The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-04 00:00:00

THAMES.

SAVAGE ASSAULT ON A POLICE-CONSTABLE.—WiIIiam
Adams, a well-dressed man, was brought before Mr Paget,
charged with violently assaulting John 1114 Kay, a police-
constable, No. 414 K.
Mr Gomm, from the office of Mr Hodgson, solicitor
defended the prisoner, who was stated to be a Custom-house
officer.

The constable gave evidence of very disgraceful conduct
on the part of the prisoner and a woman in his company on
a piece of ground belonging to the Clare estate, near the
Stepney Meeting-house. The ground is only partially
built over, and there is a footway in the middle, which is
extensively used. About 11 yards from this public foot-
path, at a quarter before nine last night, the prisoner and
the woman were seen by the passers-by, and the constable's
attention was called to them. M'Kay interfered, the woman
departed, but the prisoner would not, and committed a
violent assault on the constable, struck him on the head
and face, and caused him to bleed profusely. He also ac-
companied his violence with very foul language.
The assault on the constable was confirmed by George
Montague Hubbard, a clerk, who was returning from a
lecture at the Stepney Meeting School, a few yards from

the spot.
Mr Gomm, in defence, said the disgraceful conduct,
attributed to the prisoner and the woman was quite un-
founded. The prisoner met with a respectable female
named Lizzie Newing, of 17 or 27, Wellesley-street, near
the Thames police-court, and he was just answering her
questions when the constable made his appearance an.l
in-
tei fered.
Mr Paget said this case had assumed particular import-
ance. The constable was charged with trumping up an
unfounded charge against two persons. The case must be
further investigated, and the woman who called herself
Lizzie Newing produced, if possible. He remanded the
prisoner.

The Great Prize Fight.

DUBLIN, Monday Morning.

The pugilistic head-quarters at Island-bridge, near this
city, are the centre of attraction for crowds of persons es ger
to see or hear whatever can be seen or heard in relation to
the forthcoming fight. There is a strong muster of what
is elegantly der orainated the " fighting fraternity" at the
above named place, as also in the city generally, and the
numbers are rapidly increasing by the large arrivals with
every steamer from London and Liverpool. There is a
great diversity of opinion even amongst " the fancy" as to
the all-absorbing event of to-morrow—whether it will come
off at all, how it will end if it should take place. the locality
selected, &c, All these doubts and disputes will, however
be sot at rest within the next 24 hours, eo it is hardly
worth while speculating upon them.
The difficulty of finding a referee for the coming fight
has advanced towards a satisfactory solution, although
the person who is to fulfil this thankless (Ace is not yet
formally appointed, because he has not arrived from Eng-
land. He will, however, be here to-day, and as the
articles do not exact that a referee should be agreed upon
until the day before the fight, he can be present at the
meeting this afternoon convened for that special business.
There was some alarm felt yesterday morning for the
safety of Mace, as a detective was reported to be on the
look out in the vicinity of his abiding place. It was not
clearly made out that he was in any actual danger of
arrest, but those who have the care of him considered it
prudent to take an opportunity of removing him last even-
ing to private apartments in a different part of the city.
Thus the vigilance of the police has so far been completely
bated—that is, allowing them to have exercised any
vigilance, which lam much disposed to doubt. Both Mace
and Coburn continue in excellent condition, and they ex-
pressed themselves anxious to meet face to face in the ring.
Mace is still the favourite.

After the meeting of to-day I shall be able, I hope, to
give you more precise information as to the arrangements

for to-morrow.

