The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SAFURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER, 19, 1863.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

Tremendous Explosion of Three Gunpowder

Mills.

This morning, shortly after two o'clock, one of those
calamities which generally carry such devastation and de«
struction with them took place at the works of Messrg.
Harvey and Curtis, near Hounslow. The sound produced
by the explosion was similar to that of a battery of the
heaviest artillery, and in a few moments numbers of the
inhabitants were hurrying in the direction of the mills. On
reaching the spot on which the works stood a scene of great
destruction presented itself, as three of the workshops,
known as the Incorporation Mills, had been blown to
pieces. Upon the names of the workpeople being called
over it was found that only one person had been injured by
the explosion, and not, it is to be hoped, in any serious
manner. One of the three mills that exploded was that
situate on the part of the property known as the Lower
Head, and was of large dimensions ; and it is exceedingly
fortunate that work had for some time been stopped in the
other two, owing to long drought having caused a cessation
of the water supply. The whole range of the buildings has
been greatly damaged by the explosion, but not to the ex-
tent that might have been imagined, when the extensive
nature of the business carried on by the Messrs. Harvey
and Curtis is taken into consideration.
The explosion was heard for miles round Hounslow, and,
it is needless to say, caused the greatest apprehension.

AN IRISH " POTEEN" DISTILLERY.

A correspondent of the Freeman's Journal, who has just
returned from a tour of considerable extent through the
west of Ireland, gives a favourable account of the condi-
tion of the inhabitants. He says that even since last year
there is a great change for the better, and the signs of
improvement are everywhere visible. He attributes this
to the abundance of the potato crop, which has led to the
pay
his
The
Th
re-appearance of the pig, on which animal the Irish
peasant mainly depends for
he saw tworthemean
means
or to
three.reit. At the doors of cabins, where a year ago there
was not the sign of a pig,
other crops were good, but late. It is to be regretted.
however, that the people are not content with the legiti-
mate profits of honest and lawful industry. Illicit
distillation, notwithstanding the risk involved in it, is
carried on to a great extent, and proves highly remunera-
tive, as the manufacturer can realise a handsome profit by
selling his whisky at 108 to 14s a gallon, and will always
be sure of good customers as long as the present high duty
shall be exacted. The principal cereal products of the dis-
trict are oats and here, which are bought up in the country
markets by private distillers, and carried great distances
into the mountains on the backs of ponies, to be manufac-
tured into whisky. The following description of a
" poteen" distillery may be interesting, as showing the
energy and determination which the peasantry dis-
play in the prosecution of this lawless traffic. The writer
was conducted to the scene by a friend who was in the
confidence of the operators :—" It lay in a nar•
row valley between two of the mountains that form the im-
mense chain that runs from the centre of Galway to West-
port. Between these mountains runs a rapid stream, ending
in a small lake with no visible outlet, and surrounded by
granite boulders which completely stopped all exit from the
defile in that direction; in fact, there was only one way
to get either in or out. About four miles down the
valley, approached by a wretched road, over which no
beast of burden could travel except the Western ponies, is b
wretched village of some three or • four houses, in one of
which the still was at lull work, and in another the men
were grinding malt in the ancient mode between querns,
In this house were several barrels filled with fermenting
worts. On the side of the mountain was an excavation, the
entrance to which seemed to be from behind a large boulder
rock, overhung by brushwood, and probably intended as a
store for the manufactured goods. Night and day there are
sentinels on the mountains that overlook the one narrow
road that leads to this extraordinary place ; and, if the
police were seen coming, a signal could be given, and in 20
minutes three men could consign everything connected
with the distillery to the lake, which, they say, is bottom-
less, and on the arrival of the police not a trace of the work
would remain. The whisky is carried away by night by the
members of the family, who have customers for it in diffe-
rent towns and villages. The price is from 10s. to 14s. per
gallon. The people engaged in this illicit traffic certainly
make money There were pigs and poultry about their doors and
flitches of bacon hanging up inside ; and one of them had a
shop where tea, sugar, bread and tobacco were sold. On our
arrival at the place a man came out and asked in Irish who
I was and what brought us there ? On a proper explana-
tion we were on the best of terms. We got an excellent
breakfast of good strong tea, rashers, eggs, and bread, and
of course plenty of the native' as cream for our tea."

STATE OF TRADE,

MANCHESTER, Sept. 18.—From Tuesday to this
morning the yarn market was rather quieter, but
to-day there has been a slight improvement, and
yarns made from American cotton (which are
scarce) have sold at the extremest prices yet given.
These yarns made from American cotton, now
quoted at about 2s. 2d. per lb., have realised 2s. 6d.
per lb., while at this time last year, when Ameri-
can cotton was at 2s. 6d. per lb., 16's to 24's water
twist (now at 2s. 6d.) was offering at 2s. per lb.
The cloth market is without much change since
Tuesday, and there is no new feature in the market,
except that while manufacturers are rather firm at
their quotations they are practically rather easier to
deal with. Probably the quieter state of the cotton
market for the past two days has somewhat con-
duced to this result. Both holders and manufac-
turers have shown rather more disposition to meet
the views of buyers than they were three days to a
fortnight ago, but the latter (especially the larger
buyers) seem to be resolutely holding back es a
rule. There has been a fair inquiry for longcloths
and T-cloths (particularly the latter), and there has
been some business, but the prices generally re-
quired has prevented business.

NOTTINGHAM, 18th.—There was about the usual
attendance at this Exchange-hall to-day, and a
moderate share of business was done in lace yarns
at prices (quailing those of Tuesday. In hosiery
yarns there was no material change. Silks about
the same. The brown net trade was quiet.

MARKETS---This Day.

COVENT GARDEN.

The supply of fruit at our market to-day was moderate,
while that of vegetables was large. The trade ruled firm
at the annexed rates :

FRUIT.

S. d. 8. d.
Pine apples 6 0 to 8 0
Colonial do., each 1 0 to 3 0
Grapcs,per lb 2 6 to 5 0
Foreign do 1 6 to 2 6
Melons 0 0 to 0 0'
Nectarines, per dz 2 0 to 5 0
Apples, per hi-sv. 1 3 to 3 6
Pears, per do
Oranges, per 100 8 o to 12 0
Lemons, per 100 4 0 to 8 0
Gooseberries hi sve3 6 to 4 6
Strawberries pr pt 0 0 to 0 0

s. d. s d
Raspberries,prpt 0 4to 0 6
Cherries, per lb. 0 3to 0 0
Foreign ditto, punt) oto 0 0
Filberts, per lb .. 0 Bto 1 0
Walnuts, per 100 1 oto 2 0
Cobnuts, per lb .. 0 oto u 0
Almonds, per bus 0 oto 0 0
Figs, per doz. .... 5 oto 6 0
Peaches.. . 4 oto 10 0
Currants, per h.sv 4 6to 6 0
Plums, per do. .. 3 6to 4 6
Greengages, pr do. 6 oto 7 0