The Express.
London, England, 1847-07-19 00:00:00

THE GUN COTTON EXPLOSION.

The explosion of a gun cotton mill at Faversham
has proved even more disastrous than was at first stated.
So loud was the explosion that the noise was heard
within two miles of Maidstone, a distance et seventeen miles.
The sound resembled thunder heard at a great distance.
The houses within a circumference of a mile were ail more
or lees affected, as if by the shock of an earthquake. As the
day was beautifully clear large volumes of smoke which fol-
lowed the explosion were seen at a distance of several miles.
One gentleman travelling on the Dover-road perceived the
smoke upwards of 10 miles from Faversham. Mr. Topping, I
the superintendent ofthe works, who had entered the premises
only a few seconds before, and who is one of the victims,
was a practical chemist, of considerable ability, from London.
The escape of Faversham from injury is surprising. Within
a distance of thirty yard. of the spot where the explosion
occurred,there are premises containing no fewer than 136
barrels of gunpowder. These premises were saved by means
of high mounds of earth which separated them from the mill
in which the explosion tack place. One of these enormous
mounds is said to have been moved from its place by the'
terriole force of the explosion. One boy escaped with his
life under very extraordinary circumstance.. He was dug
out of the ruins after being buried in them upwards of two!
hours. He lay between two other boys, both of whom were
quite deed. A large piece of timber prevented the ruinous
mass from pressing on him, se it had done on the others,
with fatal effect. The entire number of persons who
have suffered is supposed to be thirty-feur ; of these, twenty
have already died. Their funeral, or rather the interment of
the fragments of their bodies that remained, took place on
Saturday, on which occasion the town presented a scene of
distress difficult to describe. Of the 21 dead, the remains of
10 only have been identified, owing to the dreadfully man-
gled state of their bodice. Of the 16 still living. several are
not expected to recover. Awfully destructive of human life
as the occident has been, it might, and but for a providential
circumstance would, have proved more so. It fortunately
happened that a considerable number of thee usually em-
ployed in the works were at the time the catastrophe oc-
curred engaged is has making. The immediate cause of the
accident still remains, and most probably ever will remain,
a mystery.
At the coroner's inquest, held on Friday last, on the
bodies of the sufferers nothing that could be relied
on as to the cause of the catastrophe was elicited.
Four witnesses were examined, among them Mr.
Hall, one of the proprieto:s of the works, but neither
of them could give evidence throwing any light on the cause
of the mischief —Mr. Hall stated that the house in Faver-
sham was connected with the German inventor of the gun
cotton, and that they bad been manufacturing the article on
a much larger scale than had ever been before thought of in
this country. Mr. H. Day said : I reside in the Ospnnge-road
in the parish of Faversham, and am superintendent of the
gun cotton manufactory, at the Marsh works. I have been
five weeks in Messrs. Hall's employ, and came down here
expressly to superintend these works, with the management
of which I am acquainted. Mr. Henry Topping was the
resident engineer and chief superintendent. On Wednesday
morning let I was in the stove, a drying room, with Mr.
flail
during the working hours. I went in at six o'clock,
and remained till breakfast time, at eight o'clock. I was
away about half an hour and then returned, and remained
in the works and about the buildings until within a minute
of the accident oocurring. I wanted to see Mr. William
Hall, and went to find ham, and met him within a half-
minute's walk of the buildings. I had only exchanged two
or three words with him, when I felt a concussion of the
air, which appeared to etrke me in the bask. I instantly
found myself covered with dust and heard an explosion im-
mediately afterwards. It did not appear to me very loud ;
