The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-18 00:00:00

THE COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR

GLASGOW.

On Sunday it was definitively ascertained that the
number of people in the pit when the explosion (recounted
in yesterda)'s Etpress) took place amounted to 63, viz., 3.3
MOO awl A lads. Of these 61 were killed. Had the event
Occurred sone half-hour later, the consequences must have
been much more calamitous. Of those lost the majority
were married, and they have left among them 66 children.
Then was all along a hope entertained that, if the work-
ings could be reached, some of the poor fellows would
be thund alive ; for it was evident that, after the first eon-
srulseve threes of the esplosion, the ventilation of the pit
had readjusted itself, and the fresh air went into the down-
cast shaft, and, after permeating the mine, camped by the
tap-cast shaft, half a mile distant. Towards the afternoon of
Sunday the men who came up from time to time stated that
they were convinced they had heard the sound of voices from
the bottom, although so inarticulately that they could not
make out what was said. About 3 o'clock two of the miners
came up, bringing a portion of the cage with them, and
stating that the main portion of the cage was still jammed
is the beams of wood, although they hoped it might
ODOR be relieved by the action of the hatchet. They
also stated that they distinctly heard the sound of one
or two voices, who asked how long it would be be-
fore those above would get at them, and and also if they
euuhl alt send them down a light. This was confirmed by
another arrival from the shaft a little before 5 o'clock. The
men 11110 came up said the sounds reached them as "Send
down a Davy (mealtime a Davy lamp) and some matt." On
being asked how many there were, the voice seemed to an-
swer " Two.- or " Two-and-twenty," the miners could not
my which ; but, acting on the first requisition, a little bag
IMO sent down containing some toast and brandy, which
was intended to be dropped, if possible, by a string through
the interstices in the rubbish. It should be observed that
the is Hissing party was still 40 fathoms, or 240 feet, from
the bottom of the mine.
About six O'clock on Sunday night the Millen were able
to bring up a large portion of the iron cage which had so
mach olistruetesl their efforts during the greater part of
tbi, day. They were only able to remove it by cutting
through the iron at the corners. Several additional
descents were mule, and about nine o'clock it was defi-
nitely announced that the workmen were now in cons-
niumeetion with the two men, whom they had a prospect
of saving. Previous to this the refreshments noticed
above hail been sent down and acknowledged. About 10
eialock a supply of blankets was sent down, as it was an-
nounced that the pour fellows were aluiest in a state of nudity.
Afar a lengthened period of anxiety and snspeasse, one of
the per sufferers, named John Cochrane, was brought
to the surface,. Ile was supported by two men into
an adjoining shed and immediately attended by a medical
gentleman. Cochrane was in such a weak state that he
could not give any eletaiksl account of the actual occurrence
of the calamity further than that two men who were work-
ing wish him at the time were instantaneously struck down
by the tire. During his lung imprisonment of nearly 45
hours. he seas that he repeatedly groped about for souse of
his ueighlweire, and often called on them, but, with one ex-
cepti .... ,no Me answered. The Earl of Glasgow and Mr.
Rodger, P.F., were on the ground till late at night, en-
ouuniging the wurkpcople by every means is their power.
A company of the 21st Infantry, which was brought to
the spot ley Mr. John Dun. sheriff-depute, rendered es-
sential service iu restmining the crowd.
During Monday the operations continued, and another
man was discovered alive, and two dead bodies brought up.
The Using men had not been able to give any connected ac-
count of the accident. No more men can now be gut out
alive. Last night there were still 30 deed bodies in the pit,
making the total low of life 61.

