The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-27 00:00:00

THE GAS EXPLOSION AT PORTSMOUTH

The late accident by the explosion of gas in the police
station in Portimouth dockyard is likely to prove a very
serious affair. James Giles, constable, died at half-past
4 on Sunday morning ; he had sustained a fracture of
the right thigh, fracture of the bones of both hands,
and wound if the eye. He never rallied from the shock.
On inquiry yesterday of the medical staff of the Royal
Naval Hospital at Haslar information was given as to
the state of the survivors. Inspector Henry Stroud has
sustained a fracture of both legs, is otherwise severely
injured, and quite sensible, but pulseless. A consul-
tation was held on his case yesterday by Dr. Sir John
Richardson, C. 8., and Dr. J. Wilson, Medical Inspectors
of the Hospital ; Dr. William Lindsay, Deputy Medical
Inspector ; Dr. Peter Leonard, Surgeon and Medical
Storekeeper of the establishment ; and Assist.-Surgeon
Alex. Stuart, when it was resolved that the patient was
too weak to sustain an operation, or both legs would be
amputated ' • his case appeared hopeless. Thos. Ripley,
sergeant, has sustained severe contusions in various
parts of the body ; Constable Wm. Helms, do. ; Daniel
Palmer, fracture of the left leg ; Henry Neville, contu-
sions and fracture of the left foot ; Edward Lane, frac-
ture of the right leo. ; James Wessell, fracture of the left
leg and right thigh a;
Thomas Sydenham, fractures right
leg and left ribs. These are all doing as well as the best
surgical skill and medical attention can insure. It has
been ascertained that the gas escape which led to the
above sad calamities arose from the main pipe being
broken adjacent to the police-station, whence the gas
found its way into a sewer that led under the building,
and so made its way beneath the floor of the mess room
of the force, to the boards of which one of the men ap-
plied his light with the view of finding out the position
of the escape. It is supposed that the injury to the
gaspipe was caused by a massive stone being thrown
from a cart at that spot, where the pipes are laid very
near the surface. No official inquiry has yet been in-
stituted, the Dockyard Admiral being absent.

The General Screw Company's steamer Argo is to take
out to the Crimea 20 officers, 300 troops, and 216 horses.
She is to be ready en the 9th of April next.
STAMP DUTIES ON Newsrenes.--Deputy Lott is to
bring forward the following motion at the next Court of
Common Council :—" That this court do petition both
Houses of Parliament against the bill introduced by Mr.
Gladstone, and intituled, A bill to alter and amend the
laws relating to the stamp duties on newspapers, the
printing and publishing of newspapers and registration,
and giving securities in connection therewith,' the same
being of dangerous tendency, inasmuch as, if carried into
a law, it will petmit the publication of newspapers with-
out registration of proprietorship and provision of sure-
ties' the present security against malicious, seditious,
and irreligious libels, piracy of copyright, and abuses of
every kind ; and it will increase the responsibility in the
press which will deprive injured parties, whoSts character
may have been assailed by anonymous writers, of the
redress at present afforded by the laws of the country."
LORD BLANTYRE'S " COMFORTS" IN THE CRIMEA,—
In consequence of complaints as to tho high prices
charged for the stores in Lord Blantyre's ships in the
Crimea, his lordship has issued the following letter of
explanation, dated ;Erskine-house, on Saturday :—" I
observe extracts from letters from soldiers-in the Crimea
complaining of the high prices of my goods in the Anne
Maclean and the Cicero. I attribute these remarks to
disappointment at not receiving these goods at home
prices, for I believe them to be sold at cost prices in the
Crimea. As freight, insuratce, interest of money, and
sundry minor charges in this country amount to about
4,00 G/. over and above the original cost of my goods, it
is obvious the prices must be high as compared with the
prices here, though a good deal under the prices quoted
as hitherto paid in the Crimea. lam sorry the meal
comes so high, but it is already below the invoice cost.
Details I am unable to give, not having heard from the
supercargoes since the 19th of February. lam confi-
dent they will carry out my intentions of supplying the
officers and soldiers with useful things at moderate
prices. " BLANTYRE."