoved off unaided, and heeded up
the North River. Her engines were put in quick motion,
and with 27 pounds of steam on, give fifty revolutions a
minute. This was the first report. The distance from the
Navy-yard to the flattery was accomplished at the rate of
about 14 miles an hour. Soon after the speed was increased
to mix, and she was ordered to be driven even faster, whim
the boilers began to foam. As the revolutions am be put
up to 70, at least, with the remaining untested power of
steam, the speed of the Montauk will be almost madly
that of the Passaic, seven miles an hoar. The tide was
naiad her yesterday, and also • very. stiff breeze, but their
influstios in retarding • craft so low down, and so "settled,"
was sot very great. We stopped at the foot of Thirteseth-
street, to take on board Orr, one of Mr. Erisson's
representatives, who came to see bow things worked.
At twelve o'clock. off Thirty-fifth-street, 35 pounds of
steam only produced 48 revolutions, 27 pounds having
previously obtained 50, or two revolutions more, but the
foaming of the boilers had not commenced during the find
half hoar. From Thirty-five-street up the river the pro-
gress was even and satisfactory. Six miles an .hour was
easily accomplished, notwithstanding the newness of the
boilers. The trip of the Passaic did not seem to familiarise
steamboat travellers with iron-clads, for they evinced all the
characteristics of pristine curiosity as we passed. After a
cold sail we reached the Palisades at about one o'clock, and
made preparations to anchor ; soundings were taken, and
fifteen fathoms of chain run out, which secured the easel.
The Naval Commission then adjourned to the turret, and
directed the initiatory movement for firing. Powder was
taken from a steam-tug, which brought it from Bedloe's
Island.

At ►bout half•paat two or three o'clock firing commenced.
Three hollow shots, two solid ones, and two shells were
sent into the bosom of the Palisades. They actually shook
the entire shore for hundreds of yards, and where the solid
shot fell rocks and gravel, for nearly a quarter of ► mile,
rolled into the river. A gentleman came from shore and
stated that the shots tore up the earth fearfully. He also
informed parties on board that during the Passaic'. trial one
of her shot struck a tremendous rock, Lod sent it in frag-
ments in the air. The commission intended firing ten shots,
but only fired seven, as stated, it being rather dark to con-
tinue. The trial trip of the Passaic was made under the
auspices of Captain Ericsson, who did not object to a minute
report of it. The Montauk is in the hands of the govern-
ment, and Captain Worden, its representative, does not
wish particulars printed. But the following statement of
the results of the experiment can give no comfort or informa-
tion to the enemy :
First. The various principles involved in the experiment
are proved practicable.
Second. That the turret port-hole need not be widened is
now established beyond all doubt.
Third. The Montauk, in her present shape, will go to sea
on active service this week. Commodore Rowan and both
Captains Rogers expressed themselves individually highly
satisfied with the general success of the experiments. Not
• bolt gave way during the entire trial. The commission of
mine suggest improvements is various details, which can
he effected in forty-eight hours.