The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-23 00:00:00

SALE AT ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE.

In consequence of Mr. W. Cooke having retired
from the lesseeship of Astley's Theatre, the whole
of his valuable stud of horses were yesterday dis-
posed of by Mr. J. S. Gower, the proprietor of the
Horse Repository, Barbican, and, as may very well
be imagined, the sale created a good deal of interest
not only among the equestrian profession, but also
among the public generally. Among the profes-
sionals present were Mr. Batty, under whose ma-
nagement the theatre will be re-opened ; Mr. Ho wes,
of the Alhambra ; Mr. Melbourne, of the Queen's
Theatre, Hull ; Mr. Fellingham, Messrs. Bishop and
Colwell, of the Royal Surrey-gardens ; Mr. Rutley,
of the Portsmouth Theatre ; Tom Matthews, G.
Webb, Tanner, &c.
Mr. Gower commenced the proceedings by stat-
ing that he stood in rather an unusual position on
this occasion, but they were aware that he had been
entrusted by Mr. W. Cooke with the task of dis-
posing of his stud of horses—a stud than which
none stood higher in the equestrian world, and
which he had no doubt had been seen and admired,
not only by those who were now present but by
great numbers of others who had witnessed their
extraordinary performances. The whole of the
animals he should have to submit to their notice,
he said he was informed, were perfectly quiet for
all ordinary purposes for which they might be re-
quired, and although undoubtedly a great many of
them were very clever " trick " horses, he believed
he could assure them that they confined all their
tricks to the ring, and that every purchaser might
be assured of possessing an animal thoroughly
broken and docile in every respect.
The sale of horses then commenced, the first
four lots that were put up being four pretty little
cream-coloured ponies, Psyche, Cupid, Venus, and
Mars, eleven and twelve hands high. They
were sold remarkably cheap, the whole four
being knocked down to different purchasers at a
little under 50 guineas. The auctioneer stated
that they had all been accustomed to be driven
together, and that they formed an almost inimi-
table four-in-hand team. The next lot that was put
up consisted of two ten-hands-high ponies, Blue-
bell and Vesta, well known to all the visitors of the
theatre from their extraordinary performances, and
who were not inaptly described as " two clever
trick ponies, unequalled and admired by all the
world." For this lot there was a spirited competi-
tion, and the little animals were eventually knocked
down at the astounding price of 79 gs. Mr. Batty
was the purchaser of Bluebell, at 18 gs., and he
bid 60 gs. for her partner; but a private party bid
another guinea, and Mr. Batty, not being inclined
to spring any more, the two little pets were parted.
It was stated that Vesta was purchased on behalf
of a nobleman, to be used as a child's pony, and
that any reasonable amount would have been given
for the animal. Childers, a spotted pony, 12 hands
high, stated to be an extraordinary jumper, fetched
23 gs. ; and Prince, also a spotted pony, was
knocked down at 24 gs. After the ponies had been
disposed of the ring horses were brought forward,
and some of them fetched very good prices. Cas-
sandra, a very handsome cream-coloured mare,
brought 44 gs., and Lady Mary, another very good-
looking cream, was knocked down at 52 gs. Cath-
leen, also a cream-coloured mare, fetched 52 gs.,
and Solima, a very handsome dun-coloured horse,
used for entree and double-horse acts, fetched 50
gs. Amakosa, a white horse, well known for his-
performance in Mazeppa, was sold for 40 gs., and
Tempest, another white gelding, who was described
as a Billy Button horse, fetched 41 gs. Beauty, a
cream-coloured gelding, 14 hands high, and stated
to be a clever stage horse, brought 30 gs., and Na-
poleon, who was stated to be clever in single or
double acts, was knocked down at 25 gs. The
three next horses that were brought forward were
very handsome white geldings, Sultan, White
Surrey, and Alexander. White Surrey was a re-
markably good-looking horse, with fine action, and
he was knocked down, after a spirited competition,
to Mr. Batty for 60 gs., and the three fetched 152
gs. A Brahmin cow was the last lot of the animals,
and she was sold for 13 gs. The total price rea-
lised for the stud of 40 steeds was about £l,OOO.
The disposal of some carriages concluded the sale ;
the celebrated dragon carriage used by the com-
pany in their processions being among them, and it
only realised £7 10s. The theatre will now be
thoroughly redecorated, and it is advertised to
open on Easter Monday under the management of
Mr. Batty.

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE EASTEIIN
COUNTIES RAILWAY.

