The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-18 00:00:00

FATAL SEWER ACCIDENT.

Yesterday, at three o'clock, an accident occurred in a
new sewer which is in process of formation in Lower-
road, Islington, by which two lives were lost. The cir-
cumstances bear a very close resemblance to what took
place a few weeks ago in Scotland-yard, the details of
which are still fresh in the public remembrance. As far
as they could at present be collected the facts are briefly
as follows: .

The Commissioners of Sewers having determined to
form a breach sewer from Church-street to Cross-
street, selected Mr. Johnson, builder, of No. 46, Hatton-
garden, as contractor for the work. Mr. Johnson had
pushed forward the sewer underneath the New River,
and down Lower-road, Islington, sinking shafts for the
purpose, as these were necessary. The depth of the
sewer is twenty-four feet, and the soil through which it
passes is a stiff ternacious clay. The New River is con-
veyed by a tunnel along Lower-road in a parallel di-
rection, and at a depth of twelve feet. Great care is said
to have been taken both by the contractors and the
officers of the Commission to prevent any accident
taking place from the proximity of the two cuttings.
Where the sewer passes under the river the work
was pushed forward with the utmost rapidity, and
two clerks of the work were in attendance
night and day until the tunnel was safely completed.
This was finished about three weeks ago, and there has
been, it is said, not the slightest leakage from that point.
The works had been carried on down Lower-road, Is-
lington, as far as the King's Head public-house, in per-
fect safety, the sewer passing down the centre of the
street, which is of considerable breadth, at a depth of
24 feet from the surface of the New River tunnel, being
near or under the pavement at a depth of 12 feet. The
sewer is constructed 3 feet 9 inches in height, and 2 feet
3 inches wide. The New River tunnel is said to be about
3 feet 6 inches in diameter. It appeared that the con-
tractor's men had been delayed from working by a defi-
ciency of the blue bricks used in lining the bottom of
the sewer. A supply of these, however, was hourly ex-
pected, and several of the labourers employed seem to
have been down in the sewer waiting for the arrival of the
bricks when the accident happened. Such, at least, is the
statement made to us. With this preliminary explanation,
the manner in which the accident is said to have
taken place will be more readily understood. Mr.
Cox, the landlord of the:King's Head public-house, being
desirous to open a drain from his premises into the new
sewer, some days ago bad a shaft sunk in his cellar, and
a heading driven forward from close up to the New
River tunnel. There the water began to ooze through
and flooded the cellar, which of course made him still
more desirous to have the drain completed into the
sewer. The leave of the Commissioners, however, is re-
quisite fee this, and we hear accordingly that Mr. Cox
applied for this permission only yesterday morning to
have his drain into the sewer finished. His application
was negatived, we were told, in the most positive man-
ner, but, notwithstanding this, Mr. Cox is said to have
employed a man to do what he required. This man, it
is stated, commenced to drive a heading from the sewer
under the New River to meet the drain on the other
side; but, instead of beginning at the bottom of the sewer,
he did so a good way up, and the danger of this
was increased as he proceeded by inattention to the
levels of his work. The result will be readily under-
stood. He had penetrated seven feet inwards, when he
used a boring instrument called a " searcher," to ascer-
tain where he was going. The searcher penetrated the
tunnel of the New River, and immediately the water
rushing through the beading, filled the sewer like a tide.
There were six men in it at the time; two got up the
shaft with comparative ease, but two more made a very
narrow escape, being swept off their legs by the force of
the current. A labourer named George Ellis, and
a bricklayer named William Bone, were carried
away and drowned. The body of George Ellis was
recovered at the mouth of that branch of sewers
near London-bridge. The body of Bone has not
yet been found, but it is believed that it has been swept
into the Thames, and search is being made for it there
accordingly. Some idea of the force of the inundation
into the sewer may be formed from the distance to which
the unfortunate men were carried. So great was
it, indeed, that several of the heavy clay bags which
were dropped to stop the flow of the water were carried
by it a considerable way off. Such appears to be sub-
stantially the correct account of this melancholy acci-
dent, but, of course, until further time has been given
for inquiry, it is impossible to vouch for the strict accu-
racy of statements collected hurriedly, and without any
opportunity for proper authentication. Comment on the
circumstances would, therefore, at present be improper.
especially as the whole matter will in a day or two be
thoroughly investigated in the usual manner by the
coroner. Every necessary step appears to have been
taken, both by the police and by toe contractors under
the commission, to prevent further mischief after the
accident occurred. Clay bags have been deposited at
different points of the sewer to stop the flow of the New
River into it, and very soon that insalubrious stream
will be once more confined to its old channel.

