The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-02 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 2, 1862.

SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF A LADY IN THE

REGENTS CANAL,

On Saturday an investigation was held at the
Rose and Crown Tavern, Cambridge-street, South
Hackney, by Mr. H. R. Walthew, the deputy coro-
near for East Middlesex, touching the death of a
lady unknown,
apparently about 40 years of age.
Mr. E. Hulse, 2, Park-place, coffeehouse keeper,
said that a little before 10 o'clock on Monday night
a gentleman rushed into his shop in a most excited
state, vociferating that a female was in the water
and wanted to be got out. Witness had since been
informed that the gentleman was a lunatic, and had
been but recently liberated from an asylum. Wit-
ness went to the banks of the canal, and saw de-
ceased struggling in the water under the bridge,
when he gave an alarm and she was brought on
shore by, means of the drags. She was still alive,
and did-not appear to have been five minutes in the
water altogether. A doctor was sent for, and she
was brought to the Rose and Crown, and on the
way she gave a groan and expired. She was very
respectably dressed, and seemed to be about 50
years old. Witness lost sight of the gentleman
above mentioned, and did not know where he could
be found.
A policeman said that deceased was a highly re-
spectable-looking person, attired iu a black silk
bonnet, black dress, and kid leather boots. In her
pocket he found ls. 4d., and two packages of poi-
son ; one package was labelled " Sugar of lead—
poison, Dudley W. Smith, Southampton-street,
Camberwell," and the other" Oxalic acid—poison."
Though a full description had been circulated over
the metropolis no clue had been obtained to her
identification.
''PlieVoronei said-that it would be most important
to have the gentleman spoken of by the first witness
produced, so as to ascertain under what circum-
stances deceased came into the water. _ _ _

Another policeman said that the police had been
unable to trace that individual, but from the in-
quiries instituted it was fouud that he had been for
some years an inmate of tho Colney -hatch Lunatic
Asylum, and that his present condition was such
that his evidence would be wholly useless.
The jury returned a verdict " That the deceased
was found dying in the Regent's Canal, but by what
means she came into the said canal there was no
evidence to show."

FATAL COLLIERY ACCIDENT AT

BILSTON.

We are now enabled to give further particulars of
the fatal colliery accident by which seven men and
boys lost their lives than we were on Saturday.

It appears that four men and three boys were en
gaged at the Bradley Colliery, of Messrs. G. B
Thorneycroft and Co., making a communication be
tween the engine-pit of the colliery, and a pit in the
thick coal seam. The object in view was to make a
water level to draw off into the engine pit a large
accumulation of water in the thick coal before de-
scribed, and which was at a higher level than the
engine-pit. The men had proceeded in their work
to within about 15 feet of the water, when it burst
in upon them in great force. They wore driven before
it to the shaft, by which they descended a distance of
about 70 yards, and shouted for the tackle to be sant
down. The butty of the pit, who had just ascended,
made instant preparations to comply with their re-
quest, but before the skip could be got down to the
point at which they raised the alarm the weight and
force of the rushing water had destroyed the scaf-
folding which here spanned the shaft, and forced
the poor fellows into the water beneath.
As soon as the two pumping engines, which were
at once put on in full work, had drawn off sufficient
water, Harvey, the manager, descended, and, ac-
companied by other two men, found two of the de-
ceased driven by the force of the liberated water
into the " inset" at the bottom of the engine pit,
some 200 yards from the place where they were at
work when the water broke in upon them. They
were by that time quite dead. The remaining five
bodies had not bee❑ recovered up to ten o'clock on
Friday night. All the water, however, had been
pumped out, but the debris had so far interfered
with the easy moving of the working parties, that
the bodies could not, it was feared, be reached be-
fore Saturday morning.
When the water broke in upon the deceased
about 40 men were working some distance off
in the thin mine coal. Their pit being connected
with the engine pit, the rear of water could
be distinctly heard in the thin coal, and the
men became greatly alarmed, but they had the
means of escape in several directions, as indeed had
the deceased, if the water had not gained upon them
with fatal rapidity. Even if the 40 men in question
had not had the facilities for escape which they pos-
sessed the water in the thick coal was not sufficient
to render their position hazardous.
The deceased are Thomas Dunning, aged 48, mar-
ried (the " doggy" of the pit), and his son Isaac,
aged 12 ; Charles Deakin, aged 22 ; Joseph IN ilks,
married, and having four children; Samuel Speed,
20; Frederick Cound, 15; and Wm. Schofield.
The bodies recovered were those of Speed and the
boy Dunning. It was not known at the colliery on
Friday night whether Speed was married ; but the
" doggy," in addition to his son who was killed with
him, had three children.
Captain Thorneycroft, who at the time of the ac-
cident was on the magistrate's bench at Bilston, was
at the colliery within an hour after the occurrence
happened, and he remained there the greater part
of the night, as did also Mr. Hartley and another
member of the firm, with Mr. Baker, the Govern-
ment inspector, and Mr. Smallman, mining engi-
neer to Messrs. Thorneycroft. By the last-named
two gentlemen the efforts of the working parties
were directed.
Much consternation naturally prevailed in and
around Bilston. and the pit banks at the colliery
were crowded during most of the evening, notwith-
standing the heavy rain ; but the police, under
Superintendent M'Crea, kept the public from im-
peding the operations.

