The Express.
London, England, 1849-07-09 00:00:00

THE EXPLOSION AT DUDLEY PORT

COLLIERY.

The adjourned inquest on the bodies of the tinter-
tunate persons killed by this accident, took place at Dudley
on Friday night.
Mr. John Yardley, mine surveyor of the Moat Colliery,
deposed that be had examined the working condition of the
pit in question that (Friday) morning. Tke air was th
thrown into three different ways or directions, as before the
explosion. Witness examined the spout saddens where the
explosion took place, and, supposing the dam to be properly
stopped, the air-way was sufficient for the safe working of
the pit ; but in case the dam was not properly stopped, gas
might have accumulated and exploded, on the other side o's
the dam, in the workings. If the last length of air-way had
been wider, at d the dam not sufficiently. stopped, it would
not have prevented the gas from accumulating, even if the air-
way had been three times wider than it was. He moot opinion
after a minute examination of all the works, that the pit was
in a proper state for working. The sir-ways were properly
driven to carry off the gas. It was the boy's duty to see
that the dams of the spouts were properly stopped, and when
they diseovered any gas in the workings not to let the men
commence work until it was cleared. He ought not to have
used a naked light. There were two perfect safety-lamps
in the pit on the morning of the explosion. Witness had
seen a satety-lamp which had been found in the pit that
mailing, with the top off ; and from the appearance of it,
being covered with dust and dirt, the lamp must have been
unscrewed before the explosion took place. Oa unscrewing
a lighted safety-lamp, a candle may be lighted by it ; but it
is at all times improper to unscrew the safety-lamp where
Mere is the loot appearance of gas. Mr. Yardley minutely
explained the working of the pit, and his replies to tines-
dons as to its working condition were satisfactory.
Mr. Henry Johnsen, mine surveyor, of Dudley, was next
called. He stated that he had examined the pit, and made
• plan of it. The air-way was, in Ws opMioas' sufficient to
ovry off any quantity of gas ; in other rwpeets his evidence
was corroborative of that given by Mr. Yardley. The lamp
(he said, had evidently been unscrewed by head, and nut
blown off.
After one er two other witnesses had been called, the
Coroner trammed up, and the jury returned the following
verdict: " That the explosion was caused by the want of
proper precaution on the part of the doggy, Pritchard."
Edward Brighton, another of the sufferers, died on Tuto-
r day, sad two others are not expected to survive.

