The Express.
London, England, 1851-10-25 00:00:00

PANAMA RAILWAY.

A correspondent say,:
Poring a recent vniit to Navy Bay, the eastern terminus
of the railway, opportunity baa biro afforded nie of pec-
k sting to the public souse information regarding the present
position of the work, prospect., Between Navy Bay and
the first station, Gamin, T i miles, there are now only about
2,n00 feet aneommunicateil, which, from the daily average
of the work, will be accomplished in about ten days ; and
as the roils me being laid with great activity, this portion
of the route will be ready for the locomotivC in less than a
month. A locomotive has been in use for some time from
Navy Bay to the end of the finished portion of the work,
for the conveyance of materials, workmen, &c. Every
thing at Navy tiny indicates a state of great furwardnem
and activity, despite the many serious obstacles presented
by the rainy lemon, since the commencement of which,
much ham been accomplished. That portion of the work
through the swamp is tan being filled up, and the embank-
meat, so far is proceeded in, renders the road as firm and
secure as need be, and no fears are felt as to its stability.
The earth used for the embankment appears piculiarly well
adapted fur the purpose required, being exceedingly compact
in its nature. Nothing but ocular demonstration can MEM
• correct idea of the difficulties which have been °MOM
is this important work. Several splendid passenger"' OW
riages, sad many covered ones for goods, are la medium at
Nary Bay ; these for the lathes are mast essadwahly nod
conveuieutly arranged. Off the island of ltlemnsinik, where
the Panama railroad connueseas at, is pod awebseves half
• utile Irma the shore, in Mx laths= wain der traemisaf say
and without the ground swell, se mast la Mires 1
hoods. Already there is ample wharfage for vessels to dis-
charge at the termiaus, where Ohre is now 19 feet water;
shortly it is to be is, far extended out, to give the depth of
water 23 feet, so as worts of any rise will be able to dis-
charge their cargoes there, without either the assistance of
lighters or boats. From the Oatun station to the next
beyond " Ahorea-la-Gata," a distance of 71 miles, but
about 2% miles of this section remains uncommunicated, and
as a strong force will be concentrated at this position of
the works, so soon as the line is open from Navy
Bay to Oatun, it is confidently anticipated that this
new point will be complete in about two months.
From Ahem-la-(data to the next station, Bahia Soldado,
31 miles, less than half-a-mile remains incomplete. This
part of the work will be ready for transit immediately after
the communication is established with Aborea-Li-Orta.
From Bahia Soldado to Trisole' about four miles, nearly one
half the distance has been completed. From the above de-
tail, some idea can be formed of the progress made. Ar-
rangements are being made to prosecute the work most vi-
gorously the next dry season, from the month of December
to Muth, with a heavy force, and as that portion of the
work, now nearly completed, from Navy Bay to the sta-
tions abovenamed, is, from the nature of the ground, by
far the most difficult, the future progress must be move
rapid than heretofore. As no swamps exist about the
Ahorea-la-Data station, no piling will be required beyond
that point. The whole line to Panama his been located.
There are now nearly 1,100 men at work, of whom about
MO are natives from the upper provinces in the vicinity of
Carthagena, who have been found very useful.
Nary Bay will probably bo ready for the reception of

The flames were first discovered about seven o'clock in
the evening, when they were seen issuing with considerable
violence from a small apartment in the second Moor from
the top, occupied by a woman who resided alone—a widow,
we believe. As yet the origin of the tire remains a mystery
to be ascertained during the investigations by the proper
authorities; but it is conjectured with a considerable degree
of plausibility, that some clothes hanging before the fire
mart -Item eceideassily wine in goateet with the lame
and ignited the floor. However that may be, certain it is
that the conflagration soon assumed a must formidable ap-
pearance, and on the arrival of the Leith tire-engines and
brigade, assisted by one from the Artillery fort, the work
of subjection by no means appeared to be a task of easy ac-
ensplishment.
At find, indent, the flames were solely confined to the
floor in which they first made their appearance, and the
firemen having, under the judicious direction of Superin-
tendent Grant, concentrated their efforts on this portion
of the premises, their further progress was under a de-
luge of water—of which, by the way, there was happily
a most abundant supply—speedily stayed. No sooner,
however, was this effected than they burst forth with
redoubled energy in the root; while, still smoulder-
ing lower down, they there re-appeared with almost
equal violence. By this time the alarm had spread
throughout the whole quarter, and guided by the
lurid glare of the Names illuminating all around, a con-
siderable mob of people had assembled. 'the general
excitement was added to by the contusion which pre-
vailed, and with the usual disposition to exaggerate the
danger, the various tenants proceeded about the re-
moval of their household articles in the most hurried and
distracted manner. Meanwhile the flames increased in
intensity; but, through the well-directed and continued
exertions of the firemen, they were confined to the roof and
higher portions of the building, and ultimately, by about
11 o'clock, they were 60 far subdued that all further appre-
hensions were allayed.
Long before thin, however, the whole of the premises had
assumed es dismantled and ruinous an appearance as could
well be imagined. The root had in most places been con-
sumed. 'l•he doors of the upper stories were almost wholly
destroyed and covered with rubbish, while the lower
portions of the premises, which had of course been
previously entirely cleared of their furniture, were
deluged in all quarters by the constant stream of water
which fell copiously through every floor iu suc-
cession. In the midst of the operations a cry was raised
that a man was missing. He had been busy in the
earlier period of the night in removing his furniture; and
now his unaccountable disappearance was first noticed by
his wife, who, with three children, had with the rest been
disinbabited by the unforeseen calamity. Apprehensive of
what was soon verified to be the result, two firemen were
despatched through the building in search of him ; and
after making an entrance into the room lie occupied, the
unfortunate man was discovered in a bed-closet, with life
entirely extinct. He had a German cluck in one hand, and
had evidently been making his return from what, judging
from the desolate appearance ot• the room, might have been
his last volt, when, overcome by the smoke, he speedily fell
a victim to the stifling agency. The at•entlance of two
surgeons was procured without delay, but all efforts to
✓estore animation proved unavailing.
The damage to house and property is altogether estimated
at little under I,oool.—L'aledotaiam Jleacwry.