The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-11 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE,—This day.

The Late Gunpowder Explosion at Erith.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

ADJOURNED INQUEST.-(THIS DAY.)

"EMPLOYMENT OFFICES" AND THEIR PRACTICES.—A
young woman, of respectable appearance, applied to Mr
Tyrwhitt for his advice. She stated that seeing an adver-
tisement in a paper, to the effect that there were several
situations vacant for young women, she applied at the ad-
dress, 96, Regent-street, an " Employment Office for
Ladies," for a situation as lady's maid ; and, after paying
a fee of ss, she was told there was a situation which would
just suit her, An address in Cambr:dge-street, Hackney-
road, was given to her, and she was told to write to " A,8."
She did so, but not receiving any answer, she went again to
the office in Regent-street, and then an address, " 16,
Watling-street," was given to her, the person at the office
telling her it was a confectioner's, and that the situation
was to attend to a luncheon bar. She said she would go
there, but was told she must write. She, however, went to
the place, and found that instead of the place being a con-
fectioner's, it was a coach•house, and two gentlemen she
saw there told her they knew nothing of the matter or of
the effioe. On going back again to the office she saw three
or f.,ur females about to enter, and she advised theta not to
do so. On demanding her 58 back it was refused.
One of the females alluded to by the young woman also
attended, she having been told to write to " A. 8.," in
Cambridge-street, Hackney-row, who wanted a house-
keeper. On going to the place she found it was a printing
office, and a young man there told a person had asked that
a letter, addressed to A. 8., might be taken in for him, as
he had a housekeeper who wanted a situation.
Mr Tyrwhitt, after expressing the hope that publicity
would be given to the matter, said ho would send an officer
with the young woman and see if he could get her money
back.

The adjourned inquest was resumed this morning by Mr
Carttar, the Coroner, at the Avenue School-rooms, Erith.
The first witness examined was Mr Frederick Albert
Tipple, who said—l am a surgeon residing at Erith. On
my arrival at the scene of the explosion the first I saw was
Rayner—he was dead. The next I saw was Hubbard—ho
was alive, He was lying near the wreck of Silver's house.
I don't think he had been moved, as he was lying in an in-
sensible state on his back. He did not appear to have re-
ceived any external injury, but on raising him up I found
he had received an extensive fracture of the skull from
which the brains were protruding. He lived two hours
after my arrival. lam still attending the boy Simms, but
it is very doubtful whether he will recover.
-Walter Silver said—l we.i in the outhouse of my residence
at the moment of the explosion. I had been out about a
quarter to six that morning, but I had not been near the
magazine. I saw there were two barges near Mr Hall's
rr ag: zine, The first indication of the explosion I heard
was a tremendous crack, and it appearedas if the whole roof
was lifted up. It seemed to me to come from the direction
of Mr Hall's magazine. I cannot positively say where the
explosion first occurred. lat first thought it might have
been the explosion of half a pound of powder I kept in my
own house. I was thinking for a moment when another
explosion occurred ; some more bricks came about me. Then
followed another, and then all became darkness. I don't
know whether I fell down. The first body 1 saw was
that of Eliza Osborne, now dead, she resided with me. 1
am the manager of the Liverpool Company, and I superin-
tended the business of the company. b 7 y magazines had not
been opened that morning. No one is admitted to the magazine
except on business. Mr Hall's magazine was constructed
exactly as our own. I believe there were seven men ordered
to come to work that morning, but I had not seen any of
them.

Rosekilling, one of the warrant officers, subsequently re-
ported that he went to 96, Regent-street, accompanied by
the young woman, and a man there said he bad never
guaranteed the young woman any situat'on, and that if tho
receipt for the 53 was looked at that would be found to be
the case. He (Rosekilling) asked the man if he intended
to give up the ss, and he said he should not, as he acted on
principle, and that they might do as they liked.
Mr 32j rwhitt said it the young woman was sent to a place
and there was no vacancy, it was a fraud. lie would advise
the young woman to apply to the County Court for a sum-
mons.

