The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-07-18 00:00:00

DRE DI 111. ACCIDENT.

Yesterday, a shocking calamity happened in
Duke-street, Mile End, New Town. The founda-
tion of two very old houses gave way, and the
wretched inhabitants, consisting of eight poor fa-
milies, were buried in the ruins. The time rendered
this event more awful and distressing ; it was ab:•ut
half-past six in the morning, and the individuals
were only awoke from sleep by the destrudive ira•li
of both houses, which falling at the same time,
threatened to cover them in one grave. The alarm
in the neighbourhood occasioned by the ti einem:tins
noise of the descending ruin, was sudden, and those
who rushed to the spot, at first imagined the pre-
mises to be on fire, as clouds of dust, which had tl:e
appearance of smoke, veiled the true calamity :
scene, however, soon presented itself that left no op-
portunity to procrastinate. The unfortunate vidims
were heard to utter the most doleful groans, and
supplicate for assistance from beneath the ruins, and
it is hut justice to say, the readiness of the neigh-
bours to afford relief was wonderful: they be-
gan by removing the upper beams and heavy
timber, and listening with attention from whence
the voices issued, released no less than thirty-six
persons from their painful situations, most of them
were naked, and many of them bruised in a dread-
ful manner ; but, astonishing as it may appear, not
one life was lost. nor any bones broken. Box, the
tenant of one of the houses, on being taken out, Ask-
ed where his wife and children were, and being told
they were missing, resolute:} rescued them himself,
though much wounded. Another pei son, named
Nicholson, after having escaped, supported a piece
of timber in the most perilous situation, until his
wife got out ; after which, the whole mass again
gave way, and he was dreadfully wounded ab•ott
the head and breast, before be could be extri-
cated. A woman, who was delivered of a child
the day before, received very little injury. A
Mrs. Dermer, aged 95 years, was much hem ; and
a man named Tiffin, received a violent cootosion
on his breast, by the pressure of a large beam. The
unfortunate sufferers were conveyed,- within one
hour after the accident, to the London Hospital,
and parish workhouse, where they remained, at
eight o'clock last night, in a fair way of recovery.
The bruises experienced by these poor people,
are but a part of their misfortunes : their small
stock of clothes and property has been either
pillaged or destroyed, and many of them possess,
at this moment, scarce enough to cover them. 'lke
houses which fell were originally built of old ma-
terials, have stood thirty-eight years, and were se-
veral times reported unsafe to the landlords, Messrs.
Lee and Braybtook, who have paid but little atten-
tion to such complaints. Most of the Mile End
and Spitalfields volunteers, with an alacrity that does
them honour, proceeded to the spot, and endea-
voured to preserve the property ; buts notwith-
standing, a great quantity of silk and materials used
by weavers, dtc, were stolen, and two of the depre-
dators were taken into custody. One of the houses
was a chandler's shop, the other occupied by a
poor man, who drove a can, which, will; the horse,
was saved—the infant before mentirmed was lying
• dead in one of the garrets when the accident oc-
curred.

r, him It.

Notwithstanding the anxious wish of the Govern-
ment, that this day should pass by unnoticed, and
that .in intimation to that effect had been conveyed
to the Captains Commandantsof the several Yeoman-
ry Corps of this city, it has seldom been celebrated
with more relat, or stronger demonstrations of party
zeal. The more reputable Corps, however, such
as the hlerchants, Lawyers, Linen-Hall, Attorneys.
College, Castle, dcc. &c. did not assemble, nor did
we obserse a single individual of any cavalry corp..
uniform, much less wearing any emblem of party
distin'tion. This is a satisfactory proof, were any
wanting, that the spirit of exclusion and intolerance
is confined to the very lowest classes, whose want of
education peculiarly fits them to become the instru-
ments of a few mess, as ignorant, but more opulent,
than themselves.

Last night, twenty men were arrested in the Li-
berty. They were examined this day at the Caste,
and afterwards committed to Kilmainham prison.
It is said, they are United Irishmen, and were found
sitti: ti, ki-liberating as a Committee. I sincerely
hope, t!ii, report may turn out unfounded, and that
they win be round, as another account states them to
be, a Cimmittee of journeymen engaged in corn-
bilatioa against their employers.