The Express.
London, England, 1868-01-03 00:00:00

ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTillmoy.

Yesterday a meeting of this institution was held
at John-street, Adelphi ; Mr. T. CHAPMAN Mt the their.
There were also present Lord Ifearg_. QholintsedeleyS.
Parrott, But., Admiral Sr W. H. Hall, Lea.,
Arrow, Deputy Muter of the Trinity House,
Fitzroy Clayton, W. H. Horton, Msq. Colonel Palmer.
Caption Ward, R.N., Inspeetor of Lifei to the boa-
talon, and Richard Lewisf 11.19, the giadaq•
The minutes of the previous meeting booing been read,
rewards amounting to 2801. were ordered to be gins to
the crews of the following lifeboats of the institution foe
their gallant services during the storms of the past month.
The lifeboat Dlinburgh and R. M. ltallantym, stationed et
Port Logan, N. 8., used fifteen men from the barque
Straffiloven, of Glasgow, on the 17th ult. Twelve mouths
previously, to the very diof , the wife and children of the
captain of this ship had van a contribution in aidthis
lifeboat. The Donnallook lifeboat the North Briton
rescued the crew of six men of the schooner Rik, of Mon-
trose, and rendered other services to distressed vessels.
The Licensed Victuallers lifeboat at Ilunstanton saved fif-
teen men from the steam ship Harmon* of Hamburg,
making in all :11 persons rescued from shipwreck by this
lifeboat since she was placed on her station in September
last. The St. Andrew's lifeboat saved the crew of four
men of the sloop Christian and Charletse,of Peterhead. The
late Mr. A. W. Jaffrey, of St. Mildred's-court, presented
to the institution the cost of this lifeboat, and of those
at Whitby and Thurso ; and since Mr. Jaffrey's lamented
death these boats have saved forty-eight lives from
different shipwrecks. The Royal Berkshire lifeboat, at
Aberdovy, North Wales, brought safely into harbour the
schooner Jane Sophia and smack Hope, both of Abssye-
with, with their crews. This lifeboat has been instru-
mental altogether during the past year in bringing three
vessels into harbour which would have been totally lost
without its aid, and of bringing ashore the crew of another
vessel which broke up immediately after they were taken
off. The Parsee lifeboat, stationed at Pulling, rendered
considerable assistance to the distressed vessel Need, of
Colchester. The lifeboat Willie and Arthur, of New
Brighton. rescued thirteen men from the ship Thornton,
of New York. The Thomas Wilson lifeboat, stationed at
Whitburn, brought ashore the master of the brig John, of
Hartlelwol ; and the Padstow lifeboat saved the crew of
three ern of the sloop Telegraph, of Port Isaac. The life-
boats at Hoyle, Margate, Berwick-on•Tweed, Bridlington
Quay, Scarborough, Ballywalter, Ramsgate, Drogheda,
Caister, Fraserburgh, North Deal, and Great Yarmouth,
bad also rendered various services to distressed egrets
during the past month. Various other rewards were also
granted to the crews of different shore boats for saving life
from shipwreck on our coasts. Payments amount-
ing to upwards of 2,000/. were made on various
lifeboat establishments. During the past year the
lifeboats of the institution have saved the lives of 785
persons. in addition to 35 vessels rescued from destruc-
tion. The institution has also granted rewards for easing
303 persons from various wrecks by shore boats and other
meaus, so that the society has contributed altogether
during the past year to the rescue of 1,088 lives front
different shipwrecks. A sailor's daughter had forwarded
to the institution, through Messrs. Drummond, a fifth
donation of 1001. A legacy of 100/. had been received
during the past month from the executors of the late Mrs.
Maria Deane, of Cheltenham. Bequests bad also been left
to the institution by the late Din. Marie Rawson, of
Sheffield-11M11. ; and the late Mr. B. Weston, of Leicester,
19/. 19s. It was decided to form a new lifeboat station
at Abergele, on the Welsh coast. Mr. Henry Nixson,
through the Manchester branch, had generously defrayed
the cost (470/.) of the boat; and Mr. R. B. liesketh, of
Gwyrch-aistle, bad also liberally undertaken to
build the house for the reception of the boat. It
was *tided that the lifeboat which had been ex-
hibited at the Crystal Palace during the Christmas holi-
days had attracted considerable attention. The committee
passed a vote of condolence to the family of the late Mr.
Matthew Butcher, of Great Yarmouth, who had long been
a zealous coadjutor of the institution at that place. Cap-
tain A. small. examiner at the Custom-house, Glasgow,
bad during the past year collected for the institution in
that city and elsewhere 4501. He bad for many years ren-
dered the saciety valuable co-operation in Glasgow. Ap-
plications were made to place lifeboats at Portland Island
In Dorset. and at Cleethorpes on the coast of Lincoln.
Reports were road from the inspector and the assistant
inspector of lifeboats on their recent visits to lifeboat sta-
tions on the coast. The accounts of the institution for
the past year were ordered t 3 be sent to Mr. G. C. Beside,
the public accountant, who had been the auditor of the
society 13r the past sixteen years. A cordial vote of
thanks was passed to Mr. Thomas Chapman, F.R.S., and
Sr Edward Parrott, Bart., for their able conduct in the
chair at the uteetine of the institution during the past
year. The proceedings then terminated.

