The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-08-22 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY

IRE FIRE IN SHAW S-ALLEY.

INQUEST ON TEE SIX BODIES

b _,,,erctay, the news of the frightful and fatal disaster
471ng spread through town, in consequence of the exclusive
.
port contained in the NORTHERN DAILY TIMES of the
erafr4ir' the neighbourhood of Shaw's Alley was densely
wdel• It is a narrow passage running in a north east•
erly direction from nearly the upper end of Mersey Street,
tau is chiefi • inhabited by poor people. The house where
the
dreadful catastrophe took place, was a small narrow one
bftyro stories high. The lower portion was used as a
k„,.
concern by Mr. Dodd, who resides in Hurst Street,
close
bY. The upper portion was let in tenements to
poor
IPe°l3le, and we deeply regret to say that six of these
,Idividuals met with a horrible death. These were John
bag", his wife, and three children, and an old man named
O4Tliel Wade, who kept a school for children in the top
-chrn• It is stated that the leg or arm, apparently of a
1,4„1130' 5, is protruding from under some of the ruins, but
t 0 this time the police have been unable to get it out,
" the remaininc, walls, &c., are in a very dangerous
a,
t-5* Poor Fagan was well known as a book and chart
"er, at the corner of Canning-place, near the docks, and
as much respected, although in humble circumstances, for
" integrity and industry. From what we could collect
oesterdaY, it appears that at about a quarter past eleven
clack the previous night, Mr. Dodd left the shop all
tshlie and retired to his house. It would seem that about
is too, poor Fagan and his wife retired to bed
Nith
their family—one boy and two girls, ranging in
age from about two to eight years. The only other persons
at present known to have been in the house was a man
named
John Gallagher, and a boy named Patrick Roche,
--,e(l about 13 years. This poor lad gives the best account
ostlhee tra.gic affair. He was allowed, being very destitute,
eP in the lobby of the house. He states that he was
twe:P7 When, about twenty minutes to two o'clock he was
j'e b the smoke which came up from under the stairs.
fhejd:Ped up and saw the fire blazing on the stair; and out of
kp •
n r and window. He shouted as loud as possible, and
l:blbvg 11° Way of escape, he at once jumped out through the
calledwindow into the street, as the only means left. He
„
4, the police at once. He says he saw poor Mrs. Fagan
but l
tit her screaming, and that she might have escaped,
t seemed to him that she went back for her children,
tro'bsalperished. Ile says the old man Wade would have
thus 1Y escaped, only he waited to put on his clothes, and
Part °Bt
tab is life. The man Gallagher was in the lower
esesp:f tillevhouse, and he was fortunate enough to make his
ithabita e understand from Mr. Carpenter, a respectable
s few
.11t of the neighbourhood, that he saw poor Fagan at
and
Was notes
after 11, and that he was then quite sober,
beyerwaa Pr"eccling home to the fatal bed, from which he
fri
tic arc". These are all the facts connected with this
gutful affair,
ll ct at present.
and Lon o,which'll) we have been able to coe
we hear, is covered by insurance in the Liverpool
4r. tie °II Company. We have heard great praise given to
11e wit
occasion t and the fire brigade, for their able exertions on
‘,

