The Sun.
London, England, 1836-10-10 00:00:00

Q UEEN- S Q U ARE.

Mr. Edward Aciants, of Blenheim-mews, Bond-street,
appeared at this office to answer an information laid against
the driver of a post-chaise belonging to him, for plying for
hire at Knightsbridge, contrary to the 22d section of the
Hackney Coach Act. The case was proved (after a long
crose-examination by the solicitor of the defendant) by
Digby, the well-known informer, who, upon this occasion,
condescended to act as the witness of Byers.
Mr. Adams said, in defence, that this was a most im-
portant question to proprietors of post-chaises in general.
All respectable post-masters were in the habit of allowing
their servants to take up fares on their return from a job.
Mr. Hosturis—l am sorry that you and the others have
connived at the system. It is contrary to the Act of Par-
liament.

Mr. Adams was then fined in the mitigated penalty of
20s. and costs, it being intimated to him that he might pro-
ceed against his servant, the latter being the actual offender.

MARLBORO UGH-STREET.

Mary Johnson, a buxom tailoress, brought David, her
husband, before the bench, for having well " basted" her
on Tuesday. The complainant, whose voluble faculties ap-
peared to be in full vigour, asserted that she was one of the
best behaved, hardest-working, and softest-spoken wives in
the parish, but though her help-mate had the full benefit of
her manifold merits, he appreciated them so indifferently
that the " best of wives " was often treated to a taste of the
marital cudgel. To put a stop to his activity in this depart-
ment of conjugal business, she took out the present warrant.
The husband, who was the beau ideal of a hen-pecked
tailor, with a rueful look, declared that his wife had en-
tirely mis-stated the matter, for, in place of the ill-usage
coming from him, it had all proceeded from her. " Only
call in the apprentice," said the husband, "and ask him if
if my wife hasn't often said I was the best husband in the
world, for she had made me sit on the shopboard seven
weeks at a stretch, and never let me stir out. This last
rumpus recurred because my fellow-workman's wife called
upon me to borrow a velvet collar."
Wife—A velvet collar, you wretch ; Yes, I know what
she called for, the hussy ; but I'll let her know, if she wants
velvet collars, she sha'nt come to my house for them.
Husband—Your Worship, my wife is given up to for-
tune-tellers. I'm the victim of their predictions. Ever
since the fortune-teller told my wife that she'd never be a
lady until a dark man, pitted with the small pox, made
her one, she's always been talking to me about divorce and
separation. However, let her only say she'll give up gin,
and I know we shall be comfortable again.
Wife—lt's false ; I never drink gin.
Husband—N. o,
o, you've taken to rum lately. Your Wor-
ship, my wife is acquainted with several women, and they
are together every day, and all their talk is about rum and
gin, and who is to stand the next quartern.
The BENCH decided that the warrant should stand open
for a day or two, in order to give the parties time to cool.

THAMES-OFFICE.
Mrs. Askell, the wife of Richard Askell, a beer-shop-
keeper, of No. 52, Ratcliffe-highway, appeared before Mr.
CLARKsoN and Mr. BRODARIP, to answer an information
preferred against her husband by Staples, the common in-
former, for not having his Christian and surname legibly
painted over his door. Mr. Pelham, the attorney, attended
for Askell.

Matthew Hale, the old common informer, stated in his
usual drawling tone, that he went into Askell's house on
the 26th of September, and told him of the surcunistance of
his not having his name over the door, and called for some
beer. The defendant admitted the omission, and said he
would get his painter to do it, and since the information
was laid the defendant's name had been painted over the
door. Witness told him of it a great many times before
that, and Askell said, " Don't you lay an information
against me, and I'll make it all right."
Mr. Pelham—You went there and demanded .ss.
Hale—No ; mister, I do'int do that.
Mr. BRODERIP—Do you remember being in Court at
the Middlesex Sessions two years and a half ago ? Hale—
Why, yes ; about that time, more or less.
Mr. BRODERIP—Yes ; and do you recollect what the
Chairman said to you about your conduct ? Hale—Oh, I

yes ; he said something ; that I was a common informer,
and got money out of people ; but your Worship maunt
believe all you hear, and the Jury, you know_
Mr. BRODERIP knew all about it, and addressing his
brother Magistrate, said it was his duty to tell him that ho
would not believe Hale upon his oath. He had been in
the habit of extorting money from tradesmen.
Hale—l deny it.
Mr. BRODERIP—I dare say you do.
Hale—l am as good a man as you. I deny it.
Mr. BRODERIP—I dare say you do. Come, Sir, give
me none of your insolence. Your tricks are notorious.
You have been detected in this Office compounding cases
and receiving money. _

Hale—l have given evidence before Mr. Barnie (Sir R.
Birnie), Mr. Twaiford (Twyford), and the most respecta-
blest Magistrates ; and you must take my evidence, Mr,
Brarderip.

