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. Sbe 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 Cambridge-street, Hacknsy-
road, was given to her, and she was told to write to "A,8."
She did so, but not receiving any answer, she wont 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 c flice. On going back again to the offi 'e she saw three
or fAir females abut', to enter, and she aavised them not to
do so. On demanding her 5s back it was refused.
One of the females alluded to by the young woman als)
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
ho had a housekeeper who wanted a situation.
Mr Tyrwhitt, after expressing the hope that publicity
would be given to the matter, said he 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—he
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 hare re-
ceived any external injury, but on raising him up I found
ho 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- —I was 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
nag zinc, The first indication of the explosion I heard
was ft tremendous crack, and it appeared as 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 I 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. Ny 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.

Rosckilling, 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 had never
guaranteed the young woman any situat'on, and that if the
receipt for the os 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 Tyrwhitt said it the young woman was sent to a place
aud there was no vacancy, it was a fraud. He 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
take 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 place. 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. Ho was not smoking.
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 that's a long
time ago. I never saw any men smoke in the barges.
Thomas Richardson—l reside at Erith, and lam a
fisherman. I was standing about 150 yards off the south
shore in the stream when the explosion occurred. The first
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 effcct from the first shock, but the following one was
terrific. I was struck by a stone and injured. The barge
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 helrel to rescue one of the poor
fellows from the water. When I first looked towards the
the water.
By second
sbhaorgokessteheemsomd otkoelisfeterhoedhotuot
rairgishet suddenly.out
tof
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 clots
to the river bank when passing the spot, but I did nr.t see
any sailing down that morning. A steamer, I believe,
passed atter the explosion. I did not see the vessel myself
at all.

Thomas Richards, aged 12, said—l was with my father on
board his beat 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
into the cabin. I cannot recollect anything else. The first
thing I remember was my father getting into a boat to row
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— I was only frightened when I saw my
father bleeding. I noticed the exact position of the bargee
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 arty men at work on the barges. I saw try
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 steering.
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 brick, and 42
holes were knocked in the mainsail. I don't know the
name of the steamer. In sailing down the river 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 hold. We were
right abreast of the lower powder magazine, about 200
yards off. I first saw a flash all round the lighter, and then
cime 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.

Course of Exchanges—This Days

Amsterdam ........ Short. 11 18 11 19
Ditto . . .......... 3 Months. 12 2
Rotterdam .......... 12 2 12 2
Antwerp ..
25 82i
Brussels ........ .... 25 77i
hamburg .......... '— 13 10 25 82i
3 Months. Short.
2255
7350 13 10
Paris
Dit Ditto .. ...... . . . . . .25 40
25 821
Mar5ei11e5.......... 25 80
Frankfort on Maine.. —* 121 25 85
12 - 1211
21

Vienna
~.... 12 20 12 15
Trieste
Petereburgh .. —* 281
Berlin —
Madrid
Cadiz — 47 47k
Lehorn _ 25 95 26 0
-- 26 0
Milan.... — 25 95 26 51
Genoa 25 95 26 0
..-
Naples .. 26 5
26 ~.. 0
Palermo 26 5
2 0
Messina t
51
26 5
Lisbon
61 it

Oporto
Foreign Gold in Bars (Standard)...... per oz., £3 17 9
Silver in Bars (Standard).• 0 6 1

THE COSTUME or A JAVANESE PICINCE.—Hi3
jacket was of dark blue velvet, lined with golden
cloth, and embroidered with II Jwers of gold and silver ; and
underneath was a kind of waistcoat, of a lighter shade of
blue, and, like an officer's shell ilcket, 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 bate* which he wore cver all was of a gaudy pattern,
and was fastened to the Mist by a very rich silk ecarf,
worked with gold, from waiell 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, al3o exquisitely carved, and stud-
ded with diamonds, From ;,is neck hung a massive gold
chain of European workmanihip, to which dangled a bunch
of oharms, some of which w:re little boxes containing per-
fumes and aromatic preparations.—Lifc in Java, by Ir. B.
D' Almeida.

HEALTH OF LORD CARLISLE.—The Earl or Car.
lisle continues very prostrat) at his seat, Castle Howard,
Mahon, His lordship's medcal attendants report, however,
that there was throw hout tao whole of last week a regular
improvement in his lordship's condition, and they are not
without hopes that, with (Diet and retirement, hi. health
way ha much restored.

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 110