The rendezvous is a long run from Dublin, and is situated
in such a wild, secluded country, that the men might fight
for a week almost without interruption. If this should so
prove, the battle, in my opinion, judging from the appear-
ance of the two men, will be short but desperate. Mace is a
firm, powerful-looking fellow, standing about 5 feet 9 inches
high. He has been highly trained, and one would imagine
his powers of endurance to be immense. But this is not so.
I ar, t•Old he cannot stand thrashing, and that if Coburn
succeeds at the commencement of the fight in striking
his adversary with anything like force, he will come off
the victor. This fact appears to be generally known, and
especially so by Mace's supporters. But, on the other hand,
they have such implicit faith in his cleverness that they
believe Coburn will not got a chance of delivering a telling
blow, The appearance of Coburn is not so formidable. He is
stout and fine-looking, but does not look so highly trained
as his antagonist. His skin is comparatively fair, and his
flesh soft. Hence I believe he will "puff." His powers
of endurance, however, are said to be very great, but he
evidently lacks the activity possessed by Mace, and there-
fore I conceive him to be at a disadvantage, and believe
that if fighting is really meant on both sides Mace will
prove the better man. Be this as it may, Coburn has the
greatest confidence in his own success, and appears to re-
gard the fight as already won. His friends also exhibit the
same confidence. His weight is a little over 11 stone, and
he is 30 years of age. In this particular he has the advan-
tage of Mace, who is 34. Macs's weight is 11 stone 51b.--
51b. heavier than he ever weighed before when fully trained.
Mr Woodroff3, in organising the special for the trip, has
paid due regard to the comfort and convenience of the tra-
vellers, who, from the high priCe charged for tickets to
witness the encounter, and the remoteness of the battle

field, will be comparatively few, and of decidedly a better
class than generally congregate round a prize ring. Several
of the most noted fighting men, as well as tho stakeholder,
arrived by Saturday night's mail. A large number of per-
sons fond of such exhibitions will, it is said, arrive to-night.
Both the men continue in the best of health, and Mace
retains his position of favourite,

THE FIGHT OFF.
DUBLIN, Monday Evening.

The articles for the match between Coburn and Mace re-
quiring that a referee should be named this afternoon, a
meeting was accordingly held for that purpose at the head
quarters, Island Bridge. The principal leaders of the
corps pupli6tiqu6 were in attendance, and the character
of the meeting was oue of unusual interest and
excitement, consequent upon the vacillating tactics
pursued by the repres3ntatives of the belligerents
and the strong rumours of police interference. Confusion
was made worse confounded by the fact that there has been
no ropes and stakes provided for the encounter. At three
o'clock in the afternoon the question was mooted as to who
should be the right man in the right place, as referee. Mr
Brunton, on behalf of Mace, named Mr Smith ; but this
selection was objected to by Mr James, the representative
of Coburn. Mr James then named Mr Thomas Bowling,
brother in-law of Coburn, residing near Limerick. This
Mr Brunton immediately objected to as preposterous. A
brief but hot argument ensued, and the parties separated
without agreeing to a referee. The matter consequently
stands over for adjudication by the final stakeholder on
Friday next. The chief police authorities have during the
morning publicly notified that measures would be adopted
to prevent the fight taking place in any part of Ireland,
under the penalty of personal restraint to all parties con-
cerned. The issue is most galling to the whole sporting
community, and another blow has doubtless been struck
against pugilism.

TIIE LAST OF THE WOLD INCENDIARIES.—Ben-
jamin Wilson, a poacher, and suspected for the fires of last
winter, was committed to prison for three months, at Nor-
ton, on Saturday, on a charge of game trespass, on the 16th
ult. on the grounds of Lord Middleton, on which occasion
he seriously ill-used Palmer, his lordship's game watcher.
At the end of his imprisonment Wilson is to be bound
over to keep the peaco for 12 months. The last of the
Weld incendiaries is therefore now in custody.

FREE NAVIGATION ON THE RIVER AMAZON.—
" RIO JANEIRO, June 19, 1864. To the Minister
for Foreign Affairs.—Sir,—The Imperial Chamber of
Deputies, in session on the 16th ultimo, has approved, in
substitution of the project for the free navigation of the
River Amazon, the following proposition, a verbatim copy
of which is enclosed for the information of the Supreme Go-
vernment Tho Government is hereby authorised to
open, with as little delay as possible, the River Amazon to
the commerce and navigation of friendly Powers with whom
treaties shall bo previously adjusted, throughout the whole
course of the Brazilian territory on that river.' This pro-
position has already passed the Senate,—God preserve, &c
(Signed) JVAN F, SELAYA."

THE EXPLOSION AT ERITH,

THE CORONER'S INQUEST THIS DAY.

The Coronet's inquiry into the circumstances attending
the explosion of the gunpowder magazine of the Messrs.
Hall and Son was opened this morning at the Belvedere
Hotel, Erith, by Mr. Carttar, the Coroner.

