The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-24 00:00:00

DESTRUCTION OP THE GREAT STEAMSHIP

INDIAN EMPIRE BY PIBB.

This (Thursday) morning, About 1 o'clock, the
whole of the metropolis was illuminated by the burning of
the fine steamship Indian Empire, the property of Messrs.
Poison, of Nicholas-lane, City, Lad Hull, classed A 1 at
Lloyd's,2oo feet long. For some time pest thermal hadlieen
undergoing repairs in the shipyard of Messrs. Liogler, of
the Lower Dockyard, or water-gate wharf, at Deptford, and
only on the previous day she was taken into the middle of
the river, and moored opposite Messrs. Mare's. About mid-
night some of the Thames policeofficers, whilst rowing their
galley along the Thames, overheard one of the men left in
charge of the ship tell some one to be sure
and call him at five o'clock in the morning. The
police then rowed along the stream, but before they had
reached Lime/Louse they saw unmistakeable signs of the
outbreak; and on rowing back again they found that the
lamp room, which was situated on the deck, was on fire.
Every attempt was at once made to extinguish the flames,
but not the least impression could be made upon them. Thou-
mends of tons weight of water were thrown by the engines into
the burning vessel, in spite of which the fire continued to
spread until it had detroyed the bulwarks, and the paddle-
wheels. After a lame of eight hours the flames began to
succumb, but the once noble vessel is almost destroyed.
The owners are believed to be insured at Lloyd's, bat for
what amount is unknown.

ANOTHER TERRIFIC EXPLOSION AT THE
BETHNAL•GREEN LUCIFER MATCH MANU-
FACTORY.--(THIS DAY.)-SEVERAL PERSONS
SHOCKINGLY INJURED.

This morning, shortly after 11 o'clock, another
terrific explosion took place at Messrs. Letchford's patent
match manufactory, whereby several men were shockingly
mutilated by a quantity of liquid phosphorus.
It seems that after the explosion yesterday morning
temporary sheds were erected by the side of the ruins, and
this morning, while three of the men were at work, a terrific
explosion took place in the debris, which was scattered in
every direction round the premises. The three men were
hurled a considerable distance, and were found bleeding
from lacerated wounds oo the arms, face and body. They
were at once placed in a van belonging to the firm, and
removed to the London Hospital, where they were found to
be in • sad state, being covered with phosphorus, which
was burning into their flesh.
_ _

Mr. Dyte7, the house surgeon, and his staff of assistants,
promptly removed the clothes from the injured men, who
were attended to and placed in separate beds.
The terror and alarm in the neighbourhood of the *wood
explosion in such a populous district may be snore easily
imagined than described, as there were such a number of
young persons of both sexes on the premises, whither the
parents rushed to uoertain if any of their offspring had been
injured. The fireeugines were quickly at work, but from
the amount of combustibles in the ruins, sometime must
elapse before all danger can be arrested.
At one o'clock thousands of persons had assembled round
the exterior of the premises.
A body of the K division, under the direction of Inspector
Griffin, were is attendance.

COMMERCIAL AND MARKETS.