The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-10 00:00:00

MEXICO.

The Mexican news published in the American
journals is so conflicting that its accuracy may be
doubted.

The Havannah correspondent of the New York,
Times reports that the French had entered Puebla,
and were going on to the city of Mexico.
The Havannah correspondent of the Associated
Press states that the French had not arrived at
Puebla, and that a battle would be fought this side
of this place.

THE FOUNTAINS IN TRAFALGAR-SQUARE,

For some time past workmen have been employed in car-
rying out the designs of Messrs. Easton and Amos, for
giving something of an ornamental character to the foun-
tains in Trafalgar-square, and making them in some respect
worthy of the finest site in Europe, which has been so long
the laughingstock of every person of taste. The plan which
has now been carried out is almost identical with that ori-
ginally suggested in 1843, but which, upon the advice of
the late Sir Charles Barry, was not accepted, on the ground
that the simplest possible arrangement, such as that which
was realised in the dumb waiters, would be better adapted
for the purpose than a variety of jets of water. The sug-
gestion of this eminent architect was acted upon, and a sum
was expended upon the carving and polishing of the granite
basins far greater than would have sufficed for some ap-
proach to a pleasing distribution of jets of water. Mr.
Cowper stated a few days since in the House of Commons
that the alterations would, when completed, astonish the
world by the splendid effects which they would produce. It
is not necessary perhaps to go so far as this in our admira-
tion of the new fountains, but as we were present yesterday
at a private display of the whole series, we have no hesita-
tion in saying that a very great improvement has been effected
upon the familiar squirt and dumb waiters. The water is
supplied to the fountains from the waterworks in Orange-
street, which were constructed by Messrs. Easton and
Amos in 1844, and is pumped up into a tank about 40ft
above the pavement of the square, from whence it flows to
the two fountains, and the waste or overflow is conveyed
back to a catch well, sunk underneath the engine. It is
than pumped, by means of an Appold centrifugal pump,
into the tank, and thus passes over and over again. In its
passage it is made use of to supply the condenser of the
large 00-horse pumping-engine, so that not only does the
water for supplying the fountains cost nothing, but it is
actually made the means of economising fuel, by enabling
the adoption of a condensing instead of a high-pressure
engine, for the purpose of pumping the water from the ar-
tesian wells for the supply of the different public offices.
The quantity of water which was used in the fountains
before the present alteration was from 400 to 500 gallons
per minute ; the Appold pump is arranged to lift
from 1,200 to 1,400 gallons per minute, thus affording
sufficient for the increased number of jets. The wells from
which the supply of water is in the first instance derived are
two in number ; one, at the back of the National Gallery, is
300 ft in depth ; and the second, in the enclosure imme-
diately in front of the National Gallery, is 383 ft in depth.
A tunnel about Gft in diameter, and 400 ft long, connects
the two wells. The water, although obtained from an
artesian well, does, does not rise to the surface, and an
engine of about 60-horse power is required to raise the
water front about 90ft below the surface. The steam-en-
gine has two cylinders, the larger being 35in in diameter,
with a length of stroke of Oft ; and the smaller one, 22in
in diameter, with a length of of stroke of 4ft. It works one
double-acting punaP 131 in in diameter, with a length of
stroke of 311, for the supply to the fountains, and two 18-
inch pumps, with a length of stroke of 201 in, for raising
water from the springs into the tanks above tho building. At
an average speed of 16 strokes per minute the fountain
pump throws about 660 gals., and the two spring pumps
together 600
fo gr als . per minute. In 1852 the tank tower was
raised 20ft,the
purpose of giving a better supply, at high
service, to the upper tanks, in the river front of the Houses
of Parliament. The pumping of 600 gals, per minute,
equal to 432,000 gals. in 12 hours, lowers the water between
20 and 24ft ; it then remains stationary as long as the en-
gine is kept working. The height to which the water will
stand when at a state of rest varies in wet and dry seasons;
but the head does not appear to be gradually lowering.
The cost of the works as campleted in 1844 was £8,392, the
annual working expense is £492, but the water supplied to
the various public offices, at the rates previously paid,
amounts to £904 a year. The Houses of Parliament, the
Admiralty, the offices in Downing eitreet, and 28 public
offices in all are supplied from this source. Up to the pre-
sent time the fountains in Trafalgar-square have con-
sisted only of a single jet falling over from an upper and
lower basin. This will still remain, as the centre figure
of the basins, but at each of the semicircular bays there
is now a group of jets, consisting of a centre and 16
surrounding it. The jet of water from the centre rises about
sft, and those in the outside 4ft. There are, therefore, in
the first instance, G 8 jets, throwing 300 gals. per minute,
rising from the surface of the basin. The ground plan of
the basins is a square, the sides of which ere about 68ft
long, and semicircular bays project from each of these sides.
In the latter, as wo have stated, are the circular groups of
jets. An outline of an octagon is formed within the square,
and at each of the angles is a jet which throws the water
inwards to a height of 20ft, and into the uppor basin of the
central fountain. These 8 jets throw 200 gals. per minute,
and their curve is about 30ft in length. There are, again,
two inferior squares surrounding the central group, and
from each of these angles a jet is thrown outwards, crossing
those from the octagon, rising to the height of 25ft, and
curving about 17ft. These throw altogether 200 gals. per
minute. Beyond the sides of these smaller squares are 8
feather jets, which throw up 200 gals. per minute, each of
the groups of jets forming a display resembling the Prince
of Wales' feathers. The whole of these may bo played re

