The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-19 00:00:00

Warwickshire handicap.

RTISEMENT DUTY.

were other classes of tax-payers who had an equally
strong claim upon him.
The deputation then withdrew, much pleased with the
courteous attention which his Lordship evinced through•
out the interview.

Sir GEORGE GREY did not intend to withdraw
the clause, and he should certainly oppose the amend-
ment, as he thought it would be found most inconvenient
and unjust.
Mr. SPOONER wished to call the attention of the
Right Hon. Baronet to the fact that the power of re-
ducing the salary of clerks to the justices in boroughs
was vested in the town council, or other governing
body, who, in most cases, had but little to do with
the j ustices' clerks; he should therefore suggest that in-
stead of the town council, that power should be trans-
ferred to the bench of magistrates.
Sir G. GREY objected to this course, but he would
have no objection to insert a proviso that this clause
should not take effect in towns where a commutation had
already taken place under some local Act.
After some discussion, in which Mr. Henley, Mr. T.
Egerton, and Mr. B. Denison took part,
Mr. SPOONER then proposed the insertion of cer-
tain words giving the magistrates a voice in the matter
when assembled in special sessions. Doing so would
enable them in some measure to regulate the salaries ac-
cording to the justice of the several cases.
Sir G. GREY had no objection to tae proposition,
which, as he understood it, was not to supersede the go-
verning body, but only to make the justices a concurring
authority, and he would take care so to mould the clause
as to secure that effect.
After a few words from Mr. Bonham Carter, Sir G.
Grey, and other Members,
Sir G. GREY said that the object of the amendment
seemed to make the duty of fixing the salaries of the
clerks of the peace imperative on the justices. If such
was the case he should feel bound to oppose it, but with
the proviso to which he had just referred ho was ready
to meet the Hon. Member's wish.
Mr. HENLEY said that the Hon. Baronet near him
was quite right, for a great portion of the fees received
by the clerks of the peace were derived from criminal
prosecutions, and the Home Secretary might any fine
morning draw his pen through the directions; and thus
the whole of those payments derived from fees would
fall on the unfortunate county rate.
In answer to a question from Sir J. TROLLOPE,
Sir G. GREY said that the object of the clause was,
that the salary granted to the clerk of the peace should
cover all the duties which were strictly attached to his
office, and would in no way embrace those which were
what might be called purely professional.
Mr. MULLINGS wished to know whether the salary
was to cover the cost and trouble of returns to the Home-
office, and of registration, for instance, and other similar
important duties?
Sir G. GREY said that the salary was intended to
cover all official duties.
On the proposition of Mr. B. DENISON, it was re-
solved that so many words should be struck out as would
leave it in the power of the Secretary of State to raise
as well as to lower the salaries of the clerks of the peace.
The clause was then adopted with that understanding.
On clause 7 being proposed,
Mr. B. DENISON requested that the Right Hon.
Baronet would give some assurance that not more than
one clerk should be appointed for each petty sessional
division; and after a few words from Sir John Duck-
worth, Mr. Henley, and Mr. Coles, the clause was passed
with an intimation from Sir G. Grey that he would at-
tend to Mr. Denison's suggestion.
Clause 8 was passed without remark.
On clause 9 being put,
Sir G. GREY explained that the object of the clause
was to do away with the power now held by the magis-
trates to commit prisoners to the gaol of the county of
the town in which the offences with which they were
charged were committed, and then, by a simple order,
to dispense with the writ of habeas corpus, and send them
to the county prison. That paactice had been frequently
adopted, and had been productive of very great expense
to the county.
Mr. B. DENISON said that the magistrates of the
three ridings of Yorkshire, and he believed of the se-
veral divisions of Lincolnshire also, had a great desire to
be able to commit prisoners to the several local prisons,
from which they might at any convenient time be removed
for trial.
After a few words from Sir J. DUCKWORTH,
Sir G. GREY said that was in effect precisely the
object of the clause.
'The other clauses were then passed without comment,
the House resumed, and the report was ordered to be
brought up on Wednesday next.
APPRENTICES AND SERVANTS BILL.