Mate/CFI:JOLT DTATH OP LIEUTENANT-COLONEL
ILA.—It is our painful duty to record the death,
the result of an accident, of Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph
Clarke Childs, R.A., which melancholy event occurred on
Sunday lest. The evidence taken at the inquest, which
was held on Tuesday in the school-room, Dover Castle, will
be found subjoined. Lieutenant-Colonel Childs was a very
considerate officer, anti his urbanity and happy tempera-
mint enikared him to the corps to which he belongml.
There can be no doubt his lose will be severely felt. We
are informed that one of his latest acts of kindness was to
order that on Christmas-day all " defaulters " should
be set at liberty, and a "clean book" made. The first
witness called was William Henry Newoorne who said—
I sin a captain in the Royal Artillery stationed at Dover
Castle, and have known the deceased Joseph Clarke Childs
for none years. He was a lieutenant-colonel in the Royal
Artillery, and was stationed in Dover. He bad been
upwards of twenty years in the service, and was nearly IV
years of see. Witness last saw him alive on the 2:ith
of December. when he (deceased) quitted the officers'
3111116-11:10111 at about twelve o'clock at night. Deceased
wished the officers good night, or, to use his own words,
"It was time to go to bed." His quarters lay on the
right aide of the doorway, distant about thirty or forty
penis. The night was very dark and hazy. The gaslights
of the Castle barracks are always extinguished at eleven
o'clock, which caused the barracks to be in great dark-
ness. About a quarter of au hour after deceased had
quittsil the mess-room witness went out with Dr. Tel.
ware to go to quarters. On arriving at the entrance to
deceased's quarter., herd some goer. Hmitening forward,
witness and the doctor found the groans to proceed from
the bottom of the area close to the barrack entrance. 'Pro-
cured a light, and discovered the body lying on the area
pavement. Witness, assisted by Lieutenant Howard,
carried deceased to his bedroom, in his quarters. Dr. Tal-
w.uo,or attended him until five o'clock in the morning. The
surgeon of the corm; attended afterwards till Sunday after-
noon. Witness noticed a bruise on the left eye, and the
knuckles were also grazed. The railing in front of the
barracks is very low, and over the spot were deceased fell
there was a 1111116.1 opening through which a person might
fall. Wheu the officers go to their quarters from the mess
they generally bare to guess the distance without being able
to see the way. It is necessary to leave the building to get to
their quarters. Witness had known one or two cases when
accidents nearly occurred in consequence of running up
against the low railing. Charles Francis Talwassor, an
assistant surgeon in the Royal Artillery, stationed at the
Drop Redoubt. said—On the 2.5 th inst. I was in company
with the deceased, dining in the officers' mess-room, at
their quarters. I saw him leave the room about twelve
o'clock. About five minutes afterwards I quitted the
mess-room with Captain Newsome, and on proceeding to
his quarters heard a groaning down the area of the officers'
barracks. We procured a light, and found deceased at
the bottom of the area, on the pavement. I asked him if
he was very much hurt, and he said be was much shaken.
I unlisted him to his quarters, where every mire was taken
of him until he died on Sunday, about four o'clock in the
afternoon. Vertlict—"Aoridental death."—Doer Chro.
nu*.
ALARMINC. AOCIDZNT AT A THEATRE.—On Wed-
nesday afternoon a very alarming accident occurred in the
Royal Albert Theatre, Middleobrough. There was •
crowded house of juveniles to witness the day performance
of the splendid pantomime of Whittigoen and Ass Cat.
The opening " went" as smoothly as ever until nearly the
finish, when the lime light was being prepared for the
transformation scene. While the audience were being en.
tenanted with • dance, the begs oonnected with the lime
light suddenly exploded. So loud was the report that
many people were under the impression that a cannon bad
been discharged in the pit. The actors and actresses ran
off the stage, and the people in the boxes, pit, and gallery
hurried out of the building. In • few momenta Mr. Pate.
man, the stage manager, who was dressing for his part of
clown, appeared at the footlights, 113141 endeavoured to
pacify the terror-stricken audience. Ho stated that the
chemical preparation for the lime light bad accidentally
exploded, but no serious damage bad been done. Re
added that in future, instead of using the lime light, they
would use the magnesian wire, and thereby prevent • re-
currence of such an untimely accident as they had just
witnessed. The performances were then proceeded with,
and no further interruption occurred. In the meantime,
however, great consternation prevailed outside the
" house," and parents and relatives, hearing of the occur-
rence, rushed to the theatre to look after their children
sad friends. The scene on the gallery stairs was alarm-
ing. little children being carried and pushed down by boys
and girls ; but it is gratifying to state that, ovri to the
prompt action of the management. who quickly lent as-
instance, not one was hurt. On the stage, however, it
was otherwise. The property man, Mr. Beat, who was ar-
ranging the lime light when the explosion occurred, had
his clothes blown to rags, and was burnt about the facie
and bead ; while one of the violinists in the orchestra sus-
tained slight injuries to his face, and saw his fiddle broken
to pieces by the concussion. A report was immediately
spread through the town that the theatre was on fire, and
a great crowd speedily &rambled in Albert-street, but the
tenth was soon made known, and the alarm speedily sub-
ided.—Nctecaslle Chronicle.
HZALTH Ziall'oll2D BY Dtr BARRY'S FOOD TO TIM
Mugs. across, lases. sad Ileer et old end poem esalth-
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eteepleesonts. ebility, writes. weigli, eel
in
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tab.. tla, or li. per siesi—De Bury end 04..77,
t•d adam t•
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