The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-01 00:00:00

LARGE FIRE AT THE METROPOLITAN SEWAGE

COMPANrS WORKS, BARKING.

The extensive homestead known as Lodge
Farm, Barking, owned by Sir Edward Hulse, Bart.,
and tenanted by the Metropolitan Sewage and Essex
Reclamation Company, was yesterday the scene of a Tel/
destructive fire. The farm is one of the largest in that
locality, and is surrounded by • large area of land
adjacent to the manhes, which have been ren-
dered remarkably fertile through the applica-
tion of the sewage from the Metropolitan
main drainage works. The fire commenced at about 11
o'clock yesterday morning, and seems to have resulted from
carelessness. A steam thrashing machine had been brought
to the vicinity of the western end of the homestead next to
a large barn, where also were several stacks of wheat, and
thrashing was going on, when suddenly the roof of the barn
On which hostas from the funnel of the steam engine had
been falling during the morning, burst into flames. The
wind at the time was blowing a strong gale from the south-
west ; consequently the fire spread with fearful rapidity.
The labourers on the farm, acting under the direction of
the manager, at ones did all in their power; but
the combustible nature of the building, coupled
with the high wind, rendered all exertions use.
less; and in fact the men were forced to retire
on account of the overwhelming heat. The barn, which
was 100 feet long by 25 broad, with its store of grain, was
soon swept to the ground. A range of cow-houses, 75 feet
long by 30 (all brick and timber built), with cart houses,
60 feet by 30, soon shared a similar fate, as also several
stacks of wheat and straw. The flames then travelled
through other parts of the farm in the direction of the
manager's dwelling-house, and its destruction seemed
inevitable. By this time the local engines from Barking had
arrived, and the moment the outbreak was seen from there
the news was telegraphed to the fire brigade stationed at
Stratford, as well as to the Wellolose-equsre station, from
which engi d firemenwere at once despatched to the spot.
The only available supply of water tube obtained was from
a pond moms distance from the farm. The engines as they
arrived were taken to its bank, and worked from it, and
by means of several hundred feet of hose the firemen suc-
ceeded after some delay in bringing powerful jets of water
to bear on the fire, which had by that time be-
come very extensive. The dwelling-house was
saved, but nearly the whole of the farm buildings
were consumed. Fortunately none of the live stock
was in the farm at the time. There were several hundred
head of cattle housed on the homestead, but these were
grazing on the marshes. The fire was not safely got under
till kte last night, when the London engines were withdrawn.
The company had insured the homestead in the London,
Guardian, and other fire offices to the amount, it is said, of
10,000 i,