Mr. BRODERIF-I am not to be bullied by a fellow like
you. I won't hear any more.

Hale here thrust himself forward in an impudent man
ner, and said, " It's a public place for any one to speak.
will speak, and you cant help yourself neither."

M. BRODERIP—Do you hear this man ? I expected
his abuse ; I have had it before. From an informer he has
become an informer's witness, and his practices are well
known to every body here.
Deverell, the beadle of Shadwell, said that Hale had
been going about the district for some time, extorting
money from tradesmen, by threatening them with infor-
mations.

A person present here said that Hale was known by the
name of " Old Carkeses," from his manner of pronouncing
the word casks.

Mr. Pelham asked Hale if he had not called on Askell
and demanded ss. of him ? Hale—No, I never did ; who
says I did ?

Mr.Pelham—Take care, I have witnesses here to prove it.
Hale—l'll swear before the Bible, God, and all the
churches in England, and everything else, that I never did,
there now.—(Here he thumped his fist on the rail.)
Mr. BRODERIP—I dare say you will swear it ; you may
go about your business.

Mr. CI.ARKSON--4 don't know this person myself, but
from what my colleague says, I shall not convict.
Hale—l don't care, you may do your worst, I'll make
you suffer for this, if I don't me.—[Here the officers
forced him out of the justice-room.]

TERRIBLE EXPLOSION AT THE
SOUTH METROPOLITAN GAS WORKS.

A few minutes before six o'clock yesterday evening, the
inhabitants of the Old Kent-road, and throughout more
than two miles of the surrounding district, were amazed
and alarmed at seeing an immense sheet of flame shoot
across the sky, which was instantly followed by an explo-
sion as loud as the simultaneous discharge of a park of ar-
tillery, and a vibration of the earth similar to that pro-
duced by.the shock of an earthquake. It was immediately
suspected that some dreadful accident had occurred at the
South Metropolitan Gas Works, and the scene of destruc-
tion that presented itself on the premises of this establish-
ment confirmed the apprehension. From the statement of
a number of spectators, it appeared, that precisely at ten
minutes before six a tremendous body of flame shot up-
wards from the purifying or retort house, next the Surrey
Canal, lifting, to the height of at least eighty feet, the
convex iron roof, and, with a deafening explosion, scat-
tering around to a great distance stones, planks, and
pieces of iron. A great portion of the roof, and large
masses of the building, were blown to the other side of
the canal, and the circular wall was completely battered
asunder. Immediately a body of police were sent for,
and a number of workmen rushed amongst the ruins,
to ascertain the amount of the injury. They had not
proceeded far in their examination, when they found
beneath a heap of rubbish two men, who were on duty
at the time of the accident. One was but little injured,
but the other, a watchman, was so bruised and mutilated,
that the chance of his surviving is very slight. Some
others are missing, who it is too probable have found a
grave in the ruins. In the first confusion it was impos-
sible to find out the cause of the accident. The general
belief in the immediate neighbourhood was, that some un-
skilful person had entered the reservoir with a lighted
candle, and thus set fire to a quantity of liberated gas,
which had escaped during some experiments that were made
a short time previously with a view to improve the quality
of the gas, which it seems had been in some instances
complained of. It was also stated, that some experienced
men had been dismissed a few days before, and their places
supplied by some less practised hands at lower wages ; and
as the explosion was by the friends of the former attributed
to the inexperience of the new comers, a feeling quite the
reverse of sympathy was expressed by several in the crowd
for the loss that the proprietors must suffer. As many of
the workmen as could be set to that work were engaged
to turn off the remaining gas from all the pipes connected
with the reservoir where the accident occured, that a second
explosion might not take place. A body of policemen were
stationed at the avenue and gates to prevent the entrance
of all persons not permitted to pass by the superintendents.
Such was the violence of the shock, that though the pre-
mises are half a furlong from the road, the windows in seve-
ral houses were broken, and heavy articles of furniture were
forced from their places.

