The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-05 00:00:00

BARNET GRBAT CATTLE FAIL

The Chief Commissioner of Works has, in pur.
suance of a promise he gave to the House of Com-
mens, endeavoured to solve the question as to the
cause of the crack in the great bell of Westmin-
ster, and for this purpose he has consulted a num-
ber of eminent authorities on the subject, among
others, Mr. Sohn Tyndall, F.R.S., Mr. J. ,Mercy,
of the School of Mines ; Professor Airey, and the
makers of the bell, Messrs. Mears. The report was
proceeding just previous to Parliament rising,
but has only been placed in the hands of members
during the last few days.
Mr. Tyndall, one of the referees, after some pre-
liminary observations, on the laws of acoustics,
says :—On the soundbow, and diametrically oppo-
site to the hammer, a number of cavities occur,
forming a group which is included in a space of3t-
inches by 14- inch. The centre of this group (which
is the principal one) is about 121 inches distant
from the edge of the bell. The cavities, six in
number, excepting one or two very small ones, vary
from three-tenths of an inch to less than one-tenth
of an inch in diameter, and the depth of the
deepest of them is two-fifths of an inch. For the
purpose of future reference I will denote the group
by the symbol (G.) To the left of this group (i.e.,
to the left of an observer facing the group), and at
a distance of about 11 inches from it, two cavities
occur, the largest of which measures two-tenths of
an inch across, at the surface, and is two-tenths of
an :inch deep. The diameter of this cavity un-
derneath the surface augments to three-tenths of
an inch. At a distance of a foot further to the left,
and 16 inches from the edge •of the bell is a group
of pits, the largest diameter of the largest of them
measuring, at the surface, one-fourth of an inch ;
the depth of this cavity is one•eighth of an inch.
' All the others are small; and with the exception of
one little outlier, the whole group would be
covered by an area of an inch. Between this
group and the point struck by he hammer,
at a distance of four feet nine inches from
the latter, and 14 inches from the edge of
the bell, a cavity occurs which measures five-
eighths of an inch across ; it is filled with a foreign
metal, and I am, therefore, unable to state its depth.
At a distance of 10 inches to the right of the group
G a cavity occurs one-fourth of an inch in diameter,
and two-tenths of an inch deep. At a distance of
six inches above the latter, and in a line which in-
clines from it to the east, a',cavity occurs, measuring,
in its longest direction, one-eighth of an inch at the
surface, but running under the surface until it
attains about three-eighths of an inch in diameter.
Finally, at a distance of three feet four inches to
the right of G, and at 14 inches from the edge of
the bell, a cavity occurs, measuring, in its longest
direction, one-fourth of an inch across, and having
a depth of two-tenths of an inch. All these cavities
appear to have been produced by the rising of air
bubbles through the metal while in a state of
fusion ; and their occurrence along . the soundbow
is, I think, due to the fact that the slope of the
mould at this place formed a kind of roof over the
bubbles and prevented their escape.
in
Section 3.—On the Cracks the Bell.—The
principal cracks are two in number ; the first, which
I will call C 1, is diametrically opposite to the ham-
mer, and hence in the middle of a vibrating seg-
ment. It is nine inches long, and runs transverse
to the soundbow. It does not reach the edge of
the bell, but terminates two inches above the edge.
The second crack, C 2, occurs at a distance of two
feet four inches to the left of C 1. It also runs
transverse to the soundbow, measures 13 inches in
length, and terminates at a distance of five inches
from the edge of the bell. This crack occurs within
15inches of !a node, and the amplitude of the vibra-
tions immediately adjacent to the crack was found
by experiment to be less than that of the vibrations
at the node itself. Besides these two principal
cracks there are three minor ones, varying from two
and a quarter to two inches in length. Were the
bell closely examined with a good light, additional
small cracks might possibly be deticted. To the
naked eye the sides of the cracks appear to be in
mechanical contact ; but when a wet cloth is
whenthe
dabbed against the larger ones, the water is forced
into
boell or soaks
subsequently, bubbles issue
y capillary attraction ; and
from the cracks throughout their entire length.
Section 1.—On the Connexion of the Cracks and
Cavities.—The pits above described, and other
smaller ones which have been disclosed by the
removal of a portion of one of the ornamental rings
of the bell, must undoubtedly be regarded as de-
fects; bat how far such defects are unavoidable in
the casting of large bells I am not in a position to
state. My duty at present is to estimate the
possible influence of the cavities in the production
of the cracks.
