The Express.
London, England, 1851-11-03 00:00:00

COLLIERY EXPLOSION AT WEST MOOR.

HUSSErS REAPING MACHINE.-TRIAL
BEFORE PRINCE ALBERT.

The celebrated battle of the gauges hardly excited
more interest in the railway world than the battle of the
reaping machines has lately created in the agricultural
world; nor is the result perhaps very much less important
in the latter case than in the former. Whatever may be
thought with regard to import duties, no one can
doubt that the removal of the duty on corn is an additional
reason for cheapening, as far as practicable, the cost of pro-
duction; and hence great interest attaches to every. inven-
tion et scheme which appears to tend in this direction. If
the tamer is envied to the pressure of competition, he has
a right to share in its advantages ; and one of the best, the
most hopeful, symptoms for agriculture at the presefit time
is the manifest disposition of farmers generally to take a
practical view of their position, and to prefer immediate
gains to remote contingencies.
Of the recent inventions for diminishing the cost of pro-
duction, the most remarkable are undoubtedly the reaping
machines of Messrs. Hussey and bl'Cormick. Perhaps it
would be more accurate to call them importations than in-
ventions, since both have been in use fur a considerable
time in America ; and amongst the benefits arising from
the Exhibition, it is certainly not the least that it has intro-
duced to the agricultiu late of Great Britain implements of the
highest practical utility which might otherwise have tv-
mained for ever exclusively in the hands of their brethren
across the Atlantic. It will be remembered that a trial of
the two rival machines took place last summer at Mr.
Mechi's model farm in Ewe:, having been directed by the
royal commissioners, with the view of determining the com-
parative merits of the two instruments, whose patentees
were competitors for the fartlicowing medal prises. At
that time Mr. Hussey, the American inventor of the ma-
chine called after his name, had not arrived in this country.
The weather, too, was very nnpropithous for the trial, not-
withstanding which a very large number of gentlemen were
present. The machines were tried upon a field of wheat ;
and the result was such, as to convince all present of. the
superiority, is every point of view, of M'Cornuck's
machine—a conviction which was subsequently centirmed
by the fact of the Exhibition medal being awarded exclu-
sively to the patentee of that machine. The tables, how-
ever, were soon to be turned. Mr. Remy arrived in Eng-
land; a challenge having been given by the agents of Mr.
M'Cormiek, it was accepted by Mr. Hussey and the English
patentee, Mr. Dray ; and, after a fair contest before the
Cleveland Society, at Middlesbro', near Stockton-on-Tees,
on the 2ith of September, a jury of twelve agriculturists
pronounced a verdict in favour of the uamedalled
They decided that of the two machines liussey's had the
preponderance of advantages—that it cut corn in the best
manner, caused the least waste, did the most work in a
given time, lett the cut corn in the best order for gather-
ing and binding, was the best adapted for ridge
and furrow, was the least liable to get out of
',Arnie, and was the least price at first cost. On
tue two other points submitted to them, namely, which
machine required the least amount of horse labour, and
which the least amount of manual labour, the jury "de-
clined to express a decided opinion, in consequence of the
state of the weather." There have been many other trials
of liussey's machine in different parts of the country, and
the result* have been so far uniformly satisfactory.
Amongst these we have new to mention a very interesting
ono which took place by appointment last Saturday at
Windsor, in the presence of his Royal Highness Prince
Albert, originating in a correspondence between Oen.
Wemyss, on behalf of the l'rinee, and Messrs. Dray and
Co., of Swan-lane, the patentees. The spot selected for the
trial was behind the statue of George the 1 hird at
the end of the Long Walk, fern—of which there
is an abundance in that locality—being the article
on which the machine had to operate. The Prince
having from an early hoar in the morning been engaged in
shooting in the vicinity of the statue, at half-past twelve re-
signed his gun, and proceeded on lisrsebuck, in company
with General Wemyss and Colonel Seymour, to the spot
appointed for the trial of the machine. Dismounting from
his horse, his royal highness saluted briefly and gracefully
the mumbled company, and especially Mr. Hussey and Mr.
Dray. He then asked a few general questions resnccting
the history of the machine, and observed that as the ground
selected was very une.en (it was, in fact, remarkably so),
the trial would be a good one. After a brief delay, the
gear being declared in order, on went the machine, drawn
by two strong horses, and heedless of ruts and hillocks in its
course, which was very rapid, bringing down everything it
encountered cleanly and completely, including two at then
slices of turf at least a foot long and more than on fah
thick. There was now a halt. The prince hers IMP
quired whether the iron wheel did nut sometimes dell
in the earth, to which the patentee replied that in wet
weather there was that inconvenience. The prime
expressing his surprise at tho clearance of the oP
turf, it was remarked that nothing could withstand ttibe:
lion of the knives ; sod the further question, what WWI to
be done in case any of the knives got out of repair, led the
proprietor to observe that spare knives, like spare plow*
shares, should always he kept on hand. For the purposeaf
illustration, the whole length of knives was then drawn
out at the side, when it was perceived that each knife was
fastened to the lung supporting plate at the back with small
rivets. It was stated on the occasion of the trial at Mr.
Mechi's the knives of liussey's machine, which in form are
almost triangular, have the action of a pair of scissors, being
placed between prongs, and working from side to side so as
to cut what the prongs have served to bring within their
range. By subsequent questions of the prince were elicited
statements that notwithstanding the precautionary necessity
fur a reserve, the knife is in fact as durable as the ma-
chine, both beingestimated and proved to last from 14 to
21 years, and that the price of the machine complete is 20
guineas.
The performances of the machine were not confined to
one single course. A considerable amount of work was
performed in the most satisfactory manner, Mr. Hussey
himself sitting on the box at the aide, and throwing aside
what was cut down in the manner best adapted for gather-
hug and binding. Indeed, the work was not confined to the
fern; a rabbit, who was not accustomed to this species of
interference, was star.ed, and cruelly lacerated before he
bad time to escape.
At the close et the trial his Royal Ifighnera gave a prim-
tical proof of his favourable opinion, by ordering two of the
machines fur himself, one for Windsor and the other for
Osborne. He then, after expressing his gratification, rode
back to the gamekeepers and resumed his gun. After ho
had left the machine operated successfully upon some
rashes.
Amongst the few persons present to witness the trial were
several of the leading farmers of the district, including Mr.
F. She rborne, Mr. Aldridge, Mr. J. Mason, and the Messrs.
Tillwitnessedyer. They ell appeared highly gratified with what they
It may not be out of place to state here, that Mr. Dray's
explanation of the failure of the Hussey machine at Tiptree
Hall (Mr. Mechi's farm), is that it was entirely owing to
its not being properly managed. On that occasion, he says,
the person w charge of it was simply a porter at the Exhi-
bition, who, not understanding the matter, neglected to
clear away the wheat as it was cut down, in consequence of
which the action of the machine was unavoidably and
fatally impeded. We witnessed the result at Mr. Meehi's,
and certainly there was no such fault on Saturday. The
progress of the machine was, notwithstanding the uneven-
ness of the ground, rapid and satisfactory ; and it was
stated, as a fact, that on level ground the horses used in
drawing may trot, not only without weakening or impeding
the action of the knives, but eves with advantage, as by
that means the cutticg ovine tearessed precision and
force.

