The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-19 00:00:00

THE PAR ‘S YESTERDAY.

Notwithstanding the rain—which with very short in-
tervals descended in torrents during nearly the whole of
escerday, the various parks in the metropolis were at-
ended by great numbers of pe..ple. Placards of various
lescriptions had been extensively circulated during the
.veek, announcing that a demonstration of working
men would take place in the different parks for the pur-
pose of protesting against the stoppage of the band
playing on Sundays, and calling upon all persons to at-
tend, as it was intended to have music notwithstanding
Vie decision of Lord Palmersto❑ to the contrary. It
)(ling therefore anticipated that some of the violence of
last summer might be repeated, the attention of Sir
Richard Mayne was called to the matter, and after
careful consideration it was decided by the commis-
-toners that large numbers of police should be sent into
the neighbourhood of the various parks, but that they
should be secreted, and not called out unless their ser-
vices were required, so that any unpleasant collisions
with the police might be avoided. The consequence of
this was, that during the whole of yesterday very few
constables were seen in any of the parks.
HYDE PARK.—In this park the people began to as-
semble about three o'clock, and in about an hour, not-
withstanding the heavy showers of rain, several thou-
sands were gathered together. Many expressed their
disappr)bation thatno one caine forward to address them,
and after a short time a great crowd had collected in one
spot. Tne people at this point were soon joined by a
considerable number of "roughs" with sticks in their
hands, who commenced to hoot, shriek, and swear, in a
disgraceful manner. The majority were most respect-
able, well-dressed persons, and as soon as they perceived
the low fellows were bent upon mischief, they moved off
as quickly a, possible, dispersing in various directions,
with an apparent determination ❑ot to take part in any
uproarious proceedings.
_ _

In Kensington-gardens, where by far the greatest
number of people assembled, a similar concourse of
"roughs" had banded themselves together, rushing
against every respectably dressed person they met, at
the same tims whistling, hooting, and shrieking, for the
purpose of creating confusion and commitring robberies.
Several of the trees were injered, in consequence of the
teanches being pulled off, to be used as sticks by the
disorderly. The scene was at its height a little after 4
o'mlock, when down came the heaviest shower of the
iav, which had the effect of nearly clearing the park.
REGENT's•rARK.—The number of people who assem-
bied in this park was very small, and though much dis.
kppointment was expressed at the withdravral of the
band no disturbance, took place. A large force of police
was in reserve. Upon inquiry at the Albany-street sta-
tion ;ate lest evening, it was ascertained that everything
had passed off quietly.
VICTORIA-PARK.—Great numbers of people flocked
into this park during the day, but there was no indica-
tion of riot or disorder.

The letter purporting to come from Sir P. Hall,
which appeared in our impression of Saturday ig, it
appears, what is called a boar. The silly practical
j .ker who concocted it has reason to be thankful that
the unfavourable state of the weather, yesterday, pre.
vented the assemblinl of a crowd so numerous that its
disappointment rni,:ht have broke out in turbulence.
Since no harm has come of his f,11; it is not worth while
to try to uncarth, the tool.—Daily News.

FATAL EXPLOSION. IN TVOOLTVICEI
ARSENAL.-FOUR LIVES LOST.

On Saturday afternoon last, at half-past three o'clock,
anotner explosion ,ccurred in the laboratory department
of Woolwich Arsenal, the re-ult of which has caused the
utmost excitement, and plunged many families into the
deepest afflieti-n. We are enabled, through the kind-
ness of sev,ral officials connected with the department,
to give the following details of the accident.
In tho centre of the Laboratory-square are two wooden
sheds, each about 12 feet square' used for the purpose
of mixing the composition for fill.ng percussion caps.
This composition contains a proportion of fulminating
mercury, and in consequence of its combustible na-
ture it is conveyed to other sheds for use in gutty
percha bottles, and only two persons are allowed in
each of the sheds where it is mixed. Adjacent to
these sheds is the carpenters' shop, and at the time of
the accident several carpenters and labourers were em-
ployed in removing square boxes, made for the purpose
of packing fireworks for London. At the time men-
tioned the sheds were blown up with a loud explosion,
and twelve men and boys were thrown with terrific force
into the air. The utmost consternation prevailed in the
establishment The gates were closed ; and Captain
Boxer, Superintendent of the Royal Laboratories, with
the police force, were instantly on the spot to discover
the extent of the accident, and render assistance. The
dead and maimed were found in all directions at a con-
siderable distance from the sheds ; and one poor fellow
was literally blown to atoms—his limbs being entirely
disjointed. The following are those killed on the spot :
—William Flack, foreman of the mixing sheds ; Richard
Taylor, John Reading, and William Green, labourers.
The seven principal sufferers, namely, John Andrews, a
carpenter, Richard Russell, Henry Gale, John Savage,
John Richardson, and two lads named Blanch and
Webber, were conveyed to the Royal Ordnance Hos-
pital in ambulance waggons, under the direction of
the Royal Ordnance surgeons. On inquiry at the
hospital at eight o'clock last evening, it was ascer-
tamed that all the sufferers were in a very precarious
state, and that Richardson was not expected to survive.
William Powell, who was injured by the explosion in a
rocket shed ten days since, died at the Royal Ordnance
Hospital on Friday last. An inquestOwill be held on
the deceased before C. J. Carttar, coroner for West
Kent, to-morrow.

ANOTHER OFFICIAL DEFAULTER AT
PORTSMOUTH.

La consequence of the lengthened inquiries resulting
from the complaints made by the convicts on board the
Stirling Castle, convict invalid hulk, in this harbour,
circumstances have transpired of a somewhat serious
character. These complaints were made previous
to the murder of the late Mr. Hope, the surgeon
of that ship, and they were repeated subsequently ;
and it appears that an inquiry was instituted by
three of the inspectors of prisans under the Home-office.
The exact result of these inquiries has not, of course,
been promulgated, but it appears they have led to
the precipitate departure of Major Shaw, the governor of
the Stirling Castle, who it is reported has appropriated
to his own use some 6001. oflmoney, the property of the
Government, and which was entrusted to him for pay-
ment of general expenses, wages of warders, &c. The
salary of the governor is 3501. per annum, besides which
he had apaitments on board the hulk, the whole of the
poop being appropriated to his use far more room and
accommodation being pruvided for him than any admiral
possesses on board ship. Many other perquisites and
advantages were obtainable, and altogether the value o
the office could not be less than 4001. a-year. We are
sorry to say that a warder, who of course could ill afford
to spare the money, loses St. by the governor's departure,
.he latter having borrowed that sum of him a day or two
before leaving. Mr. J. Shaw was formerly, we hear, a
colour serjeant in the British army ; the title of major was
obtained is the Spanish service, in the contest against
the claims of Don Carlos. He is an aged man, about 60,
married, and has one son. It is impossible to conjecture
what could have induced him to sacrifice such a situa-
tion in such a manner at least. We are told that his
expenditure, person?lly, wa3 hardly more than 1001. a
year. With regard to the charges brought by-the con-
victs, so far as ill-treatment are concerned, we believe
theyas were u ; be sometimes used language that
w rough, but
uotunotexeessively so. Captain J. S. War-
ren, deputy-governor of Milbank Prison, was appointed
early in the week to succeed Mr. Shaw in the goveruot.
whip ci the Stirling Ca4tle.—liantpthire Telegraph.