The Express.
London, England, 1860-11-05 00:00:00

TESTIMONIAL TO MR. WILLIAM NEWTON.

About • hundred members el the Amalgamated
Society of EnOnears assembled at the festive board on
Saturday evening, at P.adley's Hotel, the epecial object
being to present • testimonial to Mr. William Newton,
whose name will be familiar with the general public in
connexion with the engineers' strike of 1852, for his defence
of the society on that occasion—for his successful efforts in
uniting the different societies of workmen pertaining to the
engineering trade into an amalgamated society, and for
other services for the benefit of his order. Mr. Thomas
Hughes, the barrister, author of "Tom Brown's School
Days," presided by special invitation, and amongst the
other invited guests were Captain Funnel, Mr. J. M.
Ludlow the barrister, the Rev. S. Hansard, Mr. Burgess,
solicitoi, and several other gentlemen who take an interest
in the society, end sympathised in the purpose of the meet-
ing.
The CHAIRMAN presented the testimonial, which con-
sisted of • handsome silver goblet, in which wee deposited
3001. in Bank of England notes, the result of subscriptions
voluntarily offered, chiefly by the members of the amalga-
mated society (a small portion of the money only being sub-
scribed by non-members), together with the following ad-
dress =groused on vellum, and mounted in • gilt frame :
" Res Sir,—The executive council and members of
the A Society of Engineers, he., beg to express
to you their high appreciation of the able services ye. 3:::
for many years rendered to their society and trade. They
feel how deeply the are indebted to you for having, fifteen
yeah ago, originated the project of an amalgamation of the
many sectional societies then existing; which, in their
divided councils, fostered prejudices, instead of promoting
union throughout the trade. They desire also to testify to
the persistent effort and disinterested advocacy which for
five years you devoted to that cause, and which notated in
its final accomplishment on the Ist of Jemmy, 185 L The
consequences resulting from an amalgamation of the socie-
ties have exceeded the most sanguine expectations ; preju.
dices have been subdued, and the greatest and most coot.
plete institution of working men in the world has been
established- We have also to acknowledge our oblige.
tion to you for having defended the society whenever it
has been assailed, especially in the year 18b2, when it wu
engaged in defending whet its members believed to be • just
and righteous cause ; on which occasion it was opposed by a
powerful combination of wealth and influence, assisted by
hired talent. You discharged the duties imposed nixie you
by your fellow-members with an ability and truthfulness
which commanded the raspostentiwtminitionof all disiate-
rested persons. On the many occasions you have been called
upon to represent the interests of our trade, either iu Dego-
tu.ting terms for the settlement of disputes between em-
ployers and workmen, in extending a knowledge of the
principles upon which the society is based, or in your evi-
deuce given before • select committee of the House of Com-
mons, we have ever entrusted our interests to your care,
with the greatest faith in your ability and trustworthiness,
and in no instance have we had cause to regret having done
so. We desire also to expren oar great satisfaction at the
manner in which you performed a roart, important mission
on • late acumen, when our society lout beets assailed
as od misrepresented in the city of Edinburgh, by Sir.
Adam Black, M.P. The executive council, at a
shoat notice, requested you to proceed to Un-
burgh, to reply to the charges made against us,
&NI to defend our institution from misrepresentation.
Although you were not a member of our council at the
time, you undertook the duty, and most triumphantly vin-
dicated the honorr of our institution, and the justice of the
principles upon which it is tamed. In addition to wiiicit you
most ably defended tende' societies generally, and iu a mau-
-1 nor which has been highly appreciated by many other so-
I netts, besides our cos a. We beg of you, there ,ore, to so-
oept this address, expremOng as it dues feebly our teeing.
of sincere gratitude fur the many services you have so ably
and disinterestedly rendered to the institution we prize so
highly—together with • silver goblet containiuz 3001.,
which has been subscribed chiefly by your fall° w•tnembers
of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, we., sided by
some other members of our trade and • few other
societies.

"Signed on behalf of the executive ommeil and members
of the Amalgamated Society of Engiucers,, ne.—Joan
Haar, President ; W. Au.sx, Gen. Secretary.•'

The following is a copy of the inscription upon the
goblet:—" This goblet, containing X W., contributed chiefly
y the members of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers,
Ste., was presented to Mr. William Newton as a token of
gleir high respect, and as a rozognition of the very able cer-
vices he has rendered to their society and trait:.—;ird
November, 1880."

