Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-01-27 00:00:00

FALL OF THE FOOTWAY.

On Monday morning, a singular accident, very nearly
attended with serious injuries or loss of life to several
persons, occurred about ten o' Block, within three or four
doors of the Smithfield Police-station, London. The
house numbered 11, in West Smithfield, is in ;the occu-
pation of Mr. George Williams, a fruiterer, and there are
besides upon the premises, as lodgers, not less than four
other families, consisting of several adults and children.
Just about ten o'clock, Miss Williams was serving a cus-
tomer in the front shop, and this party having paid for
her purchase, left immediately, and passed by the window
towards Hosier-lane, bait before Atiss Williams could
fasten the till, and before the purchaser could have reached
the police-station, the whole of the pavement fronting the
building to the kerb of the footway, and the adjoining
houses on either band, fell in, causing a chasm full twelve
feet square, and not less than seven in depth. The next
instant, and before.any one understood the nature of the
accident, a respectably dressed female, with an infant in
arms, proceeded on their way and instantly fell into the
opening, when the inspector of police, Mr. Hardin, on
duty at the Smithfield divisional depot, hearing the noise
rushed out, and by his presence of mind saved two men
who were about to fall into the gulph in the footway.
Assistance was instantly rendered by the police, and
ladders were obtained without delay ; the poor woman
and her baby were brought up, suffering much from
fright, and being taken to the hospital were declared to
be in no wise seriously injured, and were afterwards sent
home to their residence. It appears to have been quite
providential that aid was so handy, and, it is highly
creditable to all engaged, that such assistance was so
promptly rendered. Fearing that the contiguous houses
and those adjoining, which are not less than two centuries
old, might fall, workmen were immediately obtained to
shore up the premises, and notice having been forwarded
to Mr. Painter, the inspector of pavements, that officer
immediately attended, and superintended the necessary
shoring works, the police having put up barriers round
the pit so as to prevent any further accidents. From an
investigation of the place, it appears that the pavement
or footway about this spot has formerly been used either
as a subterranean way or for the . purpose of a bakery.
No entrance to it was connected with Mr. Williams's
premises, there having been a brick wall between the
building and the area of the shop. This has fallen,
and probably having done so,_ became an auxiliary to
the fall of the pavement, which might have caused a
far worse disaster.

JOURNALISM IN MADRID. —From an official return
just published, it appears that there are not fewer thin
twenty-four daily political journals now published at
Madrid—a number infinitely greater than either at Paris
or at London.
We are requested to state, that all speculations in
reae to any nomination to the St. Helena Bishopric
are entif, "1
Y premature, as the question whether or not a
Bishop shou2d be appointed to that See, is Still under the
consideration of the Geveruelent.—Times.