The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-24 00:00:00

G, OCTOBKH

THE LATE DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT
THE ROYAL SURREY GARDENS.

THE INQUEST.-THIS DAY.

The inquiry into the deaths of the unfortunate indivi-
duals who lost their lives on Sunday evening last, at the
Royal Surrey Gardens, was resumed this morning at
the Newington Workhouse, bcfore Mr. Carter, coroner,
and the jury impannelled on Tuesday last.
Mr. Spurgeon was not present at the commencemcnt,
though he bad been summoned to attend.
The jury having answered to their names, the follow-
ing additional evidence was taken :
Mr. C. W. C. Otway, surgeon, 7, Canterbury-row,
Newington-road—About 7 o'clock en Sunday evening
last I was summoned by Police-constable 333 P to go
to the Surrey-gardens, where a dreadful accident had
happened. I immediately went there and found great
confusion in every direction. 01 arriving mid-way be-
tween the entrance of the Garden and the entrance of
the Hall, my attention was called to a female lying on
the grass surrounded by a number of persons. I ex-
amined her ; she was breathless, and she had no pulsa-
tion in any part. Her countenance was very suffused
and puffy. I detected no particular external injury on
her person. I listened at her chest, and was about
to make further inquiries when I was called off
to examine another person. The first person
was Mrs. Skepper. She was about two yards from
the first female. She was not breathing, but
I felt her pulse and heart heating. I directed the bye.
standers to raise her a little, and loosen her dress, which
was done. I was then pulled away to another female at
the other side of the garden, and I never saw Mrs.
Skepper after. I found the third person dead. I think
the second female I saw in the garden. I was very
much distressed at the sight, and when called away
from the second female I looked round and seeing a
medical friend of mine there I asked him to attend
to her. Superintendent Lund then desired me to re-
main by his side whilst the bodies wore brought and
hid on a table at the north-west end of the building.
I believe the first brought was a female, Mrs. -Bar-
low. She appeared to have been brought from upstairs.
She was dead, her face was very livid, with the chin
forced down on the chest. The bone of her stays was
forced through her dress and was pressing on her mouth
and nose. I opened her dress and removed the stay
bone. I then felt her heart, and I said this woman is
dead. My impression at the time was, that beside the
suffoca'ion she had injured her head at the top of the
spinal column. I have since examined her body, and
found a contusion on the right aide of the head. She
died from suffocation by the head being pressed down
on the chest, and a physical impediment caused thereby
to the introduction of air into the lungs. Noticing the
female was in the family way when she was placed on the
table,l afterwards came to the workhouse in company with
Mr. Stower, a medical man, and it was decided that the
Caesarean operation should be performed. Mr. Gannon,
a medical man operated, and a full grown male child was
taken from her—the child was dead. I believe the
next person I saw was Heard, a large powerful man ; he
was brought from up stairs, and was dead ; his head was
forced down on his chest, as in the case of Mrs. Barlow;
his face was suffused and livid ; I did not detect any
particular external injury on his person ; he died from
suffocation from pressure on the brain. I thought at the
time he had broken his neck, and on a hasty examina-
tion I was unable to say if his neck was dislocated ; he
was bleeding from the back of his head as if he had
fallen, and there were marks or bruises on his chest ; the
wound at the back of the head was a contused wound.
Two females were then placed on the table, but I don't
know where they were brought from ; Mr. Marshall
attended to one of them. Their names were John-
son and Matthews. Johnson was in a state of syncope,
and she was attended to by Mr. Marshall. Matthews
I examined, and found her dead. Her countenance was
more livid than the others. I detected no personal in-
jury ; and my opinion is that she also died of suffoca-
tion. I afterwards saw Johnson, and found her dead.
Her countenance was pallid. One of them was bruised
about t!,e fale. I believe all three persons lost their
lives by suffocation, through compression.
By the Foreman—Probably had received a blow that
might have paralysed him, but it was not the cause of
death.
By the Coroner—They all lost their lives by violence.
Witness—l belive the boy who fell from the stairs was
not killed. Oa Sunday evening a person called at my
ho‘use and wished me to attend a boy who had severely
injured himself from falling down a staircase.
Mr. Fullager.—We have a letter from the mother of
the boy, stating he is not dead.
The Coroner—l believe a policeman has seen the
mother of the boy, and ascertained he is not injured,
and that he was at work yesterday in the City.
Mr. John Madge, examined on Tuesday—On Sunday
evening last I went to the Surrey Hail to hear Mr.
Spurgeon preach, and I stood during the whole of the
evening in front of the orchestra, close to the foot of the
pulpit. I faced the audience, and could see every part
of the ball, which was densely crowded. I was at the
gardens at a quarter past 4 o'clock, and assisted in
snaking arrangements, with the police, to pre-
serve order. I did it at the request of the deacons of
Park-street Chapel, who wished good order to be kept.
Mr. Spurgeon entered the pulpit about half-past 6
o'clock, when service commenced by singing, reading
the scriptures, and prayer. At the close of the prayer
there was great confusion near the entrance door (the
centre door), occasioned by persons rushing out of the
place—about a dozen or twenty at first—from the body
of the hall, occasioned, I believe, by a persona or persons
ceiling out "Fire."
The Coroner—Why do you believe it ?
Witness—Because I heard it, and a cry that the
" galleries are falling."
By the Coroner—Did you hear the word fire dis-
tinctly used ?
Witness—Yes, sir, more than once.
By the Coroner—Can you say whence the so unds
cstue ?

