The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-05-19 00:00:00

THE LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY,

The usual periodical meeting of the members of this
society was held at the Royal Institution, Colquitt-street,
last evening. Dr. Inman presided. There was bat a very
small attendance of persons prevent. After the usual
routine business had been clispo,4,d ot, the reqident an-
nonzced the do ations that hal aen 131113 10 Val SOc:Lty
since its last meeting. After sev-- interesting redo,
sent for exhibition, had been exkla,ue-d,
The Secretary, throng:l the kindness of Mr. Denson,
exhibited a rug made fern the skins of the Aviru, a new
wool-bea-ing mammal, and some of the ray material.
The be,o3ty of the rug, and its extreme softness, form' d a
subject of conversation and admiration, while considerable
interest was felt in the commercial advantages likely to
follow its introduction into this country. The rug in
question is about six feet- square, and sevaral skins enter
into its construction—abut twenty, if the opinion of Mr.
Halt be .correct, and the practical experience of that
gentleman is well known to be very great. On the inside,
the Patagonians (f r it vas made by the natives of that
country) have decorated it by hand colouring, using rude
materials for the purpose, and drawn a number of zigzag
lines.

This rug was preser ted to Mr. Danson by Mr. James
Lennon, who resided fifteen years in Monte Video. Tile
animal thus introduced to us by the native Patagonians,
and the skin of which is regarded as a most important
import, is altogether unknown in this country, though it
exists there in immense numbers. It is most probably a
variety of the Vicuna—perhaps a new species—to which
animal the w col bears a close resemblance. It may be a
hybrid, for there are many such wool bearers undsscribed,
though their produce is of g.vat value. Of its habits we
are also ignorant, but Mc. Lennon describes it as an animal
partakir gof the character of the dog, goat, and fox. For
comparison several skis of the Vicuna were also ex-
hibited.

Mr. Denson said that the rug then exhibited con-
tained the skins of at least twenty of the animals,
which were e xce ed in gly neatly and strongly
sewn together ; but aa it would be deposited
in the institution for two ar_ three months, the members
would have an opportunity of inspecting it. He also
stated that Mr. Hall had purchased about 2,000 of the
skins at 4s 9d each, although they were not allowed to
come into this country, yet, by some means, they
had found their way there, and that Mr. Hall
had, by a peculiar process, taken the wool from
the skins, which would, if a large quantity could
be obtatned, be found very valuable. Mr. Denson then
exhibited some specimens of wools, which he stated would
have been of greater vane if they had not been mixed
with so much sand. Some of these wools had been sold
at the late wool sales, but did not realise the prices they
would have done if they had been free from sand.
Mr. Hall stated that he believed the wool of
which the rug was made, had been taken from a cross-
bred animal.

Mr. Hugg:ns then exhibited a specimen of fungi (the
Morrell), which was very rare, bat of which he had found
some quantity at Southport. He believed it to be very
valuable, and would form a source of remunerative
employment to the poor, in gathering it.
The President then read an exceedingly interesting
paper on the volcanoes of Italy, which he explained from
some well executed diagrams.
A vote of thanks having been accorded to the Presi-
dent, the meeting terminated.

ROBBERY BY A TICIET ,OF•LEAY 11 MAN —S01:131 short
time ago an " Industrial Home" for the reception of dis-
charged prisoners was established in WakAlld, by Mr.
Shepherd, the govern:r of tlie. West Riding. House of
Correclon. Last Thursday eveniog the " Home" was
closed at the u,tial hour, each inmate havi-ig performed
his day's work and retired to his lodgings, also provided
by Mr. Shepherd. Next morning it was discovered that
a large quantity of rem clotaing made by the inmates con
sisting of coats, boots, caps, waistcoats, trousers, Ste., had
been abstracted, and a ticket-of-leave man, named William
G'edhill, who had been for some time employed in the
establi,hment, and bad been at work the previous dsv, was
tnissin,,!. 'I he police were at once on the alert, anti have
not ye' been able to trace him. Gledhill is a man about
thirty.fiva years old. A reward of £5 is offared for his
apprehens'on.

• DESTRUCTION OP THE CAMB7RW?.LL RAG MILLS ET
FIRE—On Sunday morning, at a few minutes before five
o'clock, the whole of the snith side of the river Thames
became brilliantly illuminted, in consequenca of the out-
break of •a on the premises known as Newand and Co.'s
rag mills, situate on the banks of the Grand Surrey CanA,
in the Albany real, C trnberw€ll. The discovery was male by
an officer of the P division, who, in passing the p7einise3 had
his attentir.n called to the mills, filled with goods, by per-
ceiving an unusual giore of li:rht through the apertures.
Without delay the Willer Founded an alum, and hoving
aumsed the workmen, who were sleerinf, in a back build-
he eeipaTelEd m to town to cell the engines.
When the engin,s a-rired they sv,..re placed at‘the ed4e of
tile Surrey Canal, and stt to work ; but notwithstaeling
the exertions of the firemen the llamas were not conquered
until the mills and all they co stained were razed to the
ground, and a building at the back, in the occupation of
the workmen; ranch damaged. The origin of the fire is
unknown, and it is unlers cod that the sufferers were un-
ins 'red.