Tui I'EmintoKEMMLN Bosouona.—ln the event
at a dissolution of parliament. John Henry Phillips. Esq.,
Vfilliamston, has expressed his intention of becoming a
iliadidatt for the representation of the Pembrokeshire bo-
lster, provided that a sufficient number of the electors
shankl some forward and declare their readiness to support
him with their suffrages. Mr. Phillips will come forward
ea tha wasservitive interest. A requisition is to be prepared
said signed by the electors, inviting Mr. Phillips to come
Reward for the representation.
Tux Rol'AL Aoatervrtitat SociaTT'a ANNUAL
CATett Snow—From circumstances which have reeently
transpired, it is folly expected that the annual show of this
society will take place in the Home Park at Windsor, her
Majesty having graciously consented to permit the exhibi-
tion to take place in the royal domains. The portion of the
Home Park permitted to be approprioted for this purpose
is in the immediate vicinity of the London and Windsor
Railway terminus in Datehet-lane ; thus offering every
facility and convenience to both "man and beast." The
tonniuttee who hare taken the affair in hand include Col.
Reid and Mr. Hatchet! (the Attorney-General for Ireland),
the members fur the borough, Aldermen Bedborough and
Twench, Henry Darvill, Esq., Captain Bulkeley, John
Clode, Esq., and several other of the most influential inha-
bitanta of the town.
JANE WILBRED.—A letter hay been received from
Mr. J. Phillimore, the gentleman who has interested him-
self so humanely on behalf of this victim to the cruelty of
the Sloanes. Mr. Phillimore states that Jane Wilbred has
very much improved in health, and that a lady has offered
to let her reside in her house as soon as she leaves the Con-
valescent Institution, in order that she may learn gradually
the duties and habits of a domestic servant. Mr. Philli-
more expresses his intention of keeping her in sight, and
hopes " that her future condition may in some degree coun-
terbalance the sufferings to which she has been exposed."—
Lynn Adrertiser.
PAPAL AGOBESSION.-011 Friday evening there
was • meeting in St. Jude's Schoolroom, Chelsea, the fourth
that has been held in this parish during the week, at which 1
petitions were unanimously adopted to both houses of par-
liament, earnestly praying for such measures as may effectu-
ally suppress the use of territorial titles, and prevent syniali- '
cal :Litton on the part of the Romish clergy, under colour
of any authority from the Bishop of Rome. The incum-
bent of the district, Mr. Patteson, was in the chair, and the
meeting was addressedby the Rev. G. Mathias, Rev. W.
Riven, J. A. Warre, Esq., and others. Six lectures on the
prinri:ial points of the Hanish controversy have been
lately given in this schoolroom by the clergy of Chelsea,
and on each occasion it was densely crowded.

EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS AT

CHICHZSTEIt.

(rav ova ovra

CHICHESTER, MONDAY.
On Monday, the 27th of January last, the ltev.
Edward Parsons, minister of a large dissenting eon-
gregatiun
iu this eity, worshipping at Zion Chapel, died, ut
the age of 62 years. The congregation in question was
originally established in the year ItaH, at Pi ovidence Chapel,
by the lees. Mr. Huntingdon, who formerly preached at
Gray's-inn-lane Chapel, Loudon. Since that time a Rees-
aion took piece, and there arc now two congregations (Cal-
vinists) in the city assembling at the chapels I have named.
Mr. Parsons has been fur nearly 18 years the highly re-
wetted minister of Zion Chapel, the congregation of which
numbers between 40U and 5W Individuals, and the rev.
gentleman occupied a v,:ry high and respected position lei
the city. Mr. Parsons, as I have said, died on the 27th of
January, and on the 30th of the same month, Mr. James
Russell (a respectable tradesman of the city, and a deacon
of Zion Chapel), acting for the congregation, applied to the
Rev. Jarvis Kenrick, through the parish clerk of the sub-
deaneu parish, for permission to have the family grave
opened fur the interment of their deceased pastor. The
Ike. Jarvis Kenriek, it should be stated, is the rector or
chief clergyman of the sitheleanery parish (to which he has
been appointed about two years) and belongs, as my in-
formants tell me, to the high Puseyite school. On
the afternoon of the same day Mr. Russell re-
ceived a long letter from Mr. Kenrick refusing to
read the funeral service over the deesseed 'Guthman.
By this extraordinary conduct not only were the wounded
feelings of the deceased pastor's surviving congregation and
friends wantonly outraged, but in the refusal was ins mused
the rights of dissenters, for whom there is no special burial-
place in the city (with the exception of that provided fur and
by the Quakers), and therefore they have a right, as
parishioners, to a decent Christie' burial in the parish
churchyard. Immediately un the receipt of the letter from
Mr. Kenrick, Mr. Russell wrote to the bishop of the diocese

on the subject :
My Lord,—l have applied to the Ikv. J. licnrick to
celebrate the funeral service over the remains of the late

