The Express.
London, England, 1862-10-10 00:00:00

THE MARSHLAND DISASTER.

KING'S LYNN, TBUISDAY.

Yesterday another step was taken to exelrxle the
tide, by the formation of an earth dam about 400 yards
above the fen drain sluice, and the lame distance below the
wok and pile dam at St. Mary's-bridge. This could not be
commenced until the morning's tide had fallen several feet,
and the site for the work was the subject of great con-
troversy, several contending that it ought to be much
nearer the sluice, where the banks are higher. However
the decision of the stronger party was in favour of
"he spot indicated, and 500 men, and fifty or
Sixty eerie were set to work under the direction of
fanners and engineers, and by the evening • solid
dam 20 or 25 feet wide at the summit, had been made. The
scene of operations was one of the greatest excitement.
Orders were shouted lustily from twenty different masters,
and beer, bread and cheese, and other stimulants were un-
sparingly distributed. One or two tumbrils and horses
tumbled into the water, and " Cover 'em up." was the cry
but, though there seemed some inolioatiou to do
so, the idea was not carried out. The horses
were extricated, leaving the carts till the work
was done. The whole was considered complete by
five o'clock in the evening. The emdge banks on either
aide the drain were also raised 'shish as was thought neon-
glary. The evening tide, however. 17 feet 6 inches above
zero, was about 6 inches higher than the batiks, and conse-
quently again poured over into the Marshland Sewer, and,
in addition, over the bank on the other side and upon Mr.
Metcalf s farm, extending towards St. Mary's Hall and
Church, and across dt. Mary's-road. The force of the water,
held back by the dam, broke not only over bat through
the cradges. Mr. Medralf, to save his farm, set some
men, at about high water, upon cutting a gap
through the corner of the darn to let the water
run off behind it. This proceeding roused the ire of
some of the farmers who had worked so hard at the dam ;
high words ensued ; offers of money were made to anyone
who would pitch the dam-cutters into the water, and at
last blows were struck, a regular steles followed, and several
of the party got • thorough ducking. Had it not been for
the interference of the police the consequences might have
been more serious ; but the hot blood of the moment has
cooled down to-day and all are friends again. Mr. Med-
calf's men having withdraws were at once better
employed in banking round his stack-yard. The
high tide, being within about six inches of the
top of the new dam, caused it to settle considerably,
and at 9 o'clock p.m. a number of men were set to raise it
4 feet higher, and others to raise the cradges downward to
the sluice.

This morning's tide was higher again--some 18 ft. 3M.
above zero, and once more overflowed the crailges. The men
are now employed again in raising and puddling these, a
labour which, it is obvious, might have been saved by
makiog the dam nearer the sluice. The inundation has not
exceeded the limits already mentioned, but bas rather sub•
sided from the high land, by running off through
the drains. Many of these in the interior of the
country have been now clewed and dammed to pre-
vent the admission of more water. The cataracts (for
such they are) mooing over the banks and through the
under-drains at ebb tide are a eight to be seen ; and they
of course greatly injure the banks. Still more injury, how-
ever, is °cautioned to these by the immense scour, and the
" caving-in" is becoming very serious in both drains, but
more especially in the Marshland one. There are now
several very bad places near to the sluice of this,
and the sluice-keeper's house and the flank walls
of the structure are greatly endangered. The sluice
itself looks very strong, but so did its neighbour,
till the enemy came ag►inst it in irresistible force.
It is strongly hoped that this evening's tide will be ex-
cluded by the raising of the banks now going on ; and if so,
' "the country" (as fen men say) is safe for the present from
further disaster. The " flitting" from the houses it. the
fen, however, still continues, in anticipation of the worst
Some of the poor people had only just returned to
their homes, from which they were driven by the last inun-
dation.

TOE IRON TRADE.

BIRMINGHAM. Oct. 9.

-.
The second of the quarterly meetings of the
ironmuters of this district for the curtest quarter was held
in the Town-hill here to-day. There was • pretty good at-
tendance of all who are in any way interested in the trade.
There was • fair amount of business done; it was lees
perhaps than might have been, in consequence of some dis-
position manifested by the makers of marked iron to ad-
vance their prices, which consumers were not disposed to
assent to ; this had, however, the effect of bringing up
under•sellers and the second-class houses to the trade
prices ; and makers generally declared themselves
full of orders, so that • very slight impulse
will send up the prices of the best brands
of finished iron. The demand is good both on the
part of home consumers and the export houses, with •
prospect of an inmeese The transactions in pig iron were
not large, the commodity having been previously sold, some
of the principal pig masters having disposed of the whole of
their quarter's make. For pig iron in good repute rethermors
than half-a-crown a ton advance was asked es oompared
with laid quarter-day. The make will, is all probability, be
increased immediately. The toes of the meeting was more
cheerful than anysquarter-day for the last two years.