The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-26 00:00:00

TWENTY PERSONS SUPPOSED
TO BE POISONED.

GRANTOWN, OCT. 16, 1847.—This quiet neigh-
bourhood was thrown into a state of considerable ex-
citement on Tuesday last, the 12th, by a report that
the farm servants at Culchoich. about seven miles
from the village of Grantown, had been poisoned.
Mr. Grant, agent for the National Bank in Grantown,
is the tacksman of Culchoich ; and it appears, that
since the commencement of harvest, a considerable
party of shearers, principally women, have been em-
ployed on the farm, who, with the regular servants,
amount to twenty in number, and are victualled and
lodged in the house. On Tuesday, at two o'clock, the
party dined on sowens and milk and bread—their
wonted fare—some in the house, and some in the
field, where they were at work ; and, in course
of a couple of hours thereafter, every one of
them was seized with illness, severe pains in the
stomach and intestines, accompanied by reaching
and purging, and a burning heat in the feet, by all
the usual symptoms attending a virulent poison. By
nightfall, their condition became worse, and a mes-
senger was dispatched for Mr. Grant, who resides in
Grantown, and who arrived without loss of time, ac-
companied by Dr. Edwards. By this time rainy of
the women were in a deplorable state—some of them
delirious ; but towards morning they gradually re-
covered, and are now happily out of danger. The
Procurator-Fiscal of Inverness-shire, who happened
to be in this village, was promptly on the spot, and
investigated the circumstances ; but we understand
that, as yet, no clue has been discovered to the origin
of this serious affair. We can scarcely suppose it
possible that any person could contemplate the indis-
criminate poisoning of so large a party—and no ani-
mosity appears to have existed between any of them
to give an appearance of likelihood to such a suppo-
sition. We understand that judicial investigation
will be further prosecuted, and we trust that this
mysterious matter will be satisfactory cleared up.—
Ross-shire Advertiser.

MEETING OF SCOTCH FISH-
CURERS.

On Tuesday week a number of the fish-curers of
Wick and Pulteney-town met in the Exchange
Reading. rooms, Wick, for the purpose of considering
the present manner of conducting business in the
consignment of herrings to the Stettin market, and
of consulting as to what means might be adopted for
introducing a better system. Mr. O'Kell, of North-
wich, Cheshire, addressed the meeting at considerable
length, pointing out the disadvantages under which
the Scotch herring-curers labour by the incongruous
way in which they transact ;business with the Stettin
market—the most extensive and influential emporium
for Scotch fish in Europe, there having been, on an
average, for the last ten years, no less than 100,000
barrels of cured herrings exported there, the com-
mission on which amounted to about 8,0001. He
proposed that the herring-curers should coalesce,
and open a counting-house in Stettin, as the
Scotch Herring Company, and appoint an ex-
perienced, respectable manager, able to give a
guarantee for a few thousands, through which office
each curer's herrings could be sold, provided they
be shipped on consignment to Stettin. This, in the
first place, would be an entire saving to the body of
the Scotch fish-curers of 7,0001. per annum. He
calculated, as formerly stated, that the commission
paid, direct and indirect, on herrings imported into
Stettin amounted to 8,000/. Suppose, then, the
manager gets 6001. of salary, and 4001. for incidental
expenses—together, 1,000/. ; deducted from 8,0001.,
leaves the large sum of 7,0001. sterling, which is
now expended annually in a foreign state. This sum
of 7,0004 could be dispensed with, as above shown—
a saving to the curer of seven per cent., being a
handsome remunerative profit itself ; and, further,
that on his shipping to Stettin, he would feel a
satisfaction that his goods would be honestly and
dealt with. The manager's salary might be raised by
each curer paying to 1 per cent. on the value of
fish cured by him. The general opinion of the
meeting was in favour of the proposal, and a com-
mittee was appointed to draw up regulations to be
submitted to a subsequent meeting. A document
was drawn up and numerously signed by the meeting,
pledging the subscribers to support the scheme, should
the approval of three-fourths of the curers in Scotland
e obtained.