it was more of a rumbling noise than an explosion. The
materials of the buildings flew about in all directions after
the explosion. As soon as I considered it safe to move I
ran after Mr. Hall, who had left me, and we then returned
together to the stoves. I found the premiss' in ruins. All
the labourers who could be procured were immediately set
to work to get out the work-people buried in No. 3, and in
rendering assistance generally. Several of the bodies were
taken up alive, and carried away. It was part of my duty
to see that the orders of Mr. Topping and Mews. Hall were
carried into effect. To the best of my knowledge they always
were so. The factory was conducted in such a way, that I
always considered myself, as well as the persons employed
therein, perfectly safe. Mr. William Hall had ordered 'the
stoves to be kept at a certain degree of heat, No. 3 never to
he more than 120, and No. 4, 110. To the best of my
knowledge these orders were always adhered to. I consider
that degree of heat perfectly safe, and that a much higher
degree of heat might be used without danger. I cannot
account in any way for the explosion. There appeared to
be two explosions, or rather a continuation of one ; the two
were so close I could hardly distinguish them separately.
After the accident Mr. Hall, individually and by giving
directions, used every exertion to relieve the sufferers and
get them from the ruins. Every precaution was always
taken for the safety of the work-people while employed in
the factories, even though it was considered there was no
danger beyond that ordinarily attending the manufacture of
gunpowder.—Coroner: Did you hear Mr. Topping say,
on Saturday last, that if the prevailing hot weather
continued he feared some accident would happen ?
nese I did not hear him say anything of the kind.—
Examination continued: Robert Cheesman was fireman,
and had charge of the fire during the hour pree.ding
the explosion. He is seriously injured, and unable to at-
tend here to-day. I examined the state of the thenno.
meter about ten minutes previous to the explosion. The
, one in No. 4 marked 108 degree', and the other, in No. 3,
ranged between 119 and 120 degrees. Even in the event
of a larger fire having been made up, the heat could not
have increased to so great a degree in the interval as to
have caused an explosion. The thermometers were always
regulated by the heat of the fires, and not by the state
of the atmosphere. The coroner, llinde, finding that
neither of the witnesses could give any evidence immediately
bearing on the GUM of the catastrophe, adjourned the M-
I quest for a month, in the hope that some of the fourteen still
surviving sufferers may be so far recovered as to be able to'
I lay before the jury more definite information regarding the
circumstances under which the catastrophe took place.
The following has been given as a correct list of the de.
ceased parties whose remains have been identified : H. Top-
ping, J. Tilley, J. Hammond, A. Wyles, J. Petty, R.
Rnowler, E. Irish, Mercy Clark, Sarah Hinds, G. Ransom.
I The following are also known to have been at work in
I No. 4 stove when the explosion took place, and are,
' therefore, returned as dead, though only fragments of the
bodies of say of thesehave been discovered: J. Redman, Mary
Cheeseman, Anne Stringe,
H. Irish, Cath. Hall, J. Coppin,
J. Rose, G. Marmouch, H. Bourn, W. Coppin, 11. Amos.
The following have been more or lees seriously injured by
the explosion, and are now lying under medical treatment in
Faversham and the neighbourhood: It. Cheesman, T. Smith,
W. Smith, 0. Wraight, J. Vidion, J. Kempen% J. Chain.
ben, J. let'Kewen, H. Alliott, T. Stringer, ii. Spark's, R.
Cullen, J. Denne, W. Rogers, T. Woolley, Mary M'Kewen.
In addition to the numerous deaths caused by
the explosion, another death took place under very
young man who had been
eiTuplioiyaredeiinretuhaue neighbourhood having . gone to. assist is
Inciting the sufferers, and digging the <lend out o the
mass of ruins, suddenly felt himself takes ill is consequence
of the inhalation of the noxious atmosphere caused by the
explosion. He went and represented to a medical gentleman