The first principal crack, C 1, certainly originates
(or terminates) among the lower members of the
group of cavities denoted by G 1. Two of the
lowest holes, both of them small ones, are about
three-fourths of an inch apart, and occur nearly in
the same vertical line. The crack commences mid-
way between both, intersects the lower cavity, and
afterwards passes through ail impitted portion of
the bell. Hence, though the superior end of this
crack is close to the cavities of the group G 1, the
fact that it reaches less than half an inch higher
than the lowest member of the group, and that the
main body of the group is not intersected by the
crack, tends, in my opinion, to invalidate the as-
sumption that this crack has been caused by the
cavities. But setting this apparently doubtful case
aside, a reference to the other cracks appears to me
quite fatal to the notion that the cracks are due to
the cavities. The second principal crack, denoted
by the symbol C 2, is the most formidable of all,
and it runs from beginning to end through an im-
pitted portion of the metal. As for the minor
cracks, no cavity occurs near to any one of piem.
With regard to the manner in which the bell is
suspended, I do not think that it had any influence
in producing the cracks. Thus, I think the elements
of the question reduce themselves to two, viz., the

resource.
Mr. Pere, v, of the School of Mines, sums up his
:o—f
large
and well-know va in for trust -
anaVes
report as foil
°we:n ancient
worthy
composition preacribed for the bell at Westminster
bells ; so that I am not able to state whether the
is certainly justified by experience. However,. de-
rived
my
impression is, that with very. few except ionst
ht
from authorities not entitled to much weig ,
large for bells of the sli.mension .
s of the Westmin-
' noteris
the proportion of 24 pe.r cent. of tin is unusually
ster bell. The greater.tiie proportion. o.f tin,
The data which I have obtained relating to the
paribus, the greater will be the liability to crack.
composition of large bells are not sufficiently
numerous or precise to justify me in announcing a
decided opinion that the proportion of tin in the
Westminster bell is excessive, whatever may be my
impression on the subject. It appears that
.our an-
cestors, occasionally at least, adopted the wise pre-
caution of sounding their large bells during a year
or so before they incurred the expense of raising
them to a high position, so that, contrary to the be-
lief of some persons, the bellfoundere o f former times
were not always successful in producing bells which
resisted the test of repeated sounding, however satis-
factory they might at first be found.
The Astronomer itoyal presents a most elaborate
report, the result of which is that with management
the bell might be still used. He considers that the
cracks of the bell, as they have not penetrated
through the substance of the bell, will not materially
alter the sound, but he objects to the weight of the
blow of the clock-hammer, which he considers as
much too heavy. He says :—As compared, for in-
stance, with that on the Great Tom of 'Christ Church,
Oxford, I have reason to think that the " West-
minster" blow is heavier in the ratio of twenty to
one. Probably both the weight of metal, and the
distance through which it falls, might be reduced.
And I would also suggest the advantage of altering
the form and material of the hammer face. The
effect of giving the whole impact on a very limited
space is to produce a disagreeable jar among the
particles of the bell ; for legitimate action, impact
on a broad surface is preferable. I would propose
that the hammer be faced with a broad surface of
tin. I have tried an engineer's tin hammer on the
bells, and I think its effect preferable to that of an
iron hammer as regards tone ; there can be no doubt
of its superior safety as regards injury to the bell.
The precautions which I have recommended
being taken, 1 would then propose that the
clock be connected with the bell, and that the
hour strokes be given regularly. At first it
should be made the duty of a proper officer to
inspect the bell once every week; if no injury
appears, it will be sufficient, after a time, to inspect
it once every month, and afterwards at wider inter-
vals. I can see no danger in this course, for even
if the chinks should extend themselves into inju-
rious cracks, I do not conceive that the bell could
break in such a way as to fall to pieces and endan-
ger the building. Among the inconveniences which
have been supposed to attach to the use of the bell
have been mentioned the funeral slowness of its
strokes. I believe that the original interval was
nine seconds of time ; it has been reduced to about
six seconds and a half, and.may at any time be re-
duced at an hour's notice. The heaviness of the
sound, which is said to be disagreeable in the Houses
of Parliament, would be diminished by the course
above recommended.
Mr. Mears, the founder of the bell, writes as fol-
lows:
Bell Foundry, Whitechapel, May 9, 1860.