THE CALEDONIA, Captain Stone, sailed from Liver-
pool oa Saturday for Halifax and Boston.
TIM CUSTOM-HOUSE. CENTRALISATION. -- An
order was issued on Thursday from the Board of Customs,
to all the outporn, that the accounts of imports and exports
kept at the different pone in the United Kingdom from
which the various periodical returns have been made, show-
ing the state of our foreign trade, are, is future, to be kept
at the Custom-house in London, and that all the necessary
documents must be transmitted from the outposts daily.
This arrangement commenced on the 6th inst., which is
the beginning of the official quarter, and is to be tried for
three months. If the order becomes a permanent one,
half the Customhouse clerks at many of the ports will be
dispeased with. The object of this new arrangement is, no
doubt, to save the national expenditure.
INCRIASINGTEADE OF THEPORT OF HAVRE.—The
increase of trade and the growing importance of the port of
Havre may be inferred from the published Custom-house
revenue returns •f that port, which amounted, fur the
month of June this year, on imports, to 2,353,172 francs,
against 1,115,694 francs for the same mouth lest year; and
on exports, to 22,936 francs for tha month of June this year,
'genet 9,560 francs for the Nuns month last year, showing
an increase of more than 100 per cent. in both departments
of the Customs revenue of the flourishing port of Havre.
ANOTHER MINE ERPLOGION.—OR Wednesday
morning another of these fearful «Terrence. took place at •
colliery belonging to the British Iron Company, known as
"The Black ‘Faggon," and situated at Old Hill, in the
parish of Rowley Regis. A quantity of inflammable gas
was ignited by the exposure of a lamp or candle, when an ex-
plosion occurred which seriously scorched four men, slightly
injured another, and, we are informed, killed a sixth.— Wor-
cestershire Chronicle.
AWFUL ACCIDENT.—OR Friday morning, about
seven o'clock, a young man, about twenty years of age, who
is a " drawer" in one of the collieries belonging to Jacob
Fletcher, Esq., of Clifton, was in the act of reaching a hook
which he was using to draw waggons upend down the mine,
standing at the same time at the bottom of the shaft, when
a brick fell upon his head, and haunted his skull so dread-
fully, that he died immediately afterwards. The shaft is
eighty-five yards deep, and the brick had become detached
from the side, about fifteen feet from the top, so that it must
have fallen with great force. An ioquest was held by Mr.
Rutter, yesterday afternoon, at the " Seven Stars," Clifton,
when a verdict was returned in accordance with the circum-
stances of the case.—Manchester Examiner.
BURGLARY AT CROSTHWAITE. —On Thursday
night, or early on Friday morning, • daring robbery was
committed on the premises beleoging to Mr. John Halhesd,
of Crosthwaite, near Kendal, his pantry window having been
forced open, and some iron hers wrenched off, and five
cheeses, a loin of mutton, a pound of butter, a quantity of
bread, cream, sto., having been extracted, together with two
pain of boots. Information was immediately given to the
police, and the suspected parties were ultimately captured in
a barn, near the Sun Inn, Crook. They had in their posses-
sion, when taken, the two pain of boots, the mutton, and
part of one of the cheeses. They gave their name. John
Hart, John Jackson, John Hall, and Mary Welch, alias
Hall. On the same day they were committed to the anises.
—Kerulal Mercury.
THE GREAT SEA SERPENT.—PROBABLE SOLUTION
OF ran Quximow.—Mr. J. A. Harriman, commander of
the ship Brasilia'', makes the following statement : He left
the Caps on the 19th of February, and in the morning of
the 24th the ship was becalmed is lat. 26. smith long. 512
411" being about 40 miles from the piece where Capt.
M'Quaigh, R.N., is said to have seen the great sea serpent.
About 8 o'clock on that inning he perceived something
right a-beam, about half a miffs to the westward, stretched
along the waters to the extent of from 25 to 30 feet, and
moving with a sinuous motion. The head, which seemed to
be several feet above the water, had something like a mane
mining down to the floating portion, and within about six
feet of the tail the supposed, animal faked out into a double
fin. As the Brazilian was making no headway Captain
Herrin= had a boat lowered and took with him Mr.
!=irand, on nearing the object, it was found to be
more than an immense piece of ma-weed, evidently
detesited from a coral reef, drifting with the current which
sets emetantly to the westward in this latitude, and which,
together with the swell left by the gale, gave it • sinuous
snakelike motion. The captain had it hauled on board,
but, as it soon began to decay, was compelled to throw it
over. He now regrets that he did not preserve kin a water-
butt for exhikition in the Thames, where the conflicting
motion produced by the tide and steamers would, in all
probability, give a like appearance.
FIRE IN A RAILWAY TRAIN.—A various accident
hin the parliamentary train, which left the Water-
-1 station on Saturday morning, at twenty minutes
past tlt appears that one of the explosive signals
midst guard had with him in Me pemecasescos4trade
woo engin fire, exploded, and caused the other to
emplede. The luggage was set fire to, and a derable
parties ef it was completely destroyed. FortunsWir, the
train was near the Andover-road strike, and ea foss as it
reached andstanos was prorated, awl the Aro woo =Us-
plebe&