(ANOTHER ACCOUNT.)
Yesterday evening, about half-past 5 o'clock, a fearful
explosion took place at the South Metropolitan Gas Works,
on the bank of the Surrey Canal, Old Kent-road, arising
from the ignition of gas. It appears that soon after the
lamps in the district supplied by the Company were lighted,
a stranger applied at the works and informed a labourer
in attendance that great difficulty was experienced by the
consumers in the neighbourhood in obtaining a proper sup-
ply of gas. The labourer, accompanied by the stranger,
immediately repaired to the purifying-house to ascertain
the cause, and it was found that an escape of gas had taken
place. A light having been imprudently taken into the in-
terior of the building, the gas ignited, and a most fearful
explosion instantly took place, which blew the roof of the
house into the air, and forced the walls down. The frag-
ments of the purifying-house, and particularly of the roof,
were scattered in all directions, many pieces falling a quarter
of a mile from the spot. The two men, the labourer
and the stranger, were severely injured, and were thrown
to a considerable distance from the house where the ex-
plosion took place. When they were found, their clothes were
reduced to a cinder, and their bodies and faces frightfully
burnt. They were conveyed to the hospital, and we hear
that the labourer, who was employed as a night watchman
on the premises, was not expected to survive many hours.
It appears that there had been a large escape of gas into
the purifying-room, and that the labourer having a light
with his companion, caused it to explode. Another man
who is missing was supposed to have been near the spot.
The purifying apartment of the gas-works was of great ex-
tent, and was covered with an iron roof manufactured by
Messrs. Brunton, of the Commercial-road East. It was
very heavy, and attached to the walls by immense iron
beams and girders, Which offered great resistance to the ex-
plosive force of the hydrogen gas, and caused a concussion
which was heard in all parts of the metropolis. The roof
was so completely shattered by the explosion that only very
small portions are to be seen lying about. When the gas
ignited the flash or flame was seen but for a few seconds
only, at a great distance ; and the concussion of the air was
so great, that it was felt at Greenwich, Blackheath, Step-
ney, Shadwell, and even at Kensington. In the city the
explosion was also distinctly heard, and the impression on
the minds of the citizens was, that the gunpowder-mills in
Dartford had been blown up. In the neighbourhood of
the Old Kent-road the terror of the inhabitants was very
great ; doors were thrown open, shutters and bars torn
from the shop windows, and the glass in the windows
smashed in every direction. At the Shard Arms public-
house, nearly opposite the works, 20 or 30 squares of glass
are broken in the front of the house, and the plates and dishes
found their way from the dresser to the kitchen-door as if by
magic. Several horses passing along the road took fright, but
we have not heard of any material accident in consequence.
The confusion and alarm were much increased by the
want of the accustomed li.lhts on the roads, but such was the
activity displayed by the officers at the gas-works, who were
employed by the directors to remedy the mischief, under the
superintendence of Mr. Wilson, the clerk of the works, that
by Woclock the roads and public places of resort were am-
ply supplied with the means of illumination. An alarm
of fire was spread, and a number of engines belonging to the
fire brigate were quickly on the spot, but there was happily
no need of their services. A number of the police of the
R division, under the direction of inspector Musgrove, at-
tended, and behaved in a most praiseworthy manner, in,
keeping the crowd at a proper distance, assisting the work-
men, and allaying the fears of the people who assembled.
For several hours after the explosion took place, a great
number of persons left town for Dartford, where the
powder mills are situated, believing, from the loud report
which was heard when the explosion took place, that they
had been blown up. The violence of the shock was cer-
tainly never exceeded in the metropolis, and there is not a
single house within three miles of the works where it was
not sensibly felt. In Lambeth it was for some time sup-
posed that one of the firework manufactories had exploded,
and from the csrcumstance of its being well known that the
pyrotechnists were actively employed in preparing fireworks
for the ensuing sth of November, this report obtained ex-
tensive circulation, and the firework makers were besieged
during the evening by their friends calling to ascertain if
they and their factories were safe.

An expedition has been made, by order of the Rus-
sian Government, into the northern provinces of the empire.
It is stated to have discovered gold sand in the bed of the
rivers Ussienskaja and Kaminki.