The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-22 00:00:00

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-REAT

THE FIRE ON THE
WESTERN RAILWAY.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.

'FRIDAY NlGHT.—Notwithstanding that an immense
number of men have been, ever since the fire occurred
upon the Great Western Railway, actively engaged in
repairing the bridge at Hanwell, they have, up to the
present time, half-past eight P.M. Friday, been unable to
replace the structure. By one o'clock yesterday morn-
ing the workmen, under the superintendence of Mr.
Brunel, Mr. Seymour Clarke, and Mr. Sanders, had
succeeded in forming a temporary viaduct, at least so
far as the down line was concerned. To test its safety
a heavily-laden goods train was passed over it without
an engine, and being found sufficiently strong to bear the
weight of that train, which, it should be stated, was con-
siderably heavier than any ordinary train, it was pro-
nounced to be perfectly safe. The up line, however, is
not yet repaired, but from the rapid progress that is
being made, it is fully expected that it will be finished in
time for the express train to pass over at eleven o'clock
this forenoon (Saturday). An inquiry was yesterday
made by the chief officer of the line, to learn if possible
how the disaster occurred. The result still leaves the mat-
ter in doubt, it being considered most extraordinary that
the fire should have obtained such a strong hold before
discovered. Some idea of the fury of the flames may be
formed from the fact of the heat being so intense that
eight out of the ten iron girders that were supported by
cast iron columns, on which the timber was laid, ex-
panded to such a degree as to snap asunder principally
about the centre. They were also thrown out of the
perpendicular, and the stone-work into which they were
fastened by molten lead was rent in twain. Some of the
parties attribute the act to an incendiary, but the ma-
jority of the officials are of opinion that it was caused
solely by accident'', Lome hot cinders falling from the
engine of the train that left the Maidenhead station at
11.15 P.M. yesterday. They are also of opinion that
wooden bridges or viaducts ought not to be allowed on
the lines, and it is understood that all similar erections
will be either replaced by iron or covered with a fire-
proof substance, so as to guard against a similar casualty.
To some parties it may seem very remarkable that so
long a time has been spent in repairing the structure;
and it is, however, only necessary to state that the bridge,
although only twenty-five feet by eighteen, was an ela-
borate piece of workmanship, and was most peculiarly
constructed; it was carried over the Uxbridge-road at a
sharp angle, and it then stretched over the cross road.
The value of the bridge was considerably more than was
at first anticipated.

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
THE POTATO BLIGHT.
We regret to have to state that the blight has again
appeared on the potatoes in the Isle of Wight. The fetal
spot was first observed in the gardens round Newport on
Thursday morning. This morning (Friday) the dew
appeared like a black drop on the leaves of the potatoes
at Westmill and in the neighbourhood of Carisbrook.
It was in this part it was first observed in 1845, and it
was not till nearly a month afterwards that it became
general in other parts of England.
The severe winter has induced persons to plant a much
greater breadth of potatoes this year than they did last;
indeed, even last year the grower was a gainer by the
blight, it was the consumer was the sufferer. About
one-third of the potatoes were spoiled by the blight—say
one bushel oat of three. Had there been no blight, the
three bushels would have sold for 4s. 6d.; in consequence
of the blight, the two bushels sold for Bs.
Wind and rain have at length left us, and summer set
in in earnest.
ELECTION MOVEMENTS.
It has been some time doubted whether Mr. Willis
Fleming was really serious in putting up for the Isle of
Wight. It was thought he would merely sound the elec-
tors, and then withdraw, but all doubt is now removed.
He has stated his determination to go to the poll as the
" No-Popery" candidate.
Mr. Simeon considers himself safe to win. Some call
h'

aim a liberal Conservative, others a moderate Whig.
He has the landed interest with him, and some of the
Liberals; Mr. Fleming the clergy and th© Wesleyans,
the Liberals generally standing aloof.

