The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-03 00:00:00

A COALPIT ON FIRE.

For some weeks past our town has been suffering
from an unusual amount of sickcess, in consequence
of which many persons have been obliged to with-
draw from their daily occupations, and much suf-
fering and distress have prevailed; and now we
have to record another calamity, the firing of the
Wellington Pit Colliery, by which 700 hands have
been thrown out of employment until work can be
found for them elsewhere, or the water which has
been let into this pit can be pumped out and opera-
tions resumed. It seems that the pit was first dis-
covered to be on fire a week ago; and the alarm
having been instantly communicated to Mr. Bourne,
the Earl of Lonsdale's representative at the Colliery
Offices that gentleman forthwith repaired to the
spot, and took prompt measures for staying the pro-
gress of the disaster. This was a work of ext.-erne
difficulty and danger ; but, through Mr. Bourne's
constant personal supervision and direction,aided by
the assistance of his deputy, Mr. Mulcaster, and of
all the officers and men employed at the works, it
was thought that on Thursday the fire had been
subdued, In the afternoon of that day, however, a
quantity of gas unfortunately escaped, and igniting
some timber, gave a fresh impetus to the combustion
of the coal, which afterwards so far increased as to
render it necessary to drown the pit. On Saturday
it was found that all ordinary means were insuffi-
cient to gat the fire under. The whole of the horses
down the pit were therefore taken out, preparatory
to closing the shaft, which we understand was re-
solved upon, and we believe a portion of the lower
workings in which the fire is situated will be walled
off from the dip workings, and then inundated with
water by pumping it in, and also probably bye syphon
from the sea. These are extreme measures to take,
sootwhich i
but we trust they will prove effective, and shortly
enable the noble proprietor to again get this fine
coal mine into working order. The fire is said to
have originated in a flue which leads from the sta-
tionary
hadaccumulated.
e n gine a t thenw
th
pito bottom, and
long the
flue may have smouldered is not known, but
coal,event-
tually and since Mon-
day in
n thisthe
o
the fire seized upon
last continued to spread, despite the efforts of
Mr. Bourne and his staff, aided by the great expe-
rience of the eminent colliery engineer, Mr. Foster,
of Ndwcastle, who was telegraphed for on the mat-
ter assuming so serious a shape. We regret to say
that up to the time of our going to press this disas-
trous fire continues to spread, but it is hoped from
the measures adopted that its ravages will be confined
to a limited area. A syphon pipe is now laid down
from the pit, past Tom Hurd Rock, to the sea at
low-mater mark, while water is drawn from the
Scalegill pond, from near James' pit, and also
pumped from the sea, near the Bath Houses. As
stated above, the whole of the horses, upwards of
sixty in number, were taken out of the mine. The
closing of this colliery is causing vessels in great
o
numbers to leave this port for NVorkin e,lou and
liaryport, eight or ten vessels having cleared out
for these ports yesterday. As the Croft pit was
eloced some few months back, the whole supply has
DOW to come from the William and Countess pits;
we, however, feel sure every effort will be made to
not only for comsomption,
meet the donned,but
from these pits.--Cumberland
for shipment also
I Pacquet.

Full benefit of reduced duty obtained by pur-
chasing Horniman's pure Tea; very choice at 3s. 4d. and
4s. "High Standard" at 4s. 4d. (Connelly 4s. Sd.), is the
strongest and most delicious imported. Agents in every
town supply it in packets. ,

The screw corvette Clio, 21, 1,470 tons, 400 horse
power, recently paid off into the third division of
the steam reserve squadron in the Medway, is to

undergo a thorough overhaul in order to ascertain
the defects existing in her engines and machinery
which have been placed under the charge of Mr. C.
Moore, chief engineer. The Clio is in the great
basin, and will, it is understood, be shortly taken in
hand in readiness to be recommissioned.

Admiralty instructions have been received at
Chatham far the screw sloop Fawn, 17, 100 horse
power, to be brought forward for commission, to
relieve the Greyhound, 17, 200 horse power, on the
West India station.

A third trial of French and English armour-plates
took place at Portsmouth yesterday under the su-

pervision of Capt. A. C. Key, C. 8., commanding
her Majesty's ship Excellent. The range, as usual,
was 200 yards, and the projectile a cast iron 68

pound shot, the practic6—taking place afloat frOm
the Foam gunboat, against the plates fized.on the

side of the Monarch, old sailing liner. The plates
comprised four from the French firm of Petic, Gau-
det, and Co., two of 4,1- inches and the remaining
two of 51 inches ; one from Messrs. John Brown
and Co., of Sheffield, for her Majesty's ship Agin-
court, of 5;,-- inches; and one from the Millwall
Company, of 51 inches, the average length

of the whole being 15 feet, and their

breadth 3 feet 4 inches. Patin and Gaudet's

two 4ain. plates received six and seven shots re-
spectively, and both proved to be of a very inferior
quality. They had both very extensive cracks
and separations of the metal, and showed cracks of
greater extent than has been done by the French-
made plates on any former trial. One of these two
plates struck full on the upper edge by a shot away
from any other indent, broke away the metal from
the main body in a semi-circular form round the
blow to a bolt on the opposite side of the indent.