had been taken on the subject before the Commit-
tee of the Lords disclosed a state of circum-
stances which called for some legislative interference.
There were many shopkeepers who did not open their shops
by their own will, but were forced to it by the competition
of their neighbours, and within a few hundred yards of
that House there were no less than 700 shops opened
on a Sunday, and that not for the common necessaries of
life. It had been acknowledged by every age and nation
that an intermission of labour at least one day in the week
wasabsolutely necessary for the moral, physical, and social
welfare of mankind, even in countries and times where
the Christian religion was not known, and where the
Sabbath was not a Divine command. It was not his
intention to go into the provisions of the Bill, and if the
Hon. Member for Salisbury would consent to the
second reading of the Bill he (Mr. Williams)
would propose that the Bill should go into a
Select Committee and all its provisions be thoroughly
considered. With regard to the principle of the Bill, he
could not see the slightest objection to it; any one who
read the evidence which had been taken on the subject
would see that this system of Sunday trading entailed
upon its victims a slavery more rigorous and severe
than any other which could be imagined. His object
was not so much to secure the religious observance of the
Sabbath as to allow a day of rest to an overworked popu-
lation.
Mr. BARING WALL thought the lion. Gentleman
who had just sat down had treated the matter in a very
fair manner, but he contended that he had
made out no case for legislation. He did not
place much reliance on the number of petitions
which had been presented, because he knew how they
were manufactured, and they proceeded most from
people who really had not the deepest interest in the
existence or non-existence of Sunday trading. But
if they legislated for London, why should they not le-
gislate for the whole country, if Sunday trading was to
be prevented in the metropolis, why not in the country
districts as well? If the Bill went into Committee he
should move that it be extended to England and Wales.
He wished to call the attention of the Right Hon.
Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Depart-
ment to some of the results which the Bill would pro-
duce. The Bill by its provisions prevented the sale of
those cheap beverages which were favourites among the
lower orders of the metropolis, and would drive them to
the beershops. It prohibited also the sale of all un-
stamped publications. amongst which were included the
Family Herald, Eliza Cook's Journal, and other publica-
tions which would bear the most:searching scrutiny. Ile
could see no reason for the Bill at all, and the only argu-
ment which had converted his Hon. Friend the Member
for Lambeth in its favour was the a ishes of his large
constituency. As to the evidence which had been so
much relied on, there was quite as much against the Bill.
The Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr. Mayne, was
decidedly opposed to the Bill, as were also several of
the chief megistrates of the metropolis. The lion.
Gentleman concluded by moving that the Bill be read a
second time this day six months.
Mr. LENNARD had great pleasure in seconding the
amendment, and he was glad to see that in introducing
it no call had been made upon religious feelings for its
support, because seeing what it allowed and what it
prohibited, he thcught great harm would have been
done. Was it possible that any one who had read
the able letters on the condition of the poor in the
Morning Chronicle, had assisted in framing this Bill?
He thought that it was not possible, for it they had they
would never have given their assent to any of its pro-
visions—they would have seen that a great portion
of the working classes in many parts of the
country, but in London especially, could never
cease their occupations until twelve o'clock on
Saturday night, and still more many thousands of
individuals who laboured for the support of their Emi-
lie; never received their wages until eleven o'clock.
Well, then, what was the case? Why, neither more nor
less than this, that if this Bill were to be passed, those
persons would be altogether precluded from obtaining the
necessaries requisite for the comfort and enjoyment oflife,
and Sunday, instead of being a day of rest and enjoy-
ment, during which the poor man could participate in
the endearments of his family with a cheerful spirit,
would be converted into a day of destitution and misery.
—(Hear, hear.) Were they to make war upon the bar-
ber, whose calling was necessary during the early
part of the day for the ordinary cleanliness of the poor
man, or were they to proscribe the callings of the
cab and the omnibus drivers, who were necessarily en-
gaged all the day ? The Bill as it now stood was indeed
altogether inconsistent with the present usages of
society, and he should therefore oppose it.
Sir BENJAMIN HALL said that the Bill was calcu-
lated to do much good; and as the Hon. Member for
Lambeth was aware that many difficulties must of ne-
cessity have to be considered, and was willing to refer
the Bill to a Committee up stairs, he hoped that Mr.
Baring Wall would withdraw his opposition.
To this the Hon. Member acceded, and the Bill was
read a second time.
EXPENSES OF PROSECUTIONS BILL.
After the presentation of several petitions for and
against this Bill, the House went into Committee.
The first clause was passed non. can., but on the
second clause being put, a long and desultory conversa-
tion ensued, in which Mr. Henley, Mr. Deedes, Sir G. 1
