The Sun.
London, England, 1838-10-23 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE .

/
OxFora), OCT. 20.—The Camden Professor of Ancient
History has announced his intention to begin a course of Lec-
tures on the Romans in the second century, on Tuesday next,
at one o'clock.
The Savilian Professor of Astronomy proposes to deliver
a cours3 of Lectures on that Science.
The Boden Professor of Sanscrit has given notice of a
course of Lectures, to commence on Friday, Nov. 2, at two
o'clock.
The Senior Proctor has appointed Wednesday, the 24th
inst., from one to three, Thursday, the 25th, from two to
three, and Friday, the 26th, from tuo to four o'clock, to re-
ceive the names of candidates for Examination this Term, to
commence on Friday, Nov. 2.
The Bishop of Exeter has instituted the Rev. John Collins,
of Bsrazhiennosere College, to the Rectory of North Huisb,
Devon.
The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol has a ppointed
Rev. Dr. B. S. Claxon, of Worcester College, Chapla the
Chaplain to
the Gloucester Infirmary.

AWFUL OCCURRENCE.

---
On Tuesday morning last a most singular and disastrous
event took place at Dunkirk, about a quarter of a mile front
Northwich, in the instaataneous sinking of a plat of ground,
nearly an acre in extent, to the depth of fifteen or twenty
yards. It is necessary to explain that at the depth of about
fifty yards from the surface runs a vein or mine of rack salt of
about fifteeen yards in thickness, which at this spot had, as
usual, been worked and excavated, before sinking to the lower
vein, at a depth about 100 yards. For some time past this
upper mine had been considered insecure, from the pillars left
to support the superincumbent earth being in a tottering state.
The men, however, bad continued their work until Satur.
day last ; but on Monday they declined going down to
work, in consequence of bearing noises beLiw, like the
falling of large pieces of rock salt, which continued at
intervals during the day. On the following morning four of
the men ventured down the water shaft, and found there was
not spece for the bucket to pass down the main shaft, as the
planks on one side were forced inwards; and subsequently, on
making a similar attempt, it was found the difficulty had in-
creased. Still there was not any immediate danger appre-
i bended, and it was resolved to let the alarm subside, by the
lapse of a few days, before any further steps were taken, and
a number of persons quitted the spot. But in less than half
an hour the ground gave way, with a tremendous roar, and
the rock house, tower, gin house, engine house, stables.
and two cottages, were thrown into a heap of ruins, at
the depth of fifteen yards from the surface; and twelve
individuals who were on the premises were also carried
down, and most of them overwhelmed by the falling
ruins of the buildings. Some of them, however, provi-
dentially escaped. A woman, who was washing near her
cottage door when the ground sank, ran, and
avoided the
house falling upon her, and she was first seen running across
the earth beneath—she contrived to escape, and to scramble
up the sides of the bank. The shock was so great and sud-
den, that it was felt I:ke an earthquake in the town of North-
wich ; and even as far as Wincham, women and children ran
screaming to the spot, and a crowd soon surrounded it.
Two men were assisted out by means of ropes ; they were
at the moment of the fall in the stable, with four horses,
one of which was extricated, the other three were killed.
Means were speedily proposed for affording aid to any of
the sufferers, and ropes being obtained, several men went
down with them tied round their waists. The first they found
was William Birtles, who was much hurt by the end of
one of the cottages falling upon him; but there are
hopes of his recovery, medical aid having been promptly
afforded him, Timothy Fowls, son of the agent of the works,
was found under one of the horses ; he escaped almost with.
out injury. The next man found was Joseph Swindells, who
had been employed that day as a whitewasher, but he died -
almost immediately after being brought to the top. Two
other men, Thomas Hatton and Joseph Dutton, who were in
the stable, were taken out of the ruins quite dead. On the
following day the body of a boy, John Tomkinson, was found.
Every exertion has been used, but there are three of the poor
fellows still missing ; they are supposed to be buried a great
depth. They were seen by Maria Birtles after the first fall.
stretching out their bawls for help, but another portion of
building fell and totally overwhelmed them. There were se-
v rdl most providential escapes, but we have not space for all
the details with which we have been favoured.—Macclesfield
Courier.