The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-23 00:00:00

MELANCHOLY CAT.ISTROPHE.

SICVEN Pensows DitowmEn.--Yeaterday evening, inquisitions
were taken before Mr. Uwwisr, the Coroner, on view of the bodies
of Maui Threader, William Eynon, Elizabeth Mitchell, Robert
Zkitl/1011, and Elie tbeth &bison, his daughter, aged three yam
and a half. The first inquest was held at the Hone and Otoolmsl
White Morse-street, Ratcliffe, on Mary Threader, and thelp='
on the other untOrtunate deceased persons was held at the
Kidney stairs, Limehouse. . ~
The following was the evidence adduced en both inquests 3._—
residt
Mr. W. Thomas sworn—Witness is • ship-owner, is
Narrow-street, Ratefiff; he was standing at his hock: h
doesr,
el ht o'clock on the evening of Monday last, ',rid commanded a
the rive; the tide was going down at die time; be saw i bee
on the north side of the river, opposite his premises; few baogna,
were hanging to a chain, en Mr. Kean, the cool-tnerebones
Mrs. oat outside the pits, and the other throe banging to hol
fang loaded barge was at this time dropping down ll• head to tide;
he can't tell who the barge belonged to, though he and others called
out to ascertain that fact; the long barge was going to "bring up"
to Mr. Kean's barges ; the boatman was pulling ahead, bit St=
he could not, he dropped beck with a view to go outside du
barge, but from the weight of his boat he could not accomplish kit
project, and his boat struck against one of MrKean's barges, width
mopped him. In the mean time the loaded barge kept d
down, and the ruddes struck the boat, drove her under onen Mt
Kean's barges, and ' all the passengers were washed overboard.
When witness found that the accident had occurred, he triad out
" Renner:" and several watermen and part of a ship's crew put out
to the assistance of the drowning persons, and picked up the water.
man, an elderly man, an infant, and Mary Threader, all living,
and who survived the shock, with the exception of the latter, who
died shortly after she was brought ashore. It is witness's opinion,
that if Mr. Kean's barges had not been moored there, the
disaster would not have occurred. There is • great deal of danger
in barges being moored in that situation. One of the witness's ap-
hrentiers sous drowned a short* time ago in consequence, and he
as been himself' the means of preventing many accidents there.
There were four women, time men (including the waterman) and
two female children in the boat at the time. Winseaa thinks that
the people in the long barge ought to have warned those in the
boat of their danger.
John Threader, an old man, deposed he was husband to the do.
ceased of that name; they went together to Greenwich on Monday
last, not to the fair, but to visit a particular friend of his at the
College, and were returning home in the boat alluded to. Witness
cannot acquit the waterman of blame, for he went on shore twice
in coining up, although he was told several times to be cautious.
Witness cannot recollect under what circumstances either lie or any
of the others were saved, he was in such confusion at the time.
iVilliuni Hewett works occasionally for Mr. Thomas, the first
witness, end was in his warehouse, and saw the accident occur as
described by his master ; he heard two diadem screaming bitterly,
sad tan to the *hart' with a long ladder, which he placed in the
wat.r, In order to save some of the persona, but he had no success ;
he saw Min. Threader taken ashore, she was then alive; and he
went to call the assistance of two neighbouring surgeons, but they
refused to attend. Ile thinks the Waterman was to blame, for
he was condoned of the danger long before the accident oceureed.
The situation of the barges alluded to is most dangerous to per.
SOU navigating on the river, and in witness's opinion have no right
whatever to be moored there.
The Jury were one and all of opinion that the situation of these
barges was dangerous and illegal, and wished to learn of the Co.
some how the evil could be remedied.
The Coaoxea said, the matter might be either represented at
the Crown Office, or the nuisance indicted at the sessions.
The Jury expressed their determination of laying the matter be.
fore the Parish Commit:re, who, they were sure, would take the
necessary steps in the mutter. We believe the Court of Aldermen
Is the most quarter from which to seek redrew.
After sonl:7lllierrther comments,
The Jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death in each case.
The waterman received • most excellent character Irons several
rearretable inhabitants in the neighbourhood.
There are two of the unfortunate sufferers still missing ; one Is
the witb of Robert prison, who was an engineer, living in Harris's-
court, Ratcliffe; the other is a young woman only 18 years of age,
named Betsey Mitchell, who was to be married in a few days to
the de-emu-4 William Eynon.

FIRE.—On Wednesday night, about twelve o'clock, a
fire broke out in the shop of Mr. G. Moore, ea and timber-
Tesertchanmyeel't thelaarl4liactolk ricitrwbirtihilt7i; Lever-
stuck and a Deptford, whirls
imaged several houses to Fairey's-buildings, adjoining.
Flaz.—Yestertlay morning, between twelve and one
o'clock, the Inhabitants of Deptford were greatly alarmed by the
breaking out of a fire in an extmsive :finber-yard, situate in Far-
retro-buildings, Lower-road. The flames raged with such lame-
tumity, as at first to threaten destruction to the houses in the vi-
I tiuity, without the probability of checking their p get; but by
the united and very great eztertions of theneighbours and the
fireman, who had s.-need with the London engines, it wax very for-
tunately got under, but not before the whale of the stables, out.
hawses, sheds, and every thing belonging to the premises, were
consumed. The appearance of the llama was awfully dreadful,
Iro.o the quantity of dry timber, which blazed until it was quite
reduced to ashes, and the premises present a heap of ashes. The
rhorses were burnt to death in thestables, without the possibility of
ang person attempting their rescue.
It is a well-known fact that Cocoa and Chocolate are the
most nutritious Fit-tide; for a beverage of any importations to this
island ; hence arises the frequent use of cocoa among the veterans
of Greenwich Hospital. A method has of late beet introduced of
rendering the above articles far more suitable for weak and delicate
constitutions, than hitherto in use, via.: by neutralizing the oily
properties of the cocoa-nut, which, when manufactures: into chneo.
late powder or cocoa-paste, becomes a delicious article of faintly
use. We are intbrmed that the consumption of chocolate powder
and cocoa paste is become very general, owing to the above-named
improvements in the manufacture, together with the great facility
of making it for the table, viz.: in Less than one minute, and with-
out boiling.