The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-13 00:00:00

that the Achilles is the first of the squadron of ironclads I The Mysterious Death on the Metropoli
built at the Royal dockyards. In consequence of the length Railway.
of time which the Ach Iles has been lying in Chatham har-
bour her bottom has become exceedingly foul, notwithstand-
ing its having been coated with one of the numerouvo called
anti-fouling compositions. She will accordingly require to
be docked and her bottom cleaned before she proceeds on
her first cruise.

Second Capt R. Decie, in command of the 9th Company
of Royal Engineers at Woolwich, will succeed Capt C. E.
Harvey as Adjutant at the Royal Engineer establishment,
Chatham, on the promotion of the latter officer.
A serious accident occurred on Wednesday last to Mr
Lighton, a cadet of her Majesty's ship Britannia,who,while
running about the rigging fell from the main chains and
shuck ou the landing stage of the gangway, by which he
received a fracture of the skull and severe internal injury.
Mr Sayce, a young cadet, seeing him in the water bleeding
and insensible, instantly sprang overboard in the most gal-
lant manner to the rescue, and was quickly followed by Mr
Stackpoole, another cadet (both having their clothes on).
They endeavoured to support him as well as they could,
but, finding the tide too strong, were about to relinquish
their hold, when Lieut Hereford, observing their helpless
position, swam to their relief, and succeeded in keeping the
drowning boy above water until picked up by one of the
officers and seamen who hastened from the ship in a boat
which sy as fortunately alongside. Mr Lighten was removed
to the hospital at Dartmouth, where he remained under the
care of Dr Bremer, the surgeon in charge. He is still in a
precarious states, but hopes are entertained of his recovery.
The division at Aldershot, under command of Sir J. L.
Pennefather, K.C.8,, formed up on Clavcart-ridge at half-
past 10 o'clock onWednesday morning for field manoeuvres,
and after the usual march past was disposed in order of
battle, the 10th Hussars throwing out skirmishers and ad-
vancing to the westward, the Scots Greys being in support,
and the Royal Dragoons forming the reserve of this brigade.
On the recall of the skirmishers, the Hussars advanced in
line at a gallop and halted, the Greys advanced on their
right in the same order, passing the 14th for some distance
before halting, and a troop of the Royal Dragoons was
pushed forward by Major Ainslie at a smart gallop until far
in advance. This troop retired, and the Greys and Hussars
advanced in a line at a trot, changed positions to the south-
ward, and threw out skirmishers. The three brigades of
infantry advanced by brigades in columns in mass, with the
heads of columns in line, at deploying distance, each bri-
gade covered by a line of skirmishers. Generals Taylor and
Russell, commanding the Ist and 3d brigades respectively,
then changed positions to the southward, the latter form-
ing( his right on the left of the 14th Hussars. Brigadier
Ingall, commanding the 2d brigade, also changed positions
to the left, forming the advanced line, which brought him
opposite Gen. Russell, skirmishers covering his front and
throwing in a smart fire. The plan of attack now begins to
develope itself. The Royal Dragoons advanced in line to
the southward, on the left of the infantry. and charged in
splendid style. while the 14th Hussars made a similar dash
on the right of the infantry. As the 14th retired the Greys
came forward and charged over the same ground with equal
impetuosity. At the same time Brigadier Ingall opened a
sharp file fire, and the Rifles, recalled, took up their position
in the brigade. During this time the Artillery was busily
engaged. and made good use of its guns from every point of
vantage, the sound of the incessant discharge mingling with
the sustained fusillade in one continuous din. At thisjunc-
ture Gen, Russell came into action on the right of Brigadier
Ingall and commenced file firing. Brigadier Ingall retired
and the Royal Dragoons again charged the enemy. " Cease
firing" was now sounded, and Gen. Taylor could be seen
bringing up his brigade to the front. In the meantime the
14th Hussars again dashed forward, charged at a tremen-
dous pace, and retired by columns of troops from both
flanks, the Greys immediately charging through the inter-
vals and retiring in like manner. Gen, Taylor's brigade,
having arrived in front, opened a smart fusillade, where a
battery of the Royal Horse Artillery and the Grey Bat-
tery of Artillery on the left and right respectively, kept
up a vigorous cannonade. ,* Cease firing" was again
sounded ; and the effect of the operations having been to
drive back the enemy, he was allowed to reoccupy Bricks-
burg-hill, and the water works, where it was determined to
leave him. The army then retired under cover of the
Royal Horse Artillery and a line of skirmishers, while as a
finale, the Royal Dragoons advanced in line to the front of
the infantry at a gallop, and a squadron of the 14th Hussars
dashed on from the right, cutting the " pursuing practice"
is a skilful manner; the enemy, however, again making
offensive demonstrations, the Lieut.-Generals once mole
changed position to the westward, the Royal Dragoons
charged on the left, and the division fell back under cover
of the Greys and 14th Hussars, until the original position
on Claycart was gained. The troops were then dismissed
to their quarters.
The 31 Infantry Brigade at Aldershot, under the com-
mand of Major-Gen. Russell, paraded a few days ago, for
the purpose of presenting a medal for long service and good
conduct, with a gratuity of 15 to Colour-Sergt. W. Eager,
39th Regiment. The gallant General made some compli-
mentary remarks upon the meritorious career of the Colour
Sergeant, which were listened to with great attention by the
troops. He then alluded to the pleasing duty which devolved
upon himself, and presented the medal and gratuity to the
sergeant amid the customary demonstrations.
The regimental returns at Aldershot just issued show the
following figure of merit and classification per cent of men
at target practice on the 31st Aug., 1834 :--lst battalion 6th
Regiment—battalion, 94.75 ; best company, 120.83; marks-
men, per cent., 9. 734 Regiment—battalion, 67 92 ; best
company, 91.68 ; marksmen, per cent., 3. 624 Regiment—.
battalion, 67.13; best company, 75.11; marksmen per cent.,
2. 59th Regiment—battalion-56 09 ; best company, 83.70;
marksmen, per cent., 6. 834 Regiment—battalion, 52-07;
best company, 79.00 ; marksmen, per cant., 4. Ist battalion
14th Regiment--battalion, 47.54; beet company, 73.26 ;
marksmen, per cert., 5. 75th Regiment—battalion, 44 09 ;
best company, 60.65 ; marksmen per cent., 1. 2d battalion
60th Rifles—battalion, 10.03 ; best company, 44.49 ; marks-
men per cent., nil. The best shots at the same date were,
first period, Private T. Sullivan, 73d Regiment, 67 points;
second period, second class, Sergeant J. Mason, Ist
battalion 6th Regiment, 53 points ; third period, Ist
class, Colour Sergeant E. Hayles, 2d battalion 60th Rifles,
38 points. Capt. Cockburn's company, let battalion 6th
Regiment, shows the highest figure of merit—viz., first
period, 42'10; volley firing, 19.73; percentage of first and
third classes, 634; difference, first class, 59, total 120.83.
The following appointments have been made at the Ad-
miralty :—Commander W. Codrington to the Warrior—
Robert Towers, second master to the Dromedary—G. C.
Larken, second master, to the Dee—J. J. Greathead, chief
engineer, to the Procris, for service in Gibraltar yard—
Leonard Backler, assist.-engineer, to the Victoria and
Albert—and Alfred Smith, clerk, supernumeraoy, to the
Fiegard,

