The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-24 00:00:00

POWDER MILL.

GItEENOCK, THUMSDAY NIGIIT.—We regret to say
that most distressing intelligence reached here this aiter-
neon of a dreadful explosion of the powder mills; at
Millhouse, the property of Mr. M'Cullum, situate on the
Kerryside of the ltyle* of Bute, in Argyleshiro, by
which nearly the whole of the works, which were con-
sidered cxtensive, were destroyed, and,- melancholy to
relate, nine persons iosi their ilia.
As far as we have been able to learn, it appears the
workmen entered the mills at the usual time, six o'clock,
on Tuesday morning. The duty of the unfortunate men,
or, at least, part of them, was, it seems, to attend to the
charging of barrels, preparatory to the removal of the
powder to the magazines, which was carried
on in a kind of store, or warehouse, some distance
from the . working part of the works, when, from
some cause or other, the nature of which will probably
never be known, an explosion took place; and, when
we state that a very large quantity of powder, about
four tons, was deposited in this building, the conse-
quence as all may suppose, was most awful. The ware-
house, and all the surrounding erections, were blown to
atoms, and the poor fellows met an instant death.
Their bodies were hurled to an immense distance, but
their identity was utterly impossible, so horribly were
they mutilated. The blast is described by the inhabi-
tants of the adjacent towns to have been of a terrific
description, It burst into the air with a tremendous
force, shaking every building within two or three miles
of the property, while, for the moment, the whole at-
mosphere appeared filled with flame of an intense
nature. By many it was believed to be the approach of
an earthquake ; and people w _re to be seen running
from their dwellings in a state of the greatest
excitement and terror. It is reported' that five
other workmen attached to the mills, who
were in another part of the works, were
dreadfully burned, two of whom were not expected to
recover. The Greenock Advertiser adds, that the event
has created the greatest sensation in the county. So
dreadful was the explosion, that it is said to have been
heard and felt at a distance of twenty miles. It is also
stated that a woman living in a house one mile off, was

standing beside one of her windows at the time, and the
effect of the casualty was such that the glass was broken
at a moment, and her face literally blackened with the
powder. It:is altogether inexplicable how so many men
were in the warehouse at (ne time, as we understand it
is a peremptory regulation that no more than two shall
be on any account in these hazardous premises, but the
reason must remain unknown. We believe this is the
second time the mills have been blown up within the last
four years. Most of the unfortunate sufferers have left
female?to deplore their loss.

BAND OF ROBBERS IN CANADA
EXTRAORDINARY DEVELOPMENTS.