Grey, Mr. Wakley, Mr. Becket Denison, Mr. G. Bankes,
and several other Members took part, the object being
to prevent any undue expenditure under the authority
of the Bill, Mr. Wakley pointing out especially that the
Bill, if rightly worded, would prevent a great deal of hard
swearing, as many parties who would have to be
paid under the authority oof this Bill could not obtain
their expenses unless a conviction of the offender ensued,
while Mr. Bankes conceived that discretion might very
well be lett in the hands of the judges with respect to
the parties who were to be paid for their attendance
upon a trial, and to the magistrates in any case which
might be brought before them. The matter concluded
by Sir G. Grey stating that he would take care to intro-
duce such words into the clause before the report was
brought up as would effectually obviate the objection on
the one side of restricting too much the power of the
judges, or of enlarging too much the discretionary
authority of the magistrates in granting expenses. Mr.
Aglionby having made a few remarks, Mr. Wakley and
Mr. Deedes explained, and the clause was passed.
On the third clause, which regulated the compensation
and appointed the persons to be paid, being put,
Mr. HENLEY said that some words ought to be in-
troduced to specify the kind of services which ought to
be recompensed, for it was perfectly impossible for the
magistrate to ascertain what expenses had been rightly
incurred before the case came before him.
Sir G. GREY thought that the clause as it stood was
sufficient, but he would reconsider the terms, and render
it adapted for the object which it was intended to serve.
The clause was then passed.
Clause 4 was passed slier a few observations from Mr.
Henley, Mr. Deedes, and Sir George Grey, made simply
to elucidate the meaning of the clause.
On clause 3 being proposed,
Mr. A. STAFFORD said that he had received a
great number of communications from professional gen-
tlemen, who complained that the alteration would, in
their opinion, cause a great increase of the county-rates.
The alteration would certainly, if passed in its present
shape, have the effect of doing a great injustice in de-
priving a valuable body of men of the recompense to
which they were justly entitled for their professional
services. The Hon. Gentleman then read a letter from
a solicitor, showing that the clause would very largely
affect those numerous and useful bodies, the associations
for the prosecution of felons. The gentlemen who
acted as the secretaries to those associations, and
who always conducted the prosecutions of felons,
were themselves generally the clerks to the justices, so
that the alteration would evidently have the effect of de-
priving the country of the services of a most valuable
class of professional gentlemen. Ile therefore desired to
expunge the clause altogether, and had made these ob-
servations in the hope of raisins, a discussion, and if no
other Member did so, unless the clause was excluded by
consent, he should feel it his duty to divide the Com-
miatee.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. BROTHERTON said that in all other cases the
change from payment by fees to payment by salary had
worked well and economically for the country, and he
trusted the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary for the
Home Department would not abandon the clause.
Sir G. STRICKLAND said that he did not conceive
that any injury could accrue to the professional men
who now acted as clerks to the justices.
Mr. CHRISTOPHER said that he conceived that if
the alteration was made it would work most disastrously
for the country. Only that morning, after he came into
the House, he had been waited upon by several magis-
trates for the parts of Kesteven, by whom it was stated
that out of 209 bills presented to the grand jury at Lin-
coln, only three had been ignored, and the expenses
upon every one of these bills was far less than that pro-
posed by the Right Honourable Baronet, being se 101.
to 41. If the system worked well why should it be
altered?
Mr. PACKE could, from his long experience as chair-
man of the quarter-sessions in his county, give his en-
tire assent to the truth of that which had just been
expressed by his Hon. Friend, and should therefore vote
for the amendment.
Mr. COWAN would also give his assent to what had
fallen from the Hon. Member for Northamptonshire.
Sir J. TROLL° PE wgiesnhtel de
mteonk, nuonwd wwhhayt ti late
was a e c ut
hs aa-t
tt
hi oeny
wwaerseangoattntshtethmeosset proper persons to carry on these
prosecutions?
Sir G. GREY said there was no imputation cast upon
these gentlemen, who in many instances were gentlemen
of great professional respectability, but still it frequently
happened that they often took occasion to increase the
expenses of prosecutions, which put money in their
pockets. In the Municipal Corporations
clerksthinboroughs, in the same manner as this clause
affected magistrates' clerks, and no such intention
was then thrown out against the Government,
of wishing to throw imputations on this class of gentle-
man. For himself, he thought it would be found much
more advantageous that these gentlemen should conduct
prosecutions under the payment of a salary, but as he
intended to propose a clause to the effect that, until their
adauleatrics were fixed, magistrates' clerks should nut con-
prosecutions unless under the direction of the ma-
gistrates, he should not be disinclined to postpone the
consideration of this clause for the present.
After a short conversation, the clause was then with-
drawn.

