Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-07-20 00:00:00

irmary

carriages, one of which

class) was literally smashed to pieces, the line was blocked
up, and further traffic prevented for some time. A
number of workmen, howevei., were speedily despatched
to clear away the obstruction ; and by three o'clock on
Sunday morning the last train from Greenock arrived in
Glasgow. It would be difficult to describe the dismay and
confusion which prevailed at the mouth of the tunnel

when the accident took place. The shock filled each breast
with alarm. Women, with their babes clasped to their

bosoms, shrieked aloud ; and friends, trembling with anxiety
as to thd fate of those dear to them whom they knew to be
in the train, hurried about in the darkness of the tunnel,
fearing lest their relatives or acquaintances might be among
the injured. The scene at the Glasgow station, where many
anxious friends were collected, was also very affecting, and
on Sunday. much uneasiness continued to be felt by those
who, having friends who had gone to the coast on the

Saturday morning, were apprehen-sive lest they might have
been on their way up when the collision took place, and
been among the unfortunate.

Messrs. Prime and Son, of Birmingham, have just pub-
lished a bust in fictile ivory of the late Mr. Joseph Sturges
Within the last few days the maximum temperature in
the shade has been the highest of the last 69 years.
ADVENTUROUS YOUTHS.—Two fine-looking lads were
brought before the South Shields magistrates on Saturday ;
the first, John Phillips, a clerk with Mr. William Vance,
flock manufacturer, Leeds, charged with forging the name
of his master to a cheque for £B6, which he had got cashed ;
the second, Isaac Buckingham, charged with stealing
£8 15s. from his master, Mr. Crowley, of Sergeant's Inn,
London. Both these youths were engaged to sail in a new
vessel for China; and Phillips; who had been living at a fast
rate in South Shields, was armed with a six-barrelled re-
volver, loaded and capped, when he was apprehended ; he
had spent about one-half of the money he had received by
cashing the cheque, in something less than a week. They
were ordered to be sent to the places where they had com-
mitted the offences.

BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.—At the York
Assizes, in the case of Robinson v. Summerscales, the plain-
tiff, Mrs. Robinson, a widow 30 years of age, residing a,
Skipton, sought to recover compensation from the defendantt
Summerscales, a coal dealer. at Silsden, who had broken his
promise to marry the plaintiff. He is two years younger
than the plaintiff, and a widower. Mrs. Robinson had
maintained herself by dress-making, and assisted her uncle
in book-keeping ; and she became acquainted with the
defendant in June of last year. He paid her marked
attention up to December, and all the arrangements were
made for the marriage, which was at first postponed, and
then completely broken off, the plaintiff being now enciente
by him. It was submitted by Mr. Temple, Q.C., for the
defendant, that at the proper time the case ought to be
brought before the magistrate for an order of affiliation, and
that this action ought never to have been brought.—The
judge, however, thought it was a case which ought not to
be treated with levity or ridicule.—Verdict for the plaintiff
for £6O.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN LONDON : NARROW ESCAPES.—
On Monday night, about ten o'clock, a fire of a most terrific
character, attended with a serious destruction of property,
and almost fatal consequences to thirteen human beings,
and which was not extinguished till two o'clock yesterday
morning, happened in the extensive range of premi-
ses formerly occupied by the Anchor Insurance Com-
pany, but recently tenanted by • Messrs. Fisher and
Roberts, and known as the Anchor Dining Rooms,
situate in Cheapside, next door to the celebrated
watch manufactory belonging to Mr. Bennett. It seems
that whilst one of the proprietors of the diniug rooms
was looking out of the window at the lightning, his
attention was suddenly arrested to a large sheet of flame
playing round one of the upper floors. He at once came to
the conclusion that the building was on fire, and he forth-
with shouted, " Fire." At that time five females were in
one of the front rooms shelling peas, perfectly unconscious
that any aceident had taken place, and eight other indivi-
duals were in the upper part of the premises, as well as
several others in the lower floors. The persons engaged in
preparing the culinary additions for the next day's dinner
looked out of a window, and with the greatest sang froid
gazed with astonishment at the lightning, little dreaming
the house they were in was on fire. The reality, however,
soon became manifest ; for, what with the springing of the
policemen's rattles, and the arrival of the engines, they soon
became convinced of the fact. Fortunately they were enabled
to get to one of the front windows just at the moment that
Conductor Low of the Royal Exchange shortly arrived, and
we are happy to say that he succeeded by his indomitable
perseverance in bringing down in safety thirteen imperilled
men and women.

BATHING NO NUISANCE.—Four lads have been brought
before the judgment seat of the law charged with an
offence which, if it be expressed in the strong language of
the complainants, implies a moral no less than a legal mis-
demeanour. TY 4' the off'-' F H

ne scene ca ,Libnce was Forest gill, and
the day one of intense summer heat, the thermometer
standing at 100 deg., and the air so sultry that men long
resident in India and Australia proclaim themselves unequal
to endure the heat. On such a day did these four lads,
being sons of people residing at Sydenham, resolve to lave
themselves in the " cool and temperate flood ;" and for this
lurpase chose a stream where no public right exists for way-

farers, and fifty yards from the back of the nearest houses,
Nevertheless, some people, coming to this spot, resolved
that it was an indecency and a nuisance so to bathe, and the
boys were incontinently transported to Greenwich, there
to receive fitting punishment. Fortunately no ignorant
Justice Shallow was on the bench, but a sensible and intelli-
gent magistrate, Mr. Seeker, whose admirable remarks
in discharging the boys entitle him to public thanks.
Bathing is an admirable and healthfnl practice, and swim-
ming a useful and manly exercise, to be encouraged on all
convenient and proper occasions. There is a great deal of
offensive prudery occasionally manifested in such matters,
and much more of selfishness and want of consideration.
In this case Mr. Seeker justly observed that he could not
see that the lads had committed any offence or outrage upon
public decency in following those healthful exercises which
it was necessary that lads of their age should enjoy. The
public, it appeared, had no right of way, and "if persons
hi their walks experienced a nuisance such as that stated,
they could avoid it by walking in another direction up the
hill." It is not to be forgotten that even the banks of the
aristocratic Serpentine—eminently a public thoroughfare—
are given up to the bathers at certain hours ; and surely
this example might have some weight with the dignitaries
of Forest Bill.—The Lancet. Why cannot the French
decent appliances be adopted in bathing ? With all our
" prudery" we are the least deoent bathers in Europe.]