,tan

The frightful and mysterious death of a young female, at
present unknown, which took place just after midnight at
the Portland-road station of the Metropolitan Railway,
now that the circumstances connected with it are becoming
more fully developed, tend to the inference that the occur.-
rence was not one of accident, but of deliberate foul play on
the part of the man who was in deceased's company, and
who, notwithstanding he must be fully aware of the fate
which has befallen her, had not, up to yesterday afternoons
made his appearance to identify the body. From tho in-
vestigations made by Mr B ,yle, the summoning officer of
Marylebone, it appears by the statements of Mr H. Fisher,
of the general manager's office, Richd. Giddens, the guard,
and the ticket clerk at the Portland-road station, that the
last train from Farringdon-street
.to Bishop's-road left the
former precisely at 12 o'clock on Saturday night, and reached
Portland station at 12.12 on Sunday morning. Just before
the train arrived a man, in company with the deceased,
whom the ticket collector identifies, came and took two
third-class tickets for the Edgeware-road station. The trait'
had arrived, and when he went out of the ticket offices
seeing they were both standing on the stair', he called out
to them that unless they made haste they would be too late.
They then ran down to the platform together. Me then loot
sight of them. Giddens, the guard, states that the trait"
was in motion, and when he looked down he saw one door
open and a woman attempting to get into the carriage, at'd
a hand either attempting to pull her in or push her out,
he could not say which. He called out twice to her,

" You are too late—too late ;" and as he said it the se-
cond time he saw the woman disappear between the railo
and the platform. At the same moment a man WO
seen to run from the train and upstairs to the entrance to
the station. At all events the man who was with bet
whether he ran up the stairs or got into the carriage has not
since been heard of. The body was first found by Willis!"
Clarke, a porter at the station, frightfully mutilated. ger
right arm was torn from its socket, one of the legs broken in
two places, the pelvis completely divided, and the entrain
protruding. Death must have been instantaneous, and the
body was at once removed to Marylebone Infirmary. The
deceaaed, who was poorlyclad, is a remarkably good looking
young woman, about 24 years of age, light brown hair,
neatly plaited over the temples, grey eyes, lull set teeth,
rather prominent mouth. She wore a brown and blue striped
crinoline extended by cane, and much darned, elastic side
boots, old white cotton stockings, a red petticoat, apparently
made out of window curtains, a black cashmere shawl,
black chip bonnet with lavender and white flowers, the
bonnet-cap black, with blue velvet, and white stays. .91113
is about five feet five inchen6in height, and instead of
13
chemise she had a man's shirt on. On her person was fount'
a number of lead penoils and envelopes.
During the afternoon, yesterday, as no one had identified
the body, and as there is a suspicion of foul play, Mr Tubbot
assistant overseer, suggested that a photograph of deceased 'it
face should be taken, as decomposition is fast setting
Information has been forwarded to the coroner.