The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-18 00:00:00

The Explosion of a Powder Mill at Ewell.

EWELL, Friday, Noon.
This morning Mr. Wm. Carter, coroner for the
eastern division of the county of Surrey, opened an
investigation at the Queen Adelaide Inn, Kingston-
road, upon the bodies, or rather the remains of the
bodies, of the three unfortunate men who lost their
lives at the frightful explosion which took place on
Wednesday morning last at the gunpowder mills
carried on by the firm of Messrs. Sharpe, Adams,
and Co., situated about a mile and a half distance
from Ewell, on the road to Kingston.
The explosion, it may be remembered, occurred
about 6 o'clock on the morning of Wednesday, very
shortly after the men had commenced work, and
from the fact that the corning-mill house, where
the explosion took place, having been completely
blown to pieces, it was for some time deemed im-
possible even to conjecture the cause of the disaster.
A careful and minute search has, however, re-
sulted, it is stated, in a portion of one of
the copper shamps, or glazing barrels, being
found at some very considerable distance from the
premises that were destroyed, and as the hung was
found in its place, it furnished abundant evidence
that the work of unloading, in which the men would
have had to be engaged at that part, of the premises,
could not have been completed when the sad fatality
happened. These shamps or glazing barrels contain
from a hundred weight to a hundred weight and a

half, but it is not clearly ascertainable upon any
reliable authority how many sbamps there were, or
what gunpowthr there was in the mill. Of course
these facts will be elicited before the conclusion of
the inquiry.
The Coroner having sworn the jury, with Mr. R.
Henderson as foreman, the learned gentleman said
he had only one observation to make in the matter
of the inquiry. He was fully aware that they were
all neighbours and lived in the parish, and they
must understand that they were met to inquire into
the cause of the explosion that was said to have
taken place. It would be their duty to listen care-
fully and patiently to all the evidence, lest there
should be any criminality chargeable to any one; of
course it was quite impossible for him as coroner to
say what might arise in the course of the inquiry,
but it would be the most convenient course for him
(the coroner) to put such questions as he thought
necessary, and then the jury or the professional
gentlemen, if any were present, could ask what they
pleased with a view to elicit the facts of the sad
catastrophe. He proposed that they should view
the ruins of the place and the remains of the bodies,
and get them identified as far as possible, whioh
might, as he understood, be thoroughly done, as far
as far as one of them was concerned.

Ifffatraraaeksr:possible
The jury then proceeded, accompanied by the
coroner, to view the ruins of the mill, or, as should
rather be stated, the charred and blackened ground
on which it formerly stood, for not a vestige remains.
On inspecting the premises it certainly appeared
that every precaution had been adopted that human
ingenuity could devise to prevent even the possi-
bility of an accident. The corning mill was far
removed from all other works, and a large pond (the
d
best nonconductor) separated it from a thick wood
which intervened between it and other bufilvii.ewg.
The jury then performed the
was
aanmdositt
The rem
is
sngp theerh al
pe ms anieneed
needless
sthteousnayfotrhtnantathtele etnaske
the face being
The fragments of
arm blown off
the harrowingcorpses and
had
beens i
ac sp. earaonyroi
itinnai
of
fot
shells.
hote
the
eieh;paaeh.aa
eildnae afdf :tuff,
Henry Hockham k
properly set
showedtobgaceTthheis
only the trunk of the
up-
wards of 30 years at the works, and was
at
totdhye
eh wick
eu
shoulder.
pensioned off, but for a f,, days recently
-w past had been
working as a substitute. He was a thoroughly ex-
perienced man. The lower
Tames William Baker part of the body only of
was found, and that, of course,
could not be identified until yesterday evening when
part of the skull was discovered
the hair. This
unhappy man has left a wife and
six children. The other man, Thomas Warman or
Woolman, had hie left leg blown off at the thigh,
and the other • t pis below the knee. There was no
poor old
man
had
beaeinnsf
difficulty in identifying him, as his features were
quite perfeot.

Dr. Barrett, of Ewell, who was attracted to the
spot by hearing the explosion, has, since the finding
of the bodies superintended the painful work of
putting the fragments together in as near a complete
form as possible. It may be added that fragments
of fingers and toes are being found all about the
place.
On the return of the jury from their painful duty,
which occupied upwards of an hour, the evidence
%its pro3eeded with.
The witnesses were for the most part the worhk-
mmoedneabinouvi,t,htiliceh
by
manufacture
describedutrhoeywasexpected,
of the
and the precautions takenerdte
t whatever, nor suggest
thercm imseasn'
they could throw no light
to the cause of the
ble conjecture mills to ensure safely ; but,
any reasonable as as mt be xpected,
explosion.
of the mills.
from the explosion
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death

ounces
that
=--
Faripi is in a dying state, but Without say-
ing in what wanner his health was affected. The Opinion
explains the statement by declaring that the ex-Minister is
labouring M te.
gle grapbic despatch
under the effects of a stroke of apoplexy.
In from Turin announced

LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 1863.