Witness—First from the door at the main entrance,
when I heard at the same time a little bell tinkle. The
cry of are was re-echoed immediately, exactly opposite,
and apparently after from three or four parts of the
ball. As soon as one person cried " fire," it was re-
peated by the others. The tinkling of the bell was
answered at the opposite side of the hall by the tinkling
of another bell, and another rush took place, accompa,
nied with the cry of " the galleries are falling."
By the Coroner—What effect did this have on the
people

Witnesi —lncreased confusion—dreadful—every body
appeared in commotion. All rose up extremely agitated.
By the Coroner—Can you identity any of the persons
wbo raised the cries

Witness—l don't think I can, but I saw several per
sons standing up at the end of the hall put their hands
to their mouths and cry, "The galleries are falling.'
They used their hands as a trumpet to convey the sound
as far as possible.

By Mr. Holland—You say the confusion appeared
before the cries ?

Witness—Yes, about a dozen or so rushing out of the
main door; the more the men cried the more the con•
fusion. I at first thought it was some person being
removed in a fainting tit. When they were shouting
" fire," I saw a man take a chair and go round the ball
and smash the glass in the windows and doors, against
which barriers had been placed to prevent exit during
the service to create additional confusion.
By a Juryman—How were they barricaded ?
Witniss—Oa the outside. When I saw the rush was
general I went to the N. W. staircase, and there saw the
bodies lifted on the leads, as described by ins in my evi-
deuce on Ituesday last. I thought at first the confusion
emanated from persons desirous of plundering.
By a Juryman—l am satisfied the tinkling noise I
heard was made by a bell, and not from the rattling of
the drops of a glass chandelier.
By the Foreman—l am glad you were so self-possessed
at the time, Mr. Illedge, because there are a few ques-
tions I wish to have answered. What is your impression
as to the breaking of the glass—was it to give additional
modes ,of exit or to create confusion ?
Witness—To create confusion.

Foreman—From your information, do you belieie
there was a preconcerted arrangement to create con-
fusion
Witness—Yes.
liivrernan—Did you feel alarm at the time ?
WitneFs--Yes, a little when I heard the cry " the
galleries are falling."
By a Juryman—When the first c'nfusien occurred
did you hear screams ?

Witness-LI c ou't think I did—l'm not certain. The
deacons bed no idea any disturbance would arise, or
that any opposition would be bhown to Mr. Spurgeon's
preaching. Mr. Spurgeon had no idea of the murderous
work that was going on in the stairs. lie was only
aware of it when I went and informed him, and he
remained in the pulpit addressing the people in
the hopes of allaying the panic. I and others bad to
dr.74:: him out of the pulpit.
By the Jury—Mr. Spurgeon acted very properly.
Mr. Ww. Soanies, engraver, of Fincbley-road,
Wal-
worth—l was at the Surrey-hall on Sunday evening last.
The disturbance commenced about the middle of the

!8 5 6

Foreman—Was there a man stationed at this stair-
case ?
Witaess—l believe so.
Foreman—Do you know who was there ?
Witness—l don't recollect • but I can ascertain. •
Foreman— Would it not be the duty of a man sta-
tioned at a particular spot to remain there ?
Witness—Not iu this instancs, because the instruc-
tions are general.
Foreman—l consider we should have the man before
us who was stationed there, because he must have seen
the accident.
Mr. Superintendent Lund—l will make enquiries
and let you know if a policeman was at the bottom of
the stairs at the time. Witness continued, in answer to
a question put to him, to say that up to the time of the
cry of fire, the immense concourse of persons was orderly
and there was no indication of a disturbance likely to
occur.

