The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-05 00:00:00

DREADFUL AND FATAL ACCIDENT AT
PRESTON.

Monday is the day on which the turn-out factory
hands in Preston receive their weekly allowance in lieu
of wages. For this purpose they are classed in divisions,
each of which is paid at a different place. Last night a
body of card-room hands, between 200 and 300 in num-
ber, assembled at the Corporation Arms public-house to
receive their money. They were directed to a room at
the back part of the premises, approached from the yard
by a flight of stone steps. The dimensions at a rough
estimate, are about 25 feet by 20, the boarded floor being
supported by a beam passing under the centre. Under-
neath is a lumber-room. By a quarter to eight, when
the distribution of the money commenced the room was
densely packed to the very threshhold.
A few minutes before eight an alarming crash, in-
stantaneously followed by piercing shrieks, were heard.
Lights having been procured, an appalling spectacle met
the view. It was found that the beam above-mentioned,
unequal to the unwonted pressure to which it was sub-
jected, had snapped in the centre, and the floor parted
in the centre, like a pair of folding-doors. The conse-
quence was, that those who occupied the middle of the
room were the chief sufferers ; they not only fell through
the opening the entire depth to the ground-floor (12
feet), but were immediately buried underneath those who
being at the sides or ends of the room, glided down the
sloping boards upon them. Some few clung to the
windows until rescued by the aid of ladders.
The majority of the sufferers, however, were young
females. Many of them appeared dead when extricated.
but revived under the combined influence of stimulants
and fresh air.

Eight or ten of the nearest surgeons were promptly
in attendance upon the wounded, some of whom were
removed (as soon as cabs could be procured) to the House
of Recovery, others to the dispensary, and the remain-
der to their own houses. The cases were found to com-
promise fractures of all descriptions—ribs, legs, and
thighs. One young woman was killed on the spot, and
another lies in a state of hysterical delirium. Others
are in a most shocking condition.
The deceased has been identified as Jane Smelley,
about 14 years of age.

The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch are entertaining
a succession of visitors at Drumlanrig Castle. The Mar-
chioness of Bath and Lady Louisa Thynne, and the
elite of the aristocracy in the Highlands, have been
amongst the visitants.
DRIIRY-LANE.—BENEFIT OF MR. EMERY.—Last even-
ing Mr. Emery, the clever and deservedly popular actor,
took his benefit at Drury-lane Theatre, and was honoured
by a very large audience. The part he selected for the
occasion was that of Sir John Falstaff in Henry the Fourth,
a character of which he may be said to be one of the
best, if not the best, representative on the stage. He
was ably supported by Mr. Barry Sullivan and Mr. Alfred
Wigan, and the performance was throughout well re-
ceived. The Old Curiosity Skop followed, and during
the evening Mr. Parker, jun., the son of the professor,
gave some enlivening airs on the pianoforte. His style
of playing Schulhoff's " Carnival de Venice" met with
loud applause. On the whole the entertainment was
well relished, and we have no doubt that in a pecuniary
point of view it fully answered the expectations of Mr.
Emery.
FOREIGN GRAPES.—The importations of the fine
description of grapes annually brought to this country
at this time of year, via Rotterdam, and known as the
black Hamburgh grapes, have commenced for the season.
The blight which is complained of as having injured the
grape crop in many parts of the continent this summer,
as well as in this country, does not appear to have
affected this description of grape, as the supplies which
already arrived appear to be of full average size, and of
the fine quality for which they are well known and
highly esteemed for the table use.
THE LNDIA MALL.—SOUTHAMPTON, Tuesday.—The
Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Euxine,
Captain Meehan, left this afternoon with the heavy por-
tion of the East India and China mails. She had on
freight 480,0001. in specie for India and China, and 40,0001.
for Malta and Alexandria, besides 450 bottles of quick-
silver, and a full and valuable general cargo. The Euxine
had also on board 68 passengers, amongst whom were
Major Drummond, Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Surtees, Major
Cooper, Assistant Commissary-General Skinner, Mr.
Legeyt, &c.
THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH AT WALKER.—On Thurs-
day the officers of the 19th, at Walmer, were much
gratified by the unexpected visit of several officers of the
French squadron, in return for the visit of the former to
their ships. An excellent luncheon was partaken of ;
the fraternisation of both sides was complete, and it led
to the happiest expressions of harmony and cherished
regard. The admiral would not allow his officers to dine
with the 19th, although pressed by the military, as his
orders were peremptory to repair to Cherbourg to be in-
spected by Prince Jerome.
RAILWAY COMBINATION.—It is stated that an arrange.
ment is in a forward state between the various narrow-
gauge companies interested in the traffic of the districts
mid-west of London—that is to say, between the London
and North-Western, the Midland, the Oxford, Worces-
ter, and Wolverhampton, the Worcester and Hereford,
the Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford, and the South
Staffordshire Companies. The managers of these various
companies, it is said, axe prepared to consider their own
lines, and those of the other companies, as if they be-
longed to one common undertaking.—Daily News.