The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-20 00:00:00

THE DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT THE
SURREY GARDENS.

ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)
The report of the melancholy and fatal accident that
occurred last night at the Royal Surrey Gardens, fall
particulars of which will be found in another part of
our impression, spread with the greatest rapidity
throughout the metropolis in an incredibly short period
of time ; and, as is too often the case, with great exag-
geration, and the utmost horror and consternation
prevailed; almost every family who had any of their.
members absent fearing that they might have been
induced to visit the Gardens to obtain a glimpse of a
man who, by the eccentricity of his manner in the
pulpit, the style of his oratory, and the peculiarity of
his arguments, has obtained so much notoriety.
This morning the excitement in the neighbourhood of
the Gardens was intense, and numbers fl.)cked there to
learn, if possible, some particulars of the frightful
calamity, and to obtain a view of the grounds and the
building. A large body of police was in possession of
the grounds and the avenues leading thereto ; and the
curiosity of the public was checked by admission being
refused to all except those connected with the establish-
ment, and those who had actual business there.
The grounds, of course, show evident traces of the
large assemblage of persons, and their precipitate re-
treat, but so far as the building is concerned the damage,
with the exception of the broken glass and balustrade of
the stairs, is, comparatively speaking, trifling.
On making inquiries this morning in reliable quarters
there is much reason to fear that the lamentable accident
occurred from the vehement feeling entertained
by certain persons against the Rev. Mr Spur-
geon, , but that they contemplated such a frightful
loss of life or such serious injury to numbers, no
one can for a moment believe. True, however, it is
that a number of persons were assembled to interrupt
the proceedings ; and it has been stated that several bad
stationed themselves in various parts of the building,
and acted in a concerted measure in causing a disturb-
ance, before the last interference on their part, which
was the precursor of the fatal result.
Mr. Superintendent Lund, who was present from the
commencement, and witnessed the whole of the affair,
states that, from the compact mass of persons in the
body of the hal!, and the excitement that prevailed, it
would have been impossible to have preserved, through-
out the evening, that order necessary, under the cir-
cumstances, and the cause of the assemblage, and that
as soon as the first ebulition of feeling was displayed all
hopes of a restoration to order was at an end.
He attributes the result, to say the least of it, to the
rash and inconsiderate conduct of thr.e men in the
body of the hall who rose up, threw their arms in the
air, and shouted "Fire." The effect of that ominous
word, in a densely crowded auditory, was electrical, and
in the hope of safety recourse was had to flight, which
experience has ever proved is sure to lead to the most
direful results, and the loss of life and mutilation of so
many persons on the present occasion is but another
proof of the folly of such rash and sudden conduet. 'fie
(treat rush, it appears, was at the western door, and in
their eagerness to get out hundreds and thousands were
thrown down and trampled on, but by the opportune
arrival of a strong body of police, and the °NA and col-
lected manner of Superintendent Lund, whose conduct on
this occasion cannot be too highly admired, so arranged
and marshalled his force that to it is to be attributed the
saving of many lives and much injury to others. He
caused the police to concentrate in a firm body in front
of the door, and by giving a temporary check to the
immense body of persons who were pouring out like a
"rush of mighty waters," as described by an eye
witness, many of those who had been thrown down
were able to regain their footing with only a few
bruises. But the most strange and unaccount-
able conduct of all is the feelings which actuated
several of Mr. Spurgeon's followers in the midst of this
appalling and frightful catastrophe, and were it not that
we had it on the undoubted authority of Mr. Superin-
tendent Lund, •we should be incredulous to the fact.
At the same time that shrieks rent the air from women,
children, and men, and all were seeking for safety in
precipitate flight, the jingling of the begging-box
was distinctly to be heard from a dozen different parts
of the building, and the reason alleged, we were in-
formed from another quarter, was that although an an
cident had prevented the rev, gentlemen from preaching,.
the rent of the Music Hall must be paid, and in all
probability a heavy demand would be made for repairs.
The appearance of the body of the Music Hall as soon
as the persons had left was of the most peculiar charac-
ter, from the incongruous mass of shawls, capes, bonnets,
caps, hats, coats, Wellington boots, and other articles of
wearing apparel strewed over the oor, which have since
been removed to Locke's-fields Station to be claimed
by their respective owners.
Such a calamitous occurrence has had a most dis-
tressing effect on the Rev. Mr. Spurgeon's family. The
whole of them are suffering the greatest distress of mind
from such an untoward occurrence, and it is feared that
the rev. gentleman's health and mind will be affected by
it. He is labouring under such an alarming state of ex-
citement that we were informed to-day, on calling at
his residence, No. 3, Bengal-place, New Kent-road,
it had been found necessary to remove him to the
country, and that in all probability a considerable period
must, elapse before the reverend gentleman will (if he
ever can) resume hie. ministerial duties.
At the police station at Locke's-fields, the police were
engaged nearly the whole of the morning in giving an-
swers to numerous inquiries made by distant relatives
of the dead and injured persons, and at the top of the
street, emerging into the Walworth-road, a large crowd
of persons had assembled to obtain a sight of the origi-
nators of the melancholy accident, whom it was stated
in a morning contemporary were in custody, but after
waiting a considerable time their patience being ex-
hausted they departed, no person being in custody, but
it is hoped they will be discovered and, if possible,
severely punished.
An official survey of the building took place this
morning, when the roof and other parts (the staircases
excepted where the balustrade gave way) were found to
be secure, and not the slightest indication of insecurity
could be found in any part.
The following is the official list of persons killed and
injured :
At the dead-house. Newington Workhouse :
Samuel Heard, 30 years of age, 8, Alie-street, Ber-
mondsey New road, labourer.
Mrs. Barlow, 19, Bath-street, London-road. The
unfortunate deceased, who :vas a married woman, and
the mother of several children, was enciente, and when
removed to the workho use she, as well as the others, were
promptlyattended to by the surgeon. Seeing the state of
the unfortunate woman, Mr. Henry Matthew, surgeon, of
Walworth-road, and Mr. Otway, surgeon, of Canter.
bury-row, Newington-road, performed the Cmsareau
operation, but unfortunately the mother and child had re-
ceived such injuries that killed both.
Harriet Johnson, address unknown, but supposed to
reside in the Westminster-road.
Mrs. Elizabeth Mead, aged 43, of No. 7, Love-lane,
Stockwell.
Harriett Matthews, of Newington. The deceased's
identity is doubtful. A young man has seen her and
believes her to be his sister and that her beano IC Matthews,
but the frightful Appearance of the features prevents his
positively stating she is his sister. Her linen however,
is marked " M. EL" ,
The following persons, who were removed to their
homes, are also dead :--
Grace Skipper, a servant in Dobson-terrace, Ken-
nington.
John and Mary Aldis, man and wife, Mansion-hcuse-
street, Kennington.
The following were removed to their homes much in-
jured :
Ellen Stanton, 5, Penton-grove.
John Al worth, 1, Russell-place, Old Kent.roat'.
Eliza Fletcher, 24, Bath street ; rupture of blood-
vessel. •
Henry Sage, 17, Apollo-building., Westminster-road.
Eden Goddard, 1, James's-grove, single woman ;
ribs broken.
Sarah Bridges, 4, St. David's-street.
At Guy'e Hoepita! :
Thomas Peachy, 40, George-road, BerrcOndsey ; frac-
ture of the thigh.
. James Arkwright, 40, James-street, Long•ACre iC.
jiired thigh.
George Late, 33, Gosweli-road, comminuted fracture
• of the right arm.
• Margaret Weston, 12, a little girl, who accom-