The Express.
London, England, 1849-10-17 00:00:00

Le*. with parish receptacles for the dead, in which local
istausetseXid be paramount, les protested most stroagly
spinet • multiplication of generators of disease. (Hear
hear.) It we. a monstrous anomaly that a nation which had
pledged sad involved itself in au outlay of many millions
sterling upon railway speculations should hesitate to a. cure
enelefest and capacious resting-places for its dead.
Mr. SHAND wished to state tirst the observations he
made at the previous meeting alluded to St. °laves, St.
' John's, and the old ground, and not to St. Saviour's, S.uth-
wark. In the old ground, containing half an acre, 4,500
bodies were buried from 1632 to the present date. A grave-
digger belonging to that ground begged or • fellow grave-
digger to bury him whenever he died under the pavement,
as then hie body would be protected from disturbance. The
Board of Health had that day ordered the closing of those
burial places. (Hear, hear.) Near the Greenwich Railway
there was another horrible burial place of about half en acre
surrounded by 180 or 150 house, hanging over it. The dead
were not only buried in the ground but, as he was informed,
under the very houses. So great was the stench from the
bodies that the inhabitants of the tenses could hot eat their
1 food, and were compelled to keep their windows open. Under
Dockhead itman Catholic Crutch bodies were buried and
emitted a most offensive stench. When he consid-red the
horrible state of the metropolitan graveyards his surprise
was that they bad not • greater mortality. (Hear.)
Mr. MARSHALL mil that si, es he mace his statement
respecting the condition of St Giles's churchyard, and its
effects noon the health of the inhabitants, he made • further
inquiry, and examined the registrar's returns f e the north
district, which comprised the streets round the church, from
which its found that, from the 4th of September, 1848, to the
4th of S ptember, 1849, in the district there were 359 deaths,
and he turiber found that in New Compton-street, contain-
log 76 houses, there had been 36 deaths; in Stacey-street, con.
taining 20 boom, then had been 17 deaths; in Load-court,
containing 6 houses. there had been 8 deaths; in Dudley.
street, containing 80 houses, there had beau 48 deaths; in
the two Deumark.streas, containing 33 houses, there had
bear 16 deaths ; in High-street, containing 54 house., there
had been 16 deaths; and in Broad.streer, containing 8 houses,
there had been 14 deaths; while in one house, No. 22, a pork
butcher's, 5 persons, being all the inmate., died of enders.
After some further observations by other gentlemen, the
meeting adjuarned at • lift bow.

THE LATE FIRE-WORKS EXPLOSION AT
13ERMONDSEY.-INQUEST.