By a Juror—The second explosion was the heaviest of
the three. The first one was not very heavy, the second
was terrific, the third was not so loud but I distinctly
heard the three explosions. The gunpowder was kept in
barrels. Raynor and myself were like brothers.
By the Coroner—l don't know the maker of the barrels
which contains the powder. They are made at the mills at
Faversham. The letter put into my hand I believe to be
in the handwriting of Raynor.

By a Juror—The magazine is about 20 yards from the
river, and about 100 feet between the two magazines. I
believe our magazine was the last to explode.
The Coroner said his great desire, in the first instance,
was to discover the place at which the explosion at first
commenced, and then having ascertained that they could
tako the evidence as to the mode of loading, unloading,
and storing the powder. Having ascertained that from
Mr Silver he would then retire, and at another part of the
inquiry he would be recalled.
Samuel Wm. Fletcher, aged 13, said—l reside with Mr
Silver. I got up about half-past five. I was at the back
of the house, looking towards Erith, with the cows, when
the explosion took piece. I had not been to the river or
the magazine. I first heard a man say " Oh." I saw the
flash go from the barge to the magazine, I could see the
sails, but not the barges. I then fell down. I did not
hear the sound. I cannot say whether I got up or was
picked up. When I came to myself Mr Raynor's
magazine was in flames. The smoke had all gone away.
By a Juror—l saw two barges lying off the magazine
the evening before the explosion took place, One was at
the end of the jetty, the other along side. I can't say
from which of the barges the flash seemed to come from.
I think it was Hubbard who called out " Oh." He was
not engaged at either of the magazines. I saw him before
the explosion. He was not smoking.
ea explosion ltog a
iot 150
n yards off the south
Eoccurred. The first
By a Juror—l did not see smoke coming from the cabin
of either of the barges the night before the explosion. We
have boiled a kettle once for a barge men, but
athaadtl's aamlonag
time ago. I never saw any men smoke in the barges.
ah Thomas
;e i
tfisherman. e
h R
I streami c
was ha d
r dswst oahnne—ai
standing
the
resideb
thing that called my attention to the barges was my son
calling out to me that men were at work at the barges, and,
therefore, it was getting late. I looked towards the jetty,
and there I saw some men on the barge, but I can't say
how many. I then saw a great smoke and then a tremen-
dous explosion. I fancied it came from the barges. I felt
little effect from the first shock, bet the following one was
terrific. I was struck by a stone sad injured. The bargo
was greatly injured. When I recovered, I heard what I
now believe to be cries for assistance from some persons in
the water. I afterwards helped to rescue one of the poor
fellows from the water. When I first looked towards the
barges the smoke seemed to arise suddenly. The second
shock seemed to lift the boat right out of the water.

By a Juryman—Only a few seconds elapsed between
the shocks. I did not see a large steamer going down the
river at the time. I know that the steamers go very close
to the river bank when passing the spot, but I did nr t see
any sailing down that morning. A steamer, I believe,
passe,d alter the explosion. I did not see the vessel myself
at all.

Thomas Richards, aged 12, said—l was with my father on
board his boat on the morning of the explosion. I saw two
men at work on the jetty. They seemed to be wheeling
casks along in a truck. I told my father it was getting late
as men were at work. I next saw a great smoke at the
stern of the barge. I heard a great noise and was forced
=pp cabin. I cannot
_recollect_ anything else. The first
down to the place near the explosion. The steamer I saw
after the explosion was a middling sized boat. She was
going along the north shore,
By a Juror—The smoke I saw was black, and it seemed
to come from the barge lying alongside the jetty, and not
at the end.
By Mr Poland—l was only frightened when I saw my
father bleeding. I noticed the exact position of the barges
at the jetty—one was at the end, the other higher up along-
side. The smoke seemed to come from the end of the jetty,
and directly I saw it I heard the noise. lam certain it
seemed to come from the stern of the barge. The steamer
I saw was going down with the tide away from London.
I saw two men on the jetty, but I cannot say whether
there were any men at work on the barges. I saw my