The debate on the Harbours of Refuge last night
is well worthy of attention. Sir F. SMITH moved
" that so much of the report of the Commissioners
on Harbours of Refuge as applies to Waterford,
Wick, and Padstow be carried icto effect." The
hon. gentleman made an effective speech, and con-
cluded by stating that it was incumbent on the
Government to construct harbours at those places.
He proposed £125,000 for Wick, there was not an
harbour of refuge between the Orkneys and the
Frith of Forth, " Suppose this country were in-
yolved in a war with a northern Power, where
could the cruisers of this country find refuge in these
seas;" Padstow Harbour had been examined with
great Cafe, and it would be most useful for coasting
'vessels, and for that he asked 140,000. For Ire-
land he only asked for one harbour, Waterford,
and that could be done easily for £50,000. Mr.
SMITH observed that anyone who had witnessed a
Shipwreck could never forget the scene, and would
never cease to use his best efforts to prevent its
recurrence. Sir J. ELPHINSTONE strongly urged
the necessity of constructing a harbour at Peter-
head. He said the advantages that would accrue
to the merchant shipping would be considerable.
The hon. member at the end of his address wisely
urged the noble lord at the head of the Govern-
ment to consider this subject, for it was not a light
thing for a committee to sit two sessions,
and to be followed by a commission whose report
should remain a dead letter, while we
were carrying on at other places works of more
than questionable utility. After several hon. mem-
bers had urged the claims of various localities, Mr.
GIBSON made a most unsatisfactory speech. He
said that it would never do to let people
think that the Government were to take the
responsibility of providing for such works.
After doing his best to damp the energy and
discourage the efforts of all those speakers who
bad preceded him, M. GIBSON seemed to insinuate
that, by acceding to these suggestions, it would be
indlitating against private enterprise. It is true
that such a course of action is like all the rest of
the Ministerial policy at present. The Government
will undertake no duties that it is possible for them
to decline, and they will shirk all responsibi-
lity that can at any cost be put off.
Mr. BENTINCK truly stated that he thought
the time had come when action ought
to emanate from the Government of the day. For
his part, he thought that, without giving money,
the authorities might contribute greatly by giving
gt convict labour for such works." Fur many years
this term had been a farce only. He firmly believed
that by the adoption of this plan ranch goad might
be effected, and he hoped that the Government
would take it up in a manner befitting a subject
,
of such great national importance. Sir JOHN
FAKINGTON made a very sensible speech, which
sees characterised by that energy and clear-sighted-
ness that always distinguish his remarks on naval
questions. He said that he thought the tone of the
speech of the President of the Board of Trade was
not creditable to the Government nor satisfactory
to the House. The right hon. gentleman seemed
to forget that this question had originated with
the former Government of the noble Viscount;
and the late Mr. WILSON, as a member of that
Government had always advocated it. He had pre-
sided over the committee that had sat two sessions
ors the subject; and when Lord DERBY came into
power, Mr. WILSON had urged on him (Sir J. PAK-
INGTON not to neglect the report of that committee.
"Nothing could be stronger than these repoits con-
cerning the construction of these harbours for the
protection of our commerce, our shipping, and
our seamen." He felt bound to appeal from the
evasive address of the right hon. gentleman
and to ask the noble lord at the head of the Govern-
uwat whether they were to go on year after year with
a matte: of so much importance unattended to. The
motion of Sir F. SMITH was then negatived. This
supineness and in
action on the part of Govern-
ment suggest to those who look on that they

are acting a very inconsistent course, and that all

the outcry about expenditure is simply an excuse
I for the non-performance of their promises. While
they refuse to contribute the sums for neces-
sary harbours of refuge, they are wasting
money at Alderney and other useless places.
Again, another argument might be employed, that
if the Government will not expend money, it might
at least exert its influence in other ways. Har-
bours of refuge are most desirable, but a well-
found ship is independent of them, and three-
fourths of the vessels that are lost on our coasts are
sacrificed because they are provided with defective
ground-tackle or cables. The owners of vessels
should be compelled to look to this, They may
risk their own property if they like, but they have no
right to jeopardise the lives of their crews by their
faulty arrangements and careless supervision. It
is to be hoped that this subject will not be allowed
to drop, but that those able and willing to interfere
will insist on its receiving proper attention when
it again comes before the House.