has }, THE INQUEST
coroner at
at two. o'clock, before Mr. Statham, deputy
called "d a highly respectable jury. The first witness
ao. u Was Mr. Michael Sohan, publican, of Dutton -street,
li? said I knew John Fagan, his wife (who
atisdter) Margaret, and the children—Thomas, Ca\tvhaeriney
In the dead
Jane Fagan' I saw their bodies this morning
vir'elowadseadhouse. Jcfin was about 50 years of age; his
bat ti.. 3g' but I do not know the ages of the children ;
"eY were, as I have heard, about six, four, and two
Years r...
it in :they lived in a house in Shaw's-alley, and I saw
"
-,°tit ruins this morning, from fire; but I knew nothing
I\-,.8, the fire'—Timothy Moylan, a joiner, who lives at
'
wan 'Parling-street, said : The deceased, Wade.
be rRY father-in-law. He was about 71 years of age, as
il ,t,l°,_id !tie in June last. I have seen his body in the
1,--I°llse this morning.. He lived in Shaw's-alley, in the
4ionse
from that was burnt, and I have seen the house in ruins,
fire
1112 T. ' this morning. I saw him last on Monday even-
lat3e.i..o was generally a sober man. He kept a school
the ir, In the house where he lived. I know nothing of
h , re,--Nlr. Thomas Carpenter said : I am a boarding-
John
B%,keeper, residing in Charlotte-place, and I knewin
Biia,;.'agan very well, and also his wife. They lived '''s-allf.
They have lived there
about t_ Y, and I have been there.
I'M w° Years. I knew Mr. Fagan, who was a bosom
1140:1 amine for twelve years. They lived on the top
a glass a I was there on last Sunday. The deceased had
(lliarts: of Punch in my parlour with me last night at a
In, 1,-1' Past eleven. He was perfectly sober when he left
is'a"°llse. 'ver His wife was not with him at the time. She
of i.Y er woman, and I never saw the sign of a glass
small a 4111" on her. He was a chart and bookseller, and had
Nvas' shop and stall at the Customhouse. Mr. Fagan
i)Tit:rrnseest respectable man in his line of life. (Mr. Car-
---patrie'kemied very much affected at the loss of his friend.)
Years . Roche, an intelligent boy, aged about 12 or 13
1,, ' said : I used to live in Shaw's-alley. Last nighttl.
was
glee •
I -ME; on the stairs of the house that was burn
r4gn.about cleaning shoes. There was an old man sleep-
,,ll the cellar, and that is the bakehouse. The man is
hair_ Present. I heard him call fire, and that was about
tali'
_Prast one, when it was dark. When I heard the
man
4, 4 e, I shouted fire up stairs to
Mr. Fagan, but could
"` get
115 t
.. any answer. I then got out through the window.
piae4aw the fire coming out of the door of the oil-skin
Poli,e;,_ When I jumped out of the window, I went for a
14,1,0"`"ati t 0 Park-lane. I came back with a policeman,
athensl/rtlug his rattle. There were other policemen there
She he came up. I knew Mrs. Fagan lived up there.
out, bate me leave to sleep there. I heard her scream
a ' did
,ehooirnastert)loetarnseee her afterwards. The old man (the
_%setd to i to the top room window, where he
glee)
I saw him come to the window and call
(,) , " Is there no help?"
1311 t a„,,,__
no, ri .red to He did not say anything else,
go back from the window then. I w.dss.
I
' '0 the bakehouse at all.—John Gallagher said
f.
Robert4°3 00w a worker in the bakehouse o
d Dodd, 14, Shaw's-alloy. For the last two years my
Way, -as to assist the baker and attend the ovens. There
and it°o,e,tie. else looking after the baking except myself
and Sleptbakehouselives
there• I went to bed about 11 o'clock. Doddin
thu the Tevv-road Wapping. There were two ovens .
o'elue,..°ll.Bei but neither of them were heated after six
the N last
k night. There was a great deal of bread
were
hu,.,,b,,a.-ehouse, baked on Tuesday.. The ovens
There were very
~,, 1"(1 in the forenoon to bake dinners.
",v,,,e,hiPs in the bakehouse, as we heat the ovens with
'sua- "ust, but there was not much of it there, as it was
one done. I went to bed at 11 o'clock, but there was no
the eLse there, and everything was then safe. I put outl
gas and lit a candle, and put that out after, when
Went to bed. I was awoke by the cracking of the fire
'cinder the stairs, and I ran into the street and gave the
alarm; when I came back I found I could not get my
Clothes, and was then taken into one of the ne
hollses."l Did not see any of the bodies removed. ighbours
There
are three
bakehous e.
fIA. ours to the house, and the ground floor was the
man named M`Carthy occupied the first
floor, and used to make
oilskin coats for sailors ; he did
his work. He
not live there, but occupied it since about Christmas for
ter was not is the house when I went to bed,
do I think there was any one in his room. Mr. Fagan
d
an his family lived in the top room, and the schoolmaster
lived in the front, Mr. Pagan
mebeing
nced. The place where
in the back part. I
kle not know how the fire
com
I saw the fire, the stairs, come on to the ground floor, and
ar' open to the bakehouse. The fire
w the bakehouse, but not on the first fl ors on the floor in, when I saw it.
hee was not a quantity of chips undiers:livieAsltra.iri3s.eddl
w
to quite sober when I went to bed.
%t about a quarter to eleven, but he did not giv,o, me any
to do. I
instruetions—the last word he said
wtoh:elNvhaasd,
bar ..,_
~,. not and go to bed," as I knew.
',PI not see Mr. Fagan nor his wife at all that flight after
lisrk. I often saw Mr. Fagan, generally in the mornings,
ii?:l23°4)`-titnes in the evenings. As far as I saw of him
wife as a sober man, as I never saw him unbecoming. His
was a particularly sober woman. There was. illy
Other light in
candle I
1:,,, the bakehouse but the
and
cloth
' was in the centre of the bakehouse on a bench,
his
lit. I‘l_
1,„ -es on a chair beside. Mr. Dodd was setting
Ri
-ngo before he went awa,y.—Alr. Robert Dodd said Thep: a baker, and had a bakehouse, 14, Shaw's-alley.
e are two ovens at the back, and Mr. Fagan's rooms lay
431,,, t,
baled "ern. I have held them three years in May last. I
it
was
bread for family use, and baked dinners there, as
bair.2. public bakehouse. Baked three times a day—at
the gist ten, half-past twelve, and at half-past five for
out
b_t• The ovens never cool, although the fire is all
"aro half-past five, We heat the oven with

