The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-24 00:00:00

'--t

AFFRAY A2' LONDON-BRIDGE.

A dispute'between a wharf owner, Mr. Fenning, and
the Iron and Citizen Steam-Boat Companies, involviu
a question of some importance as regards public con.
venience, was put to the issue yesterday in a somewhat
bold and singular manner. The steam-boat companiei
long ago established a pier on the Surrey side of the
Thames at London-bridge, on the western side of the
bridge, to accommodate travellers by the South-Eastern
Railways. It has been found inconvenient however',
the passengers on landing having to cross the road, ens,
countering the dangers of the ever busy traffic, to reach
the railway terminus. To avoid this, the steam-boat
proprietors determined to carry a platform from their
pier through the last arch of the bridge, and to connect
the platform by gangway with the steps on the eastern,
the more convenient side of the road. Adjoining these
steps is Mr. Fenning's wharf, and, conceiving that his
rights would be thus interfered with, that gentleman
protested against the new arrangement. The matter
remained in abeyance for some time, but on the actual
commencement and progress of the works, after an ap-
plication to the City authorities, who, we are informed,
gaveFeon
Fenning
op
inion
ti
vifavour
on
measures oft theo
en f
opruosbl
hisi c right,
own:
Thus matters stood on Tuesday last ; and upon a con-
sultation among the officials of the steam-boat compa-
nies, Captain Aitcheson, the commodore of the above-
bridge fleet, following the example of some naval ex-
ploits of a higher character, resolved upon a night
attack, hoping, under shadow of the darkness, to secure
the much-prized position, and land his human freights
next day in triumph. But the enemy's scouts'were upon
the 100k-out ; and although the attack was planned to
take place at three o'clock in the morning, when the
reerpaciteccpluowsiendg, tdhueriitfinhineegenwt pier arrived at London-bridge
in tow of two steam-boats, the attempt to moor them
was defeated by the dexterity of Messrs. Fenning'•
forces, who had been lying in ambush ; and on the first
parties
aao
rTsnittit
3ees stairs
attack
a lighters
ci
assemblednk ab bemei
intimation of the hostile approach, floated up from their
wharf two large barges, and secured them across the
inanignngnemanner
mooredlvhi ihn t effectuallytheir desired
theposition.
tgrhmesatbanffiumedb,earsp.erioAdtoflesnogmteh,haton.rsl;
ghoao'clvitontcogkgeayeaterday morningewoahsfyich the adherents of both
Captain Aitcheson, having
endeavourpthpinerrogoacthosme):Olwroe a paasagteameanrsewteriminfhistew",
Messrs.he ;ounionng
distance of Mess'r.s. Pen-
ning's barges, threw into one of them annsiatrhoF, hoping bsnyetwhiassmjseaalnosustloydnlraogorehde.r fromt
'sulmwenhiinch-
stantly cast the anchor overboard, and thus defeated the
commodore's stratagem. Captain Aitcheson now closed
in upon the barges, and endeavoured to separate them.
A scene of desperate confusion ensued, during which
violent blows were exchanged between the rival parties,
and one man was knocked overboard, narrowly escaping
being drowned. Messrs. Fenning commanded their
forces in person, cheering on their men and supplying
them with formidable wooden staves for the purposes of
attack and defence. Mr. Haslewood, chairman of the
steam-boat, company, was also present. The affray
waxed warmly for a considerable period, and was only
stopped by the presence of Inspector Jervis and a large
body of the Thames police, who arrived opportunely
and threatened to make prisoners of all the parties com-
mitting a breach of the peace. This had the effect of
causing some active partisans to beat a hasty retreat,
but from the appearance of matters last evening there
seemed every probability of another attack being at-
tempted during the night.
It is right to add that Messrs. Fenning object to the
pier being thrown out on the ground that it will injuri-
ously obstruct the free navigation of the river. How
this can occur, however, is not very clear to an impar-
tial observer of the locality and the plan of the proposed
pier.

PLYMOUTH GREAT WESTERN DOCK
COMPANY.

The sixteenth half-yearly meeting was held on Mon•
day afternoon, Colonel Harris presiding. The following
report was presented, and adopted after a short discus-
sion :

"COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF REVENUE.
1849, June 30, £357 13 6 1849, Dec. 31, £598 6 2
1850 791 2 3 1850 „ 979 12 4
~
1851 „ 1,290 2 0 1851 „ 1,514 9 2
1852 „ 1,604 11 2 1852 „ 1,531 310
1853 1,636 13 11 1853 „ 1,670 15 0
1854 „ 1,659 19 9
In conducting the affairs of the company during the last
six months, the directors have had to contend with
serious and increasing difficulties, arising out of the in-
completeness of the works and the defioiency of accom-
modation to meet the demands of a trade which exhibits
every tendency to an extensive and rapid augmentation ;
great exertions have been called for and corresponding
expenses incurred to preserve the existing connections of
the company, and any enlargement of that connection
has been absolutely impracticable. Under such circum-
stances, the proprietors will not be surprised to find that
the revenue account does not exhibit a more flourishing
appearance ; but the very difficulties with which the
directors have been oppressed afford ground for a confi-
dent belief in the elastic nature of the trade, and the sa-
tisfactory results which must follow the completion of
those works which are now in progress for its accommo-
dation. It is indeed a matter of most serious regret to
the directors that the limited resources at their command
appear to preclude the possibility of engaging in those
evtended works which have been alluded to by the en-
gineer in hie last three reports. This is a most mortify-
ing state of things ; for no doubt can be entertained that
a sufficient deepening of the outer harbour, under the
present favourable circumstances, would not only pay a
handsome return on the required capital, but would
greatly augment the value of the works now in course of
construction. On the one hand, to proceed with the ex-
tended works would be to defer for some time the com-
mencement of business on a proper scale, and, conse-
quently, the return for present investments—on the other
hand, to delay the extension will, to a certain extent,
increase its cost. Such a state of affairs is very embar-
rassing ; but the directors feel that they have no alter-
native but to bring the works as soon as possible into
profitable operation, notwithstanding the heavy sacrifice
which must ultimately be made to acquire that ultimate
extension of them which they believe experience will
show to be indispensable."
A special meeting is to be convened at the end of Oc-
tober to consider the propriety of applying to Parliament
for authority to raise a further sum of 100,0001, for an
extension of the works beyond what was originally con-
templated.

COLLIERY EXPLOSION.-POUR LIVES
LOST.

Barnsley and its neiglabourhood has achieved a noto-
riety for colliery explosions. Another has now been added
to the long list which its annals already furnish. In the
present instance four lives have been sacrified, and two
more persons who are injured are not expected to re-
cover.

On Tuesday morning, a few minutes after six o'clock,
the inhabitants of -Wombwell, Hemingfield, and the
surrounding villages were alarmed by the report of an
explosion of fire-damp at the Lund-hill colliery, which le
situate in a valley betwixt Woinbwell and Hemingfield,
and at a distance of about five miles from Barnsley.
Such was the violence of the report that it was heard at
a distance of several miles. The colliery in question is
the property of Messrs. NV. Taylor and Co.
The report spread rapidly, and in the neighbourhood
of the colliery the greatest possible excitement prevailed,
and the relatives and friends of the individuals who were
in the shafts were soon upon the spot, and manifested a
grief of the most distressing kind. Four persons were
in the shaft at the time thb explosion occurred.
They had descended the shaft for the first time Since
the preceding Saturday, and had no sooner reached the
bottom than the foul air came in contact with a naked
candle and ignited, when a most terrific explosion
ensued.

The headgear at the top of the shaft, which was of a
heavy description, was dislodged and smashed to pieces,
and some of the debris was thrown a distance of fifty
yards.
A bricklayer who was about to commence work was
blown into the air to the height of about thirty yards,
and then fell to the bottom of the shaft.
As usual in cases of fire•damp explosions, the work-
men of other mines hastened to the scene to render every
possible assistance under the awful emergency. Tem-
porary head-gear was erected, and every effort made to
render assistance to the unfortunate men, and in about
half an hour a communication was formed with the bot-
tom of the shaft, and the bodies of the following were
found quite dead : •
William Davey, aged 50, married man.
Wm. Mosely, aged 24, single man ; body much muti-
lated, head partly off.
James Batty, aged 23, banksman, single man ; dread-
fully mangled.
Matthew Pollard, aged 50, married ; wife and eight
children.
Injured—Noah Heeley, seriously ; Thomas Jackson,
seriously.
Various opinions as to the cause.of the accident are
expressed. It is, however, generally supposed to have
been caused by the accumulation of water in the drifts,
occasioned by the engine having had to stand while un-
dergoing some alteration.
the current of air, and forced the foul air
The accumulation of the water is said to have.ns
drawing shaft, where the accident occurred.
removed to
The remains of the unfortunate men
Wombwell,were where
the house of Mr. Gower, the Ship Inn,into
Thursday next.
they now await the judicial inquiry of the coroner on

SEBASTOPOL.—Sebastopol is the great naval port of
the Russians in the Black Sea. It contains 30,000 in-
habitants. It is a city which no stranger may approach
without a special permit, in which no stranger may re..
side without a special order, which order must be
renewed every twenty-four hours—a city in which the
name and occupation of every resident (and, including
military and marine, the residents are 40,000) must be
police inspect' A •
registered, and all whose houses, from the governor's
on:tn.—de-7:6:5,
ThGatenßeruatiscPhurikin'toCreturn to Madrid
downwards, are subject to
the People, Country, and Government.
rNkEeßde r.O nPt rthTo.
by Vienna. Before his departure, he
to Reschid Pacha, in which h
embarked
addressed a letter
he stated that events of
great importance, which had just taken place in Spain,
called him back without delay to
duties as a Spaniard," he said, his country. "My
member of one of the constituted " and my position as a
have a greater influence powers of my country,
I should have felt in following
to the end the operations
Ottoman army,"