We learn from the Toronto Colonist, that some thieves
belonging to a notorious band of robbers, known as the
" Markham Gang," have been arrested, tried, and con-
victed ; and that their arrest is likely to lead to the in-
carceration of others, and possibly to the breaking up of
the gang. The existence of this horde of robbers was
first discovered in the township which has given its
name to the combination, but it is ascertained that their
operations extend through the entire province, from the
townships of Lower Canada in the east to the State of
Michigan in the west, with branches in the States o
Vermont, New York, Illinois, and lowa. The Colonise
says, that the long impunity which this association en-
joyed gradually magnified their power, by increasing
alike their numbers and their daring, until they became
a terror to the communities in which they resided ; the
whole country was held in a state of intimidation. Some
of the magistrates, and constables, and jurors, were alike
afraid to do their duty ; and even their victims were de-
terred from taking proceedings against the robbers from
the rear that the greater evil of fire or murder would be
inflicted upon them. During the examinations, many
facts, such as the following, were disclosed :—A country
megisteate refused to grant a warrant against B-- and
J (two of the most formidable of the gang), for
breaking into and stealing goods from a shop, on the
ground that he was afraid to do so A constable of
Markham, in whose hands a warrant was placed fur the
apprehension of one of the gang (now in the peniten-
tiary), immediately sent private information to
the culprit that he had the warrant, and would not
execute for four or five days, evidently for the purpose
of giving the man ample time to escape ; the rogue,
however, more courageous than his rural official, refused
to run, and sent word to the constable that he had no
fear of being convicted. He was subsequently brought
before the neighbouring magistrates, the burglary was
proved, the prisoners's identity sworn to, and the magis
traces discharged him on bail ; an accomplice in the bur-
glary* being one of his bail. The culprit was again ad-
vised to run, but again refused, declaring his belief that
the jury would not convict him, and even if they did, and
if he should be sent to the penitentiary, he would soon
" get out again on petition? Contrary to his expecta-
tions, however, the prisoner was convicted—is now in
the penitentiary, and he has net yet " got out on peti-
tion:" Theses and other similar facts, sufficiently-dernou-
straw the influence ofintimidation upon some of the officers
of justice in the country ; while it is well known that
ssveral of the gang, who were convicted at the late As-
sizes, openly boasted that had the jury been from their
part of the country, they durst not have convicted
them. A singularity of this association is, that the
parties to it are all apparently in fair circumstances, and
in a condition of life which divests them of the plea of
necessity for their crimes. They are all persons (saving
phrenological developments) of good appearance, and as
well dressed as the generality of the better class of our
farming population. Some of them are owners of farms;
many of them are the sons of freeholders, strong, able-
bodied, well-dressed young men ; some are tavern-
keepers; some are owners or lessees of saw mills; and all
of them arc in a condition of life, to be able to earn an
honest livelihood. Some of them since their convic-
tion, have confessed that they have " never had a
day's good luck" since they joined the gang; that pre-
viously they were well off and well respected, but that
since their own rightful property has gone to wreck,
while that acquired by dishonest means was always
quickly dissipated; and that they are now, even in a
pecuniary point of view, in a much worse condition than
they would have been had they pursued an honest
career, while their characters and their, liberties are
sacrificed for their crimes. From what we have learned
of the gang, we should be disposed to divide them into
two classes—the cavalry and the infantry. The former,
who are generally mounted on the best horses in the
country, figure only in the higher branches of roguery,
such as burglary, horse stealing, and in the wholesale
dissemination of -" boodle?' Boodle being the flash
term of the gang for counterfeit money. To the
infantry is delegated the lower order of thievery.
Some of this infantry division are occasionally intrusted
with the retailing of boodle, which they pass off upon
the.farmers, tavern keepers, &c., of the back townships.
This they manage with great dexterity and caution.
They never carry more than one bad note about them at
a time; having at the same time several good notes. If
the note, when offered, should be detected or suspected,
the fellow who offers it, with expressions of surprise,
regret, doubt, &c., immediately offers a good note, and
all is right. Or, if the parties should proceed so far as
to have the fellow searched, all the money about him is
good except this one note, and he is usually discharged.
But if the bad note, when offered, be taken without
suspicion, which it generally is (among the class