in Faversham bow ill he felt, and the medical gentleman
told him to walk about for an hour or two in the open sir,
adding that if be did not feel better then, he must call on
him and he would prescribe some medicine for him. In the
001151111 of three hours the unfortunate man died. An inquest
was held on the body, when the medical gentleman referred
to gave it u his decided opinion that he had died from the
effects of inhaling the noxious air. The jury returned a
verdict accordingly.

TLIE PURITY OF TUB PUBLIC PRESS.—Whatever
affects the purity and independence of the public press
ought to be regarded by the public as affecting their vital
interest.. And yet sometimes events occur, involving the
character and position of the public press, which, from some
cease, either attract but little attention, or at e forgotten im-
mediately after they have taken place. Thus with a recent
trial in one of our judicial courts, in which the proprietors
of the Daily News were the defendants, and • gentleman
vmerly sub-editor of that journal was the plaintiff. We
regard that trial as one of vital interest to the general public,
and we cannot but express our surprise that the daily press
has not given, for the sake of the principle involved in it,
earnest and prominent attention to the case. • • • The case
has been decided against them. A British jury has awarded
damages amountin4 to 5001. to the gentleman aforesaid;
and thus they have given it as their opinion that
he was unjust:y and illegally dismissed. With all
possible respect fur the jury—with • full belief that
they acted conscientiously—we cannot but think that their
decision was erroneous, and that its tendency, in relation to
the public press, is extremely dangerous, If they protect
individuals capable of turning the periodical press into an
instrument of personal and social injustice we tremble fur
the consequences ; and with every disposition to maintain
the rights of gentlemen of the press, we cannot but think,
that in this case in which the jury has adjudicated there was
a very obvious tampering with the integrity of this important
"estate' of the realm. • • • Chief Janice Wilde, in
summing up the case, and committing it to the jury, laid
down the principle clearly, and, as we think, justly, involved
in all agreements between parties. He stated, in substance,
that in all such cases fidelity was requires' io both the con-
tracting parties, and that the manifest want of this in one
would exonerate the other from obligation. This, we think,
is sound doctrine ; and to its wide promulgation we attach
much of importance—especially where, as in this case,
the independence of the press is concerned. • •
• When men enter into agreements, they are under-
stood to mean tkat the obligations are reciprocal—that the
duties are equally binding on the contracting parties ; and,
of count, when one of the partite fails to fulfil his part of the
agreement, the other party is freed from his obligation. The
failure of the first is a fair question for a British jury ; and
with each a tribunal it may be eddy left. In saying this we
are aware that the decisions of a jury are not infallible ; and
we have seldom met • morn striking evidence of this than
the case which has elicited these remarks. We think the
proprietors of our contemporary were perfectly justified--
with the evidence they then had—in dismissing the it sub-
editor ; and we would express our thanks, on behalf of a
free, independeet, and not venal, press, for their zeal to
maintain the rights of the public by their practical protest
against an unworthy effort to tamper with their journal.—
The Ursicerse.

SIR GEORGE POLLOCK AND THE SENIOR UNITED
Seavice. Crxn.—A deputation, consisting of Lieut.-ocount
Wm. Cleiland, Major-Gee. Sir 1). Hill, and Major-Gen. 11.
Rainey, H.H. waited on Sir George Pollock en Tuesday last,
to coimatulate him on his honorary election to the Senior
United Service Club, taking with them a letter from the
chairman, Admiral Bowles., and a copy of the following rem,.
hition:—" At an extraordinary meetiag of the United Service
Club, held (in pursuance of a requisition to the committee,
signed by 130 of itn members), this 13th day of July, 1847, it
was resolved unanimously, That Major-General Sir George
Pollock, G.C.B. of the Honourable East India Company's
service, be invitc;l to become an honorary member of the
club until the period of his ballot shall take place.'' To
which Sir George Pollock replied as follows :—" Sir,-1
have had the honour to recineve your letter, enclosing a
copy of the unanimous resolution of the members of the
United Service Club, passed this day at an extraordinary
general meeting, appointing me an honorary member
of the club. Suck a mark of distinction is very rare, and
cannot hut be highly appreciated by any individual, but
in my cane there are circumstances attending the nomi-
nation which are peculiar, and, if possible, enhance
the honour which has been conferred on me. I may
instance n.y hissing arrived in England in a very hal state
of health; consequently unable, pinonally, to return
the many courtesies and attentions I bane received. I am
almost a stranger in my native land, and comparatively
unknown. Thus situate, I brit you will do me the favair to
assure the mentbrrs of the club that I am unable adequately
to express how deeply sensible I am of the distinction con-
ferred on me by being nominated an honorary membr r of a
club which ranks among its members the most distinguished
officers of the army and navy in this or any other age.-1
have the honour to be, sir, your faithful servant, GEOROE
Pottocx.-39, Bruton-street, July 13, 1347.