Sir,—l have to acknowledge the receipt of copy
of Dr. Percy's report on the analysis of portions of
the great bell at Westminster, and without finding
any fault with this report I beg leave to state that
the cast by me consisted, in accordance with the
coninict, chiefly of the metal of the first bell, with
an addition o'f new copper and tin in the proportions
of 3,7761 b of copper to 1,3071 b of tin, which is only
511 b of tin in excess of the
proi.,-:lrtio Arable
7 tin to
22 copper, and therefore an incoriSi;!
tity. In reference to the difference of con:;"
Tian-
03Ition
between the lower and upper part of the bell, :!fg
found by Dr. Percy, I beg to state it is a well known
fact that the alloy of copper and tin is an unstable
one, whieh no skill in founding has ever yet over-
come, and the result of Dr. Percy's examination
does not give greater variation than I have myself
found. I feel certain that an accurate average ana-
lysis of the bell will prove that Mr. Denison's pro-
portions have been strictly followed. Mr. Mallett,
in his Treatise on Artillery, sec. 174, refers to the
fact of the variation of proportions of the metals as
observed in bronze guns, in which the proportion
of tin to copper is only about one-third that
of bell metal. That the bell, as a casting, is
unexceptionable, may be seen by inspection,
and I quote the following extract from a re-
port made by. Messrs. May, Bramwell, and
Renton :
." Looking at the Westminster bell simply
before
urfeGorf
sronuuer
edceaaht;
oneoTaunot
Tom'
withw
as a. specimen of casting, we have no hesitation in
saying that it is one of which the founder may be
Io
magnitude,
Oxford.b l
iseeslis
aea novs tbedl
vyasi
We
sguuursepen
euae
rtnci ibelieveusounsoundness
manyulinniint
tnhtmheha
isi
tisgse
nkh wo respectocebusa esls castatwi
nbit
will
ever be found free from cavities, caused by the sur-
faces cooling before the inside." I most unhesitat-
ingly assert that the bell being cracked arises from
no fault of mine. I can prove that I endeavoured
to persuade Mr. Denison that the alloy he proposed
was too hard ; but as he refused to be convinced,
and the contract bound me to obey his instructions
lof course followed them. The alloy preferred by
me, when I have to use new metals, is 41- oz. of tin
to 16oz. of copper, or 7 of tin to 2 4.88 of copper,
and when, as frequently happens, I have to recast
old bells new metal is added in trial alloys, so as to
bring it as nearly as possible to these proportions,
which experience enables the workmen to form a
pretty accurate judgment of, from the appearance
of the metal when broken for the furnace. Mr.
Denison's alloy, as before stated, of 7 tin to 22 cop-
per is a much more brittle material, and was
adopted by him against my remonstrance; and in
addition thereto the bell was struck by a hammer
of unprecedented weight, so that I assert not a
shadow of blame can attach to me for the result
I am, &e., (Signed) GEO. MEARS.
Mr. Percy is further referred to, and thus sums
up an interesting report :
" The result communicated in the former report,
as to the larger proportion of tin in the metal form-
ing the lower and outer partof the bell is confirmed.
It may now be certainly concluded that this part
of the bell contains about 2 per cent. more tin, and
consequently is more brittle than the alloy pre-
scribed to the founder, which should consist of 76
per cent. of copper, and 24 per cent. of tin. The
bell remains uncracked to the thickness of about
four inches below the deepest part of the crack.
It is yet capable of being sounded, and,
according to the opinion which Mr. Turle
expressed to me, without any sensible alteration in
the quality of the sound which was produced before
the cracks were discovered: If considered desirable,
it might, I believe, be still used with safety, as
simple and not very costly arrangements might be
though in
portion in consequence of
adopted to nrovide against theconti. possible,
mraytioonpiannioanfanlolitnpgroobfaabnlye, ngency, of the sepa,
any further extension of the cracks. A bell, I
presume, can only be condemned as worthless when
it produces the jarring and .discordant sounds cha-
racteristic of cracks extending through its entire
substance.
" The nature and extent of the crack which has
been examined is peculiar, and it seems not unrea-
sonable to attribute it, at least in a certain degree,
and the
to the defective character
i of the casting,
excess of tin, especially n the outer part of the
bell."