AWFUL STEAM BOILER EXPLOSION ON

BOARD A SHIP.

SEVERAL LIVES LOST.

On Saturday, about 12 a.m., while the paddle
steamer Tonning, formerly belonging to the North of
Europe Steam Navigation Company, was on her
from Tuning to London, with cattle and sheep havir
about 700 on board), the boiler bunt, with a fearful
explosion. It appears that the vessel stopped to take
in sonic fish for London, and the orders to go ahead were
given just before the shocking accident. Cattle, sheep,
and men were thrown into the air, end the vessel took
fire ; but by the prompt and skilful management of the
captain and remainder of the crew, it was extin-
guished. Timothy Bead, and John Hall, the cook, were
picked up alive, having been blown nearly lOU S anis from
the vessel. Sewell of the wounded were brought to Yet-
mouth hospital early yesterday morning—vix : Frapeis Reay,
head engineer ; Anita Yuoker, a foreigner in charge of the
cattle ; James Ward, chief mate ; Edward Pea:,
ssayur—
in a dangerous state; John Hall, cook, Lowestoft ; Timothy
Read, coal trimmer, Lowestoft ; Peter Pekni, foreign.;in
charge of cattle. The three last are likely to do well.
Ward and Yankse are in • roost frightful condition,
and will in all probability not survive many boon. The
head engineer (F. Reay) is also in • meat dangerous
state, both in body and mind, having last his son and
son-iu-law by this fearful calamity. The steamer was
taken in tow by immoral smacks for Lowestoft. She is
shout seven years old, and hu been a long time in the
cattle trade. The bodies of three of the poor men were
taken to Yarmouth Workhouse ; and there will, nu doubt,
be a very full inquiry by the coroner al to the MUM of the
accident. Amongst the missiog are • poor boy, to whom
the captain had kindly given • passage; John Reny, en.
gineer'a boy ; John Fosset, coal trumpet. The nemes of the
bodies now at Yarmouth Workhouse are—Spooner, fireman ;
Comming, Reitman ; John Langley, steward,
near Lowestoft.

EXPLOSION AT ST. MARY 8 CHURCH, OXFORD.

akTVIIDAY, Nov. J.
Since the expiation of the steam apparatus of
the free baths end washhowies in this city, about twelve
years since, nothing of an accident from the seine muse his
occurred until the middle of this day, when every OW
peeing the public. thoroughfare of the Hgh-street, neural*
church, and those living in the immediate uoighbourhood,
were greatly alarmed by bearing a report, very notch like
the rumble of cannon, and at the semitone to hear the not.°
of breaking of glass in all directions.
Immediately after the accident scores of people were ad-
mitted into the church, ands scene of the greatest disorder
and confusion was witnessed, and such only as could ensue
from an explosion of either steam or gas. St. Mary's
Church, which is the univanity church as well as the
perish church, underwent a thurimgh now pewing and
a great many other expensive alterations in 1826. and
about two months since it began to be under repair, for the
purpose of laying in the hot water apparatus, for the pnr.
paw of keeping the church M • proper stets of warmth, cud
was to be opened tomorrow by the Lord Bishop of Oxford,
who wasannounced to preach. It appears that the pipes convey.
leg the hot air pees under the vice-chancellor's and proctors'
seats, sod also ohne to those of the heeds of houses.
doctors. Se. ,• the seats for their ladies and !studies being
Lust behind, but all raised above the dour of the church.
This was the spot where the explosion took piece, and end
havoc wee made. The VICO -chancellor's mu pre:tuts' mate
were blown to some distance, almost into *pirate's, wado
some of the mats of the heads of bosses were nearly de'
molished, and those of the ladies were considerably injulk,L
lied it happened the ~it day while the bishop was
preaching at that pert of the church, it could have
been dreadful. So great wee the explosion, that no
fewer than thirteen windows are greatly damaged, some
Lein entirely destroyed and others putially so. The large
wiedow over the western autism., has had even the Rad
surrounding the stone-work famed from it. Fortunately
there were only four POZ9OOII in the church at the time of
the explosion, one of whom was knooked down and stunned.
but eosin recuvered.
The Vioe.Chancellor his ordered the church to be kept
lo:ked Rath.) purpose of !selling the debris in its present
state until a seareniug mveatrgatuuu tali.