The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-13 00:00:00

THE SUN

division at least of our industrial population is em-
ployed upon labour so peculiarly liable to accident, as
to require the utmost imaginable precaution, and a
never-ceasing watchfulness.
It is generally known, of course, that the town of
Dartford is surrounded by a large number of powder
manufactories, and those among its inhabitants who
are engaged upon those buildings are perpetually ex-
posed to the hazard of sudden death by detonation.
It is not, however, familiar to the majority
that , there are others among the people of Dart-
ford occupied in tho manufacture of what is con-
sidered to be of about eight times the strength of the
best blasting gunpowder ! Yet, such is actually the
case, and the explosion, on which we now feel it our
duty to comment as journalists, took place in one
of these fearful establishments. The structure was
one of a temporary nature, erected by the proprietor,
Mr. Carzow, in Joyce's-green, and was used exclu-
sively as a rocket manufactory. Particulars of a very
interesting kind were drawn from the .various wit-
nesses examined before the jury, showing not merely
that the toil required in the place in question was one
terribly hazardous in its character, but that there had
been the grossest culpability in the neglecting of all
ordinary precautions. It proved, on inquiry, that the
parties deceased were engaged at the time of the ex-
plosion in making cartridges, for the purpose of com-
pleting certain experiments now making at Holyhead
for her MAJESTY'S Government. These cartridges,
be it observed, contain an explosive powder, com•
posed of particular proportions of chloride of
potass, of prussiate of potass, and of orpiment.
Neither of the ingredients are capable of
exploding separately—the chloride of potass merely
burning when ignited, like saltpetre—the prussiate of
potass smouldering., like flour—and the orpiment ex-
tinguishing flames, instead of lighting up into a
conflagration. While, however, each is thus harm-
less by itself, when united they become explosive,
and explosive, too, with the enormous strength already
specified. Even when mixing them well together
the chloride, the prussiate, and the orpiment are
liable to cause great destruction. Friction, or even
an atom of grit, causes the mixture to ignite—and,
then, adieu to the life of the unlucky workman.
But the powder here spoken of had passed through
this process, on the Ist instant, at the Joyce's-green
rocket manufactory. The cartridges were being filled
up—but where ? and under what circumstances ?
Why, in a workshop the floor of which was strew n with
gravel, and partially boarded ! the persons employed
in it wearing neither slippers made of felt or shoes of
gutta percha, but having boots with nails in them 1
What rashness! what cruelty ! what miserable and
deplorable incaution! Why, the consequence was
almost inevitable. And to add to the peril of the
proceedings, the person engaged to carry the glue-
pot in, from the fire outside, to the parties filling up
the cartridges with the explosive mixture, was known
to have carried it in with sparks sticking to it; had
been actually sent out with it for that very reason to
damp only a few days before the accident ; besides
which, usually placing the vessel of boiling resin,
according to his own admission, on the same bench
where the men were at work, pouring the powder
into the cartridges No wonder the calamity
dreaded by cne of the sufferers (poor JOSEF'S' LOFT)
took place at last. No wonder there was sensation
in the court when the particulars here given were ad-
duced. No wonder the jury, after finding
" that the deceased persons came by their
death through accident," appended to their
verdict the following strong observations :—" We
are unanimously of opinion that gross negligence has
been displayed upon the part of Mr. EDWA.RD CAL-
Low, in suffering blasting cartridges to be manufac-
tured in a building quite unfitted for the purpose,
having imperfect floors of wood and gravel ; in suf-
fering the employed to work in nailed boots and
shoes ; and i❑ not having any defined rules or regu-
lations, either written or printed, for the guidance and
protection of the persons employed on the premises.•
To which opinion the Coroner himself acceded, ob-
serving—" I must say, gentlemen, that I entirely
concur in the sentiments you have expressed, because I
think that in so dangerous a manufactory as this there
cannot possibly be too much care and caution taken."
Too much—why there does not appear to have been
any at all in the present instance. As to the danger,
it is only necessary to attend to the remarks of one of
the witnesses on the inquest to see at once that that
was of the most serious character. This witness,
himself a fire work maker of Lambeth, and formerly
in the employ of Mr. CALLOW, recounted the
circumstance of an accident with the same
kind of mixture which nearly put an end to his own
existence. This, moreover, when it was wet—the
powder on the 9th instant being dry, and conse-
quently, according to this person's evidence, more
liable to accident. After the occasion referred to in
reference to himself, the witness remarked that some 1
of the dry stuff remained in his house—enough per-
haps to cover half-a-crown lying on the ground.
Continuing his evidence, witness said that seeing it
lying there he exclaimed, " Bother that stuff, I'll I
have no more to do with it," giving it at the same
time a kick with bis foot. The consequence was an
explosion which knocked him down on the flat of his
back. Yet this was the mixture which was used for
the filling up of cartridges at Joyce's-green, in a place
covered with gravel, and where the working people
were moving about in shoes sprigged over the soles
with nails I Aware of these things, we would here most
decisively enforce the justice of the condemnatory re-
marks pronounced upon this occurrence by the jury
and coincided in by the Coroner.

