The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-03 00:00:00

APPALLING FATAL CATASTROPHE,

FOUR LIVES LOST.

Last night, about 12 o'clock, one of those appalling
accidents that but too often happen in the metropolis,
occurred in Little S tran•alley, one of the densely crowded
alleys of the City, situ .te in Little Moorgate-
street, by the fall of a helve, occasioning the loss of four
lives.

It appears from the particulars we have been en-
abled to glean from a hasty visit to the spot, that
about the hour above stated a tremendous crash was
heard in the vicinity of the alley, and immediately
a cloud of dust was observed, so dense as to
prevent the light from the gas lamps being visible,
Pm
eccompanied with the most heart-rending and piercing
shrieks. This extraordinary and unexpected circum-
stance aroused the inmates of the surrounding houses,
and drew Police-constable Hewett, 154, to the spot,
who immediately gave an alarm, and a strong body of
reserve police, headed by Mr. Inspector Todhunter,
were speedily on the spot. By this time it was known
that the house in question, 9, Little Swan-alley, inhabited
by three families, containing in all 16 souls, had sud•
denly fallen down, burying in the ruins the whole of the
occupants, who were in bed sound aleep at the time re-
- posing in fancieil security. On the arrival of the police,
_ and a large number of persons who had been attracted
to the spot, a scene of the most appalling description
presented itself. The walls and rafters had blocked up
most of the narrow approaches to the alley, and the
clouds of dust that continued to rise for some time pi e-
vented anything to be seen distinctly, whilst the fitful
light of the policemen's lanterns but partially revealed
what had occurred and what was seen but increased the
fears of all around. To this was added the shrill scream
of women, the sterner accents of men crying for help,
intermingled with the plaintive wail of children (all
scarcely awake to the reality of their danger), and as
with the subdued and stifled moans of those
who were lying deep beneath the mass of ruins which
was crushing them to death. A thrill of horror seized
on every one, and the first feeling was naturally to save
life, and in the eagerness to accomplish that desir-
able object, no doubt the sacrifice of life would
have been greater, had it not been for the cool and ad-
mirable conduct of Mr. Inspector Todhunter, who, seeing
the eager desire of the assembled persons to save their
fellow-creatures from such a horrible andiuntimely
death, and fearing that thereby much and serious injury
might unintentionally be inflicted, by their acting on the
impulse of the moment, caused them to be kept back,
whilst be set his ewn men to work, and succeeded in
securing the assistance of a number of labourers, whom
he brought to work in a systematic manner. By
the skilful and careful manner in which the
labourers and policemen went to work an entrance
was gained to the alley, and the dust having partially
cleared off a ghastly scene presented itself. Intermixed
with the rubbish and the scanty furniture of the unfor-
tunate sufferers, were to be seen the heads of some,
their faces blackened with dirt and their eyes strained
and flashing with despair—others-in crouching attitudes
from the debris over thorn, and others struggling to get
free, but all in a state of semi-nudity. By great dili-
gence and perseverance the men succeeded in taking
many of the sufferers from the ruins, and Mr.
Inspector Todhunter having secured the ser-
vices of Mr. Meeth, surgeon, of Grange-row, Hoxton,
who happened to be passing at the time, and also those
of Mr. Chields, surgeon to the police force, saw to their
injuries at once, and had them despatched to St. Bar-
tholomew's Hospital, where they were immediately
attended to by Mr. Daley, the house surgeon. The
men succeeded by 3 o'clock in taking the whole of the
Persons from the ruins, but unfortunately four were
dead, having probably died from suffocation, as no
bones were broken, nor were there any bruises about
the bodies of an extraordiaary character. The others
with the exception of Julia King, a girl 14 years of age,
whose head is much bruised, the others have fortunately
escaped more frightened than hurt, and from inquiries
made this morning at the hospital there is every reason
to believe most of them will be able to leave the hospi•
tal in a few days.
From the information we were enabled to glean this
morning on the spot, it appears there was no indication
of the house giving way when the inmates retired to
rest, but it was stated that one of the inmates noticed
on Sunday portions of the ceiling of her apartment

falling, and that she experienced a difficulty in shutfng
and opening the doors and windows of her room, which,
she says, she communicated to her landlord ; but he
denies that any such information was given him, and
states that if it had been he would have taken measures
to prevent the possibility of such a melancholy and un-
fortunate accident occurring.