STATE OF TRADE.

The House then went into Committee on this Bill. '4
On the first clause being put, which empowers the
judge to inflict the punishment of three years' imprison-
ment,
in reply to Mr. W. MILLS,
Mr. BAINES explained that a discretionary power
was left in the hands of the magistrates with respect to
dealing summarily or committing on the cases brought
before them.
On clause 3, which authorises some of the parish offs•
cers to visit pauper servants periodically, being put,
Mr. W. MILES suggested that in every case of a visit
a report should be made to the board of guardians.
Mr. BAINES had no objection to such an alteration
in the Bill, and
After a few words from Sir W. JOLLIFIE and Mr.
BAINES, the other clauses were passed.
The House resumed, and the report was ordered to be
brought up next Wednesday.
APPOINTMENT OF
BILL.

VICE-CHANCELLOR

The 'House then went into Committee on this Bill.
In answer to a question from Sir H. WILLOUGHBY,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the Bill was
only intended to fill up this vacancy, and, of course,
would not apply to future exigencies.
Clauses 1 and 2 were then agreed to.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL then brought up se-
veral additional clauses, which were agreed to without
discussion.
The House then resumed, and the report was ordered
to be brought up to-morrow.
COPYHOLD ENFRANCHISEMENT BILL.
Mr. AGLIONBY moved fur leave to bring in a Bill
for the enfranchisement of copyholds.—Agreed to.
In answer to Mr. F. MACKENZIE,
Sir G. GREY said that the adjourned debate on the
Ecclesiastical Titles Bill would be resumed to-morrow,
as the ion. Baronet the Member for Southwark had
consented to withdraw the motion which he had on the
paper.
The House then adjourned.

Qrs. I Qrs.
250 1,360

sacks
440

630 1 2,040

2,510 12,710 b 1

On clause c,
that he
this clause was so con-
nected Mr. COLES thought
respect thereof,"l"—
; buitthiefitpe Secretary of State were
should suggest that it also
with clause s,th
salary to be
Should be withdrawn
not willing to withdraw 0 should move the amend-
ment following
of
to whhisichrighhets hiand given nor
after the words
,Teanntd
words :--`' and that the
•
clerk of the peace fshall not be less than
paid to any such
amount of the fees, profits, and emoluments the average
such clerk of the peace. in respect of hisinusftipayable to
three years next preceding the passing of thin Act,"
the

THE SUN, @LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 19, 1851.

THE EXPL4
STOCKFOAT

'llllt

SION A

TEEN

•
adoptcd. Over the fire-box a safety cap had been fiteac,
sin inches in diameter, and projecting 3i inches into
the boile•r. The fire tic:ed directly upon this calk
in the top of which ,wai u lead plug; the resat; Ea-
ticipated being, that whew the
so the water had beeoll2.
e
so low as not to be at least several inches over
cap, the plug would melt, the steam and water el&
into the fireplace, and an alarm be thus given. At t
e
proper working level the water would be 8 inches'
above the top of the cap; and the steam whistle wily
so regulated, that it would give an alarm'of want,Of
water before the water had been reduced five inches
from that level. Hyde says that he was close to sheni:
boiler not more than five minutes before the explos
occurred;- and that, at that time, Susith'a iio
cater showed a pressure of 251 b. to the inch, while,:
both the water gauges indicated a sufficiency of Niter.'
Hyde also says that, about an hour before the explosiine
he heard the whistle make a slight noise, which he be",
lieves resulted from a little too much pressure. Itt
supply of water was obtained from a distance of &bow
thirty yards; it was first thrown up a certain height, IT,
means of a water-wheel, and then got into the boiler by,
means of an ordinary, force pump. Hyde says tbsW
there has never been any trouble in working- 114:
boiler, and that he never knew any of its many. Wage
to be in other than gOod working condition. Toeing! 13°ilwr;k
now lies in a sloping position, one of its ends the
fallen some distance into basement storey, of themill. At that end, from the force with which it strllol-
the wall, it is twisted and torn a mast eingularbe er'
nee; but the extent of the- damage, there cannot'
certained until the boiler has been removed fron
present position. At the firing-up end, the tearing
the plates is very extensive. The bottom plates of the
fire-box are split on each side, for a distaste of Ore*
or four feet, inwards, and about -two feet oPwarA,"
the metal being thrown outwards • and turne
er d bi, but.
s'''"
The fire-box also appears
ained with corre nut to be split furth
this could not be ascertctness y etOrdillfr
The doors and bars of the fir-box were, we believe, WO/II
in an opposite direction to the boiler, and were found t
a distance of ten or fifteen yards. As to the cause of
the explosion, after so many precautions had' been
taken, scientific men only can pronounce with an 61:
proach to certainty; but we were in
Olt 13f:
bottom of the fire-box was not stayed to the botte:T
of the boiler, and that, if there could have be said.
been said, before the explosion, to have been so icsdiv"
part, it was this. It will be seen from the Procee .
at the inquest that Professor Eaton Ileeig boiler...kint(in yake grr.
James Lillie, engineer and machine and _
both of Manchester, have been selected to examine
he
boiler, and report to the jury their opinion6l to t
cause of the explosion. he boiler, los
The body of John Feer, the fireman of t bout lA%
found almost immediately after the' explosion. e D„_ Was
or eight yards from the back end of the boiler.
much bruised and scalded, but was alive when talon
deed
He was immediately removed to the InfirmarY. but _ls3_
before reaching that place. Up to one o'clock yesterdd
afternoon, only six bodies had been got out of the fie.
but by four o'clock five others bad been found, marl
eleven in all; it beilieved that there were then et 'eh;
two or three bodies still remaining buried. As t
were taken out, the bodies were placed in the lope=.
room of one of the mills. It is' !scarcely necessary
to say that all acre frightfully burned and sran-/
so as to render identification difficult; in the case of ibw v..
or three cf those last recovered, utterly irorss;fectsa
except it be by means of something not etseaY
by fire, which may be found among the cbarreu
shapeless mass which the remains of these poor OW
tnres presented. The following is a list of the 01100111 i
as nearly as possible in the order in which their :
were recovered:—