once or together, in not less than 25 different continuations
or changes. When all are at full work, and the day is calm,
the effect is decidedly pleasing, and is an immense advance
upon the dismal failure with which the public have so long
been familiar. The hoarding which has for some time past
concealed the progress of the works will be removed in two
or three days, and on Wednesday or Thursday the new
fountains will be permanently at work.—Observer.

Under existitig circumstances, the Infant School
in a convict prison is good and beneficial—the best
thing that can be done for the child ; but surely it
ought not to be so. Surely no young child should enter
on life's training under such a stigma as having been bred
in a gaol F—surely society should take care that its young
members should be properly educated somewhere, when
the parents are removed by the arm of the law—
surely a workhouse school should be a more appropriate
and happy home than one in gaol. It is not so at present.
May it be so ere long.—Once a Week.
[ADVERTISEMENT.]—HoIIoway's Ointment and Pills—
Vexation Avoided.—'This Ointment is the most powerful
agent for the healing of wounds, old ulcers, indolent sores,
and all strurnous diseases of the skin, which from local or
constitutional causes have hitherto resisted all ordinary
modes of treatment. Holloway's Ointment, rubbed upon
I the abdomen and aided by a judicious course of his Pills,
acts miraculously on the digestion, and obviates all those
obstructions in the mesenteric glands, known by the
pallor, attenuation, and gradual weakness of the sufferer.
The combined effects of Ointment and Pills are irresistible
in all long :continued diseases which ever produce disar-
rangement of the digestion, circulation, and glandular
system. Holloway's remedies are suitable for all ages and
conditions, for all climates and constitutions.

THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

Whit-Monday has been long looked for by the
Commissieners and the officials of the Exhibition.
Greenwich Fair is no more, and it is not exciting to
walk up One Tree-hill and run down again under
the surveillance of policemen prompt to repress
exuberance of spirits. Richmond, Kew, and the
Crystal Palace yesterday attracted their usual
quota of holiday folks, but it was not unreasonably
thought that the Exhibition would reign supreme.
There was another side to the question, however.
The Exhibition is to remain for six months, but
there is only one Whit-Monday in the year, and
that is consecrated to the worship of the sylvan
deities. Thus few went to South Kensington save
those who could make sure of no other day before
October in which to see it; yet there were 60,000
persons registered at the turnstiles as having
entered the building. No doubt many of the
officials expected to see a hundred thousand, but
they forget the peculiar uses of the day, and
that to-day there will probably be a much
larger attendance. There was much hope in the
slight showers of the morning—hope that intending
excursionists would be diverted from the open air
to the wonders of the World's Fair. The rain, how-
ever, was a casualty which probably sent many to
the Exhibition who were bound for the suburbs, but
which undoubtedly kept many at home who were
bound for the Exhibition. The numbers at eleven
o'clock, only one hour after the opening of the build-
ing, were 13,198. Within the next two hours nearly
30,000 visitors found means of entrance, and the one
o'clock return was 41,625. The two hours between
one and three showed only a rise of 10,042, of whom
the great majority entered before two o'clock, soon
after which it became pretty evident that the num-
bers would scarcely touch 60,000 instead of 100,000.
The five o'clock return gave 57,365, and the final
return at seven was 58,682, of whom but 3,075
were season-ticket holders. Some 16,000 members
of the Ancient Order of Foresters were expected in
the middle of the day, but they did not come—why,
we know not. There were, however, some bodies
of visitors worthy of especial mention. A thousand
of the workmen employed on the building entered
on tickets graciously presented to them by her Ma-
jesty; 200 mechanics in the employment of Messrs.
Richards, of St. Martin's-lane, on tickets given
them by that firm, and a little school, numbering
but 24, all the way from Fremay, near Leeds, found
their way to the Exhibition, eta the Great Northern
Railway. Among the distinguished visitors there
was no one of any particular note, except the Duke
of Sutherland, and his grace is nearly a daily visitor.
It was very interesting to note the way in which
the people set about seeing the building and its
contents. The majority of them entered under
the eastern dome, where for a while they lingered,
examining the dressing-cases and the trophy of
Messrs. Hunt and Roskell, and enjoying the pros-
pect which presented itself. But without much
delay they began to spread, some down the
nave, some into the south-eastern transept,
some into the north-eastern transept, and the
eastern annexe, which, with its approaches, was
for two or three of the earlier hours almost impas-
sable. Around the iron they stood in wonder at the
contents of the cases and the stands ; the massive
crank exhibited as from the steam hammer by the
Mersey Steel and Iron Company receiving its full
share of their admiration. Returning, they stopped
to look at the beautiful woods shown by several of
our colonies, and then ascending the steps of the
dome they crossed its platform to look at Skid-
more's magnificent Hereford Cathedral screen, and
at the big bells, which, despite the regulation
which we understood was issued, continue to affright
people of weak nerves and to annoy all the visitors.
The American Court did not appear to draw many
persons, but the medireval courts of Messrs. Hard-
man, of Birmingham, and Messrs. Hart, of London,
were during the day well filled. The carriages
under the picture gallery were examined by criti-
cal and admiring crowds, who then passed either
into the Hardware Court, of which we shall have
a detailed notice in a few days, or into the court
which is somewhat obscurely placed, in which are
exhibited furs, &c., some of them by Lillicrap, and
others by Drake, rivalling, if they do nat excel,
those shown in the trophies in the nave. The courts
allotted to civil, military, and naval engineering
were thronged, the Armstrong guns of course at-
tracting, and for a while retaining, the attention of
all beholders. Then through the glass and the pot-
tery—with an inspection of Mr. Stiff's wonderful
earthenware worm for a still—into the Processes
Court they passed admiringly; but when the pre-
cious metals came in view they were fairly trapped
for an hour. In the Foreign Courts many spent
the remainder of the day, the French department
being the decided favourite. Through these, how-
ever, the main body went, and after some physical
struggles reached the western dome, where Mr. J.
W. Walker's new organ was played by Dr. Chipp
for their especial benefit, Hence they reached,
through the Austrian display, the machinery
annexe, in which it is impossible to say whether
Vaey more affected the machinery or the cheap
dinner which Mr. Morrish provides at eightpence,
giving also a substantial tea for sixpence. Messrs.
Cox and Sons' carving machine, Messrs. Easton
and Amos's and Messrs. Gwynne's pumps, Messrs

