The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-07 00:00:00

FIRE AT EGREMONT.

PRAMIWORTHY CONDUCT.--About one o'clock on Wed..
nes-lay morning, a fire wa, discovered in the dwelling house
of Mr. W. B. Marshall, (Church street, Egremont.) of the
firm of Holden and Marshall, of King street, in this town.
The gentleman was • from home at the time, and Mrs.
Marshall having smelt fire, she came down and found the
drawing room in flames. She at once ran out in a state
almost frantic and sat on the steps of Mr. Love's door, in
her night dress, almost in a state of insensibility from the
right. Just at this time, Mr. George Percival, provision
merchant of this town, was returning from the house of his
rather in-law, Mr. Darlington, wine merchant, when he
met two girls (servants of Mr. Marshall) running wildly
along, in their nigl.t dresses, calling tor help. They
informed him of the fire, and he at' once left his wife and
ran to the house, which was about a quarter of a mile off.
he previously called on Mr. Darlington, to procure assistance
and make all speed to the place. He found the drawing.
room in flames, and not a soul in or about the house to give
assistance. H 9 at once roused on Mr. Love, who with his
,wife, instantly provided for poor Mr.. Marshall, who was all
but dead with cold and fright. He then returned to the
house, and by this time some five or six servant girls had
come out of the adjoining houses, and worked most
energetically, supplying Mr. Percival with water from the
houses, and after vast exertions, and going through consider-
able danger, that gentleman got under the fire. • He was
ably seconded in his efforts by Mr. Darlington, Mr. Love,
and Mr. Smith, bat had not Mr. Percival been so early
(happily) on the spot, little doubt remains that the entire
house would have been consumed. As it was, the whole
of the furniture of the drawing room and some valuable
paintings were destroyed. An ornament worth £5O was
saved by Mr. Percival. . Mr. and Mrs. Love acted in the
most humane manner, and indeed,all concerned in saving
the house deserve especial notice and thanks, and, no doubt,
Mr, Percival's promptness will be duly appreciated, Mr.
Marshall is, we hear, covered by insurance in the Globe
Office, as his furniture and other property were of consider.
able value.

EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCES ON THE
SERPENTINE, AND LOSS OF LIFE.

One of the most extraordinary performances ever
witnessed upon the Serpentine took place during Wednes-
day night. The various poles marked " Dangerous" had
immense catherine-wheels stuck upon them, along the
centre of the river were pots filled with red, blue, green,
crimson, and yellow fires, placed at certain distances,
and at a given signal the whole of the combustible
matter was ignited, when a great member commenced
the sport by skating round the fires, which had a
toast singular effect. Whilst they were going
through that part of the performance, the catherine-
wheels were lighted, and went spinning round,
emitting thousands of brilliant sparks; then came the
discharge of rockets, golden rain, and nearly every other
description of articles known in the pyrotechnic art, in-
cluding several thousand sqlibs and crackers, which flew
along: the ice amongst the males and females, causing
them to rush about in wild confusion, but a more pictur-
curie scene has. never been- witnessed in this park, not
even when the grand display of fireworks took -place in
honour of the peace rejoicings. Whether these pro-
ceedings led to a man's death who was found frozen under
the ice on Thursday morning, it is difficult to determine
at present ; but one thing is certain, that the unfortunate
man had evidently, at some part. of the night or early
in the morning, -proceeded to the Long Water near
the Serpentine Bridge, taking with him his bedstead and
four chairs, for the purpose of forming: a tent, which ho
intended to let out to gentlemen, skaters, at a certain price
per hour. Yesterday morning, upon one of the park
keepers going on duty, he noticed a part of the poor
fellow's bedstead upon the IC?, and two chairs. Ile at
once " communicated with Mr. Superintendent Williams,
who forthwith sent some of his men to the spot, who
broke the ice, and they immediately found the min, life
of course being quite extinct. The body was forthwith
conveyed to the workhouse in Mount street, and was soon
identified:as being that of James Edwards, of Wood street,
Chelsea.

TEE ELECTRIC AND INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAPH COM•
PANy,--00 Thursday, the twenty-second half-yearly
meeting of tte proprietors of this company was held at the
Landon Tavern, Bishopsgate street. Mr. G. P. Bidder,
C.E., took the chair. The Secretary read the report from
which it appeared that the expenditure during the last half
year was 47,103 5s for the extension of the system of the
company on several additional Pars of railway. The
sccounts show a net balance of £27,981, admitting of a
dividend of 3b per Cent, for the half year. The Chairman,
in moving the adoption of the report, made some very
strong observations on the conduct of certain shareholders,
who had beef. endeavouring to damage the company: Mr.
Field 3 moved as an amendment " That the report and
statement of accounts did rot furnish the information that
the shareholders toad• a right to expect." Mr. Wrigley
seconded the amendment, and alter a long discussion the
amendment was put, and deela)ed to be lost. A poll was
then demanded,