Yesterday was a great day for the Protectionists.
The worthy agriculturists, having duly visited the
Cattle Show, and indulged in searching examinations
of the unfortunate specimens of bovine and porcine
pinguosity there congregated, were quite prepared to
devote a day to political demonstrations and to trot-
ting out the lions of the party for the delectation of
the assembled multitude. There was accord-
ingly a meeting of the National Association
in the morning, at which one Duke: (the
President of the Society), three Earls, one
Baron, and some half-dozen Members of Parliament
were in attendance, and in the evening a tianqaet,
cheap—decidedly cheap—but substantial and comfort-
ing to the inward man, after the melancholy details of
individual and national ruin, to which the audience
had been listening in the earlier portion of the day.
It is unnecessary to say that there was no lack of
edibles or potables, and that everything was provided
in the most satisfactory manner, when Messrs. BATHE
and BREACH were the purveyors. The ample ac-
commodation of the London Tavern was put
into requisition,. Six hundred tenant-farmers
were in attendance, with appetites whetted
to the very utmost. The struggle for seats,
particularly in the vicinity of the pieces de resistance,
was of the most arduous character. The contest
was maintained with a zeal and energy which clearly
indicated the unflinching determination of the com-
batants to lose nothing which they had a possible
chance of obtaining, through any want of exertion on
their own part. Those who could struggle so lustily
for a good seat during a single evening must neces-
sarily be formidable opponents where the welfare and
_Prosperity,themselves
or the "supposed" welfare and prosperity,
o
hemselves and families were involved in the result.
1-14 t it was not the meeting or symposium which
rendered the day
remarkable, or worthy of being dis-
tinguished by a white mark on all future occasions.
Persons away from
their homes, and removed from
their ordinary occupations,
will easily be induced to
attend political meetings, in order to get rid of a
vacant or unoccupied hour ; for as Dr. WATTS tells us,
" Satan finds some mischief
still
For idle hands to d 0.,,
Nor Should we
surprised at the numbers at-
tendingfor the worthy bucoli
the dinner, cs have
ever exhibited a laudable anxiety
"1. „o eat
be
and
drink for the good of their country," „,„
any
feasible opportunity ; and few of the entertainers of
the evening would refuse to drain a goblet, if the
liquor.were good, even to a less exciting toast than the
health and happiness of the Honourable Gentleman
the Member for Scarborough, and, as we have been
informed on competent authority, " the future re-
presentative for the great county of Cambridge."
There was something still more interest-
ing and remarkable. The " man," so long
" coming," and so anxiously looked for,
at length made his appearance. GEORGE FREDERICK
YOUNG
stood boldly forward as the future leader of
the party under whose auspices the tv d. • ecta membra ,