The curtain has just fallen over the mortal career
of another of our military heroes. Death has been
busy among our celebrities in the brief months
that have already flitted by in the present year. It
is but a few weeks since we were called upon to la-
ment the close of the long life of honour which
ended in the demise of Sir JAMES OUTRAM,
This very day has witnessed the last obsequies of
one of our foremost statesmen, and now another
name is to be added to the list. It ie true that we
cannot call Lord SEATON'S death premature. He
had reached an age which is allotted to few, and his
public career, whether military or political, had ended
many years since. He will not be missed from the
busy scenes of social life and politics, for many to
whom the name of COLBORNE was once familiar
have long classed it among the memories of the past.
But its sound still calls up the recollection of the
long struggle in the Peninsula, the retreat which
closed in the victory of Cornnna, the storming of
Ciudad Rodrigo, the hill at Orthes, and the last
charge at Waterloo. Such associations would in-
vest with interest a less honoured name and less
gallant memory. As has been often the case with
England's worthies, though less often in the mili-
tary than in any other profession, the late Field
Marshal was not specially favoured by the gifts of
fortune. He was the son of a country gentleman,
whose means were impoverished by unfortunate
speculations, and who died leaving his family very
scantily provided for. It was not until his mother's
second marriage with a dignitary of IN inchester
that he obtained his education at that school.
When once he entered the army, how-
ever, his promotion was rapid. The vacancies
in those days were too fast and frequent
to keep subalterns long in expectation. Young
COLBORNE took an active part in the busy scenes of
the time. In Egypt, in Sicily, in Sweden, and
the Peninsula, he shared the honours and perils of
the war, and in some of the most important engage-
ments he took a prominent part. At Bidassoa he
carried an important point, At Orthes he led the
attack on SOULT'S position, and to him has been
attributed the origin of that forward movement at
Waterloo which carried the fortunes of the day.
That day left no more European laurels to be
gathered by the bravest, and soldiers were forced
to turn their swords into the batons of civil autho-
rity, not always with success. We all know how
ill the stern discipline and despotic authority of the
Commander-in-Chief suited the free will and out-
spoken independence of the English people.
Strange to say, the complaint brought
by some against Lord SEATON'S civil government is
his too great laxity in conceding the wishes of the
restless lonians. He bore the unenviable dignity
of Lord High Commissioner of the Islands for some
years, during part of which time he had to deal
with the disaffection created by the events of 1848,
" the year of revolutions.", Before filling that office,
however, he had held a colonial appointment of
still higher importance as Lieutenant-Governor and
Commander-in-Chief in Canada. The esteem' and
affection which he gathered even in the midst
of the Canadian revolt was strongly tes-
tified by the large number of addresses
presented to him by the inhabitants of Canada,
who, whatever their nation or colour, united in tes-
tifying their regret at his departure. On his re-
turn to England in 1838 he was raised to the
peerage, but he seldom took part in the debates of
the Upper House. It is but a few years, however,
since he was raised to the dignity he had so
hardly earned, and received the baton of Field
Marshal. His long life has closed in peace and
honour after the hairbreadth 'stapes and snares
through which the young soldier had to pass. He
has outlived most of his contemporaries, but their
names will still be classed together in the record of
that tremendous struggle, which reversed thrones
and resuscitated dynasties, and formed the modern
map of Europe.

The report which the Registrar-General has just
presented to the Homo Secretary contains some
curious particulars. Much may be learned from
these documents, and by their means we are enabled
tai mark the progress of education, the development
of sanitary laws, and to test the commercial pro-
sperity of the people. The year, whose statistics
are just brought under our notice, is the year before
last, and thus we are unable as yet to trace the effect
produced by the Lancashire crisis in the deaths
and marriages. The general character of these
returns, independently of any casual fluctuations, is
highly satisfactory, the population increasing at the
rate of a million in every five years. In 1836-40
the population of England and Wales was rising
through its sixteenth million ; in the middle of
1861 it is computed to have risen to 20,119,496 ;
thus showing an increase of more than five millions
in the 25 years. The English registration, says the
Report, now exceeds the population registered in
1837 by the number cf the present population of
the Metropolis
and the three Yorkshire Ridings.
The advance in the
numbers of births, deaths, and
marriages is of course
also
1 large,B4ootoh.e
thbeirdthesatihns
1861 exceeding those of 1841 by ,
by 91,000, and the marriages by 82,000. The
aggregate number of names entered on the register
during the twelve months of 1861 reaches the aston-
ishing amount of 1,458,932. The year on the whole
was healthy, as proved by the lowness of the death-
rate. Trade was somewhat depressed, which pro-
bably produced some Effect in slightly decreasing
the number of marriages, while a more visible con-
eqtzen ce is found in the emigration of 30,000 persons.
The marriages afford us some curious statistics.
It appears that five marriages are performed by
banns to one by license, while only sixteen in the
course of the year reached the dignity of a special
license. The popular theory of the dangerous
fascinations of widows seems, like many other
theories, to have no foundation on fact, for the num-
' ber of widowers who re-married was nearly double
the number of widows ; and while there were more
than twice as many marriages between widowers
and spinsters as between bachelors and widows,
for one widower who marries a widow there are
nearly two who marry spinsters. It is not, perhaps,
surprising:to find that, of persons who marry under
age, three to one are females; but in many districts