A POOR MAN'S PICNIC.
(Front the Spectator.?
A great pinnate party left the Eastern Counties
Railway station, at Shoreditch, on Monday, to spend the
day in the pleasant neighbourhood of Havering-atte-Bower.
Every year the poor of the perish of to. Mathias, in Bethnal-
green, are carried out into the country, to see how It ature
made the hills and the Tallies before Man made Spitalfields ;
being too numerous for exportation in one mare, the holyday-
makers are taken oat in different parties ; and this time the
Zily lasiaded some twelve or fourteen hundred souls.
igratraage sight was it to see them pouring by one of the
side-dews on to the platform of the station, in order that
they might be absorbed into the carriages of the train :
SOW same a charity. school of boys—one of girls—a body of
weavers in their Sunday clothes—a score of workhouse men
—an aged
.couple—a miscellaneous crew of weavers, into,
.vier., sun *Winn; end old, fat ail lean, grave and
gay, dirty and clean—a score of old workhouse women—a
horde of boys—the Sunday school teachers, the aristocrasey
of the race—more miscellany : there seems no end to
them : the hour wears away, and still they come, lige ants in
Africa. The only change is, that as the time slips on they
come faster ; the railway officers stimulate them with " Now,
this way ! Carriages in front!" Boys get excited and run ;
fat women with large families display a power of collective
locomotion which is amazing ; aged couples do their best—
which is not much.
The spectacle ought to be • pleasant sight, as any multi-
tudinous holiday should be ; but it Is not, at least on the
suffice. The race thus filing before yea is not prepossessing ;
neither does it look happy. It is upon the whole a stunted
race; plain flat feature., with pallid checks, are the staple—
' not • starved, but an underfed, unwhclesome, unventilated
look. The old people are short, small-limbed, and big-
faced ; slender types of Teniers' human kind. The boys
are :dull and heavy-looking—less stupid than dull : they
Gan get up • run, and a shout and • grin ; but they
cannot mutter the radiant life of your country
boy. The women are better—women always are!
—lea deteriorated: but they are homely if not
squalid, careworn, feeble, oppressed with the troubles of
life. Some are bad sight —brutal and joyously malignant :
no spectacle can be mere repulsive than your robuster work-
house hag, spoiled to all memories except • brutal profligacy,
deadened to all hope except the brawling gin-bottle. The
girls are the best—women as yet unspoiled, except by what-
soever has stunted their growth. Beauty peeps out here and
there, faintly, like • wild flower in the neglected alleys of
Bethnal-green. But for some part of her life at least woman
carries the affections in her countenance, and that charm can-
not be obliterated.
Altogether it is a depressing sight—so many living
things, and so little life. Their mien is disengaged, as if
free from restraint, yet they are on the whole subdued and
slow. •
At last the vast herd le packed away, and the train moves
off. From the embankments you view the miserablest tract
of inhabited land—that pari h of Bethnal-green from which
these people have been drawn—an overpenpled, dingy,
bustling, tumbledown place ; you Bee squalid back yards—
behind the scenes of that low drama; squalid loungers
mounted at window and on house-top tocheer the parting
train.
The engine, swift and steady, bears you into the freshen-
ing air; the lands grow greener and more green. The train
stops ; the narrow defiles of liomford station slowly disgorge
the invading tribe; and when at last you take the road,
the street of the market town is tilled with the moving mass.
Already they look more cheerful; and they fall into good
walking order—though, the town passed, some few do run to
the hedges to pluck the first dog rose.
A slow journey is it to Havering, 3 miles off ; but not •
dull one. Exercise lends its heathiul stimulus; and when
at last the multitude turns into the great open field on the
hill-side, breaking into varied and scattered groups, the
people have grown quite gay and sportive. They sit down
ti the dinner they have brought with them, and then
spread abroad. But excellent order they keep.
How is that ? Some unseen spirit of order must possess
this great herd of creatures from the troubled region
of Spitalfields ; where, you know, the people are too
wretched to be virtuous, where they are so sunken
as to be beneath the influence of order. And indeed
hers is such a spirit. Moving among them, unmarked
except by his übiquity and the unostentatious defe-
rence paid to him, goes a man in black—guiding their steps,
animating the feeble, checking the disorderly: he it was
who planned the expedition,: who orders the carriages, who
mapped out the route, who conciliated the local authorities—
who provides for that multitudinous march its object, its
means of transport, its fixed path, its order. it is the clergy-
man of St. Mathias. the lien. Joseph Brown, of whom Lord
Ashley made such respectful mention. He is there with his
family ; his excellent wife—a true working parson's kind and
diligent companion, and his active sons; and even the infant
is brought out to share the holyday of his people.
It is a priest in his duty—the father cf his flock, their corn.
panion and guide, the teacher and exempl..r of manners to
his people, be they never so lowly and lost. He it is th en
brings them again from the stifled oblivion of the crowded
Spitalfields to the presence of nature—carries them out into
the fresh fields, to sing the praises of God, and to bear
home with them kind and healthy memories—flowers that
never fade. Ile does his duty in the pulpit, with credit and
approval in the church to which he is appointed ; but here
we find him doing • wider duty in the roofless church,which
is open to all, be they never so poor or so sunken. He is
working for the welfare of the people. The consequence is
obvious: he not only bears his doctrine where the
mere pulpit preacher cannot reach, but he fastens upon Lis
penile an influence once common to the church, but now
1 well nigh forgotten. Carlyle has said that the function of
the priest, as a teacher and guide, has ponied to the more
modern " cloth " of literary writers; and the remark is true,
because the priest has forgotten duties which the want and
misery of Bethnal-green have recalled to the kind and acute
mind of Joseph Brown.
Of course .such a man finds help; and accordingly Mr.
Brown was suer 'undid by a few friends, clerical and lay,
who aided him in his active duties. But strangers also
assist. A leading magistrate came down to the
Itoinford station, to help in the tasks of guidance
and order; he tad in his pocket the keys of ltomford
Townhall, sent by • brother magistrate, in case it should
rain ; a gentleman at Havering lentthe grounds ; the local
clergyman, the Reverend Mr. Faulkner, was on the spot,
hospitably active for the comfort of Mr. Brown's personal
friends. 'the ruling spirit extended to all engaged. It is
penetrating no secret to say that Mr. Brown must be it poor
man, looking after other interests than his own : but he is
powerful in zeal and rich in kindness, and by those two
great influences, although he cannot renew the miracle of
feeding the whole multitude from hie own scanty store, he
does contrive that they shall have their holiday in ease
and comfort without hindrance and without reproach.