WALLSEND, SATURDAY NIQIIT.
Yesterday afternoon, about half-past 1 o'clock, a
part of the workings of West Moor Colliery exploded, by
which six men and two boys were killed, and six others
dreadfully burnt. West Moor Colliery, which adjoins the
York and Berwick Railway, and lies about five miles from
Newcastle, has been wrought for 46 years; and, being a pit
oat of which fint-class coal was wrought very extensively,
occupies a large area—some of the drifts being a mile
and • half from the shaft. There is a down-east and
an upcast, and an upeast shaft at another part, about •
mile distant. The pit is wrought with lamps. At the
time of the accident there would be pretty well on to 200
men and boys below. The explosion took place in what is
called the metal drift, • very explosive quarter, situated
about half • mile from the main shaft, and New from the
level half way up a steep incline, where it came in con-
tact with some rollers and tubs which had got off the way,
which split it, and kept it in the working where it origi-
nated; if it had once gut over the bank, and into the main
seam, the consequences would have been too frightful to
contemplate. There were fourteen men an t boys in the
quarter mentioned, of which George Campbell, George
Grey, William Hay. George Hewitt, Jacob Medley, and
Robert Can, men, were killed upon the spot; two boys,
Wan. Mason and Robert Gordon, died atter being brought to
the bunk, Mason laid night, Gordon to.day. Other six men
and boys were brought to the bank dreadfully burnt, and
affected by the noxious gas. They were alive thin evening,
but in a most exhausted condition. T. e men that wore
brought updead were pitmen employed in the working, who,
in consequence of the accident to the rollers, had not gone to
work that day, but it is surmised were preparing to do so
when the aceidentbappened. The men that were injuredwere
those engaged in mending the incline rope which had
stopped the tubs from being hauled up the bank. There
are none of those where the fire happened first left to tell
their own talc, but there is little doubt that the explosion
was caused by a man smoking his pipe.
As soon as those in the main working heard the fire, they
rushed to the !haft, and the engine was set to work to haul
them up in the cage, and in a short a time the whole popu-
lation of the village, which closely adjoins the pit, were on
the bank to receive them. For some time the excitement
was must terrific, as no one knew the extent of
the mischief below or who was injured ; and it
was some bows before it was allayed. Below, how-
ever, as soon as the principal part of the men
uninjured were got out of the pit, the air was turned to
where the accident happened, and by three o'clock the first
of the injured men were got out. Those burnt, but alive
were got out first, being nearest to the shaft, and by nine
o'clock at night the last of those killed were brought up.
Some of them were so disfigured that it was some time
before their friends could identify them. Indeed, the body
of one poor man was laid out some hours in the house of
another person that was killed, before it was discovered who
he was. There was a large attendance of medical men,who
pied all necessary attention to the wounded.
A fortnight ago, a man of the name of William Simpson
was burnt in the same working, and lingered until Thers•
day last, when he died. Thomas Proctor, Thomas Storey,
and • boy of the name of Richard Hall, were also burnt in
the. same place on Wednesday last. They running about.
Mr. Read, ehe coroner, was in the colliery about the time
of the accident, to open the inquest on the body of Simpson,
but adjourned it until Monday. He also swore in the jury,
and viewed the bodies, upon the other men to-day, and ad-
journed until Wednesday, to permit the presence of the
government inspector. Notwithstanding the two accidents
preceding the one now recorded, the men are not aware
that the government inspector hat examined the pit.
Mr. Baker is the principal, and Mr. George Hunter the
second viewer engaged in the colliery. Mr. Baker was
absent from home, but Mr. Hunter was at home at the time
the accident happened. He immediately went down, and
assisted in rescuing the men in the workings.
The colliery belongs to the "Grand Allies," of which
Lords Ravensworth and Wharncliff are the principal part-
ners, but it is understood to have been wrought recently
by Messrs. Nicholas Wood. and Co. There is considerable
interest about this old colliery, as it was the pit at which
the celebrated George Stephenson followed the humble oc-
cupation of bnkestuan. Two of the first locomotive engines
he built an still employed on the waggon way. .

