The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-01 00:00:00

FALL OF A RAILWAY BRIDGE.

Yesterday a circumstance occurred about half-s-
-mile from Dorchester, which was near being attended with
a lamentable loss of life. At the spot referred to a railway
bridge has been recently constructed across the turnpike
road, over the Willa, Somerset, and Weymouth railway.
and has only within the last few days been open for traffic.
On Wednesday morning last the workmen were engaged
in completing the excavations beneath the bridge, when the
crown of the arch was observed to sink considerably, end
the process of underpinning was immediately adopted.
The situation of the bridge evidently demanded the utmost
caution, and the parapet wall was taken down to relieve the
structure of its superincumbent weight. In this state of
things the navvies were still engaged in excavating beneath
t►e defective arch, the traffic over it being again turned into
the temporary road formed during the construction of the
bridge, and the trucks laden with chalk from
the cutting continuing to run beneath it as before, when,
at a few minutes before eight o'clock yesterday morning,
one of the navvies, fancying he ►eard a cracking noise,
carried his eye attentively along the east side of the bridge,
sad observing it in the act of giving way, had just lime to
warn the workmen above and below the bridge of the im-
pending danger, when it fell in with a tremendous crash-
Most fortunately they all got out of the way In time, and
no one was injured. But for the timely warning, at least
twenty men must inevitabiy have lost their line. This is
the second time the bridge may be said to h►ve been built
up ; for, about six months ago, it had almost arrived at
completion, when it was, declared by a competent authority
that it would " never stand." It was therefore taken to
pieces and the foundations laid afresh—with what result is
now men.

CHARGE OF WILFULLY PROPAGATING
SMALLPON.
-..--

A serious case, under the New Vaccination Act,
kas just arisen in Devon-hire. A woman, living in the
village of Tedburn St, Mary, • few miles from Exeter,
wished ber children to have the small pox, and, according
to • custom which seems to have prevailed in the rural
districts, she determined that they should receive it by
contagion. Accordingly she sent her children, in the ears
of • nephew named William Peirosaul, to Crediton, that
they might get it from the servant of a respectable farmer,
who was ill of the disease. The farmer's wife took a

handkerchief which had been worn by the servant and
tied it round the childreas' necks. They soon after
wards caught the disease. The wife of the farmer, and the
mother of the children, were brought up before the magis-
trates of Crockernwell, sitting in petty sessions, and charged
with the offence. The forma, was committed to prison for
a week, but the latter escaped, it is believed, through the
perjury of the nephew, who was thereupon charged with
the offence. Oa Monday last he was brought up, but he
was so dangerously ill that the charge could not be gone
into. The chairman (Baldwin Fulford, Eeq.) told him that
the magistrates were unwilling to proceed against him in
the present state of his health, but Is wished it to be un-
derstood, that in all cases where persons were found to en-
danger the lives of their children, by exposing them to the
small pox in the way narrated above, the magistrates would
inflict the extreme penalty of the law. If death had ensued
to the children, the parties concerned weal,' have been tried
fee their lives.

StSPICIOTS CASE.—Conaiderablo sensation was
gaoled at Hampstead, on Tuesday afternoon, by the dis-
covery, in a field neer th,t suburb, of the body of Charles
Monckton, aged 28, a tailor, residing at 31, Henry-street,
Pentonville. The deceased was shut through the heart,
and it was at first suspected that he had been murdered,
but subsequent inquiry tended to remove all suspicion of
that nature. An inquest was held yesterdiy, when • gun-
smith deposed that he had sold • pistol with some powder
and balls to a man answering to the d• ceased; and some
powder and balls of a similar description were found upon
the body. The pistol, however, had not been discovered.
The jury returned an open verdict.

THE WAOBS MOVEMENT.

PRESTON, FiIIDAT.