Fentum's ivory 'turning and carving, Mr. Holmes's
electric light, Messrs. Samuelson and Co.'s oil mill,
Messrs. Platt Brothers', Messrs. Dobson and Bar-

low's, and Messrs. Walker and Hacking's wonderful
cotton machinery, as well as the carpet and other

looms on the western side, had each an admiring
crowd all day long. Of a truth the annexe was for

four hours yesterday no place for people with tender
toes and fiery tempers ; some of whom, doubtless,
found their way through the new entrance into the
Horticultural Gardens, admission to which was for
the day reduced to sixpence. When the annexe had
been examined the body of the visitors found their

way along the northern foreign courts, through the
musical, the furniture, and the ecciesiological courts
back to the eastern dome, where there was an extra

performance on the organ of Messrs. Forster and
Andrews, and where Miss Ellen Bliss excited the

admiration of all within earshot by her performance
on the beautiful grand piano of Messrs. Kirkman

and Son, of Soho-square. Many avoiding the crowd
in the courts which we have last named, took to the

nave, where the great novelty is Messrs. F. and C.
Osler's stand containing specimens of lapidary

glass cutting, one of the five spccitneas presenting
no fewer than 1360 facets, and being, with its com-
panions, a work of real and high art. Round this,

the jewellery and small arms trophies, and round
the exquisite model of Milan Cathedral, there was

a constant throng.

When visitors hal got thus far there were
symptoms of fatigue, and no wonder. But the

galleries were yet to be seen, and especially the
picture galleries, in which the majority of the
holiday folks finished the day. Much time had

doubtless been lost by every one. Few of the
visitors had a definite plan, and those few who
had could not carry it out for the crowds. A
' plain guide, such as that just published by Messrs.
Sampson Low, Son, and Co., at the cost of sixpence,
or the twopenny key which they have also issued,
in the hands of the people would have been a great
gain to themselves. There is nothing in Messrs.
Low's guide to distract the attention, it is a plain
handbook, purporting to direct to the wonders of
the Exhibition in ono visit, and if people will
only follow its directions, or will follow the sketch
which we have given above, they will see in one
day as much those who have no such guide could
see in seven.

1 When the shades of evening close around the
Exhibition, and the majority of the sight-seers
begin to look for means of conveyance homewards,
the scene in front of the South Kensington
Museum is lively enough. Yesterday it was "rare
fun" to witne:.4s the struggles of the people to get
places on the omnibuses, which came up in a long
string ; but of a surety some accident even more
painful than the last will occur if the confusion is
allowed to conti me. The police do all that they
can under present regulations, but on crowded days
it is absolutely necessary that the omnibuses should
be permitted to come nearer to the building than
they now do. As matters stand the busses all start
from one spot, the vicinity of which is closeiy packed
With people eager to get a seat after their hard

day's work—for hard work it is to see the Exhibi-
tion in a day. It could do little harm if the omni-
buses were, up to and after certain lours in tiu,
forenoon and the evening, permitted to deposi: and
take up passengers on the east side of the Exhibi-
tion-road. Some such arrangement must be made
if the police would have a due care of public safety.

ALARMING ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON,
CHATHAM, AND DOVER RAIL WAY.