HORTICULTURAL FETE AT CIiISWICK.—The unpro-
pitious state of the weather on Saturday morning doubtless I
kept away numbers of persons who would otherwise hate
availed themselves of the attractions of the last of these
pleasant exhibitions for this year. The apprehension were not
however realised, and the day passed off without any of those
discomforts attendant upon dripping plumes and watery
white muslin, which are bad enough rn themselves, without
mentioning the uuamiable feelings to which they give rise.
The grounds of the Duke of Devonshire were, as is usual on
the last fCte of the year, thrown open to the visitors, and
contributed not a little to their enjoyment, albeit the cir-
cumstance tended in appearance still more to diminish the
scanty numbers of those present. The show of flowers, on
the whole, was perhaps of average merit,—many of the spec'.
wens being unusually fine, whilst others were indifferent.
The brat specimens were to be found amongst the ',dwells-
neous collections. trait was exceedingly fine. The bands
of the let Lite Guards, the Royal Rome Guards (Blue), and
the Grenadiers were in attendance in various part. of the
grounds. The prizes awarded by the judges were as follow
Cum L Flowase; kg which nurserymen and private growers
exhibit independently of each other:—For Pdarsoniunostes
were awarded to Mews Robinson, Dobson, Catleugh, fits
Reece, in pots, to Messrs. Terry, Slowe, Francis, Lane, Paul.—
Cape Heaths Memos. May, Veitch, Ferbairn, Epps, Ayres, Green,
Bruce, Donald, Jack, Pamplin, Fraser, Fawley, Slows,, Malyon,
Woods, Frorbaln.—Calosokrias: Mr. Bennett, gardener to J. Smith,
Esq., of Dulwich. —Carnitions: Messrs. Edwards, Ellis, Ward,
Norman, Turner, Keynes.—Piasters: Messrs. Edmonds, Edwards,
Ellis, Norman, Turner, Keynes—Single specimens : Messrs. Wood,
Carson, Green, Jack, Witch, Fraser.
CLAM 11. FLOWER+. ; for which all persons are admitted to equal
competition:—Stove or Greenhouse Plants Messrs. Fraser, Donald,
Asee,Green, Malyoo, Bruce, Catleugh, Taylor, Carson, Stanley.—
Collections of Evergreens: Mr. Gregory.—Exotic Orchid.: Mews.
Donald, Mylam, Kdiirsone, Williame, Carson, Redding, Plant, Dob-
son, Eyles, Jack.—Pelargoniums: Mr. Stantey.—Achimenes : Maas.
Wiltshire, Knott.—Distinct varieties of tall Cacti in flower Mr.
Green.--Roses: Meiwrs Lase, Paul, Francis, Cobbett, Terry, Rowe.
—Btatloeis: Mows. Glendinuiug, Catleugh.—Elardy Ferns : Mr.
Taylor.—New or extremely rare ornamental plants in flows r: Meters.
Veitch and Soa.—Miscellineou. subjects : Mears. William., Donald,
Reynolds—Seetiling Florists' Flowers: Messrs. Beek, Turner, Fair-
brother.
_ .