THE GREAT EN.IIIDITION.—There was little note-
worthy in the proceedings of Saturday at the building, if
we except the presence of a greater number of strangers
than was visible on sum of the preceding days, comprising
persons who, from various causes, were not able to visit the
great show in all its pride and pomp, and those who desire
to become possessed of some memento of Its contents by
purchase before they become finally and altogether dis-
persed. The latter class even now are by no means incon-
siderable, and pretty extensive sales of the more fanciful
description of goods have been ethrted. There was some-
thing at the same time, amusing and melancholy, in seeing
the former lifting the green and red curtains which now
screen the empty stalls and courts where but lately the
rarest products of art and industry were displayed, in the
vain expectation of finding a few relics of that multifarious
mass of treasures, the fame of which is now as wide as the
world from which they were drawn together. A barricade
of boxes renders as unapproachable the diamond cage as if
the " mountain of light" was still eueooesced within it,
and the place of the ameson knows it an more. We have
still to speak satisfactorily of the clearing out, an immense
quantity of goods having been packed up en Saturday.
The French, who were amongst the last to be ready, seem
also resolved to be the latest to leave ; but even they have
made considerable progress in the last day or two.
THE. UNITED STATES MAIL STEAM SHIP WASH-
INOTON, G. W. Floyd, commander, arrived off Cowes on
Saturday on her way to Bremen. She left New York on
the 18th October. She brought 17 passengers for South-
ampton, and 1G for Bremen; also 10,0001. specie for Havre,
1,209/. specie and 12i tons tobacco, skins, fumand sundries,
for Bremen. She brought no mails for England. On the
2fith ult., at 4 p.m., in Lit. 50.30, long. 34.38, the Wash-
ington exchanged signals with the packet ship Constantine
from Liverpool for New York.