A SCRAMBLE AT SALVAGE.—A rather curious scene took
place the other day at a place called Wolstenholme, near
Blackpits. On the s'h of March, a mill belonging to
Messrs. Stott and Clegg, cotton spinners, at the above place
was burned down, and damage to the extent of 114,000
was done. The machinery, stock, an i building were fully
insured in the West of England and Leeds and Yorkshire
insurance office. At that time Messrs. Clegg and Stott
mutually agreed to dissolve partnership, but never gazetted
the dissolution. Subs quently the salvage of the fire was
purchased by Clegg, and he resold it to a machine maker
named Matthew Mills, of Heywood. Stott heard of the
transaction, and as the verbal dissolution bad not been
gazetted, he determined to go shares at the salvage.
Clegg objected, whereupon Stott set a lot of men to work
to remove what he considered to be his share. Mills con-
sidered the property to be his, end sent for the police to
protect it. The police were present on Saturday, Monday
and Tuesday last, be the direction of Mr. Superintendent
Storey, but, they did not interfere, except to preserve the
peace. When Mills saw that Stott was removing the sal-
vage with a horse and cart, he followed his example, and
both scrambled at the property as fast as they could. Stott
succeeded in getting away forty-two one-horse loads, eseh
on an average weighing one ton six hundredweight; while
Mills only succeeded in getting six two-horse loads.
Fortunately no disturbance took place. Mills considers
he has his remedy against Clegg, who sold the material to
him, and did not properly eeliver it.
RAILWAY COLLISION AT SIIEFFLELD.—Oti Sunday mor-
ning, a collision of an alarming character occurred on the
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway, at about
half a mile fom the Sheffield station. The accident
occurred about twenty five minutes past eight
o'clock, and but for the presence of mind and courage dis-
played by the engine driver, stoker, and guard, a serious
hiss of life must have taken place. The trains which
came into collision wove a passenger, train and a train
laden with gravel, called a ballast• train. The passenger
train was from Huddersfield, which town it had left at
ten minutes past seven o'clock, and was due at Sheffield at
half-past eight. When the passenger train hid arrived to
within half a mile of the Sheffield station, the officers in
che-ge of the train saw that the ballast train was coming
down the same line. The distance betweenn the two trains
was only about a hundred yards, and the passenger train
was ping at a rapid rate. The driver of the Huddersfield
train reversed the engine and sounded his whistle ;" the
stoker and guard applied all the power of the breaks; and
by this means, they succeeded, to a considerable degree,
in abating the motion of the train. It was impossible,
however, to prevent a collision. The passenger train was
still going at a quick speed, and the ballast train, though
not going very fast, rolled heavily along. Just before the
two came in collision, and whsia they had done all that
lay in their power, the guard, engine driver, and stoker,
jumped from the train—the two latter without sustaining
much injury, but not so the former, ; he, pool; fellow,
came In contact with some part of the vehicle from which
he jumped, bruised his head, and otheritise injured him-
self. As soon as he alighted on terra firma, he got on his
legs, but his injuries were such, that he reeled about and
was falling, when he was caught by some person who
happened to be near. He was then removed to a place
where his injuries could be attended to. By this time the
collision had taken place. Fortunately the engine of the
ballast train was pushing its load ; had it been otherwise,
and the two engines met, th© consequences must have been
much more serious than they were. As it was however,
the engine of the passenger train came in violent contact-
with a ballast wagg el_ Though heavily laden, the whole
of the woo4w e.k of the waggon was shattered, large
pieces of timber, and even the heavy springs of the waggon
being thrown about in all directions. The concussion
emitted the.front of the eSegtne to rise high into the air, and
it fell with a crash on to the wheels and strong iron coup-
ling bars of the shattered waggon. By these means
matters were brought to a stand still, the engine being
propped considerably above that line, and the tender being
thrown off the line. The works of the et gine were se-
riously injured, and considerable repairs will be required
before it can be again brought into use. Assistance was
procured as speedily as possible, and after several hours'
labour the train was removed. The passengers, who were
not numerous, left the train immediately after the collision
and walked to Sheffield, snflering from no other injury
than a rough shaking. -

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

LIVERPOOL.
BEFORE MR. MANSFIELD.

