The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-19 00:00:00

- -
THE FATAL PANIC AT BACUP.
In our last we gave some particulars of a fatal
accident in a chapel at Bacup, caused by a ground-
less panic, which led to three persons being killed
by the crush at the entrance door of the chapel, on
the false alarm being given. An inquest was held on
Wednesday afternoon last at three o'clock, at the
George and Dragon Inn, at Bacup, before Mr. John
Hargreaves, coroner. It appeared from the evidence
that there were two distinct panics or alarms, but
there was no doubt that it was in the rush consequent
on the first that the fatality occurred which deprived
three unfortunate persons of life. It seems that in
the chapel near the door, in a sort of aisle, stood a
stove for warming the chapel in winter. The chapel
being crowded in every part, there was quite e
throng of persons standing about the stove, and soma
leaning against it. This, it is supposed, moved it la
little, probably about three inches. The horizontal
pipe, carried along under the gallery to diffuse the
heat, was supported by an iron rod, carried up and
secured to the bottom of the gallery. When the
stove was moved the upright rod gave way at the
fastening, and the pipe, at a joint, went downwards
only a few inches, with a sort of cracking noise.
Some persons immediately apprehended thatr the gal-
lery was giving way, and they shouted '`fhe gallery
is falling ;" others cried out that it was the chapel.
The panic spread notwithstanding the efforts of the
minister, and there was an immediate rush to the
outer door, in the midst of which the deceased were
knocked down and trampled upon. The chapel was
crowded to excess, from the unusual attraction of
bearing a female preach. It seems that a Mrs. Jack-
son, of Wakefield, had engaged to preach in this
chapel both in the forenoon and evening of Sunday
last. Both Mrs. Jackson and the Rev. Mr. New-
ton, the regular minister of the chapel, were in
the pulpit at the time of the alarm ; and Mr.
Newton immediately implored the congregation to
remain seated; assuring them that there was no
danger. Unfortunately but very few gave heed to his
words ; and when the panic was over, very few per-
sons remained in the chapel, and these chiefly in the
gallery. Being unaware of the fatal circumstances
attending the rush of the people out of the chapel,
and being desirous to restore confidence the choir
commenced singing a doxology ; on which a man
in the crowd outside advanced to a window on the
ground floor, apparently in a state of great excite-
ment and apprehension, struck the glass repeatedly
with his hands till he broke a pane, and then shouted
through the aperture, " Are you going to stop there
till you are killed ? The place is falling." Imme-
diately a second panic was produced; there was a
second rush to the door; and two or three persons,
who had been assisting to extricate the weak and
feeble in the first rush were thrown down ; but this
time it was unattended with any serious conse-
quences. It appeared by the evidence that Mr.
William Smith, cotton manufacturer, Bacup, made
great, and in many instances successful exertions, to
rescue the weaker persons who had been thrown down,
and that he extricated Mary Ashworth while yet
living. The boy, Moorhouse, was taken up by a
man named John Earnshaw, warehouseman to Mr.
Lord ; and Mr. John Burton, schoolmaster, extri-
cated young Richard Law. These, and other wit-
nesses, distinctly stated that all three deceased were
found lying outside the chapel door. The jury, after
deliberating a few minutes, returned a verdict of
Accidental Death. All the other sufferers are im-
proving, and likely to do well. Manchester Guardian