Yesterday afternoon Mr. J. Humphreys, the
coroner for East Middlesex, and a highly respect-
able jury, assembled at the White Hart Inn, Tot-
tenham, to investigate the circumstances attending
the deaths of Wm. Rowell, aged 40; Philip Corn-
wall, aged 23; Edward Stokes, aged 53; and
Timothy Satehell, aged 48, who lost thr.iy4 lioo~ on
or the Eabtern counties Railway, on Mon-
day morning last, while the Cambridge special
train was on its way to London.
The coroner and the jury having viewed the
bodies and received evidence of identification,
Enoch Hanley was called and examined—l am
under-locomotive foreman at Cambridge, and it is
part of my duty to inspect the engines and carriages
before they leave the shed. On Monday morning
last I inspected the engine and examined the tires,
by getting underneath and examining the tires as
the wheels were going round.
By the Coroner—My examination was merely as
the wheels were in motion. I tested them in no
other way.
The Foreman—Are there any other means of
testing the engines ?
Witness—Yes, but I am not acquainted with
them.

By Mr. Humphreys—The engine was a power-
ful passenger engine. I cannot say how long the
engine has been in use. I cannot state the age of
the engine. One day out of the week the engine
was idle. The engine in question had been repaired,
and no flaws were found in the tires. The engine
had been under a thorough repair.
Mr. Gibson, solicitor—Have you instructions as
to the nature of your duties and their performance
relative to the examination of the engines?
Witness—Yes, I have a book, but I have not seen
it lately. The engine was not made by the com-
pany, and I cannot give you the name of the maker.
The tires were made of iron on the engine in ques-
tion, while some tires were made of steel.
By the Coroner—l had signed a report to the
effect that the. engine was in thorough working
order, and the driver took possession of the engine
at the shed. I did not give him the engine, but
the shedman gave up possession to the deceased
engine-driver.

Philip Bowlater, the shedman, said—l am em-
ployed at Cambridge, and on Monday morning last
I had charge of the engine numbered 103, which I
gave into the custody of Rowell, who sounded the
tires before he started. The engine was brought
into the shed on Saturday evening at half-past
seven o'clock, and was then apparently quite sound.
It was not any part of my duty to make an exami-
nation.

Coroner—How long has the engine 103 been in
use ?

Witness—l have known her on the road about 10
years, and the last time I saw her was on Monday
morning when the men were getting her ready to
start.

A Juror—l am quite sure he sounded the wheels,
but I cannot say
.whether he used the hammer
upon them all.

By Mr. Humphreys—The engine has been under
repair, but I cannot recollect that she has been
under constant repair. There is nothing in my
book of rules relative to sounding the wheels. I
have not my book with me.
George Barbrook, the guard of the train, de-
posed that he could not account for the accident,
otherwise than by the breaking of the tire. The
train was going at the speed of 35 miles an hour.
After some further evidence,
The Coroner suggested an adjournment, and
gave directions to the summoning officer (Mr.
Fowler) to get the attendance of Mr. Sinclair, the
manager of the locomotive department, and other
witnesses.
The proceedings Were adjourned until Friday
afternoon week.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]-3117.- Ludgate-hill has just
published a new illustrated pamphlet on
watches (free: by post
for two stamps). It should be read by all who are about
buying a watch, as it contains prices and important informa-
tion as to—What watch to buy ! where to buy it and how to
use it
[ADVERTISEMENT.]—It is ever a pleasing duty for a
journalist to introduce to his readers some discovery calcu-
lated to benefit that vast portion of our fellow creatures
which has the strongest claims upon our sympathies. It is
with tl.is feeling that wo call the attention of invalids
to the following extracts from Du Barry's interesting
report of cures without medicine of indigestion (dys-
pepsi.l), flatulency, constipation, nervous, bilious, and
lver complaints, cough, asthma, consumption, and
debility by Du Barry's Itevalenta Arabica Food :
Cure No. 52,4V—Briclgehouse, Frimley, 3d April, 1:64.
I have suffered these 33 veers continually from diseased
lungs, spittimfol blood, lier derangement, deafness, sing-
ing in the ears, constipation, debility, shortness of breath and
cough, which have been removed by your Revalenta Arabica.
My lungs, liver, stomach, head, and ears are all right, my
hearing perfect, and my recovery is a marvel to all my
acquaintances. James Roberts, timber merchant.
In tins, at Is. 6d. ; 11b., 3s. ; 21b., ss. 9d. ; 51b., 125.; 121 b.,
265. The 101 b. and 121 b. tins carriage free, on receipt of post-
office order. Du Barry and Co., 77, Regent-street, London'
Fortnum, Mason, and Co., 182, Piccadilly; Abbis, 60,
Gracechurch-street ; 4, Cheapside ; 63, and 150, Oxford-
street; 330 and 451, Strand ; 49 and 60, Bishopsgate-
street ; 85, Tottenham-court-road. Also at Dublin.
Bewley 'and Draper ; at Edinburgh, Raimes and Co. ;
at Liverpool, Nixon and Thew; at Manchester, Sharp and
Scott; at York, Raimes, ;Blanchard, and O. ;_:at;Soutia.-
ampton, Randall and SOD,