EFFECT OP TITS DANISII BLOCKADE.-04 Wednesday
next the York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway sharehold-
ers will meet to receive a further report from their committee
of investigation; and on the following day the York and
North Midland shareholders meet for a like porpsee. The
purport of these reports is at present unknown, the greatest
secrecy being maintained. Rumours, however, have been
propagated of an unfavourable character, on the faith of
which the shares of the latter company fell en Saturday
about 31. per share, and the Berwick line was affected in a
lesser degree. They have since partially recovered the de-
pression, and are now quoted at about the price at which
they stood a fortnight ago. The traffic on both lines con-
tinues to be seriously affected by the Danish blockade ; but,
nevertheless, this week presents a decided improvement.
The near approach of the opening of the Leeds and Think
line, and its probable effects on the traffic, excite some inte-
rest. With reference to this meetings next week, we par
pose giving very fall reports, that such of our readers as are
interested, and are unable to &timid, may be placed in pos-
session of every particular.— Yorkshire Gazelle.
ATTEMPTED MURDER.—On Friday evening, about
six o'clock, a most diabolical attempt was made to destroy
the life or lives of two ladies, daughters of Dr. Stokes, of
Portland-place, Islington. They were sitting in the draw-
ing-room, when they were fired at by some ruffian residing
in Northampton-street, which is at the back of Mr. Stalin's
grounds. Police-officers Collins and Withers, of the N
division, who wen on the spot in private clothes, watching
some thieves, were instantly called into the doctor's house;
and, after the alarm had somewhat subsided, they found a
bullet embedded in the wall, it having passed over the
ladies' heads, and then through a carved cornice. Every
effort was immediately made by those active constables to
find out the dastardly scoundrel, but, up to yesterday, no
clue had been obtained of him.—Sunday paper.
AN INCORRIGIBLE OPPENDER.—At the Dorset
Quarter Sessions, a few days ago, a woman named Caroline
Burden was found guilty of stealing a quantity of oak bark,
the property of John Kendall, at Sixpenny Handley. This
woman had earned for herself the unenviable reputation of
being an old and incorrigible offender, for it appeared from
the records of the gaol that on the 2nd of May, 1842, she
was sentenced to six weeks hard labour, for leaving her
family chargeable to the pariah ; on February sth, 1846, to
twenty one days hard labour, for misbehaviour in the union
workhouse ; on August 20th, 1847, to one calendar month,
hard labour, for stealing peas ; on December 14th, in the
same year, to twenty-one days hard labour, for stealing a
fence ; and on December 22nd, 1848, to one calendar month,
hard labour. She was now sentenced to one month hard
labour.
SINGULAR DISCOVERY OF A HUMAN BODT.—On
Thursday morning a man who was drawing water from a
well situated in a field at Aldrington, found some obetruc•
lion to the descent of his bucket, and, on looking down,
perceived the body of a man. He gave an alarm, and the
body was drawn up and taken to the Ship Inn, Hove, where
it was recognised as that of Peter Freeman, a young man,
23 years of age, who kad gained a living latterly in
Brighton by wheeling trucks for laundresses, fetching water
from the sea, itc. He was seen alive last, engaged in this
latter occupation, on Wednesday morning, opposite Bruns-
wick-terrace. Evidence of this, and of the (lading of the
body, was given at the inquest held on the body at the Ship
Inn, Hove, on Friday afternoon, and which was adjourned
until Saturday, in order to procure further evidence. De-
ceased was never known to have any property in his pos-
session, and it is not likely, therefore that he came to his
end by any other than his own act.—Brighton Herald.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN LAMBETlL—Yesterday be-
tweenlo and 11 o'clock, a fire of a very alarming character
broke out in a long range of premises belonging to Dieters.
Baker and fions,ths builders at Palace New-road, Lambeth.
in that portion of the works termed the " fitting shop."
Several engines of the London establishment were promptly
in attendance, but the firemen were unable to get the flames
extinguished until the fitting and blacksmith's shops
were almost consumed and the store room burnt. The total
lows is very considerable, and unfortunately Messrs. Baker
wan uniustrad. From the examination made there is no
doubt but that the fire was caused by the spontaneous igni-
tion of some old rope stowed away in the basement floor of
Ike buildiag.