, 1
HER MAJECTY AND THE DISSENTERS.—A fact
came to our knowledge the other day in reference to her
Majesty, which deserves to be known, but has not yet, that
we are aware, been published. It shows that, amidst all the
strife and party warfare of the time, our beloved Quern has
sound views of her duty to all her subjects, irrespective of
religious opinions. A domestic of the palace was observed
to have been crying, and her Majesty sympathisingly in-
quiring the cause of her sorrow, learned that Lady Mary
Fox had given the girl notice to quit her Majesty's service,
for having attended a Dissenting place of worship—an act
which Lady Mary was " sure her Majesty would not sanc-
tion." The officious lady was immediately sent for by her
royal mistress, and severely censured for her conduct—the
Queen observing, that she desired the girl to be retained, and
that for the future it should be distinctly understood that
her desire was for all the domestics of the palace to have full
liberty to worship God according to the dictates of their
consciences; ruling over subjects of all opinions, she was re-
solved not to allow any species of persecution whatever.—
Christian Journal.

FINANCIAL REFORM SOIREE.—BULL, JAN. 16.
The inauguration soirée of an association recently formed
here, to aid in the work of Parliamentary and financial re-
form, took place at the Music-hall, Jarratt-street, last even-
ing. At five o'clock between 600 and 700 persons (a large
proportion of whom were of the fair sex) sat down to tea,
and " after the cloth was drawn" a dessert was placed on the
table, the mayor (Mr. T. W. Palmer) took the chair, and the
formal business of the evening was commenced. Letters of
apology for non-attendance were read from Lord Dudley
Stuart, M.P., Mr. Joseph Hume, M.P., Mr. Cobden, M.P.,
Mr. Bright, M.P., Colonel Thompson, M.P. (who formerly re-
presented Hull in Parliament), the Right Hon. M. T. Baines,
M P., Mr. W. J. Fox, M.P., and other gentlemen, after
which the meeting was addressed by Mr. Clay (one of the
Members for the borough), Sir Joshua Walmsley, M.P., and
Mr. H. Tindall Atkinson (a deputation from the General
Financial Reform Association), Mr. H. J. Slack, of London,
Aldermen Gresham and Jones, with several other gentlemen,
the proceedings not terminating till 11 o'clock, and occupying
altogether six hours. A party of vocalists, headed by Miss
Cnbitt, relieved the duller business of the evening by the_
performance of appropriate popular songs. An open „e
eet
ing was held this evening in the Town-hall, at which
deputation from the parent society was present. held a
ECCENTRIC CHARACTER.—An inquest. 3
few days since on the body of a very eccentric
lea, in the
the name of Baptist Morton, of the ari h
511,° beiieved to have
neighbourhood of this city, who is z
-e• era to credit, in the
character, of
died of starvation, though there is lying!
,:2•00/. r the result of many
Armagh Savings Bank, very nearly
penurious was he, that
ef food.
considerable H e
a shaved
above
years' earnings as a labourer;_asted at his usual meal-hours,
when employed he frequent!)
if).
rather than lay out a halfpen
irnuagenencuonamenhceehd,asabnoeuvter2Bsinyeeeartsakseinncea,
IhriremnsteiolfriedhibiVahrinsihnag: which
pc
to the
adding to the capital
bahn,hkcaas'nfaloTinneN•er from the first day lifted
ftnortlohcilngge,
winhtihlee
he has
course,f
increased considerably the
any
amount, on the
principle of compound interest. The sum in
ibnytefrreessth, lowdtg:rchen
bank to his credit is upwards of 1971. Armagh Guardian.
CLARENCE THEATRE, KING'S-CROSS,--A perform-
ance again took place at this theatre, by the same party of
amateurs as made their appearance on two or three previous
occasions. The performance on this occasion would cer-
tainly have done no discredit to those more advanced in
their histrionic career. It would be invidious to particularise
individuals on occasions like this, but there would be no
difficulty in selecting a portion of the company as young
aspirants of great promise, who, by study and attention, will
no doubt rise in the profession. The curtain fell on a very
diversified performance, which was for the benefit of a poor
but deserving object, amid the applause of a very crowded
assemblage.
-