To show that they are anxioag for on amicable
settlement of the u:•pute now pendiiier ba:wccn the em•
kboytra and Ike employed in thin town, the wearers' com•
mittee have addresaed a letter to the gentlemen xmsniered
to be at the head of the Masters' A.sociation, proposii.,
" That a deputation of employers meet a deputation of the
workpeople, fur the purpose of discussing and arranging
the ditferencss. Or if this be objectionable, that the
matter in dispute be referred to ■rbitratioo, each party to
appoint an equal tramber of experienced men unconnected
with the strike, and that R. T. Parker, Esq., M.P., be the
umpire." The letter concludes—" If this does not meat
your views, we reepecuully request you to make a proposal,
if you desire to come to an honourable arrangement—and,

if it be based on c gull, we pledge ourselves to accept it."
Last night, at a densely crowded meeting in the Tem-
perance Hall, It was Announced that no answer had been
received to Cie above communication. The chief speaker,
Mr. Geo. Cowell, informed the meeting that the erection
of a large manufactory in this town by the contributions of
factory workers had been resolved upon, and a committee
appointed to prepare u prospectus. Thy building fund
would be raised by 5L rh ars, and it was proposed to give
employment, in the first place, to those who lust their work
by tekieg an active part in this movement. To show the
success likely to attend this project, it way st.ited that in
Padillatu (nese Burnley), the operatives had erected •
weaving shed, where they employed 150 workpeople upon
aqo looms, and in the first half-year they had made a profit
of SOOL over and above wages.

STRIKE OF THE 11A1iLE1 MAIN COLLIERS.—The
' men employed at the eztenitve works of tit► Dailey Main
Colliery Company, to the ~umber of about 200, have struck
work far an advance of wages. They allege that since the
commencement of the present year the wholesale price of
coals from the pit mouth has advanced is. 3d. per ton,
whilst the operative colliers have only received an advance
of sue penny for a like quantity. Another grievance is,
namely, that since they received this advance, they have
been required to all a greater quantity of carves in the cor
ners, so much an that they contend that the advance is leas
than a fair equivalent for the extra labour thus required.

THE FIRE IN CH.4NDOS-STREET, STRAND.

The following is Mr. Braidwood's official report of
the damage caused by the fire on the premises of Meagre.
SaviU and Edwards, Chendos-street, Strand, of which par-
ticulars were give■ yesterday :—llessro. Sevi:l, printers—
machine rooms, printing offices, burnt out; cause and
insurance unknown. No. 5, J. Diller, dressing case
maker—slightly damaged by fire and water ; contents
insured in the Globe Fire-office. Nos. 2 and 3, Bed-
ford street, C. Coles, tavern keeper—contents insured in
the Globe, the building in the Westminster ; hack of
the building and ,kylights damaged by fire and water.
No. 4, ditto, J. Sandisou, carpenter—contents insured
in the County, and building in the Sun; contents
damaged by water and removal, back front burnt•
No. 3, ditto, Elizabeth Fivey, baker—cmtenta and
building Mound in the Sun, slightly damaged by water
and removal; back front and window burnt out. No. 4,
ditto, C. Davenport, Waxier—contents insured in the
Westminster, building in the Sun ; slight damage by re-
moval and fire. Ditto, second floor, A. Newton, lodger—
Contents insured in the Sun, damaged by fire and water•
No 5, J. Sanders, private—contents, not insured. Ditto,
third floor, Wm. Hall, lodger—contents insured in the
Westminster, slightly damaged by waver, tire, and re-
moval windows burnt out. No. 2, Harvey'.-buildings,
Strand, W. Ekims, bricklayer—contents insured in the
Sun; considerably damaged by fire. No. 3, ditto, Chas.
Martin, private—contents insured in the Sun; damaged
by fire, half roof burnt bff.

EXPLORATION OF NORTHE.RX AUSTRALIA.