sawdust, by putting it inside on the bottom of the oven;
we put in about five baskets of dust to the small oven.
We spread:the dust over the bottom of the oven, and lights
it in the morning. I bake for myself and other people,
but mostly for myself. I had a good quantity of flour in
the bakehouse yesterday. It was all in sacks--close on a
dozen at least. I was at the bakehouse the previous
morning, and again at halt-past five. We drew the ovens
at half-past nine, and everything appeared safe when I left,
I rented the whole house, and let off the upper rooms to
the other parties named. They brought their own furni-
ture. I was insured in my, stock in trade in the London
and Liverpool, to the amount of £lOO, only for the goods
that would be in the bakehouse. I had generally goods
to the value of £lOO in the bakehouse, consisting of flour,
tins, and fixtures. The value of what I had there yester-
day, was above £lO3. I cannot at all account for the
fire, as I know nothing about it.—Bartholemew M'Carthy
said: I am an oilskin-maker, and reside at 17, Mann-stre-t.
I carried on my business in the house of the last witness,
14, Shaw's-alley. I make oilskin coats, jackets, trowsers,
and other things of that sort, for sailors. They are
covered with oil and vegetable black, but it is not heated
before just put on, as I get it from the oil painters in a
liquid state. I was at the workshop up to half-past nine
last night. Ido not keep any fire there in summer, and
had no fire there yesterdey, but I had a light last night.
It was a candle. I put it out when leaving, and left
everything quite safe, There was no smell of fire in the
house when I left. I had no oil there yesterday, and
only some coats and leggings, which are in the back room
now, and not burnt.—William Ryan, a sailor boy belong-
ing to the Isaac Webb, said : I was passing Shaw's-alley
last night, when I saw Gallagher coming out of the door,
clapping his hands, and crying out " fire, fire." I ran off
to the Custom House for a policeman, and found one.
We both then went into the back yard, and the fire reel
was brought, and played on it. In about 12 minutes, we got
into the house—the policeman got in first. Saw the dead
bodies of Fagan, his wife, and children in the room. Saw
them brought down in sheets and put into a neighbouring
house. Saw the body of the old man brought down, and
saw them all removed to the dead-house. When I first
saw the fire the people could not get out of the windows,
as the flames were so great all the way up the house.
They could not get out with a ladder, as it would be
burnt. It was about half-past one o'clock at the time.
Police-officer James Lindsay, 325, said he smelt the fire,
and discovered it in Shaw's-alley, and went there. The
fire was coming out of every window in the house. A
woman told me there was a family in the house, and a
man in the bakehouse, and I pushed the door open and
found an old man inside, but could not tell who he was,
Told him to come out, and he picked up a bundle of clothes
from behind the door, and came out. He said he was the
only one below. I heard there were people up stairs. I
tried to get another door open, but could not do it. By
that time the fire was all through the house ; the most in
the middle story. Some other officers came up, and we
found a ladder going up a passage into the back yard, and
I was then ordered to Olive-street Bridewell. lam of
opinion that no person could have escaped by a ladder
from the front windows, after I first saw the fire. The
same observation applies to the back. The old man had
nothing but his shirt on at the time. Thomas Williams,
police-officer 341, said : I found the fire in Shaw's-alley.
He corroborated the evidence of the last witness, and said
they could not break open a side door of the house. The
fire was coming out of every window at the time. Seat
for the Fire Brigade. Officer 618 rushed through the
flames in the passage at the back part of the house,
accompanied by 468, and a civilian. The engines
came very soon, and got two branches with a good
supply of water to play on the flames. It was somewhere
about half-past one o'clock at the time. lam not aware
that there are any fire escapes in the town. Mr. Blake,
the beadle, said there were fire escapes at every station
in the town, but the witness did not know it, as he was
not a fire policeman. The witness said the fire was got
under in about half an hour, and he saw the dead bodies
taken out, but it was supposed first that they had escaped
over the roof.—John Ridge, a fire police officer, 650,
said : I heard of the fire at two o'clock, when I was on
duty in Soho street. I went to Shaw's-alley and saw the
firemen playing on the ruins. Tho fire was partly got
under then. I went into the back and saw a ladder
against a window, and I went up immediately and got
into the window with a branch, and played in the room
for about five minutes, and then ordered the men below
to stop the water. Three or four officers then came up
to me, and I called for a light, which was brought. I
saw the dead body of a woman on her back—her legs
were up. Found the body of a man and one child, and
saw the whole of the bodies removed into a house in the
neighbourhood. There are fire escapes at every fire
police station in Liverpool, and there are eight or ten
stations. I did not see any there, but they are carried
on the cars that bring the reels.—The Coroner said, in
London the fire esapes were on wheels, and ready for all
occasions ; and in this case if they had been present,
perhaps some life might have been saved. lie was of
opinion in this respect that Liverpool had not the means
of saving life that ought to be in it—they were far
behind London in this respect. It was quite possible
that a fire escape might not be effective in the
case of this fire, but it was quite possible also that
they might have proved effective. The witness
said, he never saw the escapes used at a fire, but did for
exercise. He was hurt by a slate falling on his head. To
the jury : The fire escape should be put up with a ladder.
The people from Temple-court always bring the escapes
with them. The coroner said this was all the evidence,
but he was far from saying it was satisfactory as to the
main point at issue. The witness Gallagher was recalled
in reference to the value of the stock in the shop, but he
could not tell the amount. The coroner the❑ proceeded
to sum up the evidence, and again repeated that the
evidence as to the origin of the fire was unsatisfactory,
and the only verdict he could suggest was, that the death
of the persons, who unfortunately lost their lives, was
caused by the fire, but how the fire originated there was
no evidence to show. It anything transpired hereafter,
another investigation could be held. The jury, after a
consultation of a few moments, found, that the deceased
came by their deaths by fire, but how the fire originated
there was no evidence to show. One of the jury said it
looked very like an accident. The coroner said the police
had acted very well on the occasion, and seemed to do all
they could to save life. The foreman of the jury said, it
would be most desirable if fire escapes were established
in Liverpool the same as in London. The coroner said,
he could not attach that to the finding of the jury, but
no doubt the gentlemen of' the press would notice it. Tho
foreman said, it would be of importance that the opinion
of the jury should go before the public, as perhaps some
good would come out of it. The case then terminated
at half past five o'clock. The premises belong to
Mr. Robertson Williams, of Castle-street. [Poor
Fagan! He deserved a better fate. lie was, perhaps, one
of the most extraordinary men in his way of the present
ago. He was allowed, on all hands, to be tho best judge
of the value of ancient, classical, and other works ; and
there was hardly a work of any note turned from the
Press, since printing was invented, that he had not a
catalogue of in his head, and if the work was to be had in
Europe, he could tell where, and i❑ what library. lie
was formerly in extensive trade in Dublin, where he was
well known and much esteemed. He was one of the first
oral story-tellers that could be found, and many of Lea-
ver's and Carlton's best stories were furnished—the
groundwork and foundation—by poor John Fagan, to
both these authors. He was rich in rare anecdotes ; and
all who knew him valued him for his honest and straight-
forward dealings, his natural humour and abilities.
Some rich sketches, written by him, have appeared from
time to time in the periodicals ; and had his circumstances
been of an easier description, so as to allow him to devote
more of his time and genius to literature, he would have
been a remarkable man.]