Another shot ou the lower edge opened a triangular
crack across two other shot marks 3ft. 6in. in length.
The third shot fired at the second 41-inch plate
effected penetration in the centre of the plate, and
not in the vicinity of any other blow, the metal

broken away being driven into the ship's side B;in
from the front of the plate, that is 41in. beyond and
clear of the back of the plate. The 5; in. plates
stood no better, considering the extra inch of metal.
One received ten shots, several of which were edge
blows, and opens the layers of the metal in an un-
usual manner, proving these plates, like the former
ones tested, to be of very inferior manufacture in
the welding. The metal was of good quality. This
plate was struck by three shots in a diameter of
13in., and in the centre of this space there were
very deep fissures with the iron driven into the
ship's side from the main body of the plate. The
second sin. French plate received eight shots—one
on the upper edge, striking, however, full on the
plate and away from other blows, broke out a semi-
circular piece, 27in. in length and 10in. in depth.
On the right extremity of this plate a crack ran
through three shot marks to the lower edge of the
plate, aft. Gin. in length. Messrs. Brown's plate
stood until after its fifth shot, without giving sign
of a crack, but after that time a succession of blows
in two spots on its lower edge broke up the metal
in those places, as, indeed it could not well have
been otherwise under so unusual a pounding in two
particular spots. It received 12 shots in all. The
Miliwall plate received 11 shots, more fairly dis-
tributed. A second unlucky blow on its right lower
corner broke through the metal. With this excep-
tion the plate came out of the trial satisfactorily.
Messrs. Brown's plate, and that of the Millwall
may be considered about equal, and as the beet by
far of the six tested. The French plates proved to
be far below the average of " A 1 plates, and very
inferior indeed to the two first plates which were
tried at Portsmouth from the same firm. M. Gaudet,
who was present during the trials yesterday, ex-
pressed his astonishment at the results as regarded
his plates, and said that no such result had ever
attended any trial of them in France. Captain
Harrison. one of the members of the Iron-plate
Committee, was present during the firing, as were
also the respective representatives of the Miliwall
Company and Messrs. John Brown and Co. The
uncertainty of the practice yesterday, owing to the
rough state of the weather, destroyed in a great
measure the interest which would otherwise have
been attached to the trials. Thus, Messrs. Brown's
received the majority of the shots directed against
it by mere chance in two particular spots, while
the shots on the Millwall plate were scattered.
Under these circumstances the comparisons required
between the two plates, which would have been of
great value, could not be drawn, and only
approxi-
mate results could be arrived at. The same argu-
ment applies, of course, to the French plates, only
in their case their failure altogether to resist shot
enabled a more decided opinion to be formed. There
were upwards of '2O
'`miss" Shots yesterday, owing
to the movement of the gunboat, which fully ac
ra
counts for the uncertainty of the practice. All other
countries test their armour plates on land, the plates
under trial being on a fixed target and the gun
being also fired from an immovable platform. The
greatest possible accuracy of firing can be obtained,
and shotsrnplanted
wished, so that certainty can be arrived at in any
oinp
betweendifferentm ayb
e
plates.
The Dutch screw steam corvette Vesuvius, Capt.
pschotborg, yesterday arrived at the Motherbank
from the Texel for the Coast of Guinea. The com-
mander will be introduced to the Port Admiral and
comparisons
sos
which
m in
ay eachbe drawn plate
n
to the General by Mr. L. A. Vandenberg, Consul
for the Netherlands. When the weather moderates
the Vesuvius will fill up coals and proceed to her
destination.
The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—Staff Commander
Beehant, additional, to the Saturn ; Sub-Lieut. A
C. Harris, to the Liffey ; Sub-Lieut. L. Ching, to
the Edgar; W. D. Tennant has been nominated to
a naval cadetship; H. Brimfield, of the Wye,
confirmed as first-class assistant-engineer ; and W.
H. Barker, of the Topaze, promoted to acting first
class assistant-engineer.

BOYS DROWNED..—Two lads, aged respectively
12 and 15 years, were drowned on Tuesday, whilst bathing
in, a pond connected with the mill of Mr. Parker, flax
spinner, lluuslett, Leeds. The bodies were recovered, and
removed to the residence of their parents, to await the
inquest.

During the first six months of the present year
the number of letters sent through the Italian
Post-ofilee was 17,133,028, being a diminution of 408,491
as compared with the same period in 1862. The number
of journals and printed papers was 14,039,052, showing an
increase of 4,653,624 compared with the first six months of
1862. The revenue derived from the Post-office during the
first half year of 1863 amounted to 75,666,554 fr., against
61,767,393 fr. received in the first six months of 1862.
The wife of a farmer, named Lemonnier, residing
at Famichon, Dear Eseardenville (Eure) was found,
lying ad in the street a few steps from
threethee
r o
having been murdered by heavy blows on
h
hackNVdlayh:
of the
P ' b
head with some blunt instrument. It was
immediately suspected that the person who committed the
crime was her own son, a man 33 years of age, who had
been twice confined in a lunatic asylum, and had re•
cently exhibited symptoms of a relapse. This suspicion
soon became 9, certainty, for the gendarmes found the un-
happy man engaged in washing blood off his hands, and
near him lay a heavy stick bearing fresh marks of blood.
Ha was immediately secured and submitted to medical exa-
mination, which leit no doubt of his insanity.

