The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-20 00:00:00

FIRE AT MESSRS. LAWSON'S FOUNDRY.

PHILLIPS'S PATENT ANNIHILATOR BROUGHT INTO
USE.—About five o'clock on Friday morning a fire
broke out in the model house attached to the foundry of
Messrs. Lawson and Son, machine-makers, Mabgate.
The town fire-engine was speedily on the spot, and
began to pour torrents of water, but without any visible
effect, upon the burning premises, which consisted of a
building of two stories in height, the upper floor being
entirely occupied with wooden models, and the lower
partly with iron models and partly with wood and char-
coal, amongst which it was evident the fire had origi-
nated. After the engine had been playing about five
minutes upon the flames, the roof of the building fell
in, and it was evident that the whole erection wouldine-
vitably be destroyed. By this time two of Phillips's pa-
tent fire annihilators had been prepared by Mr. Superin-
tendent James, and were discharged by him into the lower
room, by which the flames were extinguished almost im-
mediately, and the air was so purified that the firemen
were enabled in less than halt a minute to enter the
building and play the engines with effect upon the burn-
ing embers, all appearance of flames having been com-
pletely destroyed. That the air was purified entirely by
the effect of the annihilators was evident from the fact
that just before they had been used a fireman, named
Wool, had a narrow escape of his life, having been
nearly suffocated by the noxious vapour. As it was found
to be utterly impossible to provide moans to get the an-
nihilators into the upper room, Mr. James resolved to
discharge four of them in the room below, in the hope
that they would have an effect upon the fire which was
still raging above. This ho accordingly did, and the re-
sult was such as far to exceed his expectations, as the
flames were at once extinguished, and in a short time
afterwards the fire was got completely under. In the
yard of the foundry there is a fire-plug, to which a pipe
was attached and worked with great daring arid much
effect by Mr. Edward Lawson, who got to the top of the
wall and played the water upon the fire beneath. The
damage done is calculated to amount to about 2001., and
we understand there had been no insurance effected. This
is the first time, we believe, that the annihilators have
been used in Leeds, and they have proved so effective,
troth in extinguishing the flames and purifying the air,
so that the firemen could work with efficiency, that we
do not doubt they will soon be brought into general use.
—Leeds Intelligencer.

General Caulfield, we are informed by the Medical
Times, has offered to Sir Benjamin Brodie an appointment in
the medical department of the East India Company's service,
for one of the students of St. George's Hospital; and Sir B.
Brodie at once placed it at the disposition of the weekly
board.

WESTMINSTER REFORM SOCIETY.—A meeting of
the members of this society, which has been in abeyance for
the last two or three years, was held last night in the Exeter
Hall Hotel, Strand; Mr. Geeson in the chair. A report
was read explaining the causes of the suspended action of
the society during the past year, the chief of which was that
the public mind required repose after carrying the abolition
of the corn-laws, and the deadening effect of the Great Ex-
hibition upon all questions merely political. But now that
a dissolution of Parliament was expected, it was felt that
the society should be put in working order and ready for
action. A committee named from the different parishes in
the city was appointed ; and it was remitted to them to re-
vise the rules and regulations now existing, and report to a
future meeting to be held soon after the meeting of Par-
liament.

GENERAL LYING•.IN HOBPITAL.—The annual gene-
ral meeting of the subscribers and governors of this institu-
tion was held yesterday at the hospital, York-road, Lam-
beth, Thomas Somners Cocks, M.P., in the chair. The
minutes of the last meeting having been read and con-
firmed, the annual report was brought forward. It stated
that during the past year 248 had been admitted to the
institution, and 456 had been attended at their own homes.
The receipts amounted to 1,5901. Bs. 7d., and the expenses
to 1,2781. 19s. 3d., leaving a difference in favour of income
of 3201. 9s. 4d. There had been a decrease of nearly 200/.
meeting
iu the house expenses during last year, compared with the
year before, owing to some alterations in the management.
The report was adopted, some routine business transacted:
and after a vote of thanks to the chairman, the
immediately
separated.
ondonderry's
NEW RAILWAY.—A survey was made
Branch of the
last, for a short branch railway, which is thofbLe°in Monday
at Seaton, a dis-
tance with, to connect the Marquis
Dock, and the nearest
Railway with the Durham and Sunderland
to Sunder-
York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway,ndsiderable saving to Lord
tiaanndce. of six
bmranilenshfwroimll
eSfruleacdtearlacon
point which his Lordship's railway approaches
will give,
Londonderry in his railway leading
aaylswo ce of ten miles from Sunder-
his present branch to
at the Alexandrine pit, a h n
tt,haedDissutaorhr Durham charges,
ter route, than the Penshar
compared with
and Sunderland Railway
lirrpits at Rainton Meadow
Edu;chißT:iillwi
to the nearest of the Marquis's
branch will bring about s, and it is probable that the new
coals for shipment fifty or sixtySunderland thousand chaldron of
sends annually by the Dock, which the Mar •
quis
Victoria-bridge f circuitous and ex •
_Herald. or pensive route of the
shipment at South Shields.—Sunder/and

LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY.—The Royal Mail steam-
ship Niagara, Stone commander, sailed from the Mersey a
3.30 P.M. to-day for New York,
with the usual mails, a large
and valuable cargo of British and foreign
goods, and 52 passengers. The United States' Mail
strk
rom
ship Pacific, Nye commander, which would leave
Ne
on the 10th inst., will be due Eat this port on Wednesday
morning next. manufactured
w

THE P AILIIRE OF WESTMINSTERAND BLACYFRIARS.•
BRIDGES.—The removal of the old London-bridge, with its
numerous obstructive piers, and the consequent " scouring
away" of the river's bed have been elsewhere given as a
reason for their present critical and sinking state, but if this
supposition has truth for its basis, how happens it that
neither Waterloo nor Southwark-bridge—designed and
erected by the late Mr. (the present Sir John) Rennie—has
suffered a similar fate. It certainly appears to me, then,
that other and more feasible explanations are to be found
for the matter, and they would tend to show a lack of prac-
tical judgment in some who have conducted the thirty
years' patching and repairing of the first-named bridges.
What could, for instance, be more contrary to common sense
—leaving scientific wisdom out. of the question—than to
draw the rows of inner piles which had been driven in the
formation of the coffer-dams around and close to the piers of
therecbtiroind
were they not (as in the case of the
bridges?
Why
Waterloo and Southwark-bridges) cut
e
off level
with the shingle bed of the Thames ? Is it not palpable that
by withdrawing thei roots of the massive pilingfrom the
compressed strata n which they were embedded for so long
fr
a period, a foundational disturbance seriously dangerous to
the immediate stability of the piers would ensue,
and that
time would accomplish their ruin inevitably?—Builder.
The Customs officers stationed at the building of
the Great Exhibition for revenue purposes have been with-
' drawn' and resumed their dtlticia at the Ggstoul•11.(31"•