TRB
RUSIANs IN CENTRAL AsIA.—A letter appears in
theDarßiles.ian Gazette respecting the fortifications on the Sir-
thetYtehhne :"--.‘ From various authentic sources. we learn
np the the Russians have not succeeded in advancing higher
siege andr-Darya than they aid in the year 1854, for the
the capture of the As-Met,hek forts (Pe.rovski) ; on
- contrary t
to abandon one of
have been compelled, by various causes,
v a,
and a eofthe
Darforts, situate on a branch of the Sir.
the
.line considerablealreadyta. time may possibly elapse before
fortified for properly
keeping
be considered to be sufficiently
hordes of the SteppL :epin—
g within due bounds the robber
far as the fleet on the'Artiothe left bank of the Sir. In so
according to the most recent
and the Sir is concerned,
addition to a number onili accounts, it consists, in
the Perovski, Obrntshey, with
craft, of five steamers—
Constantine, and Michael. Of thet the schooners Nikolai,
the former is forty and the lattervrot first-named vessels,
both were built in 1850, at Motalal,
in Sweden
horse power ;
vveden, and both
were launced into Lake Ara, in 1853."

DOCK COMMITTEE.-YESTERDAY,

The usual weekly meeting of this committee was held
at one o'clock, yesterday, in the Dock Offices, Mr.
Charles Turner, chairman, in the chair.
The other members present were—Messrs. F. Shand,
Palmer, Chaloner, Hubback, Rankin, Smith, Littledale,
Gregson, Robertson Gladstone, Mondel, Rounthwaite
Robinson, and Lockett.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and con-
firmed.

The Committee of Works recommended that the offer
of Messrs. Weaver and Co., for the construction of the
lattice work of the Wapping warehouses, for £1,340,
exclusive of painting—the same to be completed in about
four months from the date of order—be accepted. Con-
firmed.