The Coroner expressed a hope that none of the gentlemen
of the jury were interested in the inquiry. If they were so
he hoped they would at once retire.
No one responding, the jury were sworn to inquire into
the deaths of three of the victims of the catastrophe— viz.,
Rayner, Hubbard, and York.
The effects of the explosion were visible throughout the
neighbourhood, the wbo:o of the windows of the room of
the hotel in which the inquiry was held being blo sn out.

The Coroner said they were about to enter into a very
important inquiry, and he felt he need not remind any of
the jury of the circumstances attending the terrible explo-
sion. They were, he was certain, too well acquainted with
them. Ile had hchi many inquiries into explosions caused
by gunpowder, but these had been caused chiefly in manu-
factories. This was the first time in which he had been
called on to enter into an inquiry attending the explosion of
a gunpowder magazine. In the cases he had referred to the
greatest difficulty had been caused owing to the death of
many of the parties who could give information, and
this unfortunate event had not been an exception to that
unfortunate result. He did not think they would Le
able to ascertain the exact cause that led to
the explosion, but they
would be enabled to as: er-
tain what caution was taken in the storing of gunpowth r
and also the amount of gunpowder kept in one building,
They would then have to determine whether there ought
not be some limit placed to quantity kept in store, and also
whether certain distances ought not to be fixed within
which gunpowder magazines should not be allowed. In
the event of thtir coming to any special verdict, he would
take care that it Wag torwardel to tha proper quarter,
where it would, no doubt, meet with every attention.

Mr Poland said he appeared on behalf of the Messrs Hal',
who were anxious that every facility should be given to
the jury in the execution of their duty. He also might es
well inform the jury that whatever recommendation the
jury might feel it their duty to make, the Messrs Hall
would do all in their power to carry it into effect.
The Coroner said he did not know whether it would be
possible to conclude the inquiry that day. Ho would do
his utmost to facilitate the inquiry. So, after the jury had
viewed the bodies, he would proceed with the examination
of some of the witnesses who it might be supposed could,
throw some light upon the terrible calamity.
The jury then left the room to view the bodies which lay
in the stable attached to the hotel. The body of the man
Rayner presented the most s'ckening appearance, the poor
fellow's brain protruding from the skull on to the mattras
upon which the body had been placed. There were lying in
the same place various portions of the human body which
had been picked up in the fields adjoining. There were
three feet, a man's chest, a portion of a man's face with
the whisker attached, portion of a skull, and other melan-
choly remains.

On the return to the inquest room the following wit-

nesses were examined :

Walter Silver said—l resided near the magazine. lam
in the employ of the Lowwood and Liverpool Gunpowthr
Mills Company (Limited). One of the bodies I have seen is
that of George Rayner; he was about 37 years of age. He
was storekeeper to the Messrs. Hall whose magazines were
exploded. Another of the bodies. that of Thomas Hubbard,
a labourer, who was engaged in some buildings erecting
near the magazines. He was not at all connected with the
works. I saw him alive on Saturday morning last. The
other is that of John York, son of William York, who R as
under storekeeper. The father of the poor boy is missing.
Mr Sidney Turner said—l am house surgeon at Guy's
Hospital. I have under my care some parties injured by
the explosion. With the exception of one, Eliza Osborne,
who is in a very dangerous condition, the othfirs are going
on very well. We had nine brought to us. Two have
died since their admission to the hospital. One of the
children, a girl named York, is in my opinion able to leave
the hospital immediately if required. The witness having
given in detail the condition of the various sufferers,

Mr Thomas Churton said—l reside at Erich, and am a
surgeon. I have seen the bodies of the three parties, which
I identify. I did not see any of the men alive. I recog-
nised among the remains the whisker, which I believe
belonged to the man Wright. Two of the feet I believe
belonged to one person. I have some young children injured
by the explosion under my care. One of them, a boy, was
gathering mushrooms in a field in the vicinity of the maga-
zine, and the other is a boy suffering from fracture of the
skull. _ _