Yesterday this great fair commenced. It is cele-
brated for its varied and choice description of cattle,
gigantic in extent of supply, and has acquired the
reputation of being one of the largest cattle narts
in the country, and is productive of a great ar inual
gathering of stock breeders and cattle dealers , sel-
dom brought together. This mart is held, under sta-
tute of ancient date, for the sale of horned cattle,
horses, and sheep ; and, although this county (Hert-
fordshire) has no great pretensions as a cattle di:lt-
trict, yet the great contributions of stock from all
parts of the country to this fair give it an unequalled
importance. Without further comment we proceed
to record selling prices of the various breeds of stock,
&e. Mitch cows.--The field which contained this
description of stock comprised some choice bred
cows ; large-framed Yorkshire cows in full milk, and
suitable for the London milk trade, readily found
buyers at £22 to £26 each, and cows down calving
£lB to £22 ; shorthorns, half-breds, Ayrshire cows
for country dairying, made from £l4 to £l6 ; Al-
derney cows in full milk and to calve early, £l4 to
£l7 ;in calf heifers, £9 to £l4. Hereford Beast.—
Three-year-old steers in high condition were very
quickly selected for the fatting stalls at figures vary-
ing from £lB to £2l; and well-breed useful steers,
£l5 to £l7 ; and lean store beasts, £ll to £l3.
Devon Steers.—Well-grazed three-year-old steers
sold at prices varying from £l7 to £l9; choice se-
lections made £2O ; and store ditto for grazing, £8
to £ll. The Scotch Cattle-field.—There were some
exceedingly choice and well-fed cattle on offer, and
notwithstanding the high figures asked, a very
ex-
tensive business was transacted ; poled Scots in high
condition made from £l3 to £l6; ditto useful store
beast, £lO to £ll : and plain steers, £l2 to £l3.
Highland runts—these diminutive, but well-formed
little animals, with long shaggy coats and wide-
spread antlers, were in good request, making prices
of from £5 to £l2. The Welsh Cattle.—The busi-
ness was slow among this class of cattle, but many
large droves were sold—good Welsh steers made
from £9 to £l2, and beasts in good condition, £l5 ;
Welsh heifers sold at £9 to £lO, and milking cows
£ll to £l4 ; yearlings, £3 to £5. Mixed Stock.—
Shorthorn steers, £l3 to £lB ; ditto heifers, £9 to
£l3; and yearlings, £6 to £B. Well-bred bulls
realised from £l4 to £lB. Sussex beast.—Well
grown steers, £l5 to £l7; ditto heifers, £l3 to £l5 ;
and oxen broke to the yoke, for agricultural work,
£2O to £24. Irish Stock.—Large useful steers,
£l4 to £l6 ; heifers, £8 to £ll ; yearlings, £3 to
£5. The Horse Fair.—The show was large, and
comprised every description of animal. Well-bred,
good-stepping horses, suitable for single and double
harness, made 45 to 55 guineas, and cattle of high
fashion 65 guineas ; aged horses, 14 to 24 guineas ;
horses suitable for London purposes, van work, and
machiners, 20 to 35 guineas. Cart-horses, sound,
young, active cattle, made from 40 to 50 guineas,
and seasoned cart-horses for agricultural work, 15
to 24 guineas; cart colts, 18 to 30 guineas. Ponies
—The renown which this fair has acquired for its
usual large supply of Welsh ponies and foresters
was fully sustained. There were many large herds
on offer, and equally numerous were the buyers.
They sold at prices ranging from 6 to 14 guineas.
Some promising colts realised 16 guineas. Irish
colts.—There were several droves of very promis-
ing and well-bred young Irish horses, and which
commanded a good sale at prices varying from 30
to 40 guineas. Inferior breed and 2-yr-old colts
made 15 to 25 guireas. A large amount of stock
has been sold, and much yet remains on hand. The
fair will continue open this day (Wednesday) and
`o-morrow.

SHOCKING MURDER OF A YOUNG
GIRL NEAR PONTEFRACT.

(From the Leeds Mercury.)
The usual Sabbath evening quietude and repose
of the inhabitants of the small but picturesque
village of Upton, near Pontefract, were startled
on Sunday evening by the announcement that a
dreadful tragedy had been perpetrated there, the
victim being a girl of only 14 years of age, and the
supposed murderer her fellow-servant, a youth of
17, but whose conduct has evinced an amount of
hardihood and wickedness, which we hope are but

rarely found in one so young.
The village of Upton is distant between five and
six miles from Pontefract, and a mile from the
well-known village of Badsworth. It is built upon
somewhat rising ground, and consists principally
of farm-houses, scattered here and there, the popu-
lation not exceeding more than from 150 to 200
persons. Upton Farm, the scene of the murder, is
in the occupation of Mr. Thomas Spink, who, how-
ever, has only resided there about 12 months. The
house comprises a kitchen and two sitting-rooms
on the .ground floor and three rooms above. Im-
mediately behind the kitchen, and about two yards
to the right of the back door is an outhouse used
as a coal place, &c., and it was here that the body
of the murdered girl was discovered. The common
road from Wakefield to Askern, &c., skirts the
house, and the only buildings near are a number of
cs I
cottaes occupied by labouring men.