An application from the London and North Western
Railway Company was read, requesting permission to
cut a gateway through the east boundary of the Water-
loo Dock, for the purpose of forming a junction with the
goods station there, and of working their waggons over
the whole of the dock line of railway.--Granted. The
arrangement to be subject to the same conditions as
those contained in the arrangement with the Lancashire
and Yorkshire Railway Company of August, 18.55.
A report from the Surveyor on the supply of granite
for the dock works, stated that, the present quarries
failing to supply an adequate quantity of granite, they
had been compelled, after trying a number of places in
vain, to have recourse to Penrhyn, in Cornwall. They
could there obtain an abundant supply at 2s. 3d. the
foot; and that price being very little, if anything, more
than what they already paid, they had ordered 2,000
feet to go on with.
The Committee of Works also recommended that
the hydraulic crane at the north-east corner of the
Queen's Dock, be removed to the east side of the Union
Dock —Confirmed.

The Warehouse Committee recommended that Robert
Bourne, cargo clerk of the second class, at the Albert
warehouses, be pro►noted to cargo clerk of the first class
at the Wapping warehouses, at a salary of £l3O a-year.
—Confirmed.

The Marine Department reported that the stock of oil
for the use of the lighthouses was reduced to 600 gallons,
and recommended that tenders for 1,500 gallons be
advertised for.—Ordered.
The Harbour Masters' Committee recommended that
permanent berths on the north east side of the Wellington
dock be provided for the steamers sailed by Papayanni
and Mussabini, in their Constantinople trade, and at the
west corner for Mr. W. Laird's steamers, engaged in the
African and Hamburg trade, and that a permantnt berth
on the east side of the Huskisson dock be provided for
the vessels sailed by Mr. W. Inman.
A letter was read from Messrs. James Daglish and Co.,
requesting permission to use the dock railway in export-
ing locomotives for Canada. Granted, subject to Mr.
Hartley's approval as to weight, he having reported that
the bridge across the Stanley dock was not suited for
heavy engines.
A letter was read from Messrs. William Jones and Son,
requesting a reduction in the graving dock dues on their
ship William Carey, in consequence of her tonnage on
re-measurement being found less than it was as per
register on her entering the dock.

The Chairman observed that the application could
not be attended to. Every vessel should pay on the
tonnage she measured on going into the graving dock—
in other words, on the registered tonnage.
A letter was read from Messrs. Humble, Grayson, and
Co., complaining of the serious inconvenience to steamers
from so small a portion of the graving dock space being
appropriated to their use. They suggested that if the
present regulations be persevered in the steamers should
not be restricted to any particular graving docks, other-
wise serious disorganization of the whole trade of the
port would ensue. The letter was referred to the
harbour master's committee.

The following letter was received from the compass
committee :

"D. MASON, ESQ., SECRETARY TO THE LIVERPOOL DOCK

COMMITTEE.

" 40, Tower-buildings East, Liverpool, Aug. 21,1856.
" am directed by the Liverpool compass com-
mittee to send you the following copy of a resolution which
was unanimously adopted at a special meeting of the com-
mittee held at this office on Saturday last, Thos. Brocklebank,
E‘q., in the chair : ' Resolved : That the best thanks of
this committee are due to the members of the dock committee
for the ready attention which they gave to the suggestion
for painting the magnetic beariegs of Vauxhall chimney on
the line of dock wall facing the river, and the bearings of
other conspicuous objects on the boundary walls of the
Wellington and Clarence half-tide basins. Also, for their
liberality in carrying out the suggestion in so full and
efficient a manner as to make the port of Liverpool pre-
eminent for the facilities which it affords for ascertaining
the deviations of the compass on shipboard.' I am further
directed to append to this letter a few extracts, selected from
a number of communications which have been forwarded to
the committee from the highest authorities on the subject,
as to the utility and value of the plan which your committee
have so faithfully carried into eff,:et.—l am, sir, your very
obedient servant, "W. W. RIINDELL, Secretary."

" No. 1. Extracted from a letter from my Lords of the
Privy Council for Trade, dated Whitehall, July 23, 1856 :
' I am directed to state that my lords consider the plan pro-
posed, viz , that of testing ships' compasses on the Mersey by
the transit of a distant object with a near mark upon the pie-,
is very good ; and they hope it will be attended to in the
case of shipping frequenting that river. The masters of
vessels should, however, be impressed with the necessity of
these bearings being observed after everything containing
iron in any considerable quantity has been placed on
board, and stowed where it is to remain. My lords do
not consider that any further remark is called for from
them, beyond the expression of their opinion that owners
of vessels should make it imperative upon their masters
to attend to and compare their compasses with these
bearings, and to take every opportunity, when at sea, to
re-attest them by azimuths and amplitudes. J. BooTn.'"
" No. 2. Extract from a letter from Captain Fitzroy,
R.N., of the Marine Department, Board of Trade :
Your plan is undeniably good.' "