The expedition to explore the northern part of
Australia, which we meutioned some time beck with strong
interest, is now placed beyond doubt ; the Treasury having
granted the sum peeled for the purpose. The grounds on
which the grant is made are, the recommendation of the
Duke of Newcastle, as Secretary of State for the Colonies,
and the expediency of affording facilities for the develop.
Event of the increasing trade in India, China, and Australia.
The enterprise has been stroeglybacked bythe representatives
of the Australian colonies in London, and by the Geographical
Society, to whose president, Sir Roderick Murehison, the
success of the representation to government must .se in •
great part ascribed. M. Ernest Haug, who has ateeeetteil in
obteiniud so extensive and effective a concurrence in his
enterprise, is said to be actively engaged is the necessary
preparations. He proposes to set out early in November
for Singapore, where he will complete the equipment of the
expedition, with • view of landing in Australia by the
opening of the dry season. The grand object is to render
the exploration as complete as possible ; but collateral
objects are kept is view, such as the experimental planting
of seed in suitable spots, and the introduction of live stock
into the north, with the importation, more especially, of
one animal long desired in Australia—the camel. Few en-
terprises have mane such rapid progress in their earlier
stages; the success with the Treasury is not likely to
diminish the public interest—the public always sympathise
so keenly with success ; and hence we may expect that the
offers of disinterested assistance, which have already been
tender. d to M. Hang, will not cease now that his enter-
prise has received sych high sanction.

A NEIV ANIMAL AT THE ZOOLOGICAL GAR-
DENS, REGENT'S-PARK.

The last addition to the collection of the Zoologi-
sal Society always appears to be the most remarkable, and
the great success which their establishment bas achieved
during the present season evinces in the most evident
manner how thoroughly the public appreciate every new
effort to increase the paean*r attractions of the place.
Everyone remembers the/swore which the hippopotamus
created, the most historically renowned of pachyderms,
whose glory is now vainly mulled by a second Richmond,
who has taken the zoological field at Paris, although the
pabeesosehes there assert that our hippo is nothing but a
delusion and dream, and that the infant who disports
himself in the Jerdin des Plante is the only true, original,
and real hippopotamus ever seen in Europe sines the Roman
Empire. About a million and a quarter of visitors to the
Zoological Society's °Arden can deny that Innocent belief
of the Parisian gobemossehes, and a very great number of
the meet distinguished Parisians are among that million
and a quarter. The hippopotamus was, and is, a marvel of
the first water; but a far more singular and more striking
animal has now been obtained by the society in the Cheat
American Ant eater (31yrntecophoga jubota) which was
yesterday exhibited in the gardens for the fint time. This
excessively interesting and curious creature belongs to that
almost extinct order of Ilderaata, or toothless ani-
mals, which in Palm ,soio times were the dominant and
characteristic feature in the zoology of the tropical Ameri-
' man (*rests, and of which the sloth and the armadilloare now
the most familiar representatives. Differing from these in
almost every extents' respect, the ant-eater is of very con-
sidereal' size, and measures nearly five feet in length. The
head is extremely lengthened in form; the mouth is so
small as scarcely to be observable ; and, being altogether
destitute of teeth, is furnished with an enormously flexible
tongue, whieb, in place of any other means of capture, be.
comes a most efficient engine for providing a sufficient sup-
ply of food for the great carcase which is thus so
mysteriously sustained. The food of the ant-eater is
said to be ants, and his feet are fortified with talons
scarcely inferior to the sloth's, with which he scratches'
out the inhabitants of the ant-hills. Theis talons fold
under the soles of the feet as the animal walks, and thus
give a remarkably truncate appearance to the forelegs.
When at rest, the whole body and head are concealed by
the long pendent hair of the toil, which is then doubled
forwards so as to form a covering almost, or perhaps en-
tirely, impervious to the weather. Nothing in the society's
lathe collection is more astonishing than the apparition
which ls itself to the spectator when this recumbent
shapeless mass is awakened, and first the snipe-like head
protrudes itself, then the long tail returns to its natural
poeitioa, and at last the grizzled body conspicuously banded
with velvet black, is reared upon its firm and pillar-like legs.
The ant-eater possesses considerable freedom of metior,
and appears to be particularly docile and willing to exhibit
We very matked peculiarities of structure and habit. which
will render him, in all probability, the most attractive point
in the gardens while he remains in them. It is much to be
regretted, considering the great difficulty of preserving
South American animals in health during the vicissitudes
of a European winter, that this really valuable addition had
apt arrived at an earlier period of the season. As it is, no
ens can estimate how long it may live.