.-..-.
Mr. Parsons; the rev. gentleman positively refuses to com-
ply with my request, on the grounds that the deceased
was a separatist, and a teacher amongst separatists.' I
shall feel much obliged if your lordship will do me the
favour to inform me whether the view which Mr. Kenrick
takes on the question be deemed by your lordship to be the
correct one. An early reply from your lordship will oblige
me, as the funeral is to take place on Sunday next. I have
the honour to be, my lord, your lordship's most obedient
servant, JAME* litssnti, East-street, Chichester, 31st
, Jan., 18.51."
To this letter the bishop replied in the following terms
" l'alace, Chichester, Jan. 31, 1851.—Sir,—.Shout five
o'clock this afternoon 1 heard, for the first time, of Mr.
l'araons's death, and of Mr. Kenrick's declared intention of
refusing to read our funeral service at the interment of the
corpse. Assuming the late Mr. l'aresius to have been
baptised, a fact 1 have never heard questioned, there can
be no doubt that Mr. Keurick is mistaken in his view of
his duty. I have written to him in the hope of convincing
him of this. My letter is nearly copied, and probably by the
time you receive this it w ill be in Mr. Kennek's hands.
shall trust it will hase the effect for which it was designed,

sad that you and the other friends of the deceased will be
spared the pain which at present, I have learnt with regret,
you have reason to apprehend.—l am, sir, your obedient
servant, A. T. CICESTL—Mr. James Ruseell, East-street."
Thia being the state of affairs, it was resolved to bury the
deceased minister in his own chapel; and accordingly a
vault was prepared in Zion Chapel, in which lie was in-
terred on the afternoon of Sunday, the 2nd of February, in
the presence of upwards of a thousand persona, such being
the interest elicited by the unwarrantable conduct of the
Puseyite, Mr. Kenrick. On the following day, Mr. Russell
addressed the following note to the bishop:
"My Lord,—l beg leave to express my sincere thanks for
the early reply to the question respecting the funeral of the
late Mr. Parsons, and at the same time to inform your
lordship, that I have been informed that Mr. Parsons was
born and baptised in the parish of Subdeanry, and that not
having received any further communication from the Rev.
J. Keuriek, we have been peers... Rated to inter his remains
within the precincts of our own chapel.—l remain, my
lord, your lordship's most obedient servant, JADILS Rue-
ezet..—Chichester, Feb. 3, 1851."
A meeting of gentlemen who felt deeply interested in
this matter was held on the Tuesday following at the Dol-
phin Inn, the Rev. J. Fullagar (unitarian minister) in the
chair, when a committee wail appointed, consisting of two
members of several congregations in the city and their re-
sqactive minister+, with two members of the established
church • and from this committee a deputation was re-
quested wait upon the bishop to ascertain whether his
lordship had any power to prevent the recurrence of suck
au unwarrantable course of procedure on the part of Mr
Kenrick. This deputation proceeded to the palace, but the I
bishop being absent at the time the chairman of the com-
mittee addressed to his lordship the following letter
"My Lord Bishop,—At a meeting holden at the Dolphin
lan this morning, to coueider what steps it may be proper
to take in consequence of Mr. Keurick's refusal to read the
burial service at the funeral of the late Mr. Parson., of which
your lordship has been already apprised by Mr. Russell, it
was agreed that, before anything further was done in the
matter, a deputation should wait on your lordship to in-
quire whether you have power to adopt any measure by
which a recurrence of the late painful and illegal transac-
tion may be prevented. Your lordship's absence from
Chichester preventing the deputation having the desired
audience I have been requiuted, as chairman of the meeting,
to make this inquiry by letter; and as there is a very strong
feeling existing on the subject, I have, on behalf of those
who met this morning at the Dolphin, to beg your lordship
to favour me, if not inconvenient to you, with an immediate
reply.—l have the honour to lie, my lord bishop, yours
respectfully, J. FeLLAOAß.—Chichester, Feb. 4, 1851"
The bishop immediately forwarded this reply:
"43, Queen Anne-street, Feb. 5, 1851.—Dear Sir,—To
