The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-06 00:00:00

FATAL EXPLOSION.

SATURDAY.—A frightful explosion took place
at Messrs. Ellins and Co.'s salt- works yesterday, by
which one life was sacrificed, and others are in a precarious
condition.

It is necessary to explain the construction of the works in
order to understand the nature of the accident. The pans
in which the brine (from which the salt is manufactured) is
boiled are not placed immediately over the tire, but have
false bottoms a few metres in depth, which are tilled with
water, and the steam generated therefrom is carried off in
pipes to other pans, and generates sufficient heat to cause
the brine in these also to deposit salt. From some cause or
other, at present unexplained, the false bottom containing
the boiling water beneath one of the pans blew up, and with
such force as to drive one-half of the latter through the
wall of the building in which it is placed, tearing up the
strong piping, and throwing the whole into inextricable
confusion.

The greater part of the workmen and women had just
retired from the premises to their afternoon meal, when the
explosion took place, but a horse and cart standing near the
premises was by the explosion precipitated into the small
river Salwarpe near. Two men loading the cart, and also
the driver, were dreadfully scalded, but it is hoped they will
recover. Two of the injured men, named George and names
Carter were conveyed to Worcester Infirmary, where the
former died this morning, and the latter is lying in a danger-
ous condition. The unfortunate deceased has left a widow
and a large family of ten children.
An inquest will be held on the body of George Carter,
when the cause of the catastrophe will be developed.

FIRE IN THE CUTTINGS, &C., OF THE GREAT
WESTERN BAILWAY.—The grass on the slopes of the cut-
tings and embankments of the Great Western Railway, be-
tween Slough and Paddington, has been nearly, throughout
the eighteen miles, completely destroyed by tire, occasioned
by its being ignited by the live coals thrown out by the fur-
naces of the steam-engines traversing the line. Several
patches of from half a mile to three-quarters of a mile in
length have been laid totally bare, and the roots, together
with those of the growing shrubs, wholly destroyed. A pas-
senger, who left Slough by the Bristol day mail-train on
Saturday, observed the grass on the cuttings and embank-
ments on fire, to a considerable extent, in no less than a
dozen places.
A MAN SHOT.—On Friday last, John Thompson,
carrier betwixt Gisburn and Settle, was entrusted with a
gun that belonged to David Seed, of liellifield, to take to
Settle to get repaired. The gun had a cover upon it, and,
when he got to Settle,
he was takingit out of his cart, when
it proved to be charged, and the contents entered his side,
and killed him in a moment. He was 62 years of age. A.
coroner's inquest was subsequently held on the body of the
deceased, and the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental
death," with a aeodand of 21. upon the gun.—Leeds Intel-
ligencer,

:DISCOVERY OF A MAN'S LEG AND SKULL IN THE
'1 eampi.—On SatVirday morning, as some workmen were
dredging the river near Waterloo-bridge, they discovered a
man's leg
Awl a human skull. They were both in a decom-
Pi-,sed state from being exposed to the water for some time
and the leg had on it a piece of a large boot, similar to those
used by fishermen. Rumours were circulated that the body
had been cut up, that the guilt of the party committing the
crime might not be revealed ; but in all probability the limbs
and skull were cut asunder by some steamer or other vessel
I as it was lying in the bed of the river, at low water mark.,
Information has been sent to the Coroner, who will hold are
inquest forthwith.
TEE THUNDER-STORM YESTERDAY.—Yesterday,
about half-past three o'clock in the afternoon, this metropolis
was visited with a thunder-storm, the phenomena of which
were most eccentric. The clouds appeared to form them-
selves into a semi-circular girdle in the southern hemi-
sphere, and the electric shocks shot out in rapid and almost
unremitting succession, as if from a continuous park of ar-
tillery, until one erratic flash detaching itself from the gene-
ral volume, which appeared to spend its fury about two
miles to the south, burst with a terrible clatter in the neigh-
bourhood of Denmark-street station-house. Inspector Dons-
gen, who was on duty at the time, judging by the sound
that something had been stricken, after careful inquiry, aseer•
tained that the electric fluid had struck the south-west point
of the Sailors' Home, in Well-street, Whitechapel, and dis-
lodged about four yards of the brickwork right opposite to
the spot where Prince Albert, a few weeks ago, laid the foun-
dation-stone of the new Mariners' Church. The heavy mass
fell with an immense crash into an upper room of the house
of a Mr. Ellis, cow- keeper, adjoining the home, which at pre-
sent is used as a dressing-room. Mrs. Ellis, who had been
dressing, there, had fortunately left a few minutes previously;
and so sudden was the shock, and so powerful the electric
effect, that every inmate of the house was for the moment
paralysed. The immense mass of bricks broke completely
through the roof and two ceilings.
A marchand de vin of 13erey, near Paris, hanged
himself on Thursday. He had, in a moment of intoxication,
accepted a bill for 15,000 f., and on becoming sober, and
reflecting that he would be unable to pay it when due. /01,
was filled with despair, and resolved to conunit suicide.