CHATHAM, MONDAY.
Another alarming accident from the collision of
two excursion trains, by which the lives of upwards
of one thousand excursionists were seriously im-
perilled, occurred on the London, Chatham, and
Dover Railway, this morning, at a very short dis-
tance from the Chatham station. Taking advan-
tage of the exceeding fineness of the weather, and
low fares advertised by the railway company, seve-
ral hundred persons availed themselves of the holi-
day on Whit-Monday to visit the Crystal PAlace.
An excursion train accordingly left Sheerness, Sit
tingbourne, and some other stations below Chatham,
at nine o'clock this morning, the train being a very
heavy one. On arriving at the Chatham station,
which it reached about ten o'clock, five addi-
tional carriages, all filled with passengers from this
neighbourhood, had to be added to the train, raising
the number of carriages to 17. It was then found
necessary to attach another engine to the train, and
to enable this to be done the excursion train had to
be backed down the up-line into the Chatham-hill
tunnel. Mr. Brodrick, the station manager, know-
ing that a heavy excursion train from Dover to
Victoria was about due, directed the telegraph clerk
to forward a message to the next down station at
New Brompton, with orders to stop the Dover train
until the line was signalled as clear, and it was not
until the message had been despatched that the
train was backed into the tunnel. From some
inexplicable mistake, however, the Dover ex-
cursion, which almost immediately after arrived
at New Brompton, was not stopped, but allowed
to continue its journey on to Chatham, towards
which it was proceeding at its usual rate of speed.
The servants at the Chatham station are positive in
their statements that the signals on the down side
of the tunnel ware ;against the truiu' but whether
this was really the case or not the driver of the
Dover excursion ran into the tunnel, and in one
minute came into violent collision with the other
excursion train.

It was fortunate that the train was going at under
10 miles an hour, or the loss of life must have been
very great, as there were upwards of 1,500 passen-
gers in the two trains. As it was the shock of the
two trains is described as being most alarming,
while the shrieks and cries of the injured, as well
as the other persons in the train, were of the most
heartrending description, added to which the con-
fusion was fearful, as it was known that the express
train was then due in the tunnel.
On the injured passengers being removed, it was
found that nearly twenty were more or less injured,
though it is hoped none fatally so. The worst case
at present known is that of a young woman, named
Elizabeth Williams, aged 19, residing with her
parents in the neighbourhood of Milton, who was
with a party of her friends in one of the carriages
at the rear of the train. On being removed she was
found to be insensible, and suffering from a severe
wound over the right eye, extending to the temple.
She now lies at the York Tavern, in a very precari-
ous state, with apparent concussion of the brain.
All the injured persons were promptly attended by Ely, surgeon, the majority suffering from con-
tusions or scalp wounds. After receiving medical
treatment, they were for warded to their respective
residences in cabs, the only case causing immediate
apprehension being that of Miss Williams, as above
described. Most of the persons injured reside in
the immediate neighbourhood, and occupied the
carriages at the rear of the train, where the collision
was most severely felt. The passengers in the Dover
excursion train escaped without any injury whatever.
After a delay of some time those of the excur-
sionists who preferred returning left the train, which
then proceeded onwards, the ordinary traffic not
having been interfered with. An investigation into
the cause of the accident was commenced this after-
noon by the officials.

MONDAY EVENING—Miss Williams, the passen-
ger who was the most injured, is pronounced bet ter
this evening. She still lies at the York Tavern, be-
ing unable to be removed for the present. From
inquiries made by the railway officials all the other
persons injured are progressing favourably.

TIIE FATAL PLEASUIIE.BOAT
DENT AT BRIGHTON.