your inquiry I must answer in terms similar to them which
I have employed in replying to Mr. Russell, that I have no
canstraiming power over Mr. Kenrick whereby to ensure
that he shall nut repeat his refusal to use the burial eer-
vise, sa in the case of the late Mr. Parsons.—l remain,
dear sir, your faithful servant, A. I'. CICILSTA.—Mr. John
Other meetings of the committee have since taken place,
and the Town Council have taken up the question, in con-
junction with a second case, equally bad, if not worse,
and the details of which I now proceed to narrate.
A young woman named Jauc Rogers, the daughter of
pour but respectable parents, resident in the city (the
ather, lam told, worked in one place for forty years, a
sufficient proof of his industry and respectability), recently
drowned herself, mid her bo was found a few
days after Mr. Kenrick's refusal to bury Mr. Parsons.
it coroner's inquest was held on the body, and a
verdict of "Temporary insanity " was returned; indeed,
the melancholy fact of insanity being a family disease was
established, and a brother of the deceased young woman
committed suicide a few years ago. In defiance of the ver-
dict of the jury, however, this same immaculate Mr. Ken-
rick refused to bury this unfortunate girl. "No," he said,
" they might put her in the ground if they liked, but he
would nut read the funeral service over her ;" alleging as
his only reason for this additional outrage that she had put
an end to her own existence. The decomposed state of the'
remains required immediate interment, and they were so
"put into the ground" the same evening, without the
least ceremony, not even a rope being provided to lower
them into the grave.
These.eventa have excitod much sensation in the city of
Chichester; even Mr. Keariek's colleagues in the church
think he is wrong, and regret the course he has pursued.
The town council, as above mentioned, have taken up the
question, and instructed the town clerk to apply to Dr. Hay•
ford and Mr. Peacock, for their opinions as to whether any
and what steps can betaken in the matter. These opinions
are now in that functionary's hands, and are to be submitted
to a meeting of the council on Tuesday evening.
Mr. Kenrick has since called upon Mr. Thomas Clarke, a
magistrate of the city (of unitarian sentiments in religion),
sad placed in his hands a letter he has addressed to the dis-
senters, offering to purchase, at his owe expense, an acre
of ground its a place called " The Hornet," and to give it
he the dissenters u a burial-ground, as, he aye, other cases
may, perhaps, occur, and they will then be enabled to bury
their friends in their own way. His offer has nut yet been
either accepted or refused—all action hosing been suspended
until the legal opinions, and the council's decisiou thereon,
are known; and another meeting of the committee is to be
held during this or next week. This suspension of action
will accuuut fur the fact that these matters have scarcely
been made public outside the walls of the city, though they
have crested so profound a sensation within. It is worthy
of notice, as illustrative of the general condemnation of Mr.
Kenrick'ii conduct, that a majority of the town council are
churchmen.

TIIE FORTIFICATIONS IN MILFORD HAVEN.—The
new Martell° tower, situated at the western extremity of
the Royal Dockyard at Pembroke, has been finished and
given up to the government for mounting with guns and
occupation by, troops. The other is in a very forward suite,
and three enfilade the approaches to the dockyard, and are
in positions redecting credit on the officers of the engineer
department. The small fort on the Stack rock at the en-
trance of the haven, is progressing under the hands of the
contractors. It is in contemplation to erect another and
more powerful battery of heavy guns on Thorn Island,
commanding the southern entrance of the haven.
ELECTIONEERING MOVEYENTS.—The Cambridge
Chronicle states that a requisition is about to be presented
to Mr. G. F. Young to allow himself to be put in nomina-
tion fur Cambridgeshire, and predicts his success in con-
junction with Lord George Manners and Mr. Yorke. Mr.
S. Crawford having signified his intention of resigning
his connexion with the borough of Rochdale in the event
of a dissolution, Mr. Pets has been mentioned as his suc-
cessor.