I) FIRE AT
LIVES LOST.

(LATEST PA RTIC UL ARS.)
(From toe Manchester Guardian of this day.)
Oa islonday afternoon last, a very serious boiler ex-
plosion. and fire resultieg therefrom, occurred at the mills
of Mr. Henry Marelane, at Stockport. Mr. IlLireland'a
premises are known as " The Park Mills;" they were
built by the late Mr. Peter Marsland; father of the pre-
sent proprietor, and are said to be about the oldest pro-
perty of the kind in the town. The premises are si-
tuated near -Lancashire Bridge, and are bounded
on two sides by Warren-street and ling-street
East, and on a third by the river Mersey, which
flovvs close by the front or greatest extension of
the buildings. The Park Mills are a very irregular col-
lection of buildings, consisting of four or five almost dis-
tinct piles, and iu them all the processes connected with
spinning, weaving, and bleaching, are carried on. The
cotton machinery is driven by both steam and water power,
there being several water-wheels and steam-enigineswhich
can be used separately or together, in connexion with the
different buildings. There is no boiler assigned for the
purposes of heating the bowling liars for bleaching, steam
for that purpose being taken from two or three different
boilers, as the state of work allows. Altogether Mr.
Marsland employed from 450 to 500 hands, about 350
being engaged in the manufacturing department, and
100 in the bleaching. We have said that the principal
range of buildings fronted the river Mersey; this range
was composed of two distinct heights, that nearest
the entrance to the yard being four storeys, and the
other six storeys high. In the latter (which was
about 52 feet long, and 49 feet wide), the cellar was
used for making a preparation for the stiffen-
ing of yarns; the first and second floors were used as
carding rooms; the third was filled with jack frames, the
last process of carding being there carried on; the fourth
and fifth storeys were weaving rooms; and the sixth (or
attic) was a dressing room. In this building about 100
persons were usually employed. At a right angle, with
the further end of this pile, and divided only by a narrow
passage, is another four-storey mill, behind which stand
the bleach works; and at an angle with the other end,
but at a distance of 10 or 12 yards, is a boiler-house
containing three boilers. The buildings we have de-
scribed formed three sides of a quadrangle, about 40 or
45 yards long and from 15 to 18 yards wide: on the
fourth side was another boiler-house or shed, containing
two boilers, and it is one of these which has caused the
fearful destruction of life and property which has taken
place. The boiler on the side nearest the mill and bleach
works, was of about 40 horses' power; and on Monday
afternoon, the steam from it was usd for heating the
' bowking kiers; the other boiler has not been worked for
some time.
About a quarter after five o'clock on Monday after-
noon, the boiler first referred to suddenly burst, with a
very loud noise resembling the report of a large piece of
ordnance. So great was the force of the explosion that
the boiler was lifted from its bed, and carried the
whole length of the quadrangle; and it struck the
six storey mill with such violence, as to pass
through the wall, which was 2ft. 4in. thick,
and fell with about half its length inside the line of the
wall. The consequence was that very near the whole
front of the builuing fell, carrying with it the floors
for about one-half their breadth, and the yard was
filled with a dense cloud of smoke and dust. The works
in the other buildings were instantly stopped, and the
men rushed into the yard, and in a few minutes made an
attempt to get out some of the many unfortunate crea-
tures who were buried in the .ruins, and whose shrieks
and entreaties for help are said to have been most ter-
rific. We have said that usually about 100 hands
were employed in this building; but fortunately about 20
of thesee:who worked in the three lower storeys, and
who would therefore have been in the most imminent
danger, had stopped work at one o'clock. The manager
(Mr. Hurst) had determined to remove some of the
machinery from those floors, and as at one o'clock, when
the engine was stopped for the dinner hour, the work
was more forward than had been expected, . Mr. Hurst
ordered the 20 hands not to return in the afternoon.
The Park Mills are near the police-office, and Monday
being a " practice day" for the fire brigade, they were
together in the immediate vicinity, and took their engines
to the spot immediately, although the alarm of fire
which had been given did not then appear likely to be
realised. Three men, who were the only persons on
either of the three lower floors at the time of the explo-
sion, were got out very shortly after an organised at-
tempt was able to be made to scale the ruins; none of
these men were at all seriously hurt. As the bricks and
rubbish formed a gradual slope up to the third or fourth
floor, some of the firemen and others scrambled up and
got out a number of men who were only slightly covered,
or who were so much frightened as to have lost their
presence of mind. But when these efforts had been cone
tinued for six or eight minutes, a dense smoke rose from
the ruins, and the whole spot was instantly enveloped in
flames; many of those who had been striving to aid the
sufferers escaped with very great difficulty, so rapidly
did the flames extend. There are some works con-
nected with the Stockport Water Works Company
in or near Mr. Marslaud's yard, and several fire-
plugs are laid down there. Jets were at once attached
to six of these, and water thrown upon the flames.
Two of the corporation engines first arrived at the spot,
followed by that belonging to the West of England In-
surance Company, two others belonging to the borough,
and the engine kept in the barracks in Churchgate,
which was brought by a body of men belonging to the
50th Regiment, at present stationed in Stockport. There
was an abundant supply of water, and all the engines
were got into play very quickly after their arrival. So