father was hurt before I saw the steamer.
Robert Bruce—l am a ballast man, and I was in a barge
on the river fair abreast of Mr Hall's magazine. We were
then well over to the south. Two men, named-Clark and
Grimes, were on board at the time. Grimes was te
sering.
A large flash came all round the barge, then a shower
of bricks followed, which knocked me
down. I saw
a little boy aboard one of the barges before the explosion.
I felt the second shock with the greatest intensity. I then
heard Grimes cry, " Save me, save me." I saw him hold
up his hand in the water amidst the smoke. I held him up
and he was saved. I saw a large screw collier going down
the river, but she took no notice of the explosion, and kept
on her course. The barge was filled with b
don rickt
know , andthe 42
holes were knocked in the mainsail. I '
name of the steamer. In sailing down the raver all vessels
would have to pass very near the magazine. I never saw
a caution put up near to Erith magazine like there is at
Purfleet.
Thomas Robert Clarke, ballastman, said—l was on the
same barge as Bruce. I was down in the hld. We were
right abreast of the lower powder magazoine, about 200
yards off. I first saw a flash all round the lighter, and then
came a shower of bricks. I saw the steamer two or three
minutes after. I did not hear the third shock. I was not
injured at all. I saw some persons moving about on the
barges of the jetty, but I can't say how many there were.
The inquiry was proceeding when we went to press.

SALMON FISHING IN THE NORTIL—Since the
withdrawal of the nets, capital sport has been ob-
tained upon most of our northern rivers. As regards the
Ness, Sir Joseph Hawley has just left for the South, after
a most successful season. Mr A. Denison is killing fl h
y has been
ablymaons anglers everyler s duringday, and a few have been caught occasionally
the past week. On Tuesday, the Mar-
quis of Blandford plied the water of Mr Baillie, of Lays.
His lordship hooked several fish, but unfortunately
larded none of the The Spe
number. Monday next is the last
dayhe
ebaskets
e t. h
Amonge season.
the
t most successful anglers who have fre-
quented that river were Lady Alex. Gordon Lennox and
Lord Francis Gordon Lennox, who fished the Gordon Castle
waters. Lord Algernon GordonU Lennox, Capts. Campbell
and Duncombe, Mr Ines, and Mr Arkwright have also
met with capital sport on the same part of the river. On
Monday
last, at Gth l
ee neteuml ceh, water,M r
theßass,following
day, a like
MT, killed three
and on
number was captured by Dr Harrell: One of the fish caught
salmon,
by Mr Bass was a fine clean specimen of 181bs—he gave
upwards of an hour and a quarter's play before being landed.
Major Water has had a few days' good fishing on the Deve-
ron, capturing several clean run salmon of from 171bs to
201b8 each. On the Tay and Earn the fish are very nume-
rous, and it has been noticed that they are betaking them-
selves to the spawning beds much earlier than usual. Some
of the salmon caught on the Earn weighed as high as 301bs.
In most rivers grilse and sea trout are more than usually
large and abundant, and should the spawning season prove
favourable good fishing may be expected next year.-I)s'
verness Courier.
THE COSTUME OF A JAVANESE PRINCE.—IIi 3
jacket was of dark blue ve:vet, lined with golden
cloth, and embroidered with fl veers of gold and silver ; end
underneath was a kind of waistcoat, of a lighter shade of
blue, and, like an officer's shell jacket, but up to the throat
with diamonds of the first water. His trousers were of
black cloth, with a broad band of gold down each side.
The &rick which ho wore over all was of a gaudy pattern,
and was fastened to the waist by a very rich silk scarf,
worked with gold, from which hung tassels of the same
rich material. Into the folds of this were thrust two krisses,
one of which was sheathed in a scabbard of gold, minutely
carved and profusely ornamented with filigree work, and the
other with a hilt of ivory, also exquisitely carved, and stud-
ded with diamonds, From his neck hung a massive gold
chain of European workmanship, to which dangled a bunch
of charms, some of which were little boxes containing per-
fumes and aromatic preparations,—Life in Java, by Ir. 13.
II Alm eida.

THE SUA, LONDON, TUESDAY EVEININO, OCTOBER