"No. 3. From the Astronomer Royal.—' Royal Obser-
vatory, Greenwich, May 14, 185G.—Daar Sir,—l think
that the facility which you are about to give (by reference
to the Vauxhall chimney) for the examination of the errors
of ships' compasses is most important, and I congratulate
you on the probability of success in this matter.—l am,
dear sir, faithfully yours, " G. B. AIRET."
"Again, in a note to the secretary of the compass
committee, dated August 12, the Astronomer Royal says :
Ido not see that I could suggest any improvement. I
think the mercantile interests of Liverpool, and the nautical
interests generally, have reason to congratulate them.
selves on the course which the compass committee is
taking,' "
" No. 4. From Archibald Smith, Esq„ &c,, a
special authority on the subject of compass deviations in
iron ships :—' The plan which has been adopted appears to
me an excellent one, and I do not see any way in which it
could be improved.' "

"No. 6. From Frederick John Evans, Esq., superinten-
dent of the Compass Observatory, IVoolwich. With
respect to the plan adopted for enabling vessels in the Mersey
to obtain their compass deviations by the system of magnetic
bearings of a fixed object being painted on the long line of
dock walls, it appears to be simple and thoroughly practical,
and must he attended with considerable benefit and ad-
vantages.' "

" No. 6. From Dr. Scoresby's report of experiments on
board the Royal Charter.—' The reverend doctor eulogised
the well bestowed confidence and liberality of the dock
committee,' and stated that had it not been for the facilities
which these marks afforded, he should have been unable to
swing the Royal Charter immediately on her return to
Liverpool, and his experiments would have thus been
essentially deficient. He thought the plan deserved the
highest commendation.' "

Similar opinions from compass-adjusters and captains
of iron ships could be added ; but it is thought that the
above will be sufficient to show the dock committee, if this
were necessary, that the large expense which they have
incurred in carrying out the suggestion of the compass
committee has been for a purpose the utility and importance
of which cannot be reasonably questioned. "W. W.R."

SPECIAL DOCKS FOR STEAMERS

Mr. Mondel observed that, the ;.1;;;;;-masters' com-
nuittee had the question of steamboat accommodation so
frequently brought before them, and applications were
made to them so repeatedly for permanent berths for such
vessels, that they really knew not what to do in their
extremity. They had already apportioned a considerable
portion of the dock space in permanent berths. They
admitted that steamboats could not be worked without
such berths; but what could they do towards meeting
the applications which were constantly made to them on
this head, they having already apportioned all their
available space ? It behoved them, then, to consider how
they could meet the requirements of the port in this re-
spect, and whether they should not construct docks
sp,:cially adapted for steamboats. He had intended to
bring before the committee a motion with that view ;
but as he understood there vas an objection at present
to such a course, he would lay his plans before the sub-
committee, and if they sanctioned them, he would then
bring forward statistiys, showing the amount of accom-
modation they would afford, the probable revenue, the
cost of construction and of land, and all other particulars.
Mr. Lockett said, there were now applications before
them for three or four permanent berths, but they had
no places to give.

Mr. Gladstone was glad that the subject had been
brought forward in such a manner by Mr. Mondel.
was their duty as a committee, not only to minister to
present necessities, but to look forward to future wants ;
and those who turned their attention to the subject, were
satisfied that steamboats would, in the course of a few
years, take the place of sailing vessels, just as they had seen
railways take the place of stage coaches. He believed
that the whole trade of the world would eventually be
carried by steamers, and, therefore, the subject intro-

d aced by Mr. Mondell was one of very great importance.
There was an objection to its being pressed immediately
on their attention, but he hoped that it would not pre-
vent their considering it at an early period.
The Chairman also expressed himself as glad that the
subject had been brought forward, and declared that it
was well worthy of consideration.
This concluded the general business.

