The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-31 00:00:00

Serious Accident at Guildford,

A shocking occurrence took place yesterday
morning at the lime pits at the foot of the Farn-
ham-road, adjoining the tunnel on the South.
Western Railway, which will in all probability
result in the death of two labourers engaged in the
pit, named Thomas Stoner and Jeremiah. Jackman.
it appears that the men in question were engaged.
in excavating limo from the quarry, and for this
purpose they resorted to the blasting process. In
the present instance, after having bored with
jumper for some depth into the cliff, they deposited
about two pounds of blasting powder, together with
a quantity of shot, in the hole. They then filled up
the hole in the usual manner with loose stones and
sand firmly rammed in, and connected a fusee with
the powder. A match was applied to the fusee,
but it went out before the fire reached the powder.
The men waited some time, but as no explosion took
place they proceeded to draw the charge, employ-
ing for the purpose a long steel borer. It is sur-
mised that while so engaged the borer struck
against a flint, for an explosion suddenly took place,
which hurled the men a considerable distance from
the hole, throwing them flat upon their backs. At
the moment when the explosion took place both
men were stooping over the hole, endeavouring to
ascertain the cause of the former failure of the
fusee. The shock which they sustained, therefore,
was tremendous, and their hands, head, and upper
part of the body have suffered fearfully. Their
faces and necks were charred and shattered with
powder, while shots have penetrated their bodies
in all directions. Mr. F. D. Ross, surgeon, was on.
the spot almost immediately after the accident, and
by his direction the men were conyeyed in a cab to
a neighbouring tavern, where their wounds were
dressed by Mr. Ross, Mr. T. Butler, and Mr. Schol-
lick. Stoner is married, and has one child ; while
Jackson, who is a single man, has been the sup•
port of a widowed mother. But slender hopes are
entertained of the recovery of either. The spot
where the accident occurred is within 400 yards of
the new hospital now in course of erection for the
county of Surrey.

The following notices have been received in rela-
tion to the debts of Mexico and Venezuela ;
" Mexican Dividends—Messrs. Baring Brothers and
Co. have received by this mail on account of
Mexican dividends 45,915 dols. 23c." " Venezuela
Debt—Messrs. Baring Brothers and Co.'s agents in
Venezuela advise that they have received for 55
per cent. of the import dues, from the Custom-
house of Puerto Cabello, 6,086 dols. 75e. ; do., La
Guayra, 28,440 dols. 77c.—total, 34,527 dole. 52c."
The last week's rai,way receipts, ascertained up
to this day, are, in round figures, as under :

-
1861. 1563.
Great Western £61,974 L 55,675
North-Western
South-Western
Brighton
Midland
South-Eastern
Great Northern
Lancashire and Yorkshire 38,047 31,230
Bristol and Exeter
North-Eastern 57,181 49,901
Great Eastern
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln 18,185 15,176
Glasgow and South Western
Great Southern and Western Ireland 8,467 7,614

Ties e returns, compared with those of the same
period of last year, show some very satisfactory
features :—On the Great Western there is an in-
crease ;of £6,299; North Western, £12,505 ; South
Western, £3,546 ; Brighton, £5,188; Midland,
£7,364; South Eastern, £4,454; Great Northern,
£1,879; Lancashire and Yorkshire, £6,817 ; North
Eastern, £7,280; Great Eastern, £4,225; Man-
chester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, £3,009; Great
Southern and Western of Ireland, £853. The
Glasgow and South Western, however, exhibits
decrease of £l9.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN EDINBURGH.—On Tues.
day morning, about 4 o'clock, a fire broke out in
the works of Mr. Allan Beak, tanner and currier in
West Port, Edinburgh, which resulted in the almost com-
plete destruction within an hour of that extensive establish.
went. The building in which thefire originated which was
about 76 feet square, consisted of seven floors and was nearly
80 feethigh. It had just been finished, workmen having been
engaged up to the previous day:in finishing the belfry ; and
the workshops and lofts were fitted up in the most approved
style. The premises lay almost in the centre of a very popu,
lous neighbourhood, and the greatest alarm for a time pre-
vailed among the inhabitants, many of whom fled for their
lives, their houses being placed in the greatest peril by
the furiously spreading flames. The town engines were
very promptly on the spot, but the rapid advance of the fire
prevented anything being done to save the tan works, and
the safety of the neighbouring buildings became the chief
concern. Happily the flames were kept within the new
building and the one immediately adjoining, A small sec-
tion of the works separate from the rest escaped, and only
one or two of the domiciles threatened were rendered unia..
habitable. There was, fortunately, no loss of life. The im-
mediate damage is estimated at about £15,000, which is
nearly covered by insuranco. Several thousand pounds
worth of materials had just been taken into the premises,
and there was a largo amount of finished good ready for
delivery. It is not known how the fire originated. About
100 men will be thrown out of work. The brilliance of the
fire before dawn, especially in the illumination of the Castle
nook, attracted even at the early hour large crowds of
admiring spectators.
- -

- -
The Perseveranza of Milan states that the Italian
authorities have just sent to the French police at
Rome the photographic portrait of five persons arrested at
Pe:ngia and Rieti, in whose possession a slim of 5,000
scudi (20,500 fr.) was found. One of the men is known to
have b employed for some time on the Roman railway,
and it pposed that they were concerned in the recent
robbery of
32,000 scudi from the °Moos of the company at
e.:6u
Rome.

THE SIIII,-.STERE TERCENTENARY CELEBRATION.
—The following further arrangements have been.
reported in connexion with the National Shaksperean Com-
mittee :—The English residents in Paris, who have formed
themselves into a committee in aid of the London Monu-
mental Fund, with XII-. Blanchard Jerrold as honorary
secretary, have arranged for a banquet on the 23d, at which
Lord Grey, Lord Cowley, and other distinguished persona
will be present. The working men of London propose on
the same day to plant a sapling. oak from Windsor Forest,
to be henceforth known as the Shekspere's oak, and after-
wards to have a monster gathering and musical festival at
the Agricultural Hall, for which a specially interesting pro-
gramme is being prepared. It is also announced that Car-
dinal Wiseman has undertaken to deliver a lecture on Shak-
spere, in aid of the national object at St. James's Hall, or
some other large hall, in the months of June or July next.
The Lord Mayor has convened a meeting of influential
gentlemen in connection with the city, to be held at the
Mansion House, on Monday, April 11, at 2 o'ciock.
FIRST CATCH YOUR HARE, SAYS MRS, GLASSE.
—The Court of Assizes of the Seine, has condemned Mazzini
par eonlunzace for alleged participation in Greco's plot to
assassinate the Emperor Napoleon, and has sentenced him
to transportation.
A DRAMA BY VICTOR HUGO is spoken of as
forthcoming.
THE PRINCE AND THE MISER .—I heard a etory
to-day which is, of course, true ;at any rate, it is laugh-
able, and that is something. A gentleman called lately on
a well-known legitimist of the Faubourg, who is badly dis-
tinguished for his wealth and avarice, and asked for a sub-
scription to the mete for the Duke de Chambord. "My
" I have no money, but I would
friend," replied l'avare,
give my blood for the prince. " You mistake, duke," wa
the reply, "the prince dtr.l ZO: tO
pwlair4,"—Zfrfi 1;e