The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-01 00:00:00

THE LATE HORRIBLE AFFAIR

AT CHATHAM.

The county magistrates were on Friday engaged in
the investigation of the late horrible transaction at
Chalk-pit-hill, Chatham, and if any doubt existed as
to the nature of the offence in the first instance, it is
now but too clear, from the evidence of the surgeon,
that a child, living or dead, was thrown into the burn-
ing furnace on Monday morning last by some monster
in human shape ; and appearances, it is melancholy to
reflect, strengthen the supposition that a murder has
been committed, from the particles of dress which have
been discovered by him in the course of his experi-
ments. Mr. Edward Steddy, surgeon, stated that on
Monday he received from Mr. Moody, one of the
constables, a substance consisting_ of coke, coal, and
pieces of some description of fabric; amongst which
was a knitted substance of two qualities, fine
and coarse, which appeared to be part of a stock-
ing ; there were likewise fragments of net, twill, and
calico—the net, which was but a small portion, appeared
to be such as is used for making babies' caps. He
likewise found another species of fabric which at first he
took for skin, but on a minute examination with a mi-
croscope he clearly distinguished it to be a fragment of
twill. From this mass he had taken some calcareous
substance, very much resembling bone, the organization
of which, however, was entirely destroyed in conse-
quence of the intense heat which prevailed at the time
of its being placed in the furnace, and which heat had
entirely converted it into a powder, of which he pro-
duced two small portions, all that he had been able to
separate. He should be led to suppose, he said, that it
was the remains of a child from the tact of the fragments
of clothes which had ban found in the oven. Bines
and Moody, two officers who have been actively engaged
ever since the occurrence in endeavouring to discover the
guilty party, said that all the medical men in the neigh-
bourhood had been put in possession of the facts, in the
hope that through them something might transpire to
lead to the detection of the offender. They further
stated that Mr. Richardson, on whose premises the oc-
currence took place, distinctly saw the woman take some-
thing from under her shawl and throw it into the fur-
nace, but being at a white heat at the time, she could
not approach very close to it. The magistrates then
gave directions to their officers to use their utmost en-
deavours to obtain, if possible, a clue to the horrible
transaction, and at their next sitting it is probable some-
thing further may transpire.

STEAM-BOAT COLLISION IN
CANADA.

We regret to state that one of those melancholy
steam-boat accidents, from which our waters have been
hitherto most happily exempt, occurred about 1 o'clock
this morning, off Three Rivers. We have as yet been
able to obtain but a very imperfect statement of this
disastrous affair, but from various sources have gleaned
the following details connected with it:—The Rowland
Hill had reached Three Rivers on her way to Quebec,
and after discharging a portion of her freight and taking
on board several passengers, had just left the wharf, and
was proceeding into the middle of the stream, when the
Quebec, on her upward trip, came into collision with
her with such force that the-whole of the larboard wing
of the Rowland Hill was carried away. The wheel on
that side, and the shaft, were borne on to the deck of the
Quebec, and lay there at a distance of about ten feet
from her bow. The Quebec suffered little or no injury.
gentleman who was a passenger in the Rowland Hill
stated to us that it appeared to him as if the Quebec would
have passed completely over the unfortunate vessel. The
shock naturally drove the freight of the unlucky craft
to one side, and thus canted her over, and she began to
fill. Some barrels of flour, we understand, were pitched
through the skylight into the cabin. The alarm and
confusion consequent upon the accident may be better
imagined than described. Many of the passengers (and
we hear there were between 50 and 60 in the cabin)
were in their berths. The gentlemen in the upper
(deck) berths on the side highest out of the water were
unable to force open their doors, and had had to escape
by the small windows of the berths. Many of them
emerged in their night clothes. The cries of the ladies
and children are said to have been heart-
rending. Fearing death from drowning, they
rushed pell-mell from the cabin, with hairluntressed,
and half clad ; those excepted who had but
a few minutes before embarked at Three Rivers.
To add to the general alarm the cry of fire was
now given on board the Rowland Hill. The coals and
fuel wood near the furnaces bad ignited, but were
speedily extinguished by the prompt assistance of the
parties at hand. There bas undoubtedly been loss of

life, but to what extent is not yet known. Some accounts
represent that two of the crew alone perished.; others
that several passengers were victims, some crushed to
death, and others drowned. This fact connected with
the sad tale cannot be made out for a few days to come.
The Quebec checked her speed immediately after the ac-
cident occurred, and drew alongside the Rowland Hill
(which floated down) to take on board her passengers.
The latter finally stranded off the Black River, where
she now lies. The Lord Sydenham, Captain C. L. Arm-
strong, arrived at Three Rivers, about five minutes after
the collision took place. When nearing the wharf, the per-
sons on shore called to the captain not to come-to,as there
were persons in the water. He immediately laid his vessel
alongside the upper wharf, lowered his boat, and went
in search of the persons supposed to be immersed. Not
finding any near the wharf, he rowed down towards the
Black River, until he fell in with the wreck, when he
rendered every assistance in his power, and that of his
men, in saving the passengers. He finally brought
down the Sydenham, and ran in between the Quebec
and Rowland Hill, and received on board the travellers
coming to Quebec. Captain Armstrong, with the
laudable desire of aiding his unfortunate rival, remained
by her altogether about three hours. It is difficult, in
the absence of fuller information, to account for this
melancholy affair. It seems to us, however, and the
same opinion is very generally entertained, that great
mismanagement or want of attention is attributable to
one or both of the chief officers of the boats in question.
We trust an ample inquiry into the circumstances will
be made, and hope that some proper steps will at once
be taken to call to account and punish the guilty party
or parties, if any there should prove to be. It is high
time that this system of racing should be put an end to;
and that steam-boat captains and owners should be made
to feel the serious responsibility attaching to them.-
9ucbec Mercury, July 30.

PUBLIC OFFICES (WHITEHALL).
A Return " of the Expense incurred already in the recent ad-
ditional Building and Alterations in the several Public
Offices in Whitehall and the immediate neighbourhood ;
distinguishing the Number of Rooms, and for, what pur-
poses added, as well as the Expenditure on Accouut of
each separate Department ; also; a Copy of the Original
Estimate of the Architect."
PRIVY COUNCIL OFFICE.'

Cost of the alterations at the Privy Council Office,
17,6121. Fifteen additional rooms have been obtained for an
increase of accommodation for clerks, office-keeper, and
housekeeper. Architect's original estimate (including com-
mission, &c.), 10,4731.