great was the volume of water thrown (there being alto-
gether twelve jets at work), that all fears of the fire
spreading beyond the building in which it had originated
were at an end within a quarter of an hour. But
the flames continued to burn fiercely, the remains
of the roof and the several floors falling in succession,
until, about nine o'clock, the fire had been so nearly
extinguished that the play of the engines was stopped
and the jets attached to the water plugs only were
used. During the progress of the fire, several persons
escaped in a singular manner. Two men, named Jo-
seph Smith and John Burgess, were working with two
boys in two small rooms, over each other, at the end of
the mill. By shouting to each other, the men agreed
that there was but one chance of escape left to them,
arid they resolved each to thow his boy into the
river, and then jump after him. The boys were accord-
ingly thrown into the river, and were speedily rescued
by the crowd assembled on the opposite side. Burgess
jumped, fell into the river, and was also rescued alive;
but Smith's courage seemed to fail him at the criti-
cal moment of taking the leap—he sprang for-
ward, but only a short distance, struck against
some projection from the wall, and when taken out of
the river he was found to be quite dead. His body
was removed to his house in Turncroft-lane. A boy
was seen at a window on the fifth storey, near ono end
of the mill, to which the fire had not extended, but from
which he could not escape by means of the staircase.
Several ladders were got, fastened together, and placed
against the building, but they only reached a little above
the third storey. A rope was then obtained, and a man
having ascended nearly to the top of the ladder, at very
great risk to himself, commenced to throw it to Worrell.
Once or twice he failed to catch it; but he afterwards suc-
ceeded, made it fast inside, and then descended to the man
who was in waiting for him on the ladder. A man named
James Brown was discovered among the ruins before the
fire broke out; he was deeply covered with bricks, with the
exception of one of his arms, which protruded. A fire-
man seised his arm, and commenced clearing away the
rubbish, but while he was doing so the flames burst
forth; and despite Brown's piteous entreaties that
the
he
e
might not be left, the fireman was compelled to quit
spot, or almost certainly lose his own life. Brovvonh'st
body was not found until yesterday afternoon. An
had been
a quarter after nine o'clock, when the flan
very nearly extinguished, Mr. Marsland_ sweeinthf
himo
as
.
Owen, the borough surveyor, and consulted
rubbish, so as
to the safety of attempting to remove t
be attempted, and
to get at the bodies, which it was knotwneraust be buried.
Mr. Owen thought the work migh
the firemen and others immediatelyrcesonat commenced ; but
portion of one
they had scarcely done so, whenase
ci a fireman, named
g
of the gable walls fell inwart s being
buried. It was then
Hadfield, very narrowly escapedaa
hope of getting any one
determined—as there could b
es
should be suspended until
out alive—that the op ,clock yesterday morning, the
earat io,nel
daylight. Soon after- down several portions
men commenced and knockedd
stoo and from which d an-
d the walls which et
rch for bodies was then
ger was apprehended; the sead
on uninterruptedly during
commenced, and carriesition in
which
the position most of the
the day. From
ears probable that the sufferers,
bodies were found, it app.
building
on the river side of the was falling, ran to points
on finding that thealmost
opposite to that at
which the boiler struck; and that they remained there
until the floors fell
led in the mill
morn-
The scene present 1 entre, yesterday y
e one; from the ruins of the build-
ing, was bas been destroyed, the s'
_singular position and
ing which of the wreck of the
appearance e
in which WV d beams, machinery, and rubbish, were
scattered in every direction. The boiler which has
burst wes fitted up about six months since, being
but it sais i
then '
new;d not to have been worked
more than three months. It was made by Mr. James
Morris, of Stoekport, from plans which had been
obtained by Mr. Marsland. The boiler was cylin-
drical, with flat-ends, and was constructed on what is
known as " the fire-box" principle. It was thirty feet
long, and about seven feet diameter for more than two-
thirds of that length, the remaining portion being eight
feet or eight feet seven inches in diameter, in order to
accommodate the firebox. As far as we could learn,
the fire-box eon • sisted of a slightly oval flue, about
four feet broad at its widest point, and eight feet or ten
feet long; •
It was divided nearly in the centre by bars, on
which the
fire rested, beneath being the ash-pit. The
bottom plate of the fire-box was bin. or Bin. from the
bottom of the boiler. From the fire-box the heat pro-
ceeded through two flues to the end of the boiler, and
then returned through the ash-pit. The flues were cir-
cular, 2ft. 4in. diameter, and about lft. apart. The
boiler was (according to the statement of Joseph Hyde,
the engineer) fitted with a lever safety-valve, which
would blow off at a pressure of 281 b. to the inch.
When the boiler was being fitted in August last,
some extra stays were put into it by Mr. Morris, who is
said to have then guaranteed that it would be perfectly
safe for 12 months, with a pressure of 301 b. to the inch.
Four pairs of stays are said to have been supplied for
this purpose. The boiler was also fitted with a spring
steam indicator, patented by Smith of Nottingham: it had
a feed float; and a glass water-guage was fixed at the
front. In addition to this, a whistle and water guage bad
been recently fixed at the back-end of the boiler, by Mr.
Thomas Lee, lately an engineer in the employment of Ma-
jor Marsland, by whom it wile invented. This instrument
is said to have given an alarm whenever the pressure of
the steam was more than 281 b. to the inch, or when the
water was above or below a certain level. A still fur-
ther supposed means of ensuring safety bad been

