The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-26 00:00:00

PILE-DRIVING MACHINE.

A very simple, yet very admirable machine for driving
a double row of piles, has. very recently been imported
from the United States. It was built at Utica, and has
the national name " Brother Jonathan" inscribed on it.
It is now in operation at Smith's timber wharf, Pedlar's
Acre, where it can be seen driving the piles for the
causeway and abutment on the Surrey side of the New
llungerford Market Bridge, now in progress. The
hammers, or weights, or as they are more usually called
by pile-drivers the " monkeys," are elevated to a
height of thirty-five feet or thereabouts, along grooves
in perpendicular leaders, by means of a locomotive
steam engine of ten-horse power, fixed on a plat-
form, on which the whole of the machinery is
placed. The power of the blow given by each of
these hammers exceeds six hundred tons, and drives a
pile of twenty-seven feet long, and as thick as the thick-
est piles used in embankments and for coffer dams, nearly
its whole length into the earth in about eight minutes,
perhaps less. It drives two piles at the same time.. 4
circular horizontal saw is worked by the engine, which,
in a few seconds, cuts the tops of the piles even, and
enables the trucks, or small wheels on which the plat-
, formis supported,, to come forward as fast as the piles
are driVen, and out them even at the top ; the platform is
propelled by a one-horse power by the engine. The power
of this machine is absolutely astounding, and requires to
be seen to be' fully estimated. It is an important appli-
cation of steam power, likely to produce very beneficial
results in public works, in the formation of sea banks,
and in all operations :on a large scale where rapidity
of execution and precision are required. The machine
was used in America for driving piles for railroads ; and
travelled by its own power upwards of two hundred
miles, driving piles, and making its own road through
swamps and districts heretofore impervious. It is
patented in this country, and also in the United States.
The machine has, moreover, the power of drawing piles
out of the earth as quickly as it drives them in, and can
be applied to the raising of blocks of stones, and all
heavy weights that require an extraordinary power, It
is almost indispensable fur all persons immediately con-
nected with engineering and science to see it, and it is
well worth the while of a visit from the curious and in-
telligent of all professions.

ELECTION RIOTS.- TORY
VILLAINY.

A SHTON-UNDER-LYNE.-.•lt will be remembered that

:his town was the scene of great riots and disturbances

during the last election, and particularly on the nomi-
nation day, and that a great number et " navigators,"
who were hired by the Tories, were tried for riot ut the
last Liverpool Assizes, and found guilty, three of whom
sentence of death was recorded against. At the same
assizes true bills were found against some of Mr. Har-
rop's friends, for arming and inciting to riot. Previous,
however, to the assizes, and immediately after the elec-
tion, the Tories (enraged by their defeat) applied for
warrants against eight of Mr. Hindley's supporters, for
riot and assault. These cases were heard before the
Ashton Magistrates, and dismissed. Individual cases
have also been heard and dismissed. So determined
were the Tory party to throw off the disgrace which
characterised their cowardly proceedings at the elec-
tion, and if possible to charge Mr. Hindley's party
with the commencement of the riot on the day of no.
mination, that they indicted the same persons at the
last Salford Sessions, who were tried and acquitted be-
fore the Ashton Magistrates, for riot and assault. The
case was heard at the New Bailey on Wednesday last.
Messrs. Gibbon and Hawkyard were solicitors for the
Tories ; and Mr. Gartside was solicitor for the Re-
formers (the defendants). Dr. Brown and Mr. Brandt.
were counsel for the defendants, and Messrs. Greene
and Wiggam for the prosecution. The case com-
menced about four o'clock, and was not closed until
half-past twelve o'clock at night. The witnesses for
the prosecution were Messrs. Thomas Mellor (cotton-
spinner), Collins, Turner, Lingard, Hulme, and
others, amounting to thirteen in number. The de-
fendants had upwards of twenty wit asses, who all
spoke to the same fact, that the riot 'was commenced
by the Tory party advancing with stones and blud-
geons upon Mr. Hindley and his friend on their enter-
ing into the Market-place. The question for the jury
to decide was, whether the Tory party commenced the
riot, or Mr. Hindley's party; and after hearing the
Learned Chairman's remarks upon the evidence, they
returned a verdict for the defendants of " Not guilty."
This is the third time the Ashton Tories have exposed
themselves in the different Court's of law, spending
their time tnd money to convict Mr. Hindley's party
of an offence which has been proved by a jury of the
country to have been committed by themselves.—Man•
aester Times.