CHELMER AND BLACKWA.TER NAVIGATION.—At
the annual meeting of this company, on Monday last, a
dividend of 3/, 103. per cent. was declared.—Chelmsford
Chronicle.

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' SOCIETY.
The fifty-first anniversary of this very excellent, but
too neglected society was held yesterday at the London
Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill. About fifty gentlemen sat
down to a very elegant and well supplied dinner ; the
Lord Mayor took the chair. The musical arrangements
were under the direction of Mr. Francis, assisted by Mr.
Lockey, Mr. Land, and Mr. Henry Phillips, and wo
have seldom known the vocal arrangements to have
passed with so much éclat.
The usual loyal toasts having been given,
The CHAIRMAN next gave " Prosperity to the Institu-
tion." He was one of those who thought that old insti-
tutions should not be superseded by new efforts. He was
reminded that they had passed their jubilee year—they
were now in the fifty-first year of the institution ; and
it occurred to him that, during a period of fifty years,
the society must have done some good. He must be
permitted to say one word of the new institution.
That institution was established exclusively for the
young, and the children of those with whom they were
intimately connected at some period or another. Let it
not be forgotten that this, the old society, was pledged to
support by annual grants the claims of the aged and the
afflicted. It appeared that during a half century the
claims which had been made upon them amounted tO
nearly 84,0001., and that the sum which had been re-
ceived from those who had become the recipients of their
bounty was 11,6001. Was not that a strong fact? But
this was not merely ass eleemosynary institution. No
person would be allowed to partake of its benefits who
had not contributed to the augmentation of its funds for
some years by annual subscriptions. He was delighted
to find that there were present on this occasion the prin-
cipals of some of the first establishments in the City,
and he believed that the greatest amount they received
was from the honorary subscribers.—(Hear.) It ap.
peered from papers which had been placed in his hands
that they might he able to restore to those who were
destitute that paltry pittance which they had been
obliged to reduce within the last few years. And
what more consolatory matter could there be than
to be enabled to tell those persons that one-
third or one-fourth would be added by the
generosity of the subscribers. He recollected hearing
the late Mr. Chapman some seven ago years pleading the
cause of this institution with an eloquence which he
never could forget. That gentleman bad gone to his
grave; and be had left a legacy to those who survived
him to keep up and maintain this excellent charity. He
would propose prosperity to this institution. Having
paid a tribute of respect to the memory of Mr. Chapman,
the worthy chairman concluded by proposing " Sir Chap-
man Marshall, the President of the Institution, and Pros-
perity and Perpetuity to the Society of Commercial Tra-
vellers."

Sir CHAPMAN MARSHALL returned thanks, and in

illustration of the benefits which this society conferred
upon destitute members or their families, stated, that
in the case of five claimants, from whom they had re-
ceived only fifty-two guineas, the society had paid to
them and their families no less than 1,8941. He was
sorry to say that they had been compelled to reduce the
allowances to one-half of what they used to be. But
many of those who had joined the newer institution had
forgotten the parent society.—(Hear, hear.)
A variety of other toasts followed; many liberal sub-
scriptions were announced, and the party left at a late
hour highly pleased with the entertainment.