The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-26 00:00:00

TRAGICAL AND MELANCHOLY
OCCURRENCE AT GLASGOW.

On Saturday afternoon three young boys, two of
them sons of Mr. James Wilson, builder, Gallow-
gate-street, and the other a on of his brother, Mr.
Charles Wilson, were missing. The boys' absence
occasioned at first no great uneasiness, as it was sup•
posed that the youngsters, the eldest of whom was
about eleven years of age, had set off to join their
mother and the rest of the family. As nothing had
been heard of them, Mr. Wilson left home early
yesterday morning, with the intention of proceeding
to Helensburgh, where the family were, to ascertain
if the runaways were there. lie had not, however,
been long away when Mr. Wilson's carter went to
the stable for the purpose of procuring some pro-
vender for a horse. The provender is kept in a
corn-chest—a box six feet long and about three deep,
with three separate compartments, and secured on
the outside with an iron hasp, which fits into a staple
in the side of the chest. On opening the lid the
man was horror-stricken at finding the three young
boys lying motionless at the bottom of the chest, each
occupying one of the compartments. He imme-
diately summoned assistance, and they were taken
out; but it was found that two of them, James
Wilson, aged 11, and Charles Wilson, about a year
younger, were quite decd, and had been so apparently
for a considerable length of time. The youngest, a
boy between 7 and 8 years, son of Mr. James Wilson,
showed some signs that life was not entirely extinct,
and by prompt medical attendance, and fresh air, he
gradually revived, so as to be able, during the day, to
state in a coherent manner, what had led to the
melancholy catastrophe. The brothers and cousin
had gone into the chest, in search of beans, and while
so engaged the lid, which, as has been already stated,
is secured on the outside by an iron hasp fitting into
a staple, closed on them. In falling, the hasp, as it
most unfortunately happened, fixed into the
staple, and all the united strength of the
poor captives was
,insufficient to enable them
to burst the bands of what, too truly, proved
their tomb. On the side at which the youngest
boy was found, the lid did not fit so close as the
other parts, and from the limited supply of air which
had been admitted through this crevice, is to be attri-
buted his preservation. 'They had endeavoured to
support each other's courage
as well as they could in
their dismal dungeon ; and, before giving up hope,
one of them broke the blade of a penknife in the
attempt to make an incision through the side of the
chest. After they had exhausted themselves by un-
availing shouts and cries, which were not heard on
earth, they all joined in prayer to the hearer and
answerer of prayer. This is the last circumstance
which the surviving sufferer recollects, as he soon
after became insensible. To account for no noise
having been heard, or no one within call, it may be
mentioned that the wood-yard in which the stable is
situated is locked up early on the Saturday afternoon,
and is not again entered till Monday morning. The
distress of the bereaved and afflicted families, who are
well known and highly respected,
may be imagined,
but it cannot be described.

THE MURDER OF A WIPE BY HER HUSBAND.—
BOLTON, AUG. 25.—The coroner's inquest on the body
of Bridget Pilkingten, who died from the effects of a
brutal attack made upon her by her husband, Robert
Pilkington, at Heaton, near this place, on Sunday morn-
ing, was held yesterday before Mr. Rutter, the county
coroner. Bridget Dean, a servant in the house, re-
peated the evidence she gave before the magistrates on
Monday. Evidence confirmatory of the facts mentioned
by this witness was then adduced by several persons,
who were on the spot very soon after the dreadful occur-
rence. The jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder
against the husband, Robert Pilkington." The deceased
was sixty years of age, and the prisoner's age exceeds
that. He is, or rather was, a very violent man. Some
years ago his father was executed for murder; a half
brother was transported for ill-using a man, who died;
and one of his cousins was hung for poisoning two of
his children. The wretched man's son is at present in
custody for nearly causing the death of a William
g their cargoes alongside
Brewer Kershaw.
ACCIDENT ON THE RlVER.—Yesterday, as the dif-
ferent vessels trading from Holland with butter and
cheese,rew a; wereand
busy
Galley
dqi sucayhazg ia labouring man fell n
over-
board, and was nearly drowned, but for the humane con-
duct of Mr. Wells, mate of the City of London screw-
steamer, who plunged after him, and with considerable
exertion and imminent risk, succeeded in saving the poor
fellow. The merchants, ivharfingers, and Customs' offi-
cers, who witnessed the intrepid devotion and alacrity of
the gallant tar, have forwarded a representation of the
affair to the secretary of the Royal Humane Society, for
their consideration to his being entitled to a mark of
their favour.
A SHARP RETORT.--At the Dublin University
election, Mr. Butt, the well-known political barrister,
made a poignant retort upon Mr. Shaw, On the day of
nomination, after Mr. Butt had addressed the electors,
Mr. Shaw said—" Speaking nut us an Oxford graduate,
but as an Irish gentleman, I will say that Mr. Butt's
speech proves nothing but the vulgarity of his own
nature, which not even an education at this University
could refine." Mr. Butt had no opportunity of reply-
ing until some time after, when he took care to tell the
Recorder, " hat it was a great pity when he secured a
.514
retiring pension of 3,0001 per annum on the consoli-
dated fund, that he had not also managed to put his
tongue upon the civil list."-
POPULATION OF ROME.---The city le divided into
fifty-four parishes, containing 37,1;30 families. The
ecclesiastical population consists of 39 bi-hops, 1
elprgymen. 2,417 monks and friars. 1,754 nuns, and
521 students. The whole population amounts to
175,883 inhabitants, not including the Israelites,. who
are 8,000 in number. The population increased since
lest year by 5,6811. •