The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-15 00:00:00

THE _FATAL ACCIDENT AT PENDLETON

Yesterday, the inquest on the bodies of the three
persons killed by the fall of a portion of the build-
ing used by Mr. John Parry as a smallware manu-
factory, in Ford-lane, Pendleton, was opened before
Mr. Price, deputy coroner, and a jury (several of
whom were practical builders), at the Church Inn,
Pendleton. The necessary evidence having been
given of the identification of the bodies,
Mr. John Driver, bookkeeper at the works, said
—I was in the counting-house when the accident
occurred. About fourteen men, women, and boys
were employed in that part of the building. I
rushed out immediately, called for help, and,
knowing where the hands would be, as people
came up I gave the necessary directions for their
rescue. Mary Ann Pickins (or Pickering) was
first extricated; her leg was broken, and she was
removed to the Manchester Infirmary. Alice
Horsfield, who was only slightly injured, followed
next. Edward Rogers was then taken out dead,
his head being shockingly bruised. John Parrott
had his thigh broken, and was removed to the In-
firmary. John Lavery was dead ; he had been
pressed between a beam and some of the debris.
James Henry Cousins, the last hand taken out
dead, was at the extreme end of the building, near
Greenwood's stables. He was crushed by a beam
and a portion of the roof. Otte boy under the roof,
when the dust had drifted away, crept out, escaping
uninjared. Not more than half an hour elapsed from
the occurrence of the accident to the rescue of the
last person entangled in the ruins. Robert Boyd
and Alice Horsfield, who were somewhat injured
yesterday, have so far recovered as to come here
to-day. Four altogether were taken to the Man-
chester Infirmary. The fallen building was of the
same construction throughout as that which is now
standing, and was 70 yards long.—By a Juryman :
Four of the men left at noon to go to Radcliffe
races, and some who were left had to change their
departments in consequence. All the work was
carried on by hand labour.—By Mr. Price : It was
chiefly wood machinery, and the vibration was no-
thing to that of a cotton mill. I am not aware
that any of the hands had said anything to Mr.
Parry of the instability of the building. I have
been at the works about two months, and a week
or ten days after I first went, I thought the new
portion of the building leaned a little, as I have
seen in buildings which have stood for years. The
inclination appeared to me to be towards the rope-
walk opposite (the direction in which the building
fell), but I did not then think it dangerous. About
a week ago I asked Mr. Parry if he did
not think the wall leaned a little, He
said he would look at it, and asked me if I
thought it unsafe. I replied that I did
not think it was, and that the declension
might arise from what the builders called the
"settling" of the foundation. Mr. Parry looked
at the building immediately after. Nothing
more passed between us as to the building to the
time of the accident. The roof was an open one,
and had no tie beams. About three weeks ago, I
perceived that the spars had been drawn from the
back wall about the eighth of an inch. By the
jury—The building first gave way in the middle,
and the floor in that part was forced a little
more forward than the rest. I have heard it
rumoured that the work people had talked
about the state of the building,•but no one has
has
left on the ground of its insecurity. It
been mentioned to me, but no fears havebeen ex.
pressed at working. There might be six or seven
tons weight of stock, including machinery, and the
floor
heaviest portion would rest on the nearest the
side of the building which gave way.
Mr. Price said it would
the re
be betterport
of
to adjourn the
_.
inquest, in order to have some prac-
dujouuar7n.deidant.o two
the
accident. and unprejudiced builder of the cal
Iseh
e
half-past
accident. This was agreed to; and
at
fourNlon
Monday
—Manchester inquestmlciretstts e :!

A magnificent and costly range of stabling,
coach-hcasos, fowl-buildings, dairy, laundry, hothouses,
pine-pits, and other offices, is now in course of erection at
Arelbeck Abbey, the seat of the Duke of Portland, at a cost
of nearly £lOO,OOO.