SUICIDE THROUGH ALLEGED CRUELTY
BY A HUSBAND.

square.
Several relatives of the deceased gave evidence
from whose statement it appeared she had been
twice married, and that for the last two years she
had threatened to commit suicide, being ac-
tuated thereto by her husband's cruelty. On
the 22d inst., she was turned out of doors, but by
the advice of her friends she was prevailed on to
return home, accompanied by her son by the former
1 marriage, and he remained with her in the house
till the following morning. Daring the night the
husband ill-used her, and kicked her on the leg.
She watched her opportunity on the following
morning (Friday), and left the house, with a deter-
mination never to return, and went to the house of
her sister, by marriage, 42, Charlotte-street, in the
above-mentioned locality. She seemed depressed
in mind, and recurred to the cruelty she had expe-
rienced, and said if anything happened to her she
hoped they would take her to some infirmary. The
next morning (Saturday) she was seen with a tea
cup in her hand, and shortly afterwards was found
in her bedroom lying on the bed, with her feet on
the floor, insensible. Medical assistance was called
in, but life was extinct. Subsequently, a tea-
cup was found under the bed, which on
analysis proved to have contained oxalic acid.
The husband was sent for, and be said, " Oh,
she has been poisoned." Mr. R. Lamb, of the Cale-
donian-road, made apost mortem examination, and
from the inflamed the state of the stomach and
oesophagus, was convinced she had been poisoned.
The contents of the stomach on analysation showed
that half an ounce of oxalic acid had been adminis-
tered. Externally there was no bruise on the leg,
Tho Jury regretted the facility afforded for ob-
taining poison, with which the deputy coroner
agreed, and said, with the exception of arsenic,
should take
corrosive sublimate, prussic acid, in fact all other
poisons were readily obtainable. Oxalic acid could
be had in any quantity, as it was used in articles of
manufacture.
within the province It was thought
pl
ae e advisable is
ordera b l e that
t o
h aavne adjournment
the
husband
before them but the deputy coroner said it would
have no effect.
hisHe did not administer the poison,
During
and thereforc previousof the
,s court. did
might bring forthane d'
the consultation as to the necessity of pro-
wl the wife's part
ducing the the deputy coroner said it
when
statement as to provocation
" Suicide hinase.9 it was stated that the first
The jury were agreed tahtitt
husband hung
him down. If and the second husband cut
odficttheofdeceaseodug
the poison was self-
administered, and had
de discussion as
oafs
otoxatlhieo
the state of mind a
Ultimately they re-
turnedn
open question.
satcat,ofanmaa ilnvedeftr

THE NAVY.