FIGHTING BY TEL EGRAPH.—The Vienna Lloyd des-
cribes three omnibus-looking vehicles in the camp at Olmutz,
each or which contains a complete electric telegraph appa-
ratus, with a contrivance for laying an insulated wire along
the ground by the mere locomotion of the vehicle ; the wire
being so protected that it remains uninjured under the
pressure of the heaviest artillery passing over it. By this
means orders are to be instantaneously conveyed Irom the
Emperor's station and that of the chief commandeea to troops
at almost any distance on the field of the manceuvres.
THE GOVE.RNORBIIIE OF CUBA.—This important
appointment, the lucrative capabilities of which have been
lately so signally demonstrated, has been bestowed on
General Juan de la Pelmet' by the Spanish government.
General Paria has also been named Captain• General of the
Phillippine Islands.

SHREWSBURY AND BIeiIINGHA.II RAIL IVA Y.

The fifteenth half-yearly geneval meeting of the
shareholders of this company was held at the L osilon
Tim en, Bishopegate, jr-steriLiy.
The SECURTAILT read ths report, of which the fallowing is
an ether ict:—" The directors t. mgt ttulete the shareholders
on Vie result of the recent adjourned .ipecial meeting. The
deed for carrying out the arrangement has been prepared
by counsel, and sealed by the Great Western and the two
Shrewsbury companies. The directors content themselves
with remarking as to the late proceedings in Chancery
against the directors, that the directors whose names were
mentioned in that suit, were, and are anxious to enter into
full explanations whenever it may be necessary to do so.
The half-yearly accounts chow the following results :
Capital—The p syments during the last half-year ending
30th June, 1853, including 8,9:41. mod on account of the
Madeley Branch, amount to 28,6581. 16p. 7d., making a
total expenditure of 1,223,8481. 14s. 64 exclusive of the
sum contributed to the Stour Valley Railway, which is
represented by the London and Novh Western guaranteed
stock, and of 2,1671. 10s., the deposit upon 1,267 London
and North Western eighth shares, being the proportion of
the recent issue of new stock by that company, to which,
I in virtue of its Stour Valley etude, this company was en-
titled. The further expenditure of capital will be confined
to the completion of the Medeley branch, and the works at
the Victoria basin ; to the third share which this company
has in the Wolverhampton Level station ; and to the pay-
ment of legal and parliamentary expenses incurred up to
the present time.
RevEtette.—The traffic returns as compared with the
corresponding period of the year 18.52 are as follow.:
Half year cation; June 30, 1853: Paaaengers. 9,7251. 191. ;
goods. 10.0301. 135.; total, 19.7561 Os. Increase: Passen-
gers, 9971. les. 9.1. ; goods, 671.165. 64. ; total, 1,06.51. lls. 3d.
Ibis must inadequate return for the very large traffic con-
veyed is the unavoi 'able result of the continued competition
of tile London and North Western Company, which the di-
rectors had hoped the interests of all parties would have
put an end to before this time, by the adoption of equal
and remunerative rates and fares between all points to
which the companies carry ; but the endeavours of the di-
rectors to effect this object have been hitherto unsuccessful.
The result shows a deficiency in the revenue account,
which, with the interest on the debentures, will consider-
ably reduce the balance carried over from the previous half-
year; and the directors, under the circumstances, recom-
mend the postponement of the second payment of 21 per
cent on account of the arrears due to the holders of London
and North Western guaranteed stock, which was authurised
by the last half yearly general meeting. They also regret that
the preference shares are not enti'led to any dividend fur the
past halt-year. Your directors consider that the future ex-
penditure of the company should be, as far as practicable,
with the concurrence of the Great Western Company. The
appeal in the suit in equity against the London and North
Weetern and Shropshire Union Companies was heard and
determined, during the last half-year, by the Lords Jus-
tices, who dismissed the appeal of the company, but with-
out costs, upon an objection raised by the London and
North Western Company, that the agreement could
not he enforced in corsequence of that company
having, in entering Into it, exceeded ice powers.
The obstructions to the traffic of this company over the
Stour Valley line still c mtinue, but the traffic of the com-
pany will not be much longer inconvenienced by these ob-
structions, us the works on the Birmingham, Wolverhamp-
ton, and Dudley Railway are rapidly proceeding to comple-
tion, and also upon the branch to connect the railway with
the low level station at Wolverhamptun, by which means
another direct through communication to Birmingham and
London, from Shropshire and Wales, independent of the
London and North Western, will be opened. The working
of the contract with Mews. Johnson and Kinder having
continued, as mentioned in the last report, irregular and
unsatisfactory, it was found necessary to put an end to it,
and the possession of the stork was resumed on the Btli day
of April I tat, and placed under the charge of the honour-
able Mr. Petre, by whom it has since been conducted, and
whose report is appended hereto. Proceedings in equity
by the contractors to prevent the contract being put an end
to were unsuccessfully taken against this company. They
have since commenced an action at law for damages, which
has been referred to arbitration, as well as an action com-
menced by this company sgaicst the contractors for nonful-
fitment of the covenants to repair the rolling stock and work
the line."