TILE NEW LAW TO LIMO TIIE CUERCII BUILD-
Evo Acts.—The statute to amend the Church Building
Acts, by virtue of which it is proposed to divide the perish
of St. Pancras into several ecclesiastical districts, came into
force on the ith of August, when it received the royal
went. There are 30 sections in the act, providing, among
other things, that where a permanent provision satisfactory
to the church commissioners is secured in lieu of pew rents,
the commissioners, with the consent of the bishop, may
direct such pew rents to cease. The act professes to amend
IS acts from Geo. 111. relating to church matters. The
question mooted in St. Pancras parish arises on the con-
struction of the 21st section of the act; it is whether the
consent of the vestry is necessary before the contemplated
division can take place. The words are, that " whenever,
under and by virtue of any local act now in force,any parish
cannot be brought within the provisions of the Church
Building Acts, touching the formation thereout of a parish
or district, and when representation is made to the
said commissioners by the patron and incumbent of such

pariah, and by the vestry or: select vestry, or persons etc!,
cising the powers 01 vestry in ecclesiastical matters in
such parish that it will be fur the spiritual benefit of
such parish that it should be brought within such
provisions, it shall be lawful for the said commissioners
if they think lit, with the consent of the bishop of the dio-
cese, to apply and put in execution with respect to such
parish, the powers and provisions of the Church Building
Acts, and this act, relative to the formation of any parish
or district and such provisions, shall thereupon be applic-
able to such parish, any local act of parliament to the con-
trary notwithstanding; provided that the patronage of such
church is vested in or exercised by the inhabitants thereof
generally, or by any body or class of persons, exceeding 30
in number, such application to the said commissioners shall
he sufficient, if such representation be signed by the incum-
bent of such parish, and by the vestry or select vestry or
persons exercising the powers of vestry as aforesaid in such
pariah may meet for the purpose of considering and decid-
ing whether it is expedient to make such representation as
aforesaid to the said commissioners, and if the majority in
number of those present at such meeting be in favour
thereof, the churchwardens of such vestry, or the chairman
of such meeting, may and shall sign such representation on
behalf of such vestry or meeting." The vicar of St. Pan-
ens is desirous of making the division, but the vestry is
optosed to ecclesiastical districts.
THE LATE LICARTER-MASTER MORROW, 57Tu
REUT.—This officer died at Kilkenny, where the regiment
is stationed, on the 27th ult. Like most of the quarter-
' masters in the service. Mr. Morrow had risen to this ap-
pointment from the ranks, in coast quence of zeal and good
' c,,nduct. lie was formerly a private in the 83th regiment,
and, having pried through the sariot.: grulas of a non-
! corr.mi•sioned oflccr, ha was appointed to an ensigney in
the regiment in 1842 ; in 1843 he became a lieutenant, and
soon after was appointed quarter.reaster to the sth
ment, with which he served in Madras until its return from
India in 1846. The late Mr. Morrow was considered one of
the best dulls in the army.

EXCLOoION Or FIREWORKS.—SEVERAL PERSON'S
IN.lClLED.—Ye,terday (Sunday) afternoon, at a few minutes
before three o'clock, thu inhabitants of Northampton-sguare,
Clerkenwell, were thrown into a state of the greatest ex-
citement in conseguersee of a loud explosion, by which
three persons were at:ail:l*y injured, occurring on the pre-
mises belonging to Mr. F. Bull, a grocer and oilman,
carrying on business at No. 7, Lower Smith-street, a
thoroughfare leading into the above-named square. The
accident was occasioned by the explosion of fireworks, which
were in course of preparation for the approaching ,nth of
November. The three men on the promisee, rm.. Mr. Bull,
and Mews. Phiilips and Prickett, upon being rescued from
the burning property, were found to be most terribly injured
over various portions of their bodies. A medical gentleman
having been sent for at once recommended that they
removed to St. Bartiaidomea 'a Itospial ; and on
making irriuiriei at that institution lEnt svininkt it Wl3
aicertidned that they remained in a very preemious condi-
tion. One min, named Phillips, was ant expected to sae-
vivo the night out. The various engines Of the London
Brigade and West of England office mammon oa the spot,
but by the time they arrived all (lamp of any farther ex-
tension of mischief was at an cad. .

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 3, 1851.