The Shannon, screw frigate, Capt. Wainwright,
resumed her experimental screw trials at Ports-
mouth, with a screw of four blades fixed at equi-
distant intervals round a sphere or boss, similar in
character a° the Griffiths boss, having a diameter of
18ft and a pitch of 23ft 10in. The blades were cast
from patterns of the blades of the Mangin screw,
which vas tried on the 17th of May last. The screw
tried yesterday and the Mangin had therefore the
same number of blades differently disposed. The
blades of the Mangin, instead of being distributed
round the circumference of the boss as in the case
of the screw tried on Saturday, had one set of blades
set behind the other, and thus retained the principle
of a lifting screw, which the one tested on Saturday
necessarily was not. It requires a less aperture or
well in the ship's stern than our common Admiralty
screw for lifting it when putting the ship under
sail. From the proximity of the Mangin's sets of
blades to each other, the distance being only about
30in, the ,water became "locked" between them
when working at full speed of the engines, and
caused an excessive vibration throughout the ship.
The ship left flip harbour at 11 a.m., drawing the
same depth of Water as on her last trial-20ft 3ba
forward, and 21ft 9in aft. The weather, like that
experienced on the three preceding trials, was as
favourable as it could possibly be for developing the
powers. of a screw.: On clearing the Spit buoy the
ship made a stretch (k-at to the southward as far as the
Warner Light vessel to clear her fires and make all
ready below for the runs at the mile. On reaching
the Light vessel the ship's head was brought round
and laid for the trial ground in Stokes Bay, where
six runs were made. The following were the re-
sults :—First run—time, 5 min 4 sec ; speed, 11.481;
revolutions, 53. Second run—time, 5 min 32 sec ;
speed, 10 843 ; revolutions, 521. Third run—
time, 4 min 48 sec; speed, 12.500 ; revolutions, 531.
Fourth run—time, 5 min 30 sec ; speed, 10.286 ; re-
volutions, 54. Fifth run—time, 4 min 36 sec ;
speed, 13.043; revolutions, 531. Sixth run—time,
5 min 54 sec ; speed, 10.169 ; revolutions, 531. The
mean speed of the 6 six tuns was 11'553 knots. In
ethorenterris cut, on
ot n the commonheth of iv
screw,i with its leading
ay, a
speed of 11.288
knots was realised with a maximum of engine re-
volutions of 591. In the second trial, on the 17th,
with the Mangin, the speed was 11.331 knots, with
a maximum of engine revolutions of 531. The third
trial was made with the common screw, having
both leading and following corners cut, and gave a
of engine re-
volutions of
lutionslol;os642. kTnhoetsioaunrd maximum
fourth trial
is
the present one,
which, it will be seen by a reference to the figures
quoted, is so far the first in point of speed. The
runs being concluded, the time in which she made
a complete circle, both to port and starboard,
was nex t
which taken.
was The
done Was first hove over
to port,
and a-half
turns of the wheel, and with the rudder
helm
to
one
at an angle of 13 deg in 29 sec. The first half
of the circle was made in 3 min and 29 sec, and the
full circle completed in 7 min. 12 sec. The helm
was next hove to starboard, with one and a-half
turns of the wheel, and the same angle of rudder
obtained in 43 sec. The half circle was then made
in 3 min 41 sec, and the full circle in 7 min 50 sec.
There was here a difference in time of 14 sec in get-
ting the rudder over to the same angle in going
round to port' and starboard, and a difference of 32
sec in making the two circles. The peculiar action
of the screw observed on Saturday may have some-
thing to do with this difference in time, it raising a
ridge of water across the ship's stern from port to
starboard to a height of about 12 inches above the
ship's line of copper, with, of course, a following
current in the same direction over the screw. There
was an almost total absence of any vibration, how-
ever, and a remarkably small rise of water in the
screw well. The beat of the screw, which was so
marked a feature of the Mangin screw, could not be
detected in any part of the present trial ; its action
in revolving through the water being apparently
perfectly continuous and equable. The column of
water discharged astern of the ship by the screw
was also less spread than is usually the case, and
confined nearly to a line with the ship's course. The
slip of the screw was also much less than either of
the three preceding ones being only about two knots.
The trial altogether proved to be of a very impor-
tant character, and will possibly be the most suc-
cessful on all points of the intended series, as no
such favourable results are expected from the next
and last trial, which has to be made with the addi-
tion of two blades. Now that the trials have, how-
ever, been carried so far, it would be a groat oppor-
tunity lost not to carry them a little further, and
close them with a trial of our acknowledged best
screw—the Griffiths with two and four blades. The
results to be gained by trying the Griffiths under
the same circumstances as the Mangin and the Ad-
miralty screw would be of the greatest importance
in the consideration of the screw question, and
could not but add materially to the knowledge we
already possess on the subject.
The Vesuvius, 6, paddle, Commander IL G. Dou-
glas, arrived at Spithead yesterday morning from
Woolwich on her way to the North American and
West India station.
Her Majesty's paddlewheel steamvessel Banshee,
Commander Madden, was on Saturday put out of
commission at Woolwich for repairs, and the crew
paid off.
The Worcester, 50, having been lent to the Marine
Society as a training ship, has been received at Green-
.% icb, and will be moored at that station. The sister
shipWarspite is about to be handed over to the society
to replace the Venus at Woolwich. The Worcester,
it appears has been fitted in every department by the
Admiralty for the society's use, and will be imme-
diately available for the service, while the Warspito,
it is
,stated, will have to undergo some extensive
alterations and repairs at th© exclusive cost of the
society, the Admiralty having declined the respon-
sibility of any further expenditure or outlay on the
society's training ships, further than is requisite for
their removal.
The screw corvette Racoon, 21, 400-horse power,
having stripped her lower masts, was on Saturday
afternoon removed from her berth in Chatham har-
bour, and placed in No. 3 dock, where she will
complete fitting for commission. She is expected to
be ready in the course of a month or six weeks.
During the time she has been in the hands of the
shipwrights' department she has undergone a com-
plete overhaul and repair. In order to strengthen
her sternpost and to lessen the vibration from the
working of the screw, gun-metal knees have been
placed at the rudder-post, similar to those fitted on
board other steamers. Her planking, to a consider-
able extent, has been removed, and her faulty and
defective timbers made good, in addition to which
a great deal of the planking of both her decks has
been ripped up.
In consequence of the slow delivery of the armour-
plates and other portions of the irouwork and ma-
chinery for the Royal Oak, 51, at Chatham, orders
have been received from the Controller of the Navy
directing 80 of the hands to bo withdrawn from
that frigate and placed on the Pylades, 21, 400-
power, under repair in the fourth dock. This will
leave about 500 hands, of various trades, still
to complete which no
em-
ployedexe on
rtionsatrhee
beingßoyalspOaakred
by the heads of the
various departments, although their efforts are in a
measure paralyzed by the delays have arisen in
building and preparing the factory for converting
the slabs of iron into the armour plates for the ship.
The Royal Oak has been ready some weeks for her
iron coating, but up till now only some two or three
plates have been affixed to her sides. The delay
has arisen entirely from care not having been taken
to have everything prepared for proceeding with
the plating of the frigate as soon as she was suffi-
ciently advanced to allow of this being dene. UP
to Saturday several of the ponderous machines for
preparing the plates remained on the space