—Ca; 111. Pare r ; for which market gardeners, fruiterer., and
private growers exhibit independently of each other. Grapes
Mears. Barnes, Kamp, Taylor, llmpleby, Frost, Tllyard, Kemp,
Wright, Soloman, Mitchell, Chapman. Queen and Birk Jamaica
Pine Apple.: Monica. Gibbs, Elphintone, Reid, Ogle, Moan. Pro-
vidence and other Pine Apples : Mears. Turnbull and Davis. Peaches
or Nectarine.: Mears. Errington, Thompson, know, Wright, Parker,
Mason, Turnbull, and M'Laurin. Other kinds of fruit: Messrs. In-
gram, Whiting, Lidyard, Foster, Balls, klowe, Cornwall, Deane,
Mason, Snow, and Kemp.

CULTIVATION OF COTTON IN INDIA.—A most im-
portant conference on a question so vital to the interests of
Manchester, the increased cultivation of cotton in India, and
the production of an article of greatly improved quality, took
place on Wednesday, at the rooms of the Commercial Asso-
ciation. The board of directors and such members of the
association as are more immediately interested in the matter,
were assembled to meet Dr. Royle, the chief botanist of the
Honourable East India Company, Mr. Mercer, superintend-
ent of the honourable company's cotton factory at Dharwar,
and Mr. Blount, the honourable company's superintendent
at Khandeish. Mr. J. A. Turner, the president of the Com-
mercial Association, having in the coerce of the transactions
intended to promote an increased production of Indian cotton,
learnt that Mr. Mercerand Mr Blount were returning home on
leave of absence, arranged that on their arrival an interview
should he had with them, in order that information might
be obtained front men of their practical knowledge respect-
ing the object he had so long and so arduously laboured for.
Mr. Turner, as president, took the choir. Mr. Mercer stated
that hitherto no adequate encouragement has been held out
for the exportation of a better class of cotton; and hence
nearly ell the best produce of the indigenous plant of the
country is consumed ky the natives, who, being on the spot,
have the choice of what is offered fee sale, and are willing to
give a rather higher price than the dealers who purchase for
export, and who are most anxious to obtain the article
at a low price. The natives use cotton to an extent
of which no accurate estimate has yet been formed,
and it only requires better prices to ha given on
the spot where it is grown, by the British merchant or his
agent, to enable him to command almost unlimited supplies
of the better article. In an experimental parcel, ordered by
Mr. Turner, the cost at Dharwar was 10 arenas per maund,
while the ordinary class of cotton shipped to England from
India was then selling at eight anises ; the difference (two
alines, or about Id. per lb.) having enabled Mr. Turner to
command cotton worth Id. to lid. per lb. more than the
great mass of that which was purchased by the dealers for
exportation. Mr. Mercer is of opinion that it is indispentible
to the success of this trade, that local buying agents, of
known character, and with sufficient means, should be With
tithed, say at Dharwar, Khandeish, and Guxerat ; that they
should be at liberty to conduct their negotiations with the
native cultivators with as much freedom as possible ,• and that
they must have a knowledge of the language, and be in a
position to commend the confidence of those with whom
they have dealings. The result of Mr. Turner's experiment
is most valuable. The cotton purchased for him by Mr.
Mercer cost him, delivered in Liverpool last week, exactly
31d. per pound ; and it was valued at Git. to 61d. per lb. at
the meeting of the association on Wednesday. In this
transaction, Mr. Mercer charged no buying commission,
which is the only additional charge necessary to be calculated
upon in future transactions. Independent of this extraor-
dinary difference between cost and value, we would direct
attention to the results obtained on the carding and spinning
of the cotton, as compared with a given weight of a similar
quality of American Orleans cotton; the result being a
saving of about two per cent. in its ultimate production of
yarn, in favour of the Indian cotton from Orleans seed.—
Jlianrhester Guardian and Examiner.

Two HOUSES YELL DOWN IN ENDELL-STREET
on Saturd►y, fortunately without less of life. A house fell
in this street some months sinee, and the condition of many
of the buildings being such as to render such warnings un-
neceseary•, it toys litchi for the care of the authorities that
houses should be left till they fall about the heals of the
inhabitants.