PUNISHING ALL PARTIES.—On the 20th ult. the
Hamburgh merchantman the Indedendence, Captain
Schaecht, arrived at Hamburgh from New York. Among
her crew, of 30 men, was a free negro named Prim, who
was the bctt of the rest of the sailors. They made him
believed that the captain intended to throw him over
board and leave him to be drowned. In a spirit of re-
venge Prim got a hatchet, and stealing into the cabin
during, the night struck the captain with it; but wounded
him so slightly that he was able to get up, overpower
the black, and have him pinioned and thrown into the
pigstye, where he remained cramped up till the ship
arrived in port, when Captain Schaecht delivered him
up to justice, and prosecuted him for an attempt to
murder. Prim, on the other hand, laid a complaint
against the captain and crew for ill-treatment. The
double trial came to a hearing on the 7th, the result of
which was that Prim was sentenced to confinement with
hard labour for 12 months, the captain to simple im-
prisonment for six months, and the crew to the like
punishment for one, two, and three months for pro
moting the animosity of Prim by their false representa-
tion.—Galignani.
COUNTY OP CLARE.—It is evident, from the num-
ber of outrages which are being daily perpetrated around
us, that some combined movement against the laws of
the land and the well-being of society is now in progress
among a portion of our population ; and it is much to
be feared that, throughout the approaching winter there
will be no safety for life nor security for property unless
some effectual means be adopted in order to suppress
the rising spirit of insubordination. On Wednesday
night, as Thomas Connell and Thomas Slattery were re-
turning from Ennis market, they were fired at near
Sheppo.eton; a few slugs enters d the horse's head, and
Slattery received a few slight grains in the knee. Notice
had previously been given, that if he attempted carrying
grain to market, his horse would certainly be shot. Two
heifers, the property of Mr. Terence fierily, were on
Tuesday night killed on the lands of Borntick, and the
carcasses taken away.—Clare Journal
LIBRARIES FOR THA POOR.—A library and read-
ing-room for the industrious classes has just been
opened in the populous district of St. George's in• the-
East, through the exertions of the Rev. William Que•
kett, the incumbent. There are already upwards of 100
members, who are admitted, at the low rate of ls. per
quarter, to the advantages of a well-selected library of
books on useful and general literature. Most of the
daily papers are also taken in. It is the intention of
the worthy founder to have courses of lectures on popu-
lar subjects delivered occasionally.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The following
gentlemen having undergone the necessary examina-
tions for the diploma of this college were admitted
members at the meeting of the Court of Examiners on
Friday evening, the 15th inst., viz.:—Messrs. Themes
Harrington Tuke, Chiswick; Charles Bowman Wilson,
Liverpool ; Edward Henry Owen, Reading, Berkshire;
James M'Nicoll, Liverpool; William Casper Kelaart,
Rochester; Henry John Waterland, Thealby, Lincoln-
shire; Henry Davis Benwell, Greenwich; and Richard
Branwell, Penzance.
THE LATE SMUGGLING ON BOARD A YACIIT.—The
sensation created by the late smucgling on board a
yacht has caused the issue of the following circular to
the members of the Royal Yacht Club : —" Royal
Thames Yacht Club, Piazza Hotel, Covent garden, Oct.
16, lB47.—Sir,—ln consequence of a statement having
recently gone the round of the newspapers, to the effect
that a member of the Royal Yacht Club had been guilty
of a violation of the privileges awarded then, by the
Government to the yacht clubs of this kingdom, I am
directed to acq•raint you that a special general meeting
will take place on Thursday, the 21st inst., at eight
o'clock in the evening precisely, to inquire into the re-
port, and to take such further steps as may seem meet
in the m.atter.—l am. Sir, yours obe.liently,
"FREDERICK DURAND, Secretary."
A new helmet for the Heavy Dragoons has just
been sanctioned by the proper authorities, and will come
into use at the customary period for renewing the
clothing. In form the helmet resembles that worn by
the Life Guards, but the material is of brass with a black
horse-hair plume.—United Serv;ce Gazette.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MR. BRITTON.—He remarks
in his preface to the new publication of Aubrey's MS.
on Wilts, that it is his intention now to devote himself
to the autobiography which he has undertaken to write
for the host of kind friends who have subscribed a large
sum of money as a public testimonial to him.—Builder.
THE ISLE .OE' ELY POISONINGS.—The jury, after a
most patient inquiry, have at length returned a verraict
in the cases of child poisoning at Manea. They enter-
tain no doubt that the children were poisoned, and that
by arsenic ; but the evidence was not sufficient to carry
the crime home to any individual ; but we sincerely
hope that circumstances will, ere long, arise to lead to
the discovery and punishment of the perpetrator of this
most dreadful crime. Here have three children been
cruelly and deliberately murdered ; a circumstance of so
dreadful a nature, that the contemplation of it fills the
mind with horror ; and yet, such is the ignorance and
brutality of the wretched inhabitants, totally devoid
of any moral feeling or restraint, that they laugh
at the proceedings
of the Coroner, and devote the
day of the inquest to revelry and drunkenness. While
the jury were deliberating (says our reporter) the
scene below beegared description. Aubrey was in a
state of intoxication. and Hartley half drunk ; Youngs
sat in a state of silent stolid' t) but his better half did
talking for them bath. The
most-t obscene language was
made use of, and the witnesses, one and all, seemed to
care more absut the money would receive fur their
attendance than for their deceased"say,
children. One of the
others, indeed, went so far anl f that " He did not
know but the old woman was right After tnerr all. There was
indeeveedry ten ought
a deal too manyand nTirlheisofu,t,
in
raisin athdreadful
to be put out of the way."
picture ; and if there is a difficulty
from so degraded a state, where there appeagrs teoprple
moral restraint whatever, surely it is the duty ee be no
vernment to impose a heavy penalty on all chemists who.
sell poison of any description except the purchaser has
some person with him cr her, and to make it illegal to
sell arsenic at all unless it has been coloured.—Cam-
bridge Independent.
THE GLASGOW LONDON MAlL.—This mail now
arrives about three hours sooner than formerly—the
morning arrives at 24 minutes past 5, and the evening at
34 minutes past .5. The London mails are dispatched
from Glasgow at 7 40 A.M., box closing at 7 15 ; and 5 2
P.M., box closing at 415 P.M. Ina short time the Post

office is to take advantage of the Trent Valley Railway,
by which an hour and a half will be gained ; and, as the
Caledonian Railway will shortly be opened from end to
end, we mar expect by December to have the London
evening mail in Glasgow about 2 P.M. on the following
day, and the morning mail at 2 A. x.—Glasgow Post.
Tua BEAUVALLON DUEL.—The appeal of M.
d'Ecquevilley against the sentence of the Court of Assize
of the Seine, condemning. him to ten years' reclusion for
perjury, committed on the trial ,of M. Beauvallon, for
killing M. Dujarrier in a duel, came on for hearing on
Friday, before the Court of Cassation. The Court
over-ruled all the objections, and rejected the appeal.
D'racFnt quevilley will therefore have to undergo the punish-
mentioned above. Tho result of M. Beauvallon's
appeal has not yet transpired.