SERVICE.

Friday's Gazette gives a list of the masters and
mates in the merchant service, who have soluntarily puma
an examination and obtained certificates of qualifies ion, foe
the class against each 'signed, under the regulations issued
by the Board of Trade since 31st May last.
_ hisscaan.

Arthur Wellesley Eyre, :3;sicl;.sscertifieste, Ellenborough,
Newcastle.
Andrew Williamson, Ist, Jane, London.
David Rome, Ist, John Dugdale, Limp's)].
William Williams, Ist, Henry Winch, Liverpool.
William Henry Flenley, let, Laurina, Liverpool.
William Stewart Corrigall, 3rd, Spray. 13-. nth Shields.
Martin Parnell, tad, City of London, London.
Robert Watson, 2nd, Asiatic, London.
Gilbert Jameson, 2nd, Fly, London.
John Maude, god, Sea Park, London.
William Hobbs, 3rd, Salads, Wbitby.
David James, 3rd, Asiatic, London.
Henry Taithfull, 2nd, Pekin, Newcastle.
John Macneill, Ist, Adino, Dundee.
Ebe n Lawson, let, Sea, Liverpool.
William °raison, lit extra, Windsor, London.
John Hill Abram, tad, Blanche, Sunderland.
John Browne, 2ud, Larkins, London.
Henry Joblin, tad, Ildarchlonem of Bute, Cardiff.
James Mackay, 2nd, Sea. Liverpool.
James Robertson, 2ud, Herschel, Dundee.
Wilson Bennett Cursing, 2od, Ann Beet, Liverpool.
Thomas Colley Starner, 2nd, Tamar, London.
Thomas Spedding, 2nd, Sarah Scott, Landon.
John Gardiner, 2nd, Garland Grove, London.
John Gimblett, 2nd, Barham London.
Thomas 0 wen, 3rd, Pauline Houghton, London.
Stephen Stack, Ist, Blarney (screw steamer), Cork.
William Walker, 2nd, Jane, Liverpool.
John Black, let, Free Trader, Belfast.
William Henry Canszsr, let, Una, Liverpool.
Henry Lawson, Ist, Thomas Feilden, Liverpool.
Henry Rawlings Percival, Ist, Louisa Baillie, London.
John William Murton, 2nd, Alfred, London.
Henry Edwards Lansdowne, 2nd, Sea Park, London.
William Bell, 2nd, Bucephalus, Newcastle.
Joseph Grey, 2nd, Columbus, South Shields.
John Brown Teuton, 2nd, Malabar, Liverpool.
Robert Tenison Cochrane, 2nd, Niagara (steamer), Glasgow.
Wallow Cumberland, 2nd, Camperdown, London.
John Hole, 2nd, Lively, London.
Themes Mathew Hopkins, 3rd, Bucephalus, Newcastle.
Jiang Young, Ist, Jessie Greig, Dundee.
Robert Burgoyne, 2nd, Hindoo, London.
John Inner, Ist, Kelso, London.
John Plowman Ward, let, Ottoman, Great Yarmouth.
John Henderson, 2nd, Sir Howard Douglas, Liverpool.
Charles Thomas Budge, 2nd, Fantee, Bristol.
Richard Stephenson, 3rd, Brightman, Landon.
Thomas Wishart, let, Swan, London.
Charles Granger Weller, Ist, Monarch, London.
John Toyer, 2nd, Marlborough, London.
David Wilson Lang, 2nd, Lee, London.
Charles William Goddard, 2nd, Flora, Hamburg.
Jahn Clara, let, Dana, Dundee.
John Lsiog, Ist, Amelia Gordon, Glasgow.
Thomas Cooper, 2nd, Amelia Gordon, Glasgow.