By a juryman—l heard no tinkling of bells or of
glass. 1 heard no scraatus previous to the panic.
By Mr. Holland—Do you think the breaking of the
chandeliers might be taken for that of bells?
Witnetts—Y es.

John Varney, police-constable 333 P—l was on duty
on Sunday evening at the front gates. Persons rushed
out crying "Fire !" and from what they said to ms
I fetched a surgeon. On returning I went into
the builuing. The_witness then repeated the evidence
given by him on Tuesday with reference to the identity
of the bodlee. The gates were burst in from Penton-
place after the alarm was given. There were more than
a thousand persons in the gardens who could not gain
admission into the body of the hall.
Evidence was then taken to complete the identity of
Mrs. Mead, which was nut completed on the former
day and wbere her death took place.
Robert Paine Grace, 14 years of age, residing at 11,
Lyndhurst-grove, Lyndhurst-road, Peokharn---I was at
the Surrey-gardens on Sunday evening, in the third gal-
lery, on the left hand side from the pulpit. After being
there about half an hour l eaa a middle-aged wan near
the principal entrance, lie bad clank whiskers and a
beard.

[W shall give the conclusion in our late edition.]

An inquest was held last night by Mr. Bedford, at the
Compasses, Mount-street, Grosvenor-square, on tha
bodie- of two newly•bgrn infants, found in Hyde•park
and Warwick-equare, Pimlico. In each case a vtr,licc
of " murder" against persons ualtnown was re-
turned..

TIIu
END OF TIME LONG YACATION.—The long vaca-
tion, which commenced on the 10th of August, termi-
nates to-day (Friday), and to-morrow the common law
offices will reLutne their wonted activity. As the 2d of
November falls on a Sunday this year, Michaelmas
Term will not commetice until the following Monday.
There is a good deal of business before the courts. As
usual, a number of persons have given notice of their
intention to apply to be admitted attorneys of the com-
mit law courts.