MID-LOTHIA N.
;oVr\, /
At the close of the first week of AugUifil;6l4l-111',e
an inch of rain fell, which was of immense benefit' -
to all the crops. Dry weather set in and con=
tinued, with only the slightest; showers, until the
25th. A vary considerable fall, amounting to
about two inches, has since taken place, and the
lying uncut corn has scarcely been quite dry. As
vet the total rain fall for the month amounts to
two inches and nine-tenths. Some corn was cut
about the 20th, and it has beme gradually becoming
ripe as you ascend. In the early districts three-
fourths of the entire crop is in stook, but a small
portion only in stack. in the middle district about
one-third is cut and cone in stack, while on the
insides reaping bas not begun. The wheat crop is
hout
somewhat thin, but of stout firm straw, a good
length, and seeming to carry plump full ears;
about one-half is reaped. Barley is of strong stiff
straw, and thick enough. In a full average field
of grain, while the ears are sound, oats show a few
throu
llaisgthyt
efia fields
Leans
ld s th a n
barley
a reedaor
ys Is Io
hear ,t taken
t
whitethe
corn
ep is
crops
promise fullaverage.
wall,
nOdn
withthe
fwnl.rorehomoleg
the a
return of dry weather will give a different result
in straw, but well podded. R •
eaping machines list©
been very buss-. Much of the grain
having been
standing they wrought with ease; now, however,
their use will not be so satisfactory, as the cent; el.'
breezes and rains have twisted about the stalks.ar'
Potatoes have improved in leaf, and it is to be hoped
in tuber also, their size hitherto having been small.
Where frosted down, a fresh growth of thick-set
shoots have come away ; as yet the bulbs have
done little. 'Turnips arc growing most vigorously,
and there is every likelihood, should frost keep
away, of their being a full crop. Pastures, which,
wer3 very bare, arc improving. There is very little
good aftermath, the red clover not con
up. Any portions of the new crop of barley or oats
which have been sold, from their fine colour, have
brought better prices than old, while wheat of last
crop has been very difilcuit to sell at falling prices.
All sorts of stock are fetching full rates, lean cattle
and lambs being very high.

EAST LOTHIAN.
The weather was most favourable for ms.tn.tlng
and also for harvesting the crops until the 26th of
last month. It was wet on Wednesday morning,
and on Thursday and Friday an immense quantity
of rain fell. The two succeeding days were fair,
but it rained the greater part of yesterday very
heavily ; however, this day is more promising. The
total fall of rain for August amounts to the large.
quantity of (4.5)41 inches, of which 3 inches have
fallen since Wednesday last. It is to be hoped it will
now continue fair for a time, as with wet weather
for a short time longer, the damage that will accrue
to the outstanding grain must be enormous. Con-
siderably more than half the corn crops in the county
are at present in the sheaf, and just in the position
to be injured, if not destroyed, by wet. In the
lower district of the county reaping commenced
early in the month, and might be general about
the middle of it. Oa some farms cutting is already
finished, but it will take another week to bring it
generally to a close, and even then there will be
stray fields of spring wheat uncut. Very little has
been done in carting home the grain; on most farms
not above two or three stacks have been secured.
The grain crops have cut up even better than was
anticipated. Wheat and barley are particularly
fine crops; while oats, which were generally con-
sidered inferior, have proved much thicker on the
ground than they appeared to do when growing,
and in some instances aro even tall in straw; they
have a flue head, and if they do not prove a full
average crop, they will be very near it. Some of
the earliest fields of beans are already cut; the pods
are closely set, and the seeds well ripened.
Altogether, the grain crops are considered the
most abundant grown for many years, if they were
only safely secured. The samples of new oats and
barley shown in Haddingtou market have been of
fine quality and great weight, oats running from 43
to 44 lb. per bushel, and barley from 56 to 801 h.
per bushel. If there is an immediate change to fine
weather, the rain may prove not to have
been injurious to the quality of the grain be-
yond darkening the colour of the oats and barley,
while it must be most beneficial to the turnip crop,
the grass and the potatoes, all of which stood much
in need of moisture. There is a large breadth of
inferior turnips in the county, but there is now a
prospect of their making great improvement.
Though there have been fewer hands than usual in
search of harvest work the supply has exceeded the
demand, from the general use of reaping-machines.
Wages hitherto have been 9s. per week, with vic-
tuals. As the grain has been generally standing,
reaping-machines have done work well, and the corn
is much more neatly handled than it used to be in
olden times.