The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-23 00:00:00

ness. The powder was prepared by the sons in a
garden, some distance from their private dwelling,
and, as occasion required, conveyed in a cab to the
manufactory. This afternoon a quantity of pow der,
supposed to be about 101 b., was brought to the
works, and at half-past four taken down to the cel-
lar by Thomas and Richard Walker. The cellar
was about seven feet below the ground floor or level
of the street, and contained an iron safe for the re-
ception of the powder. Every precaution was used
in depositing the powder in this apartment, candles
were not permitted to be used, and every care was
taken to prevent contact with hard substances or
friction of any kind. In taking the powder to the
cellar this afternoon the brothers were accompanied
by a confidential clerk and stamper named Buck-
ley, and a dark protected lantern was used to light
the party. While engaged in conveying the compo-
site to or depositing it in the see a terrific explo-
sion took place, from what cause has not been as-
certained, but the effect of which was the total de-
struction of the works. The report was heard at the
distance of a mile, and a second crash satisfied those
in the neighbourhood that Walker's manufactory
was a heap of ruins. From the complete destruction
of the premises and the impossibility of escape, it
was at once concluded that Messrs. R. and T.
Walker and the stamper, Buckley, were buried in
the cellar, and such was subsequently found to be
the case, although their bodies were not recovered
for several hours afterwards. With the fall of the
premises nearly all the workpeople were precipitated
to the ground floor, most of them covered with the
debris, and sustaining severe injuries, and a man em-
ployed in the adjoining factory of Messrs. Heeley
was killed on the spot by the falling of a staircase.
Four persons who were passing along thestreet at the
time of the explosion were knocked down and
almost covered with the fallen brickwork, and were
with difficulty extricated from their perilous posi-
tion. After the arrival of the police, and with the
assistance of a body of labourers, the unfortunate
workpeople were by degrees released from the debris
and removed as speedily as possible to the General
Hospital. Altogether 25 injured persons were re-
moved to that institution, and received prompt me-
dical assistance from Doctors Baker, Bolton, Bracey,
and Goodhall. Notwithstanding the removal of so
many of the workpeople to the hospital, and a
knowledge of the fact that some had escaped unin-
jured, it was feared that many were yet buried be-
neath the ruins. Additional assistance having been
obtained, the debris was gradually removed, when
the body of a young woman was discovered much
mutilated, and it was afterwards removed to an ad-
joining public-house with that of Bidduiph, a work-
man employed at Messrs. Heeley's factory. Towards
11 o'clock the labourers had reached the cellar,
where they found the bodies of Mr. Richard and Mr.
Thomas Walker, the former mutilated in the most
frightful manner. At the time of the explosion
Mrs. Walker happened to be at home, and her son
Mr. John Walker and one of her daughters were
also absent. Two of the daughters, however, were
in the office at the time, and both were so seriously
injured as to render their removal to the hospital
necessary. It is satisfactory, however, to state thiil
both are recovering, and may be said to be out of
danger. Altogether seven lives were lost, and 30
persons more or less injured by the catastrophe.

AN AWKWARD INTER VIETV WITH A

LUNATIC.

(From the Northampton Free Press.)

On Wednesday last, about eight o'clock in the
evening, the family of Mr. Geo. Corby, bookseller,
of the Drapery, of this town, were placed in a con-
siderable state of alarm by a most extraordinary oc-
currence. About the time above-named, Mr. Fre-
derick Mead, a highly respectable and intelligent
working-man, went into Mr. Corby's shop,
and told him he wished to speak to him two
minutes privately. Mr. Corby was busy at the
time, asked him to wait a short time. When
Mr. Corby was at liberty, he asked him
if he wished to go into a private room, and he
said it would be best. Mr. Mead looked pale and
agitated, and it was inferred by Mr. Corby that he
was in trouble, and wished to ask his advice. He
was therefore shown into a private room by Mr.
Corby, and the door was closed. A chair was placed
for Mr. Mead, but he asked Mr. Corby to sit in that
and took another which was between Mr. Corby
and the door. Being seated, ho said that what he
was about to say must not be divulged to any one
until after the appointed time. Mr. Corby told
him that he might fully rely upon his secrecy: Mr.
Mead replied that he believed he could do so, and
it was for that reason he had come to him. He
then said, " You may think, as my son tells me,
that lam mad ; but lam not mad. As true as you
sit there I have seen the living God. I have seen
Jesus Christ, and talked with both."
It now became apparent to Mr. Corby that his
visitor was deranged. All the time he had been
speaking he was feeling in his pockets as if search-
ing for something. After a short pause he con-
tinued, " I am inspired ; I am to proclaim a new dis-
pensation and the regeneration of the world. Next
Sunday night, at the conclusion of Divine Service,
in All Saints' Church, I shall proclaim my mission."
He then pulled out of his pocket a large knife,
which fastened back with a spring, and, presenting
the point to Mr. Corby's breast, said—" You must
go down on your knees and swear to the living
God that you will never divulge anything that
I have said until the appointed time, or I will
stab you to the heart." Mr. Corby's first
impulse was to seize the knife, but remem-
bering that his dangerous visitor was a tall,
powerful man, whilst he himself was but a mid-
dle sized person of nine stone, there was every
probability that his attempt would fail, and the
most serious consequences be the result. His next
thought was to try to escape,bat the door being shut,
and he having to puss his excited companion, there
was no hope that way. He saw, therefore, that his
only chance was in appearing to coincide entirely
with the view of his visitor. At that moment his
life seemed not worth a minute's purchase. These
thoughts passed through his mind with far greater
rapidity than they could be written or spoken.
Seeing the knife still pointed at his breast, Mr.
Corby said, " Surely God would not tell you to
act like that." " What ? " replied Mr. Mead, " not
to threaten you ? but he did, though." Mr. Corby
now decided upon a conciliatory course. He said
—" Well, Mr. Mead, I have known you for many
years, and have always found you a most hon-
ourable and sincere man, end I am convinced
that you would not tell me anything of this kind
unless you believed it to be true. I am glad you
have come to me, and I will help you in every way
I can." They shook hands very warmly, and ap-
parently all danger was past. Mr. Mead then went
on to say that Mr. Corby must get some bills printed
to announce his mission, and that one must be sent
to every newspaper in England. He afterwards
rose and became very excited. He said that he was
inspired—that God called to him one night and said
—" Felix Mead, write." He answered—" Thou
knowest, Lord, that I cannot writt." But he said
that again God told him to write, and although he
never knew how to write, yet, under Divine influ-
ence, he wrote an excellent hand. Turning sharply
to Mr. Corby, he said—" Is not that inspiration ?"
The most exciting moment had now arrived. He
put his left hand on Mr. Corby's shoulder, and held
the knife up in his hand as if about to strike. Ile
told him he must kneel, and take an oath which he
would administer, or he would carry out his threat
and stab him to the heart. Seeing that the only
safe course was to conciliate him, Mr. Corby knelt
on one knee, in sch a manner that he could spring
aside instantly, should it be necessary. Mr. Mead
standing over him, with the knife upraised, pro-
ceeded to administer the oath, which is not suitable to
be repeated in a newspaper. At the conclusion of the
interview he said, "It is well; I will trust you." It
became necessary now that some means should be
adopted to secure him, as it was evident that it was
most unsafe for him to be at large. Mr. Corby,
therefore, told him that he could not stay there, as
his customers were waiting to ba served, but if he
would come again in an hour's time the shop would
be closed and they would have the room to them-
selves to complete the arrangement. This he agreed
to, left the room, and passed quietly through the
shop out of the house. Mrs. Corby immediately