exceed prayer. I stood under the gallery immedietely
opposite the main entrance. At that time a rush took
place into the lobby from the gardens, which protluee.l
a bustle in the bail, followed immediately by screaming
in that vicinity, and a general looking round to that
spot. The word "Fire" arose more as a matter of in-
quiry than an alarm, and immediately like a stream it
flew across the hall like a flash. Suddenly the avenue
gates were opened, and there was a melt producing a
sound as if a fire-engine were coming. Then the panic
arose. I had not then beard the tinkling of bells, but I
did occasionally the breaking of chandeliers. A.generea
alarm spread through the building—all appeared to get
out of their seats and trample over one another, from a )
desire to escape. I assisted in breaking the glase in the
windows (but not with a chair) to give additional means
of exit. If it had not been done more lives weuld
have been lost. When I was breaking the glass
a person came up to me and said, "Be quiet,
don't do that, but trust in God." I replied
that I quite agreed with him in that sentiment, but at
the same time I considered myself justified in what I
was doing, in giving additional facilities to escape. I
do not believe the disturbance arose from a preconcerted
measure, but from the foolery of opening the avenue
doors when the hall was full. The panic arose from an
accidental and unforeseen circumstance. I did not see
any one put his hand to his mouth and call fire.
Mr. Isaac John Barrett, master of the Spa Wood
Grammar School—l was at the Surrey Hall on Sunday
evening in company with my wife. I stood with my
face to the audience about three yards, in front of the
pulpit. During the second prayer there was breathless
silence, and I distinctly heard the tinkling of the drops
of the gas chandelier and a rumbling sound of feet as if
stamping at the main entrance, simultaneous with
another such sound at the north-east entrance, accom-
panied with the breaking of glass. I had not
then heard the word "fire." From the manner in
which Mr. Spurgeon addressed the audience in
prayer I thought a disturbance might occur. He
said, "There were a great many mealy-mouthed
ministers who were afraid to use the word hell to car;
polite, but that he should use it a great many times tbat
night in the course of his address. His master Christ
seldem spoke of heaven, but of hell." Immediately on
hearing that a thought crossed my mind that a disturb.
ance might arise. I believe the disturbance arose Irons
a preconceeted plan by the opponents of Mr. Spurgeon.
When the confusion commenced Mr. Spurgeon desired
the audience to be quiet—it was only "pickpockets."
I saw an old schoolfellow of mine named Young, who
has a wooden leg, golinto the pulpit. He said " they
must be aware of the expense incurred in engaging the
hall, and that as they had not been able during the
confusion to collect as much as they anticipated, he
should feel obliged to the remaining portion of the
audience if they would subscribe as they went out." I
do not attribute the disturbance to anything Mr.
Spurgeon said.
Superintendent Lund—l went to the Surrey Gardens
at half-past 5 o'clock on Sunday evening in consequence
of an application for eight policemen, and that Mr.
Spurgeon would preach there. I went there as a matter
of duty. On my arrival I found at least 15,000 persons
assembled. I took up my position at the gates of the
trout entrance until five minutes past 6. A large Dum-
ber of persons had been admitted, and then there gas a
large cumber remaining outside. I left the entrance
gates and made my way to the N.W. Tower. I en-
tered and
,saw the ball and galleries tolerably full. I
returned by the main entrance where a number of per-
sons were entering. I considering they would fill the
hail, and on meeting one of the deacons, I told him the
ball was pretty well full, and that I should take the
responsibility of closing the gates. I locked them, and
left three policemen at the gates to intimate to the people
that the hall was full. I returned into the hall, went
throegh the body of the hall and into the orchestra, and
took up a standing position on the left hand side of the,
pulpit, which gave me a command of the whole build-
ing. The service had not then commenced. There were
between 5,000 and 6,000 persons in the body of the hall,
comprising men, women, and children. There were a
great many children, and a very large proportion of
women in the body of the hall. The three galleries
were pretty full, but I don't think there %ere so many
as his the Alboni night, when 13,000 persons were
present ; there was walking room round the first
gallery behind the seats, but I could not see how
full the others were. I should think there
were about 1,400 persons in the first gallery. The
other galleries appeared to be full. The service opened
about half. past six with a hymn, followed by a prayer,
mad what air. Spurgeon said appeared to have a great
effect on the female portion of the audience. He said,
"There may be some daughters here who have erred
from the paths of virtue, and may have brought their
fathers' grey hairs with sorrow to the grave." There
was great sobbing and crying amongst the females. He
continued his prayer, saying, " What a glorious night
is this." I then saw two men, and a lad about 16 or 17
and considerably shorter than the other two, rise up in
the body of the hall, immediately opposite the grand
entrance. One of them held up his arms and called
out what I believe to be " fire, fire." The cry was
immediately repeated, and it is impossible to de
scribe the scene that ensued, I jumped down from
the orchestra. There was a tremendous rushing, and I
heard the greatest noise at the north-west gallery. I
saw no one attempt to arrest the parties who raised the
alarm. It appeared to be a general panic after the first
alarm. I don't think I should know the party again
—I may say certainly not. The ball was lighted inside
as usual, and there were some lights on the outside. I
could see no cause for the origin, of the cry of "Fire."
I put Mra. Lund, who was with me, out at the south•
east door, and I then proceeded to the north-west
door. The first thing I sax was a respectable female,
with her face fearfully cut. I Assisted her to Mr. Tyler's
office, and she afterwards lelt in a cab. On my return I
was informed some one was lying dead on the flats of
the refreshment rooms. I returned immediately, and
then saw the balustrade was down, and six or
seven people had fallen over to the bottom ; one
man's leg was broken. The people were rushing down
the staircase ; but they made way for inn to ascend by
the side nearest the wall. On the matting of the first
gallery, inside the door, I saw a female lying dead, but
I can't identify her as being one of the deceased. lam
certain three dead bodies of females were brought down
stairs. I lifted the window a little, anti I saw two
women, and as I came down the stairs I saw a man
lying on the flats dead. I afterwards sent some police
to the spot., who brought the bodies down, and they
were all found to be dead. It was my impression at the
time that the disturbance arose from the opponents of
Mr. Spurgeon, and that it arose by preconcertion, but
certainly not by them. As such I reported to the Secre
tary of State ; but I have since had cause to alter my
opinion. I did not hear of a single pocket hair +kerchief
having been stolen, The totes were closed at 10 minutes
past 6 o'clock. After that Sergeant Coppin went out-
side, and there saw a number of seed mobsinen. Their
practice is to go into a building with the tail end of the
people. The gates were closed 20 minutes Mere the
appointed time. I have not hoard of anything being
stolen. I dionld have thought four policemen sufficii-nt
fur security inside, but as Mr. Spu Teen's friends asked
fur inure, he Lad them. If I had not been applied to 1
should have sent three or four men. About 13 or 14
persons were picked up at the bottom of the stairs.
By the Foreman—l have formed a different view as
to. the cause of the panic from my tint impression, and
as I am prosecuting inquiries I must decline giving my
change of opinion, and the causes for it. There were
28 policemen present on the Alboni night.
By Foreman—How were the policemen disposed on
Sunday evening ?
Witness—Sergeants Coppin and Varney were inside.
The others were about the building and at the end
of the staircases,