The Coroner said the object of taking the present evidence
was to ascertain the condition of the people who were able
to give evidence.
Police-Sergeant Cox said the son of tho man Wright whc
was blown to atoms, and who saw
the explosion, was in

attendance,
The Coroner did not think it would be desirable to take
so important a witness to-day.
Police constable 15 R said there were sixteen persons now

massing, of whom no tidings were at present known.
Tho coroner said it was impossible to continue the inquiry
in the present shattered condition of the room in which
they were then assembled. He thought it would be the
best course to at once adjourn. It had 'been
arranged that on the next occasion they were to assemble
in the Avenue Schoolroom, at Erith, which would be far
more convenient for them ; and he therefore had to request
that the jury would give their attendance on that day, at
the place he had mentioned.
The inquiry was adjourned with tho usual form.

Up to last evening seven out of the nine persons who
were injured by the explosion, and afterwards removed to
Guy's Hospital, were doing well, with the exception of
Elisabeth Osborn, seven years of age, who lies in a very
dangerous state. Elizabeth Wright, one of the nine, died
very shortly atter her admission to the hospital on Satur-
day, and James Eves, another of the sufferers, expired at
*4
o'clock on Sunday afternoon. Another death, indirectly
attributable to the catastrophe, occurred on Sunday night
at the Erith station of the North Rent Railway. A young
Italian, named Luigi Lorandi, or Moraudi, in attempting
to enter a carriage in a general rush which was made for
places on the arrival of an up train, was dragged among
the wheels and sustained mortal injuries. He was brought
by the same train to London and taken to Guy's Hospital,
arriving there at half-past 12 o'clock, He had received a
compound fracture of the right thigh just above the knee
joint, and the whole of the leg below was much lacerated
and contused. He was in a state of collapse and almost
pulseless. Mr Sidney Turner, the house surgeon, decided
that areputaan was necessary to afford even a chance of
recovery, smell though it would have been; but the unfor-
tunate man could not be prevailed upon to submit to the
operation. Ile died three-quarters of an hour after his ad-
mission to the hospital. His own account was that he was
London.
pushed under a carriage while. the train was starting, and
that the wheels went over his leg. He was a young man of
gentlemanly appearance and gave an address at 61, Gos-
well-road. His body, with those of
.the two persons who
died at the hospital from
.injuries received in the explosion,
awaits an inquest, which will be held. to-morrow by Mr
sceneeed t
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night fearful scenes of tumult and
violence occurred at the Erith and Belvedere stations on
The re-
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Eeyrithand Bel-
vedere,the North Kent Railway. Throughout the whole day
railway authorities at
thousands of people went by the line from London and the
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London-bridge despatched extra trains one after another as
fast as they could do so with safety, to bring up the people,
passengers on the up journey. The.
but in spite of that there was great delay, and the last up-
train did not leave the Belvedere station until three o'clock
yesterday morning. At intervals during the whole evening,
whenever a train stopped, either there or at Erith, a fright-
ful rush was made at it, and the people crowded the carriage
to suffocation, in spite of the efforts of the police and the rail-
way company's servants to restrain them. Many clambered
upon the tops of the carriages, others took possession of the
engine tender, and some even bestrode the buffers until they
were pulled off by main force by the police. At Wool-
wich Arsenal station several of the trains were stopped, and
people who were suffering from the overcrowding taken out
of them.
Yesterday and on Sunday pieces of the mangled and mu-
tilated remains of persons who perished in the explosion
were found here and there in the neighbourhood and taken
to a shed at the back of the Belvedere Hotel, where the
bodies of Rayner, the storekeeper, a man named Hibbard,
and a_boy—at first supposed, but erroneously, to have been
the son of Rayner—await an inquest. Among these ghastly
relics arc a right and left foot, portions of a skull, and part
of a jaw with a whisker, all apparently beyond identity. An
inquest will be opened to-day at Belvedere by Mr Carttar,
one of the coroners for the county of Kent. The gap in the
embankment which was repaired with such wonderful reel •
dity after the explosion by the Sippers and Minors and the
Artillery from Woolwich garrison, assisted by 40G of Mr
Webster's navvies from the Main Drainage Works at Cross-
ness Point, has never in the leastgiven way, though severely
tested both yesterday and on Sunday by high tides and a