The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-12 00:00:00

CALAMITOUS LOSS OF LIFE.

At this time of universal rejoicing it is sad to have to
state that a deplorable loss of life occurred in the city of
London on the night of the general illuminatiun. Six per-
sons, all of them women, were crushed or trodden to death
on Tuesday evening in the vast crowd which was attracted
out of doors on that occasion, and which roamed about until
an advanced hour of the night. Two of the unfortunate crea-
tures met their death near the Mansion-house about $ o'clock
in the evening, and the remaining four perished at the foot
of Ludgate-hill at a later hour. The bodies of three of
them now lie at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, of two more
at the dead-house in Huggin-lane, Queenhithe, while ano-
ther remains at the National Refreshment-rooms in Far-
ringdon-street. Four of them have been identified by rela-
tives and friends,but two are as yet unrecognized. The names
of the former are Phoebe Crystal, a widow, of 9, Bridge-
street, Hammersmith; Charlotte Donegan, wife of a labour-
ing man, residing at 27, Fort-street, Spitalfields ; Charlotte
Jane Mitchell, 20 years of age, who had resided at Union-
place, Hackney; and Ann Harding,of 1, Vineyard-gardens,
Clerkenwell, a nurse. The woman whose body lies un-
claimed at the house in Farringdon• street is described as
about 30 years of age, with fair complexion and light brown
hair, dressed in a black stuff gown, red and black shawl,
gray cloth cloak, and lavender-coloured kid gloves. She
was carried there shortly before midnight, while yet alive,
by a man to whom she was an entire stranger, and in whose
arms she immediately afterwards died. The landlord, Mr.
Thorpe, like a good Samaritan, to his credit took the dying
woman into his house after she had been refused admission
at two different taverns in the neighbourhood. The body of
the other woman, nut yet identified,which lies at St. Bartho-
lomew's Hospital, appears to be that of a person turned 20
years of age, with light complexion and hair having a natu-
ral curl, and dressed in a gray cloth cloak, a white collar
trimmed with pink,a gray shawl, and a dark-coloured gown.
These particulars are stated with a view to the identifica •
tion of the deceased,inasmuch asduring the whole of Tuesday
night numbers of people made anxious inquiries at the city
police stations about missing friends, especially at that in
Bow-lane. The deceased girl Mitchell had been employed
as a needlew roman at Messrs. Copestake and Moore's, in
Cheapside. Her sister, who was with her when she was
crushed to death, is also said to have received serious in-
jury in the crowd.

It would appear that the women Donegan and Crystal
were killed about the same time and near the same spot—
viz , at the east end of the Poultry, opposite St. Mildred's
church. At that time, about 8 o'clock, the crowd was so
dense and surged about so fearfully that Inspector Shelford
and Hubble, the gaoler at the Mansion. house police court,
who had been drawn into it, and both of whom are tall,
strong men, were obliged to cling to a van to keep their
feet. Donegan was accompanied by her husband, who car-
ried their child, about 12 months old, in his arms. A fear-
ful rush took place in the direction of Charlotte-row, in
which she was thrown down, and in trying to save her the
father let the child fall. The mother was trodden to death,
but somebody caught the baby as it fell and threw it into a
passit g van, by which its life was saved. Placebe Crystal,
who is thought to hive fallen in the same rush, had her
skull fractured. Two of he deceased's sons called at Biqa,-
lane police station yesterday and claimed the body, The de- I
ceased was accompanied at ihe time of her death by ore
Sarah Partridge, wife of a harness-maker residing in Long-
lane, Smithfield, who was also hurt, but not seriously.
The open space in front. of the Mansion-house, as on the
day of the Princess's entry into London, was sure to attract
and it did attract, an enormous crowd on Tuesday night be-
cause of the extraordinary splendour of the illuminations in
that locality—the fronts of the Royal Exchange, Bank of
England, and the official r, sidence of the Lord Mayor
being all brilliantly lighted up ; while the whole rf the
ornamentation with which the last-named buiiding was
covered in anticipation of the ceremony of Saturday still
remained as an additional atir“ction to sightseers. It be-
comes important under the circumstances to know what
were the police regulations in the city on the occasion. They
were very simple, and had reference chiefly to the carriage
traffic. The whole city police force numbers about 610 men,
and all the available men—but how many does not appear—
were distributed along the line of streets in which the illu-
mination was most conspicuous. Their primary, if not their
only duty, was to regulate the carriage traffic, and especially
to prevent two lines of it proceeding in opposite directions at
the same time. For instance, peop e in carriages, cabs,
vans, and the like entering the City at Temple-bar and going
East, had to pass up Chancery-lane, and by way of Holborn
into Cheapside. and thence along Cornhill and Leaden hall-
street. Part of Aldgate-street being torn up at present they
might pass by way of Billiter-street into Fenchurch and
,Gracechurch-streets. There they had the option of crossing
London-bridge, or returning westward by way of Cannon-
street, Ludgate-hill, and Fleet-street, through Temple-bar.
There is reason to believe that as evening advanced this ar-
rangement was infringed in many places. Certainly, at
intervals, the traffic flowed along Fleet-street in three or
four lines abreast, though in the same direction, so as mate-
rially to abridge the roadway for pedes rians. Once in the
great line of illumination the i eople had to take care of
themselves, and all the :-ide streets were free for others to
' join at will. During the whole evening the crowd was vast
beyond conception, a considerable proportion of them being
women.

There were many casualties from pressure during the
afternoon and evening besides those resulting in death. An
unfortunate boy named William Harvey, about nine years
of age, living in New-street, Hackney, received injuries near
the triumphal arch at London-bridge, which yesterday ren-
dered necessary the amputation of a leg and a hand at Guy's
Hospital, to which he had been removed, and where he now
lies in a precarious condition. Abp ut the same place Harriet
Church, residing in Lisson-grove, had her leg broken, and a
man fell from a van, breaking seven of his ribs. They were
taken to Guy's Hospital. Ann Hawkes, residing in Windsor-
street, Islington, was crushed in the crowd in Mansion-
house-street and taken insensible to St. Bartholomew's Hos-
pital. John Macpherson, residing in Norton-road, Kentish-
town, fell in Upper Thames .street and broke his leg. He
was also conveyed to Guy's Hospital. Between 20 and 30
people, with scalp wounds, broken legs and arms, dislocated
shoal ters and the like, were taken to St. Bartholomew's
Heepi tat in the course of the night, end received the atten-
t,ona of Mr. Ludlow, the house surgeon. Five of them re-
mained as ptients in the institution, and the rest were con-
voyed to their homes