The house is a very old one. It is three storeys high,
and is let out in rooms to poor families. Fortunately
three rooms only were occupied—the first and second
floors back, and the attic—or probably there would
have been a greater loss of life. The accident appears
to have happened from decay of the beams and rafters,
and by these giving way the floors fell one on the other,
bursting out the walls on all sides; and a remarkable
circumstance connected with this accident is, that five
of the bodies were taken from the cellar, although the
ground floor was unoccupied. The house stands at the
corner of the alley, which contains a number of other
houses of the same dilapidated and dangerous description.
The alley is surrounded with other houses of the same
kind. All are densely occupied by the lower orders, and
from the appearance of the outer walls, which present
all kinds of fantastical shapes, and stand anything but per-
pendicular, unless great care and caution be taken, we
should not be surprised at learning in the same quarter
of another of these lamentable calamities.

Mr. %Vocdthorpe, the district surveyor, Ras early at
the ruins, and gave instructions for the immediate se-
curing of the house No. 8, Little Svran•alley, which
adjoins the house which fell down last night. The oc-
cupants have been removed from it, but their little fur-
niture still remain in it, for which they naturally
fed anxious , about. The following aro the names
of the persons injured, and taken to the hos-
pital :—James Frederick King, Ann King, Wm. King,
Agnes King, Julia King, and Henry King; John Sei-
bert, Harriet Seibert ; Jane Bad win ; a middle-aged
man named Palmer; and James Pullin, 16 years of age,
and Thomas Pullin, 9 years, were dead when taken to
the hospital ; and Elizabeth Pullin, aged about 16, who
was quite dead when taken from the ruins, and was re-
moved t.,) the dead-house of St. Stephen's parish, where
the house is situate.

Information has been given to Mr. Payne, coroner, of
the circumstances, and the bodies await a coroner's in-

quebt.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—(I'his Day.)

At the Bow-street Police-court the magistrate was
occupied the whole of the morning i❑ disposing of the
cases of female drunkenness.

At the Marlborough-street Police court Robert Britton,
a suspected character, was remanded for being found
loitering about the public streets for tho purpose of com-
mitting a felony.

At the Thames Police•court a boy narnei John
Roberts, aged 14, was remanded for a week for stabbing
John Spillan, with intent to murder him.

Lord and Lady Holland entertained at dinner at Hol-
land House, on Sunday, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the
Due de Calve, the Earl of Shelburne, Mr. Buckley, and
Dr.
Lord and Lady Alfred Pagst are making a tour of
visits in Scotland. They have recently been on a visit
to Mr. and Lady Agnes Duff, at Corriemulaie Cottage,
Braemar, and they are expected to visit Lord and Lady
1111cdonald at their seat, Arraidale Castle, Isle of Skye,
before returning south.
Barmouth this season has been thronged with families
of note and distinction. The Carnarvora Herald sa',
" There is the finest beach for bathing in England or
Wales. It is perfectly safe and free from pebbles. It
extends for miles, and, being sheltered from easterly and
cold winds by the projecting mountains, is also a place
of resort during the winter months."
THE CHARGE OF MURDER AT NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.
I —An inquest was held on the body of Ann Fleming on
Monday, at the Gloucester Inn, Newcastle upon-Tyne,
before Mr. J. T. Hoyle, deputy-coroner. The evidenca
disclosed a dreadful amount of barbarity inflicted upon
the unfortunate woman by Win. Fleming, the mean
with whom she had cohabited. An outline of the case
Las already appeared in The Sun. Mr. L. W. Rayne,
surgeon to the police force, who made a post mortetn
examination of the body, found several marks of exter-
nal violence, some recent, and others of older date; and
according to the other witnesses Fleming had once
kicked her in the chest during the Newcastle Races,
and about a year ago he had given her a cut with a
knife across her bowels. Mr. Rayne was of opinion
that death was caused by irllammation of the right lung,
accelerated by the injuries she had received ; and the
jury returned a verdict of " Wilful Murder" against
Wm. riming. lie is not yet in custody,