The CHAIRMAN, in moving that the report be received,
and thet it and the statement of accounts annexed be
adopted, said it would be the last time that this duty would
devolve upon him. In retiring from his present position,
he had gratification in reeling that there was now a pro-
spect of harmony and of good feeling amongst them. They
had long been in a state of litigation; but he trusted that
that would cease, and that they would have peace firmly
established among them. In consequence of what occurred
at the last half-yearly meeting a correspondence was en-
tered into with the London and North Western Company in
reference to equal rates. That correspondence had been
published, and therefore he would not go into the details.
lie would not conceal the disappointment he felt at the re-
suit of that correspondence. It was a total failure. The
directors could not do otherwise than obtain the concur-
rence of the Great Western Company. The London and
North Western declined to treat with them conjointly, and
this company could not t separstely. In a letter which
he received after the correspondence hod been published,
' there was a panne to the effect that the relations between
the Great Weetern and the Shrewsbury and Birmingham
were maintained in defiance of the shareholders, and on
that ground the London and North Western did not feel
justified in catering Into arrangements with them. That
objection was now removed. His had alluded to the evil
of competition. It was • sad thing that a company
carrying 216,355 passengers, and goods to the amount
of 1t9,614 tons in half • year, should not take sufficient
money to pay its expenses. From a paper he held in his
hand relative to the Shropshire Union Canal and Railway,
he found that that company had to call upon the Loudon
and North Western for 17,9591. Os. 7d. for the hair year.
He lamented that the immeuse traffic which that great
company must necessarily have was so unremunerative.
He would make one remark in reference to their operations
in parliament respecting the Coalbrook Dale line. That
Hee had been neglected by the Shropshire Union, and this
company took it up, as it was within their district.
It was a most important line to them. Happily
this company had got it, and it would be a most
useful line to them. The agreement with the Great
Western had been examined by most eminent counsel, and
he was happy to say that the seals of the three companies
had been placed to it, and that it would be placed before
this meeting for its approbation. He would now allude to
another subject which had given him great pain—the Chan-
cery suit which had been commenced against him and the
other directors. H. was willing and ready, and he belie,, d
his brother directors Were so also, to answer any charges
that might be brought against them ' • but as that was aban-
doned, he would not allude to the subject further. He com-
plained, however, of the charges being distributed through
the whole country, without their waiting • few days for the
answer, which was not an English mode of proceeding.
They had, no doubt, read Mr. Cardwell's report. For him-
self, he considered • railway a public highway, and that
everybody had a right to use it under proper re-
gulations, and he hoped to use that report carried
out. In reference to their directjoe, he had passed
many hours of harassing labour. It was impossible not to
feel the attack that had been made upon him, but be had
endeavoured to bear them patiently, and be now called
upon them to do jostle' to him if they thought him de-
serving of it. They had established a policy which it had
been his anxiety to bring about ever since parliament
thought fit to introduce the broad gauge from London to
Birmingham. He had conceived it to be fur the good of
I the country that there should be two lines of oommunica-
a with London and Manchester, and the other great
towns of the north. There was no negotiation pending to
cause him to regret resigning his present position. He
hoped that they would now put aside all differences, and
whether in parliament or out, he should ever do what he
could to promote their interests.
Mr. Malan seconded the motion, which wee tarried
unanimously.
Messrs. Dimmoek, 8. H. Blackwell, of Dudley; James
Culverwell, of Bristol ; Alderman Kelly, of Paternoster- I
row ; and John George, of SoutliFate,Middlesex, were then
elected directors in place of the director, who retired.
Mr. Ggoaon said they had elected him a director to
carryout the agreement with the Great Western, and he
thought it was due to Mr. Clive that he should be re-
gamed to retain Isis present position. He moved that the
board be requested to elect Mr. Clive to the direction on
the occurrence of • vacancy, and said he had no doubt
some one of the directors would make room for him by re-
signing.