A portion of the following appeared in yesterday's
Empress.
At one o'clock yesterday Mr. W. Csr.er bald an
inquest at the King John's Head, Abbey-street, Der
mundeay, upon the bodies of George Barlow, aged
forty-six, William Darling, aged twenty, James
aged 4, and Thomu Bailing, aged 18 months,
who lost their lives in consequence ot an explosion in
B:ook-street, Bermondsey, on the night set Friday lest.
The jury having viewed the bcciies, the coroner said, as ail
trace of identity was swept away, they must commence the
timed', upon the bodies of four persons unknown.
K. lI nderson, foreman of the London Fire Brigade, maid
—I reside in Southwark-bridge-told. On Friday night
last 1 was called to a fire at about 11 o'clock, in New Brook
street, Bermondsey. Upon my arrival I found a dweling.
house on fire ; tt was nearly burut out. 1 stepped ILI the
fire was er.inguished. I than went into the nth.'
to see if I could see any more firs about. I
did not see any tire, but I saw the body of a male lying on I
the floor. It was a full grown person. The body wee
quite naked. The head was burned off. I shortly after-
wards saw • second body. The be-d was towards the dour—
all traces of identity ware destroyed. I could not distirguish
the sox of the second body. Thug was no portion al
clothing on either body. After the bodies were discovered,
we made further search, but we did not fiad any mum
bodies. 1 nave no doubt that their deaths were canned ky
burning.
The Coroner.—Can you give us acy idea of the age of the
pumas?
Witness.—No, I cannot; but I Lave no doubt they were
'dubs.
G. Gerrard, fireman No. 80, of the London Brigade.—l
went on Friday night lest to • fire in New Brook-street,
Bermondsey. I was tell when I gut there that two
Leung children slept in the front TOM on the first floor,
and that thr y were missing. I procu. ed a 1 idder, and upon
going up I saw the body of the child lying on the
joira ot the room; it was quite n kid. The bid upon
which it wee lying was very much burned; the entrails
were hanging out. Tao features were not destroyed. I should
think it was about four years old; it was • male. I after
wards saw another that was also quits neked.
There was very Wile of the bed left Inciter the bodies. They
were given .n charge of the paroehi d autbori i.e. The se-
•aud child which 1 dim veered was very young. I should say
about 18 months old. The house was only one story high.
The roof bad fallen in, and the bodees were covered with
rubbi.eh.
H. W. Suter, aged ten years, said—l lived at No. 4,
Brookistreet, Bermondsey New Road. I lived with my I
mother and aunt, toy aunt was hire. Bailing; she was the
wife of Mr. Bethel, a lire-work and wax maker. She used
to carry on his haunts. at No. 4, Brook .are. t. On Friday
night last I was at the house of Mr. Baling. His
family consisted of ten p rein: hims.lf, wife, and eight
children, one female servant, and a workman. lie only
employed one workman, his name was George Barlow,
and had only gone to work for the first time en that
day. I saw him making fire-works en the Friday. At
about 9 o'clock on Friday night my mother bob g out
and not returning I went into my uncle'', roan. Tut
children wean in bed. I had been at home for
upwards Of Iwo helm and a half hifore anything
'cuticular °monad. Daring that period they were
all ."engaged in making lire-works. Theri was a lamp
and • candle in the room, nei•her of which bad any
shade over the light. After I bad been upstairs about ton
minutes I heard an cxplueiea of ins or two crackers, mud
eameet immediately afterwards I heard other explosions : the
servant girl jumped out of window. I remained in
toe room endeavouring to get the children out,
but in consequerce of ti e lire coming upstairs I
also jumped out of the window. I have not seen any ot
them since. I Lave no reason to know what has Inc. me of
them. I saw Charles make his escape by the front-door, and
then the policeman shut the door. I then told him that two
other children were up-stairs. Charles, who is at present ill,
in the hospital, then went beck fur the purpose of endeavour-
tog to get out the children, but west° much burned that he
was obliged to return.
Coroner—We have seen four bodice, whom do you believe
them to be ?
Wetness.—George Barlow, William Darling, James Bar-
ling, and Thomas Baling.
Coroner.—ln what state did they appear to be in before
the suldtat
Wi•ness.—They all appeared delighted that tbey had so
much work to do, and were laughing very much, upon which
Mr. Darling sail am afraid you are too merry to last long.
Something will happen, I am afraid, before you go to bed.
Witness believed that the occurrence 111.11 the result of acci-
dent. Ile knew nothing ot Low the accident took place ex-
cept what was told him by his cousin Cherie..
The Corm,' said ho could not receive evidence of any.
thing that had been told witnese by his cousin. He thought
it would, therefore, be desirable at this stage of the proceed-
ions to adjourn the irqueat to a future day, in order that they
might await the result of the illneu of those who we ra in the
hospital, particularly Charles Burling, and see whether they
could obtain his statement on oath.
The Constable, in answer to the coroner, stated that
he bad made inquiries at the hospital, and from
the information he had received he thought that
there was no probability of Charles lisrling recovering
suffleiently to be examined be'ore the expiration of two
' months. Mn. Berlin was much less injured, and probably
might be in a fit state to be examined in three or fear weeks.
As to Mn. puling end the girl, the Sister of the hospital
stated that If they wanton favourably, they could not leave
the hospital for two or three months.
The Coroner observed that the inquiry was one of the
greatest importance. Four lives had been lost, and it was
necessary that the strictest inquiry should take plea as to
the manner and cause of death
The inquiry was then adjourned to Tuesday, the 6th of
November, at eleven o'clock.