of persons to whom such notes are usually offered),
the fellow gets his change, supplies the place
of the note which he has just passed with
another from the boodle bank, and repeats the
experiment somewhere else. There is one precautionary
measure of the gang which is never departed from—the
thieves never take the property which they steal home to
their own houses. Hence search warrants, which have
often been immediately issued against the premises of
the right persons, have always failed. If the stolen arti-
cles are bulky, and not easily removable to a distance,
they are always taken to a hiding place, previously pre-
pared, generally in the woods, where they are kept
" until the storm blows over." Articles of considerable
value, and easily removable, such as horses, watches,
bank notes, which it is feared may be identified, &c.,
are often taken to Lower Canada. to the townships
of Shefford and Dunham, where there is a wholesale
establishment for issuing counterfeit money of all
sorts, and for receiving stolen goods, and where
the stolen articles are disposed of in exchange for
boodle, at the rate of IQO dolls. worth of boodle for ten
dollars worth of valuable property, or for five dollars of
bankable paper. This boodle is brought back and dis-
posed of at an advance of one or two hundred per cent.
to the small fry of the gang, by whom it is put into cir-
culation about the country. The boodle, or counterfeit
paper, which is thus put into circulation, is of different
descriptions, but a large proportion of it purports to be
of the Bank of Kingston, Hudson River, " New York
Safety Fund," in small letters, being engraved thereon.
The "operation" of horse stealing is skilfully performed,
and is always done "in duplicate." The horses to be
stolen, and the places where they are to be found, being
previously well known, the two thieves start simul-
taneously in opposite directions in pursuit of their
prey ; one, perhaps, to the States, and one to
some distant part of this province. Each obtains
possession of his horse, and they meet each other
with all possible dispatch, at some intermediate point,
where they exchange the stolen horses, and each returns
to his own neighbourhood on an unknown horse. A
very curious circumstance of this kind was disclosed
during the recent examinations. Two of the gang (whom
we will designate as A. and J.) agreed to steal two
horses, which were previously known to them ; one in
the Newcastle district, and one in the western part of
the province. A. proceeded to the latter point, and J.
to the former. Each obtained his horse ; A, a fine
grey, and J. a fine black horse.. They then proceeded
with all possible expedition, through the back conces-
sions (these gentry never travel on the main road on
business of this kind), to a place of meeting near
Brantford, where they exchanged horses ; A. re-
turning towards the west on the' black horse, and
J. returning on the grey to the very neighbourhood
where he had stolen the black horse. J. having dis-
posed of the grey horse, and having learned that A. had
sold the black horse to a farmer beyond Brantford,
proceeded to the spot, claimed the black horse as his
property, which he said had been stolen from him by
A., and threatened to take out a warrant against the
farmer. The poor farmer, somewhat frightened, offered
to give up the horse, if J. would" prove to it." J. ac-
cordingly made affidavit that the horse was his property,
and had been stolen from him by a person answering the
description of A., upon which the poor farmer gave up
the horse to J., who rode it off to the westward, and sold
it again in Michigan. There is one plan of operation
adopted by this gang, which is somewhat more scienti-
fic than any to which we have yet alluded—that is, the
employment of avant couriers,
tain information. These gentry ft oa r
st
If
d their board and lodging ; of
certain sum per .day, an cons obte
go about to farm-houses to work at their trade, for a
and children ; and in
small articles of finery to women
edlars who visit farm-houses, wader pretext of selling
one instance, of a rascal who professes to have the gift
of prayer and "psalmody," which he dispenses liberally
in exchange for provender and lodging. These rascals
tespeCtively avail themselves of the opportunities which
these visits afford them, to ascertain who has money,
where it is kept; and at what point of the premises an
entry may be most eftectially made. There is but one
other matter concerning this gets which we propose to
advert to at this time ; and that is, their obligations to
each other. it does not appear that any oath is now
or ever has been administered in the association. But
on the first introduction of a novice to the leaders or
"old hands" of the gang, he is required to pledge him-
self that he will adhere to their rules, and never betray
their secrets, on pain of certain death. In the event of
any one of the gang being arrested, the other members
are bound to do all they can for him ; to procure him
bail, to give evidence for him at his trial, and to " prove
him clear" (as they term it) by swearing to an alibi.
These are the only obligations which we have heard of,
and these are generally understood and adhered to among
the " Markham Gang."

