The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-18 00:00:00

FATAL COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

FIFTEEN LIVES LOST.
SErNDERLAND, AUGUST 16.—1 t is our painful duty to
report that a melancholy accident occurred yesterday,
at about one o'clock, by an explosion in Polka Pit, at
Murton, near South Hetton, about ten miles from this
town, by which twelve men and three boys have lost
their lives. Another boy is so much injured that ho is
not expected to recover. One horse and two ponies
were also killed. The pit had been laid off work for
about six weeks, from an overflow of water, and had re-
sumed working about a week previous to the accident.
Upwards of ono hundred men and boys were in the
mine at the time of tho explosion. The explosion was
heard, but not seen by any other of the workmen in
other parts of the mine, who are unable to state (so far
as we can learn) under what circumstances it took place.
Had the explosion been general in the mine, the whole
of the workmen above-mentioned must have suffered.
One of the underviewers, on hearing the explosion, im-
mediately proceeded down the pit, and towards the
place where it happened, with a view to extricate the
sufferers. He was suddenly attacked by the " choke
damp," and was instantly overpowered and rendered in-
sensible. Other persons by whom he was attended drew
him back, and had him taken out of the pit. He re-
mained in a doubtful state till this morning, when a
favourable change took place, and he is now in a fair
way of rezovery.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]
ST()IVE SALE.-STOPPAGE OF THE JOINT
HEIR LOOMS UNDER TESTAMENTARY
RE VERSION.

„...
CIIANDOS NoTicE.---Touching on the landed estates
in marriage settlement, with "charitable” endowments,
Sac. The Chamberlayne-Tesson and Coberley " gold
and silver plate"* as heir looms from 1511. The jewels
and muniments of Lady Elizabeth Grey " Chandos," in
the keeping of, and as passed frem, James first Duke of
Chandos; appendant to which is a reversionary right to
his brother Henry's offspring (by Annabella Atkyns),
the NIECES of the undersigned ; also a similar right to
his sister's, Emma Brydge's offspring, by and through
Ltdy Anne Montague's grand-daughter Elizabeth
Edgecumbe Atkyns Chamberlayne, the undersigned's
great grandmother—thereby uniting the kindred streams
of consanguinity of Chandos, Grandizon Salisbury-Mon-
tacuto in Brydges through Pembroke Hastings Clare
Grey, in confluence to that of Monthermer's wife Joan's
[first "Clare" and) second marriage, in Anne Mon-
tague's issue. The intermarriages named, unite in
the Undersigned's mother the whole blood of the
murdered Lionel Duke of Clarence, third son of
King Edward 111., through his grand-daughter Eliza
"Lusignan Lacy" Mortimer, of Clare and Ulster,
Percy, descendingrey7
of
Wilton to
(see Lady
Act of Parliament 20 and 21 Richard 11., still in force).
Ethleizab weitfhe,
daughtero f Ilenr
ofy Edmund Grey,
Therefore, by virtue of the sair undersigned, on
cts, &c.,
,
under the
saving clause " to issue female,"
be-
half of his mother (aged 84), Madame Elizabeth, rice
" Grey Brydges" Chamberlaype, solemnly protests.s
'e
against Richard Temple Grenville and son's "d en
tailing deeds," urged on by and with the sinister
ap-
proval of the illegitialsttet offspring of John of Gaunt
and Lady Kate:Swynford ; the children from whom, as
BEAurorers, are naturally barred by their, father, as
yunger or fourth son of the aforesaid King Edward 111.,
August
of the
the said offspring of John of Gaunt not being of the
elder line, as of " right ought," to grant an alienation
of the demesne
re-
version without " all parties " concurring.
Signed
l4C,hlaBnd4Bo,s &c., in
L. IL CHARLES HENRY ACKEBLEY,

of Stow-Chamberlayne, Gloster-Shiro,
Projector of the Sectorial Key to -Euclid's Elements in V.
Book, and author of the Lamp of Life.
yr 25 cwt.
Vide Nicholas's Synopsis of the Peerage, vol. 1, P. 3.

BRITISH
EMPIRE MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE
COMPANY.—An extraordinary general meeting of the
members of this Company was held at Radley's Hotel,
New Bridge-street, on Tuesday, August 15th; John
Gover, Esq., presided, and stated, that the meeting was
called to consider the expediency of making various alte-
rations which had been found necessary in the deed of
settlement. He congratulated the members present on
the progress of the Company, as shown by the fact that,
since February 29, when the annual general meeting was
held, there had been effected 283 new policies—namely
124 life, and 162 investment assurances—being at the
rate of 51 per month, and forming a total of 879 policies
issued since the commencement of the Company's ope-
rations in January, 1847. The total amount received
in premiums has been 5,7661. 12s. sd. The Chairman
then called o❑ Mr. W. IL Watson, the Solicitor of the
Company, to state the particulars of the proposed alte-
rations, the most important of which was one providing
for the formation of a reserved fund of 100,0001. Mr.
Millar moved, and Mr. Gardiner seconded a series
of resolutions adopting the alterations, which were car-
ried unanimously. Atter a vote of thanks to the Chair-
man, the meeting adjourned.

SIIEFFIELD TOWN-COUNCIL.—On Wednesday an
election took place to supply the vacancy occasioned by
the disqualification of one of the members of the Shef-
field Town-council. The candidates were Mr. S. Pear-
son, razor manufacturer (Chartist), and Mr. S. S. Brit-
tain, merchant. There was a complete union of Whigs
and Tories to support Mr. Brittain, and the election was
briskly contested. At the close of the poll the num-
bers were—
Pearson ... .• • ••• ••• 712
Brittain ••• .• 619
Majority for Pearson ... .. -- 93
There are now nine Chartists in the Sheffield Town-
council. _ _

BURGLARY AT SIR BENJAMIN BRODIE'S.—Yes.
terday information was received by the police that the resi-
dence of Sir Benjamin C. Brodie, Bart., Broome Park, Surrey,
had been burglariously entered, and a large quantity of valu-
able property, including gold watches, chains, seals, &c., car-
ried off by the thieves, who, notwithsta❑diug they had to
break their way i❑to the premises, got clear away without
disturbing the family.