ing the slip, and were being put together by the
workmen sent from Messrs. r airbairn and Co.,
Smith and Co, and other firms in Leedst but, un-
less care be taken, the machines will suffer injury
from their exposure, owing to the space not being
yet covered in. Among the machinery in course of
erection is the largest "slotting" machine ever con-
structed for splitting the iron armour-plates, toge-
ther with two correspondingly large planing ma-
chines, as well as machinery for drilling, pressing,
Sze., the plates. On Saturday a number of the large
armour plates, each weighing four tons, were
landed at Chatham dockyard from the Thames Iron
works Company, who have entered into a contract
to supply the plates for the Royal Oak. The cost
of each armour plate is about £l3O, exclusive of the
cost of preparing and fixing.
Orders were on Saturday received at Chatham
dockard from the Admiralty, directing no more
hands to be entered at that esteblishment to fill up
vacancies, excepting in the case of those for the
iron frigate Achilles, 50.
The Norwegian screw corvette Nornen, 20 guns,
Capt. Smith, arrived at Spithead on Saturday morn-
ing, 12 days fi om the Chesapeake, bringing a mail
from her Majesty's ship Orlando, which was landed
and forwarded to London by the evening train. The
Nornen will remain at Spithead until about Wed-
nesday next.

His Prussian Majesty's brig Hela, 6 guns, Com-
mander Klatt, arrived at Spithead last evening
from the westward. She left Lisbon on the 14th
and Vigo on the 23d of May. She experienced fine
weather and calms the whole voyage. Sbe spoke
yesterday, under St. Alban's Head, the Hamburg
ship Franklin, from Hamburg, bound westward.
The following appointments were made on Satur-
day at the Admiralty :—Doyle M. Shaw, surgeon,
to the Medea; and John Elliott, surgeon addi-
tional, to the Nile.