DEAD.
Ann Fildes, middle-aged, unmarried woina4.
William Bardsley, 14, weaver.
child 11?"
Mary Makin,kin, 24, weaver, married worm-' A ,
months old.
[These three persons worked in the 601'
on the fifth story.] „,,ked
Esther Fildes, weaver, a deaf and. dumb girl--°'-fildeso
the fifth storey. (This girl was vister 40 A"
and both of them were aunts to BardsleY). eau
a
William Bracegirdle, weaver, 26, married Wan,
three children; worked on the fourth storeyu f°
Alice Forrester, a girl, worked as a weaver fob"

storey.
Elizabeth Birehenough, single woman.
Elizabeth Merrion, single woman. •
Jane Chapman., 43, married, but no children.
but tint
A body, supposed to be that of James Draw-,
identified.
A body of a female, which can only be identified
tha
a purse containing 2s. found among the remains of
dress.
The excitement of those whose relations or friends Ivere
missing was very painful 'throughout the whole of it
terday, and the neighbourhood of the calaulitY
ape
thronged by factory operatives and others. in
room in which the bodies were placed, one poor l'innll:
vainly endeavoured to identify the remains of
ad
female mentioned above, as those of a friend sain
Sarah Wylde, an unmarried woman; but she 051"
fessed at length that she believed she had failed.
No ides can be formed of the number of persons 'oh.
were bruised more or less severely, not only by TO
fall of the mill, but by the rush to escape from other
parts of the premises when the explosion took Elle*
The following is a list of those in the Stockport in".
mary, Welliegton-road South:—
WOUNDED. _ _ _