The general facts connoted with this horrible
tragedy, as far as they could be collected on the
spot, are these :—On Sunday afternoon, about half-
past two o'clock, Mr. and Mrs. Spink, who were
but recently married, left home to visit some friends
at Derrington, a place four miles distant. The
house was left in charge of the deceased, Elizabeth
Mitchell, who was 14 years of age, but whose height
and strength and fully-developed appearance, con-
veyed the impression that she was much older. She
had been in Mr. Spink's service since Martinmas
last, her parents residing at North Emsall, a vil-
lage about a mile and a half from Upton. The only
other person in the house was George Thorpe, the
farm servant who is accused of the murder. He had
been in Mr. Spink's service since the latter end of
March last, his parents being also in humble life,
and residing at a place about eleven miles distant,
called Fen wick, near Askern. Thorpe, it is said,
was lad of a sullen and morose disposition. There
- been little congeniality between
appears to have ,+withstanding which, we
him and the deceased, na.. be
had made im-
understand, it is alleged that =-
How-
,kar '-
true
proper overtures to the girl.
we are unable to affirm, but the whole a the facts
upon which this rumour is founded will no doubt
be elicited at the inquest.
It appears that after Mr. and Mrs. Spink had
left home, Annis Cookson, a young woman,
eighteen years of age, who resides near, joined the
deceased and Thorpe, and continued with them till
about five o'clock, when she returned home to tea.
During the afternoon some joking took place, in
the course of which Thorpe attempted to obtain
possession of a ribbon head-dress, which the girl
Cookson had on. This displeased the deceased,
who was not inclined to view Thorpe's conduct
over leniently, and she pulled his hair somewhat
severely. This seems to have greatly annoyed him,
for he relapsed into a state of sullenness, in which
ho used language of a threatening character to-
wards the deceased.
The murder must have been committed shortly
after five o'clock, although it. seems somewhat sin-
gular that no alarm should have been heard by, or
attracted the attention of, those living near.
Shortly before six o'elock, however, after having
partaken of tea, Cookson returned to the house,
and was horrified to find that the deceased laid,
apparently dead, in the coal-house. She imme-
diately ran and gave an alarm. Mr. Joseph
Thorpe and several other persons were attracted
to the spot, and the deceased, who was found to
be quite dead, was removed into the house.
Mr. Ibeson, surgeon, Hemsworth, was sent
for, and he arrived, but his services were of
no avail. The deceased, he discovered, had been
shot in the left side, near the spine, just below the
shoulder bone. Information of the murder was at
once given to Police-constable Skelton, No. 299, of
the West Riding Constabulary, stationed at South
Emsall, who proceeded to Upton, where he re•
mained all night, having placed Thorpe under sur-
veillance. Yesterday morning, Skelton communi-
cated the fact of the murder to Mr. Superintendent
Hall, of Pontefract, who was engaged during the
day in the examination of the premises and in the
collection of evidence, assisted by Detective Inspec-
tor Wetherall, from the central police-office, Wake-
field. Col. Cobbe, the chief constable, and Captain
Williams also visited Upton during the day.
The result of Mr. Hall's investigations was that
he took Thorpe into custody on the charge of mur-
der. In the course of the examination of the house
Mr. Hall found that a gun, which belonged to Mr.
Spinic, but which had not been used by him since
March last, had evidently been fired recently. This
gun had been removed from one of the sitting
rooms, communicating by a door with the kitchen
in which the deceased and Thorpe were sitting, but
which the latter had no right to enter. Some shot
and caps had also been disturbed, and a portion of
a cap which had been used, similar in size and ap-
pearance, was found in the kitchen, as if it had
dropped from the nipple of the gun as the party
who had used it was returning it to the place from
which he obtained it. A post mortem examination
of the deceased was also made yesterday, by Dr.
Clark, of Ackworth and Mr. Ibeson„ and we are
informed that a large number of shot were ex-
tracted, which corresponded with those removed
from Mr. Spink's drawer.
The position in which the body was found favours
the supposition that after the departure of Annis
Cookson, about five o'clock, the prisoner had quar-
relled with the deceased, and having possessed him-
self of the gun, she had become alarmed by his
threats, and had attempted to escape by rushing
out of the back door. Unfortunately, she was AO
sufficiently rapid in her movements, and !I)-- —0 -11 r.