Mr. SiLvcsurrosn seconded, and Mr. Monau sup-
ported the motion, which was unanimously passed.
Mr. JOSIAH WILEY. of Wolverhampton, was appointed
an auditor in the room of Mr. Fellowes, who retired.
The meeting then resolved itself into a special meeting,
to consider the agreement entered into with the Great
Western Company.
Mr. W. G. Box read the agreement, the particulars of
which have been before stated, the agreement being to the
effect that the two companies amalgamate, the Great
Western guaranteeing 31 per cent. on the capital of the
Shrewsbury and Birmingham, and half of any profits that
may be made beyond.
The CHAIRMAN moved that the agreement be approved,
and that the directors be empowered to carry it into effect,
and, after a short discussion, the resolution was agreed to
unanimously.
A vote of thanks was then passed to
.the chairman, and
the meeting separated.

EXTRAORDINARY CAPTURE OF A WHALE 11.11
WWI? zuszh.—On Tuesday morning last sit labourers, I
whilst employed by Hr. Henry Bean, of West Mertes,
fermi r, near a creek of the Blackwater, on the west side of
the Strood, discovered to their amazement a fish of' huge
dimensions, and which from the pictures they had seen they
came to the conclusion was "very like a whale." They
procured a boat, and armed with scythes, hatchets, and
other formidable weapons, commenced the attack. The I
Leviathan monster made desperate efforts to escape with I
the tide, and managed to move several rods, but one of the
amateur whalers succeeded in thrusting the whole lenouß of
his scythe into its side, and caused a death wound. Ropes
were then attached to its tail, and when the tide arose the
men with their boat towed their prizo about a mile to
Horses Hard, where they erected an awning, and resped a
rich harvest from visitors at 6.1. per head. The fish is the
species termed the fin whale, is 27 feetlong, and weighs about
five tons. It is calculated that it will yield 100 gallons of
oil, worth 4s. per gallon. Hundreds from Colchester and
the neighbourhood have Inspected the monster.—Chelnu-
ford Chmick.