SOUTH LANCASHIRE ASSIZES.-YESTERDAY

CROWN COURT.
BEFORE MR. JUSTICE WILLES,

His Lordship took his seat on the bench this morning,
precisely at nine o'clock.
THE STRIKE OF THE BRICKSETTER'S LAB •URERS AT
MANCHESTER.—MichaeI Gauley, (senr. and junr.), Edward
Weormick, Michael Burke, John Drumgoole, Patrick
Keenahan, William Broderick, William Walsh, Larry
M‘Laughlin, Patrick Leeson, James Flanagan, John
Bohanna, Michael Duggan, Anthony Hardyman, John
O'Neill, Andrew Stracey, John Collins, John Connelly, and
Thomas Morley, all described as fellow labourers, stood
indicted with having unlawfully, riotously, and tumul•
tuously assembled together, and with bricks, stones, and
other weapons, unlawfully assaulted Robert Jarvis, Thomas
Nelson, and others. Mr. Ovens appeared for the prosecution
and six counsellors, held briefs for the prisoners. Prior to
the case being gone into, the centre benches of the court
were closed for the accommodation of the witnesses engaged
in the case, when a formidable array of at least thirty
took their seats. The learned counsel, in opening the
case for the prosecution, said the prisoners at the bar are
charged with a serious riot at Manchester, on the
30th of May last. The riot took place in consequence of a
dispute existing there between the bricksetters and their
labourers. Just prior to the 30th of May, the labourers
complained of the rate of wages the bricksetters were giving
them, the labourers were dissatisfied, and the result was
that they went out on strike. Such being the state of
things at this time, the bricksetters had to work for
each other —that is they had to assist each other, be-
cause the labourers would not work. The class of persons,
who were most employed in the dispute, were the Trish
labourers, who were out on strike, and were in the habit
of asseml:aig at a public house, called the Red Bull.
Shortly before the 30th of May, it was evident that some-
thing was coming, as one of the prisoners at the bar,
Morley, went to a place where some of the bricksetters
were employed, and called upon them to leave off, or he
would fetch the boys from the Red Bull to them. That
was on the 29th. On the morning of the 30th, the prisoner
Flanaghan went to another building, where some brick.
setters, were also employed, and called upon the men to
leave off work, saying, "if you do not, you will all
have broken necks before night." About half-past
one o'clock on that day, from 150 to 200 of the
Irish labourers, amongst whom were the prisoners,
went to a building being erected by Mr. Hall,
at a place called Gorton Brooke, armed with blud-
geons, sticks, life preservers, and other weapons. They
were seen by the bricksetters running towards the buildings,
and shouting all sorts of cries, amongst which was—" Take
the knob-sticks' lives." Some of the bricksetters who were
at work ran away, some sheltering themselves at the Pine-
apple public-house, others ran to the police station for
safety. There were some, however, who were not able to
get away; and those who were left behind were very much
ill-treated, and received such injuries that many of them
were confined for a considerable period, After that the rioters
went to a hill, near the police station, where they formed
themselves into a body, and again rushed down upon the
building, and destroyed a quantity of tools, and committed
great havoc, and drove away the men who remained. The
mob then rushed in a body to another place, the brick croft,
where they acted in peecisely the same manner. The
learned counsel then detailed the several places in the
locality where the mob had acted in a similar way, after
which, they returned to the Red Lion public•house, where
they were subsequently apprehendei by the police. There
was no doubt but it was from that place they had left in a
body, and, after committing the depredations they had done,
they returned to the same place from which they had left.
He then said that, as to the riot, there could be no doubt
on that point, and he should therefore have to call a very
great number of witnesses to identify the prisoners as being
engaged in that riot. Mr. Hall, the first witness, gave evi-
dence as to the attack of a number of the labourers upon the
bricksetters on the day in question. At his Lordship's
suggestion, Mr. Ovens sa►d the prosecution were willing,
if some of the parties would plead guilty to being engaged
in the riot, to have them discharged upon entering upon
their own recognisances to be of good behaviour, and that
the others who had been guilty of violence should be
tried. The counsel for the prisoners (six), and those who
conducted the prosecution, by the sanction of his Lordship,
then retired, and after a consultation of about twenty
minutes they returned into court, and all the prisoners, after
instruc'ions from their respective counsel, pleaded guilty
under the indictment for a riot.

