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

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

The Royal Surrey Gardens were turned to a novel pur-
pose last tight, and unfortunately it resulted in the loss of
at least six lives, with injuries to others which at present
are incalculable. Mr. Spurgeon, a young man who appears
to have turned half London crazy by the force of his pulpit
eloquence, having left Exeter-hall, where he has for some
time past been exhibiting himself, announced his intention
of giving three Sunday evening services in the grand con-
cert-room of the Surrey Gardens, last night's being the
first. The popularity of Mr. Spurgeon drew together an
immense multituale of persons, and although the time men-
tioned for the commencement of service was half-past six
o'clock, the approach to the gardens was besieged fully two
hours before that time by people anxious to obtain admis-
sion. Mr. Spurgeon made his appearance in the midst of his
vast auditory at half-past six o'clock, and gave out a hymn,
' which was sung with more strength perhaps than harmony
by his auditors. He then proceeded with an " exposition"
of a portion of St. Luke's Gospel, on which ho delivered a
most exciting harangue, which in some places was cheered
by those who took an interest in the proceedings. The
next business was a prayer, as exciting as the scriptural
commentary, and in the midst of this the terrible accident
occurred. From the best information that could be gathered
it appears that the catastrophe arose from a cry of " Fire,"
raised by a concerted movement on the part of a body of
London thieves at the western door, at the northern en-
trance, and in the southern entrance to the building the
cry was simultaneously raised, and it unhappily produced
its effect in each direction. From the western door, which
is the principal entrance, the people rushed in a body,
many of them were knocked down, trampled upon, their
arms and legs broken. Those in the first gallery, who were
alarmed by the rumour, z nailed down the northern stair-
case, which gave way, the result of which was, that five
women and one man were killed on the spot. Of the wo-
men killed, one was Mrs. Grace Skipper, of 40, Dobson-ter-
race, lionniugton ; another, Mrs. Harriet Johnson (address
unknown). To the other persons there was, up to a late
hour last night, no clue whatever. When the alarm was
raised in the galleries that the building was on fire, or
was falling, the people who were intimidated broke the
windows and jumped out. Of these some hundreds broke
their arms and logs, and the shrieking and crying in the
darkness, which by this time prevailed, was certainly most
heart-rending. It is but the moat ordinary justice to Mr.
Superintendent Land and the police under his control to
state that if it had not been for their great exertions some
hundreds of persons must have been killed or maimed
when the rush took place, they planted themselves in a'
body before the door, And while large bodies of people were
lying upon the floor, and running the risk of being tram-
pled to death, z esisted as long as they could the progress of
the impetuous crowd. Until eleven o'clock last night
dead and dying were conveyed to Guy's Hospital, to which
institution, by the proper directions of the super'iutendent
of police, they were conveyed.
me. Spurgeon continued hie discourse after the terrible
catastrophe. Ho appeared to treat it lightly, remarking
that people would rush into danger to save their bodies,'
while they cared little about the salvation .of their souls.
Mr. Carter, the coroner iu whose district this lamentable
accident
has occurred, will uo doubt institute a strict in-
vestigation into the circumstance;,.

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