DESPERATE POACHING AFFRAY /NDERBYRIIIRC.—
One of the most desperate and dreadful poaching affrays
that hes occurred in Derbyshire took place early on Sunday
morning last, at Hopwell, • village a few miles from Derby.
Between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning a gamekeeper
named Stevens, along with an under.keeper were out
watching on lands belonging to Mr. Pares, of Hopwell
Hall, when they came in contact with a gang of four
poachers, who immediately attacked the under-keeper
with large bludgeons, knocking him down by blows on the
bead, arms, and body. One of the poachers observing the
apprmch of Stec ens, commenced an onslaught on him, but
the head keeper bad a stick, and succeded in keeping his
assailant at bey whilst he retired. Upon news of the affray
reaching the village a search was made for the wounded
keeper. After two or three hours had been thus spent, the
under-keeper was found lying senseless in • field, with his
bead partially cut open, and other parts of his body
dreadfully cut and braised. He was carried home as
quickly as possible, and attended by medical gentlemen.
Early the game morning, Mr. Superintendent Whieldon,
of the county constabulary, apprehended a poacher named
Anthony, of Ockbrook, next village to Hopwell, and upon
examining his house, found • large quantity of game,
together withan unusualnumber of bludgeons, and, bag full
et boulder stones, some of which were covered with blood.
The officer at onoe took the man into custody, and yester-
day (Monday) morning brought him up at the County
Police Court, when he was remanded. The underkeeper
yet remains in a very precarious state.
SIXOWIDES.—He comes from the inland of
Brew, opposite Caria, and made his Bret public appear-
ance at Athens, where he offered some MSS. for sale,
which be said bad been carried off secretly from Mount
Athos. A commission, which was engaged to examine
them, reported favourably, especially upon • MS. of
Homer, which accordingly was purchased at a high price.
Before very long it was discovered that the text of this
ancient MS. was Wolfe, with all the errata. Next he
appeared at Constantinople, where he tried hieroglyphics,
cuneiform inscriptions, and Armenian history, but some-
what unsuccessfully. Nothing daunted he tried • new
device, and came out as another Dounter Swivel. He de-
clared that at • certain spot an Amble MS. in Syriac
characters would be discovered by digging. Workmen
were accordingly employed, Simonides himself not being
allowed to descend. By-and-by a pause was was made for
luncheon and not long afterwards Simonides called out,
"There it is ; bring it up." The soil about it. however,
was quite different from that of the ground. The work-
men were grinning, and when interrogated confessed that
daring luncheon the Greek came out for a short time,
jumped into the pit, and began to borrow. He next
made his appearance in England with, amongst other
wonderful treasures, the MS. of Homer on serpent's skin,
which professed to have been sent from Chios to Hip-
parchus, eon of Pisistratua This and several others be
persuaded Sir Thomas Phillips to purchase. Almost the
only libraries which be failed in cheating were the British
Museum and the Bodleian. On visiting the latter place
be showed tome fragments of MBB. to Mr. Coxe,
who assented to their belonging to the twelfth century.
"And these, Mr. Cone, belong to the tenth or eleventh
century?" " Yes, probably." " And now, Mr. Coxe, let
me show yon a very ancient and valuable MS. I have for
sale, and which ought to be in your library. To what
century do yod consider this belongs •" "This, Mr.
Simonides, I have no doubt." said Mr. Coxe, " belongs to
the nineteenth century." The Greek and his MS. &sap-
peared.—CoreAin Magazine for October.
_ _

MIL ANTHONY TROLLOP ON POLITICS. —lt
would be difficult in these days for any editor t 5 define
with accuracy the line of politics which those wbo work I
with him intend Co take. To declare one's self to be a re-
former at the moment in which household suffrage has
been just carried by the government of Lord Derby, would
indeed be to say nothing. Who is there that will say that
be is not a reformer? If there be inch a one, he must be
some Troglodyte, dwelling in caves, away from the haunts
of men. And who is there also that does not feel himself
to be a conservative while the perils hang over us of our
untried household suffrage? The old denominations must
give place to new before a ?Legacies or even a man can
define his politics by a name. Either the one or the other
may, indeed, still 'rapport a cause, and belong to a party
in supporting it. Unless this he done, we do not under-
stand bow the study of politics can be made subservient
to the welfare of the country. And we who are engaged in
this new enterprise think that the good old liberal cause
?till needs support ; and we think also that, in spite of
late disruptions, a party will exist in the House of Com-
mons, as well as out of it, to whom that cause is dear and
who will bind themselves together for its maintenance.
Perhaps after &tying so much an editor need hardly declare
that the cause to be supported here will be the free govern-
ment of the country by that side of the House of Commons
which in truth represents the majraity of the constituen-
cies. It would seem that stub a state of things must
necessarily be the result of our constitution as it stands ;
hat skill and resolution on the one side, with some
awkwardness, and, alas I also, with some went of faith on
the other, have no turned things round of late, that men
Ire disposed to think that skill is better than faith, and
that i solution atones for want of principle more effectually
than steadfast honesty can atone for awkwardness. This
m*Pzizte,
dear reader, is not established with any high
Tel that it can set thee* things right if they be
'at as the widow's mite was accepted,—eo also may ii:rinttfe.
out in good season, if it be spoken in the right spirit.—
St. Pawls, No. I.