ASSAULT.—PAtrick M'Cann was caa,rged w7th having
assaulted policemen 658 and 105. The prisoner wee in a
public house in Chishenhale-street, where h 4 7,e,, ,3,unte,
and acting ontrageoesly. The e interfered, when he
vi Leidy assalte I them. H 3 Vi t. 4.5 s.eit to prison fir the
months.
"BIRDS OF A FEATIMR '—Stenhen Crow was charged with
violently aeiaulting James Bird, his brothwein-law.
Mr. Black defended the prisoner. The prisoner was drunk
in Fontenoy-streer, and his wife calle i compainant to try
and put him to bed, and in order to gat him to bed he gave
him a pint of ale, and after that the prisoner seized a
poker and followed the complainant into the street, where
he struck him a heavy blow, in presence of a policeman.
In reply to Mr, Bluck, the prosecutor said he did net wish
to hav3 the prisoner punished. His worship fined the
prisoner 5s fir being drunk.
WIFE DESERTION,—Martin Kelly was sent to jail for a
month for deserting his wife.
STABBING BY A SPANIARD. —A Spanish sailor, named
Antonio Perez, was charged with having stabbed John
Hodson, a sailmeker. From the evidence given, including
the testimony of Mr. Percival, of Bath-street, it appeared
that ab mit half-past four o'clock on Sunday, the prisoner
was speaking to a female in the street, when the com-
plainant and a comrade were passing, the latter made
some observation, when the prisoner took out Ni knife
and ran after him, the prosecutor interfered, when the
prisoner deliberately stabbed him in the back, and two
other places. Mr. Percival said he never saw t greater
ruffian in his life, and it was fearful to see the way he
ran with the open knife after till, man, and it was wonder-
ful that he did not kill him. He did not know any-
thing of the origin of the affair. Dr, Wall, of the
Southern Hospital, deposed as to the nature of the wounds,
and the prisoner was sent for trial. [Don Franekco
Tomaso, acted as interpreter in the ease.]
NOVEL ASSAITLT.— A well-dressed young girl, named
Eliza Evans, was chargel with having assaulted a gentle-
man named Bernard Leoni, who resides in Seymour-
street. The complainant was going home the previous
night, when he was accosted by the prisoner, who wanted
him to give her some drink, which he refused, and pushed
her away. She took a large pin, called a "corker," about
three inches long, and plunged it into his arm. She was
fined £5, or in default of payment two months' imprison-
ment.

MORIC ASSAULTING.—MichaeI IVl'Morris was charged
with having assaulted polceman 546. The officer met the
prisoner at 4 o'clock in the nratning, he having a bundle
in his hand; the officer asked him what was in it? and
The reply was a " box' on the nose which knocked him
down, and while oa the ground the prisoner kicked him.
severely. He was fined £5 or three months. imprison-
ment. There were some ten or twelve other persons
charged with having assaulted the police, and these were
sent to prison for periods varying from 14 days to three
months.
Tim HEAT of TIIE WARTIME AND THE BEER.—The
chief superintendent of police, for the north end of the
town, stated that on Saturday night there was more general
fighting and drunkenness, than had taken place for a long
time. The heat of the weather caused the people to imbibe
large (inanities of beer, and this drew forth thir pugna-
eicne qualities, and the whole division was a scene of riot
and fighting during the night. There were upwards of '2OO
prisoners brought before Mr. Mansfield yesterday morning,
charged with being drunk and disorderly conduct ; the
charges of felony were not included in this list.
CAUTION TO BLACIIGUANDSI-,-TWO TUffi4ll.l, named Henry
Eaton and Thomas Travis, were charged with having
assaulted Thomas Baines and Henry Unsworih. From
the evidence of complainants, and also that of Mr.
Campbell (one of the local officers of the court), it
appeared that there are a lot of blackguards in the neigh-
bourhood of Richmond-row, and that on Sunday evenings
they are in the habit of assembling there, and assaulting
every one that may happen to pass, who refuses to give
them money to get drink. The complainant, Unsworth,
was passing, on Sunday evening, when the prisoners, with
some ten others, attacked him, and because he would not
give them money, they knocked him down and kicked him.
Baines ran out of his house to save the other, when th.y
treated him in the same wl5, and also his da-oghte;:. Mr.
Campbell saw the transaction, and went to assist corn-
-I...inents, and they arrested the prisoners, hut the others
got away.. Mr. Mansfield said he would pat' dD vn such
blackgaardism in the streets. He fined the prisoners £lO
each, or in default of payment, 6 month's imprisaamelit.