SINGULAR OCCURRENCE.—Yesterdayafternoon
one of Combe and Delafield's horses, en
draw-
ing empty barrels from Mr. Collier's, theaged .
Three Com-
passes, White Hart-street, Drury-lane, fell down the
cellar keep; the man below narrowly escaped being
crushed to death. After several ineffectual attempts to
drag the horse out by ropes, the footpath and roadway
was raised, and an inclined plane formed by excavating
the earth to some depth, thus enabling the animal to
walk out.
DETERMINED SUICIDE.—Yesterday afternoon
ti
determined suicide was committed by a Mr. Jenkins, a
surgical instrument maker, about thirty years of age,
residing at No. 4, St. Margaret's-terraee, near Rochester-
row, Westminster. It appears that he had been con-
fined to bed by illness; his wife had gone to fetch the
doctor, leaving him with a female attendant, whom he re-
quested to leave the room whilst he got out of bed. Some
time elapsing, she entered the room, when ho was dis-
covered lying on the floor, having cut his throat with a
razor. A surgeon was sent for, but life was extinct
before his arrival. It appeared that he had, before
usir.g the razor, stabbed himself in the left side with a
pair of scissors.
A BENEVOLENT LANDLORD.--Lord Fitzwilliam,
in addition to his immense outlay on labour, amounting
to several (more than fivo) hundred pounds a month,
for a considerable time past, on his Irish estate at
Colattin Park, in the county of Wicklow, has purchased
and given to every tenant seeds of all descriptions re-
quired, including oats, barley, turnips, carrots, &c. His
Lordship has also supplied the poor with soup of the
best description, sending it to all the towns adjacent for
distribution every week.
SUICIDE FROM DRUNICENNESS.—MT. Bedford held
an inquest yesterday, at St. George's Hospital, on the
body of Henry Young, aged 50, a gardener, of No. 7,
Cumberland-street, Chelsea. It appeared in evidence
that the deceased had been for some time past much ad-
dicted to drinking, and was frequently intoxicated for
three or four days together. He got up at five o'clock
on Wednesday morning last, and returned in the even-
ing with a bottle of laudanum in his pocket. He then
poured the poison into a cup and drank it. His wife
and daughter, who were in the room, rendered imme-
diate assistance, but the deceased continued in an insen-
sible state, and died in the hospital the next day. It
was stated by the witnesses that he bad made two pre-
vious attempts on his life. The inquest was adjourned
for the evidence of the chemist of whom the deceased
purchased the poison,
DEruEssioN OF TRADE.—Considering the fewness
of manufacturing establishments in this county, it is with
deep regret we learn that the Sanquhar Carpet Com-
pany hare felt constrained to resort to the short time
system—that is, limiting the hours of labour daily and
weekly, owing to the dull state of this, in common with
other branches of trade, at home and abroad.
haven
wouldfalle at
ordi-
nary times, restriction of industry
comparatively light on the long-thriving community
Crawick Mill ; but this, as may be naturally supposed,
is much aggravated by the continued dearness of all sorts
of provisions.—Dunifries Herald.
NEW POTATOES.—A fine sample of early potatoes
was shown last week at Darlington market, and sold at
three shillings per quart, with a lively demand for more,
even at this price. The producer was Mr. Thomas
Stabler, market gardener, of Naughton-le-Skerne, near
Darlington, a place remarkable for its early productive-
ness, for the salubrity and pleasantness of its climate,
and its dry and sheltered situation.—Durham Advertiser.
Sir Charles Napier hoisted his flag at Portsmouth,
on Thursday, on board the St. Vincent ; he expects to
go to sea on Sunday.
PORT WINE.—We are informed that the Junta of
Oporto have resolved that wines of the Upper Douro of
the vintage of 1846 may be brought into Oporto until
the 20th of June next. Upon wine of the first quality a
duty of 7,200 reis (about 1/. 14s. 2c1.) a pipe is to be paid,
and the owner of the wine is to bind himself to export
the same to ports in Europe. Upon wine of the second
quality the duty is to be 600 reis (about 2s. 10d.), and
on wine for home consumption 6,800 reis (about 11. 12s.
10d.) a pipe. The entrance duty paid on wine of the
first quality is to be deducted from the export duty.