Sarah Chapman, 42, a wound on the right foot.
Mary Brown, 44, wound on the calf of the right leg, left
leg broken, scalp wound, and other injuries.
Martha Davenport, 33, wound on the scalp, and wall
bruises.
Samuel Hart, 25, a rib broken on the left aide, soalr
wound.
Meredith M'Convell, 42, broken rib.
James Worrell, one of the boys thrown from a wirl°!,
into the river, was taken to the infirmary, but he w""
only slightly injured, and left again yesterday morning:,
It will be seen from the list given (with the addition 4"
Fuller and Smith) that at least thirteen persons have bee°
killed, and five seriously wounded.
The origin of the fire is uncertain. It may have been
caused by a portion of the fire which remained in
fire-box, or by some lew gas-lights which were burntue;
in the lower storeys, aided by the escape of go wbs
must have taken place when so many pipes were sudden 4
broken. The amount of damage done in the destrt
tion of the mill, is calculated by Mr. Marslaud at from
4,0001. to 5,0001. Both the building and Olacibillo
were insured to some extent; but all we eeniu, ;hat
was, that the loss would not be nearly covered/ and !Eta
the insurance office concerned was the West of E,ngoLueo
or the Atlas. A great deal of glass was the
in the four-storey mill mentioned above, an_oer;
machinery must be much injured by dust and
."
but no portion of it, we believe, was destroyeatro__A_
the mill adjoining that which has been des r 1.74;
similar damage was sustained, as well as in other
of the premises. All the manufacturing oPe_Tirov;,-.
will be necessarily suspended for some time (,;;eob.
ing 350 hands out of employment), but the orning
ing processes will be fully resumed this
During the progresa of the fire the police, Ow: the
Sadler, the chief constable, kept off the crowd fr°'ng
premises, and also kept order among the thousar ;on
persons who had assembled. When the fire baa an-
somewhat checked, the soldiers left their enge•-1
gave their assistance to the police.
THE INQUEST
On the bodies of the sufferers was commenced at hal
ttr t
past four yesterday afternoon, before Mr. C. li,
son, coroner for the Stockport division, at the 10
wary; Mr. Thomas Waterhouse was the foraman:;
the jury. The following evidence was given...
Thomas Bully said—l am a fireman at Mr. ilena%
Marsland's, the Park Mills. knew John Fuller,
was also a fireman in the same employmen:. hs`her
attend to the boilers of the 45-horse engine; John Fo',4
had to attend to the other two boilers, one of which bßtd
burst. I saw Fuller yesterday afternoon, and stood "-/
talked with him opposite to the boiler which had burst f_.,
had not left him more than two minutes when the exploslfo;
took place. When I saw him he was wheeling oinders.f7er
his fireplace. I afterwards found his body near the 1120,
place, about six yards from the front of the
lay on his hands and face, and seemed es if be r_waisee
turning with his barrow when the explosion too!' P_eci'
Fuller seemed to be very much bruised about l!Ti'deal
and bead, and when I took him up there was a
fterwards
of clotted blood upon the ground. He was a Th•
removed to the Infirmary, but he died on the 1'1;e was
bobs
was
deceased was about twenty-four years of .sgsiforried.
talking to me a few days since, about
I have seen a body in this house which °ls°
of Fuller. deceased John
Mr. James Rigby, house surgeon
—Theesterday, about
Fuller was brought to the infirmary 9 tainad a coin'
half-past five; he was dead. Ile ba,d; tits. ht arm two
pound fracture of the right jaw, m's There
were two
gout fy.
as
ghat
broken, and both his legs scalded. 1° ions on the,
lacerations of the scalp, and several contas
back. He was so much injured that
*ably have recovered.consultation
tealt
The room was then cleared, and a diet'
place between the coroner and the jurY• 7.7staisbt
wards announced that the would view the body to to
at his house in Turncroft-lane, and then Pr.° oar&
be could nos y
Park Mills and view the eleven bodies If tut. totem,
In each case, evidence as to the identity wool:inn moof
so as to allow of immediate interment; "
'lt
for • OW
other bodies were found, the jury would Ines..., into the
lar purpose as regarded them. The full int'JApyil 2.
case would stand adjourned until WedneSajni and Or'
in order to allow Professor Eaton Hodgionionof the
James Lillie ample time for the examinalhe nose of
boiler, and the preparation of a report °eirect
she explosion, which the coroner would
make.k Warm
d at t-e
The adjourned inquest will be held
Bulkeley Arms, near the Park Mills.
td theta 10
o