This fact was not known by the magistrates at the
irne, but it was known by them that this man was one of
;he gang.

THE CROPS.—We regret to say that, in consequence
of the changeableness of the weather, a great portion of the
wheat crop will be materially injured, in some instanees the
gram has begun to grow in the ear before the crop has been
cut. The sample of b,arley will be very bad. In most cases,
the grain in our field presents three different appearances—
one part nearly dead ripe; a second, just coming to hand,
whilst the third is qui.`e green. The potato crop is nearly
di ,
if not quite destroyed ;EL id from the early appearance of e
disease, the effect upon t.:l° neighbourhood will be much
worse than last year.—Somer.vt County Herald.
THE LATE SCULLERS' MATCH FOR THE CHAMPION-
SHIP OF THE THAMES.—The
friends of these celebrated
scullers have appointed to meet on Wednesday next, at the
Ship, F.re-street, Lambeth, wM
match. The friends of
:111 Cooldoe', will receive the.
stakes, 200/., as winner of the recent
and a new watch
f
Campbell are not satisfied with his 4, eat;
LI H4ely to be made.

FLOGGING IN THE NAVY AND

ARMY.
The following petition from the City of London was
presented to the House of Lords, on the 17th of Marc,
1836 :
" To the Right Honourable, the Lords Temporal land
Spiritual, in Parliament assembled,
" The Humble Petition of the Lord Mayor, Alden:aerie
and Commons of the City of London, in Gemmel'
Council assembled,
" Sheweth,—That your petitioners, as the represen-,
tatives of the citizens of London, deem it to be an ier
portant duty to express their opinion to your Lordships
on any subject materially affecting the rights, liberti es,
or happiness of the community, or deeply involving hs,
character and honour of their country. nct
" That the punishment of flogging in the navy •
army, which for a long time past has engaged a 13.
share of public interest, and excited the abhorrence of gth
classes of society, has been especially forced on the at'
tention of your petitioners by two recent instances
military punishment at Woolwich, which were speedily
followed by the death of the victims.
" That your petitioners believe that the inefficiency of
flogging, for the promotion of naval and military disci-
pline, is susceptible of the strongest proof which fact °I
ar.,,ument could furnish on any subject.
"'That your petitioners are nevertheless of the
opinion, that the cruel torture, and debasing tendenq
of this system, could not be palliated, much less justifiec.:
by any appeal to expediency—they recognise jai:
one of those flagrant outrages on the national mar:
against which the best feelings of our common nature 11!",
stinctively revolt, and they therefore most sincerely
earnestly hope that a concern for the honour of tmi
country, and the reputation of the navy and army,
England amongst neighbouring nations—combined *vita
a regard to public opinion—frequently, stronglft.6l.l„,
without distinction of party, very generally expressed®
will prevent any attempt to defend and maintain a 111 he
of punishment, demoralising and degrading to those Ito
award, to those who inflict, to those who suffer, a 0"
those who witness if. hate
" That the instance, to which your petitioners ea,
alluded are only two of many in which death has speeduelt
followed the infliction of the punishment. That bowel' 0,
heinous the offence in some of those cases may lir
been, they were not such as, on any principle of
tice or morality, could be visited with capital pent,.
ment even in its ordinary form, unaccompanied by P
tracted suffering ; and that this destruction of hures_,,
life has been accompanied with a species of torte:
utterly at variance with the general spirit of our Is:
the feelings and habits of our countrymen, and the pr`.
cepts of Christianity.
"Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray your VI;
ships to repeal the laws which authorise the punishele
of flogging in the navy and army."

POST-OFFICE NOTICE.
Ou Saturday the following notice was placarded
the vestibule of the General Post-office, St. Martins "le'
Grande:—
On Monday evening will be dispatched the nest 00,,i4
for the Mediterraucan, Egypt, India, and China',

Marseilles. _
A mail bag for Madeira, Lisbon, Spain, and Gibraltar;
will be made up on Thursday next, the 27th insTiiini.
and on the 7th, 17th, and 27th of every SUCCeew-

month.

11 be 11101

W

For Sydney, New Sout. . ales, a mail wi- 11°'
up and dispatched the last day of this and every 5

_ . ,
ceding month. ai- diter
For Virro, Oporto, Lisbon, Cadiz, Gibraltar, ~..e c the
ranean, E6gypt, India, and China, on the morning c'
4th of the ensuing month. a of
For Mexico, Honduras, and Ilavannah, on the 2
next and each succeeding month only. ads,
For Bermuda, San Juan de Nicaragua, New G(s'
Chili, and Peru, on the 17th of every month only. , .„6 •
For Egypt, Ceylon, India, and China, on the 30 '."
20th of every month. nee,
The Peninsular steam-packet will not call at Coo die
either on the outward or homeward voyage durinbod
winter months of November, December, janearYLbey
February next, commencing from the 7th of Tiovo