The inquest on the bodies of the two gentlemen
drowned by the upsetting of a pleasure-boat at
about a quarter of a mile at sea in front of Brighton,
on Sunday, was held at the Town Hall yesterday,
before the borough coroner, D. Black, Esq., and a
highly resrectable jury, of which Mr. J. W. Hem-
mings was the foreman,
The names of the two gentlemen whose bodies
have been recovered are Mr. Francis Ponsford, aged
39, of King-street, Leicester, warehouseman ; and
Mr. Henry Peck, aged 58, of the firm of Peck and
Attwood, boot and shoe makers, Bond-street, Lon-
don. There is another gentleman missing, who
there is scarcely a doubt has been drowned. His
name was Edward Smith, aged 28, and he was in
the boat with two friends (Messrs. John and James
Lemon, bootmakers, of 9, Clifton-street, Finsbury).
He has not been seen since the boat went over, but
his hat was found floating on the water.
John Ponsford, of Leicester, warehouseman, iden-
tified the body of the deceased Francis Ponsford as
that of his brother.
C. Attwood, of Turnham-green, Middlesex, iden-
tified the body of Henry Peck as that of his senior
partner in a boot and shoe business in Bond-street,
London.
Richard Mockford, who had charge of the boat,
deposed that he had been a boatman eight years ;
that the boat in question is a little over 18ft. in
length, is licensed to carry 10 persons is called the
"X L," and was lugger-rigged. Witness had
another man with him, and they started about half-
past 11 on Sunday morning from the bottom of
West-street with nine passengers, all of whom were
gentlemen. The tide was ebbing when they started
—it was high tide at seven in the morning—and
there was a nice breeze, the wind being from the
south-west. Witness was at the tiller, and after
having gone about a mile to the south-east they
returned; and when off Russell-street, about 500
or 600 yards from the shore, they bore away, took
a sea on the quarters, and made a run, when the
rudder broke and they had no more control
over the boat, which went on its side to the

•
leeward. All the sails were up at the time,
but there was not time to get them down.
Witness pushed the boat bottom upper-
most, in order that the passengers might be better
able to cling to her, which ho requested them to do.
He could only hee eight, and two of them (the de-
ceased) were knocked off by the sea, and were
picked up by a boat. Another pleasure boat was
passing within forty yards at the time, but did not
pull up. Did not consider they had too much sail
up. Witness had been out in weather six times as
rough in the same kind of boat. He attributed the
accident to the breaking of the rudder.
In answer to questions by jurors, witness said he
had not a lifebuoy on board, and that he was not
aware that the law compelled him to have one.
The Coroner said, according to the bye-lasi s, all
pleasure boats must be provided with a lifebuoy.
Inspector Terry said some new bye-laws were
about to come into operation, under which the boat
in question would only be allowed to take eight
persons instead of ten, as heretofore.
George Posting, the other boatman, gave corro-
borative evidence.

Thomas ThwUltes, a shipbuilder, deposed that he
built the boat about six sears ago. She was a good
boat. The rudder produced was not, he should
think, the one he made No mechanic would have
mended it in the way this had been mended. It was
of the proper thickness, and of the proper wood ;
but it had been patched and repaired. It had
sprung, and had been improperly mended—riveted
with an iron bolt. A new rudder would not have
cost more than 4s. or ss.

John Lemon, 9, Clifton-street, Finsbury, deposed
that he was one of the passengers, along with his
brother, James Lemon, and a friend of theirs, Ed-
, ward Smith, who is missing. Every possible assist-
ance was rendered after the accident.
James Atherall, the owner of the boat, said the
rudder was repaired by a blacksmith last November,
who put in an iron pin. Witness was not aware
that the law compelled him to have a lifebuoy in
every pleasure boat.
The Coroner, in summing up, said it was quite
clear that the breaking of the rudder was the cause
of the accident, and that in the eye of the law no
one was to blame.
turned a verdict of " Accidental
The jury, after a few minutesd'ecaotnh7ltation, re-

1 --
.
THE FATAL GAS EXPLOSION IN SHOREDITCH.-
Norton-lolgate, con-
rl‘elorm. loluf mhpishereffiyese,seoinrosnperit,ayi-essqteuradraey morning, in the large
,
eluded the inquest on the body of Hannah Smith, who was
killed while passing along Church street, Shoreditch,
owing to an explosion of gas, the full particulars of which
have been already reported. The jury returned a verdict,
,t That the jury are of opinion that the deceased came to
her
deathbY an explosion of gas, owing to the negli-
gence on the part of the contractors of the sewers." Mr.
Ballantino said it was highly important that the gas
companies should receive notice before opening the
roads, as they could then point out the place where the
mains lay.