THE REAL RIOTERS.—William Welsh, Anthony Hardy-
man, Andrew Stracey, John Connolly, and Thomas Morley,
Were then selected out of the prisoners and placed at the
bar, on a charge of having been guilty of acts of violence
to persons during the riot. An almost innumerable
number of wi nesses were called for the purpose of
identifying the above prisoners as taking an active part in
the riot, and as to having been guilty of various acts of
violence, by using weapons or otherwise, to the persons who
were then engaged in their employment at the various
buildings they attacked, and in most cases some of the
parties thus attacked bad been rendered insensible, had had
their tools destroyed, and were most severely and violently
treated. Each of the counsel for the accused addressed the
jury on behalf of their respective clients, contending
that, although they were present, the evidence was insufficient
to connect them with taking an active part in the riot.
Several witnesses were called to prove an alibi on behalf
of Morley, who had been identified by several witnesses as
being present during the violence that was enacted on the
day on question. Mr. Ovens replied on behalf of the
prosecution, arguing that the alibi was not sufficiently
proved to contradict the three witnesses for the prosecution,
who had distinctly proved that he was present during the
disturbances on the day in question. Several witnesses
were called as to character, on behalf of the other prisoners.
His Lordship, in giving a resume of the evidence adduced
in the course of the trial, observed that the prisoners at the
bar, together with thirteen others, who had pleaded guilty,
stood indicted with having been engaged in a riot,
at Manchester, on the 30th of May last. On that point the
law was clear and definite, for it stat.d that if three or more
persons assembled together for the pu.pose of carrying out
some private object of their own, and for the purpose of
compelling other persons to be of their opinion, that was
a riot. There was no doubt but that the law, and very
properly, allowed large assemblages of persons to meet
together for the purpose of discussing any grievances,
or fancied grievances, so long as they confined themselves
to the discussion of that matter, but so soon as they
attempted by coercion to compel others to act with them,
then the law interfered. Masters were not allowed to force
the men to certain acts, no more than men were allowed to
force their masters. Such a system, when adopted, must
be put down, or it would not only prove injurious to
private persons, but would be a great public calamity. There
were certain modes which could be adopted for redressing
grievances, when they were supposed to exist, therefore,
all means pursued by endeavouring to force
people must be put an end to. There was the right
of petitioning parliament, one of the greatest privileges that
could be conferred, and so long as the people met together
for that object, the law did not interfere, but rather
encouraged meetings of that description. This was shown
in hundreds of instances in this country, where persons
regularly met together for that object, and it was only when
such assemblages endeavoured to take the law into their own
hands that the authorities interfered for the protec'ion of
the people at large. Such being the law, the only question
the jury would have to consider was—Did this body of
people assemble together for a peaceable purpose, and did
they conduct themselves in a peaceable manner ? if they
did, then the jury would say there had been no, riot. Then,
again, if they come to that conclusion, they would have to
consider, did the prisoners, or any of them, take any part in
that riot? His Lordship then proceeded to recapitulate the
evidence adduced in the course of the trial, and left the
jury to say, which, or if any, was guilty. The jury con-
sulted for a short time, and then returned a verdict of
Guilty against Hardyman, Stracey, and Connolly, but
acquitted Morley, who was instantly discharged. There
were other indictments against the prisoners, all resulting
out of the same affray, which, having been disposed of, all
the prisoners were again placed in the dock, when his
Lordship, after a suitable admonition and caution as to their
future conduct, expressed the deep regret he felt at seeing such
a number of the working classes placed in the situation in
which they then stood, through the folly of taking the law
into their own hands. His Lordship then sentenced
Michael Qauley, who had been guilty of using great
violence, to twelve months imprisonment; Patrick Leason,
John Bohanna, Anthony Hardyman, and Andrew Stracey,
to six months imprisonment, and john Connolly to three
months ; William Welsh, Michael Gauley, yen., Edward
M'Oormick, Michael Burke, John Drumgole, Patrick
Keenahan, William Broderick, Larry M'Laughlin, James
Flanagan, Michael Pagan, John O'Neil, and John Collins,
to three weeks imprisonment, to commence from the first
' day of the assizes, Saturday, August 9th.
CRIMINAL ASSAULT.—James Bevington, a lad, about 20
years of age, was charged with having criminally asseulied
a young female named Harriet Watts, at Stretford, near
Manchester, on the 7th of the present month. The prose-
cutrix's statement was to the following effect :—On the day
in question, she, as the servant of Mrs. Baker, was left in
charge of the house. The prisoner called with the bread
cart, and left a loaf. He asked wheth,r she was going to
pay for it, when she said her mistress was out. 11e then
said that eh anted to make an entry in bis book, and
walked into e w
house. Having shut the door, he caught
hold of the girl, and after takin' some indecent liberties
with her, dragged her into a sitting room, and committed
the offence with which he stood
_charged. In cross-exami-
nation, the girl most positively denied that she had ever
given the prisoner the least encouragement to behave as he
had dope. A surgeon was called, and clearly proved that
the offence had been committed
For the defence, a girl,
a
a fellow-servant, was ll
tdr,wh.o ike taon havingseen the
prisoner and the proc called,
together,secuhad since repeatedly called upon her, and req4uetbstaetdththealtaathteer
would not mention what she bad seen, as she had denied it
all, and if her poor mother knew, it would break her heart.
Each of the counsel having addressed the jury, his Lordship
sunlmed up, when the jury consulted together for about
twenty minutes, and then returned a verdict of acquittal.
THE RAILWAY FRAUDS.—On his Lordship taking his
seat on the bench this morning he expressed a doubt as to

whether he should be doing his duty if he was to try the
prisoner, Wm. Parsonage, on the other indictment, seeing
that on the two two former trials he had been acquitted in
consequence of the absence of a witness who had be. n
subpcened (Mr. B. Poole) for the prosecution, but who ht d
not appeared. He did not know that he should be doir g
right if he did not order an indictment against Mr. Poole
for refusing to attend to the subpcena which had been served
upon him. At a subsequent period of the day Mr. Irwin,
on behalf of the London and North Western Railway
Company, stated that they had used every means, by
telegraph and otherwise, to secure the attendance of Mr.
Poole, but as there was was no probability of his appearing,
the c,mpany had withdrawn the indictment, and conse-
quently the prisoner, William Parsonage, was discharged
from custody.
The court adjourned at half mist eight o'clock.