The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-30 00:00:00

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THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 30, 18-5
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1133 a

please, my little dears, you pays yew money and you
takes your choice." (Laughter.) But to Mr. Thackeray
.ve are indeed indebted ; and, in the name of all the
members of the fut,d, I heartily thank him for giving us
this evening so much of his valuable time, his ii fiaence,
and his eloquence. (Applause.) Now, gentlemen, I mu-t
come to the second division of my discourse—the pur-
poses of our fund, the amount of money we possess, and
what we do with it. It is now widely known that the
object of the General Theatrical Fund is to provide life
annuities for all persons practicing the art of acting,
dancing, or singing; also for pantonahniAs arid promp-
ters belonging to the fund ; while all members who have
subscribed for seven years may claim their annuities at
the expiration of that short term, should they become
incapacitated from following their art by accident or in-
firmity ; and, gentlemen, we none of us bear a " charmed
life" against affliction, whether of the mind or body
we know not how soon we may require that little but
honourable independence to which you so generously
subscribe. Should the Juliet of the evening that you
have so much admired slip in her descent from the bal-
cony, and the nurse, unable to arrest her fall, should she
fracture a limb i❑ consequence or be otherwise disabled,
should the bounding dancer, whose gyrations have called
forth your rapturous applause and your bouquets—should
she, in turning one of her astonishing pirouettes, happen
to dislocate that uncle, the form and proportions of which
you have so closely scanned through your opera glass—
should the tragic actor and graceful fencer, while show-
ing his skill at carte and tierce, in the character of
Hamlet, have an eye thrust out by some awkward Laertes,
or any of us suffer from "the thousand natural shocks"
that the player, as well as other fle,h, is heir to, I am
sure, gentlemen, you will neither dine nor sleep the worse
for knowing that you have assisted in alleviating these
ca'amities. (Applause.) I am, indeed, happy to tell
you that our fund is in a flourishing condition, and that
we are enabled to carry out all its purposes. From the
time we first commenced paying annuities we have had
17 claimants, who have received from 301. to 901. per
annum ; some of these have died, but we have now nine
receiving annuities, five of whom are females. During
the past year we have returned, according to our rules,
1001. to members retiring from the fund ; have expended
301. in funeral expenses ; and though it is not our cus-
tom, yet in peculiar and extreme cases we have not with-
held the hand of charity—and yet, having done all this,
our capital after to-night will not be far short of 11,600/.
(Loud cheers.) This capital, gentlemen, has been created
by the subscriptions of 163 members, assisted by your
liberality on these occasions, and the donations of friends
and well-wishers. (Cheers.) Having disposed of the
second division of my discourse, I now proceed to the
third—to appeal to your sympathies, and use whatever
powers I may possess to call forth the generous feelings
of your nature. The world is full of institutions, from
one end of it to the other—from the sutteeism of the
Hindoo to the cannibalism of the South Sea Islander.
(Laughter.) In America, the other day, a worthy citi-
zen declared that " woman was an institution"—(laugh-
ter)—while in France at the present moment there is a
peculiar institution called the passport—(laughter)—the
difficulties in obtaining which may tur❑ out to be a real
blessing to the roving Englishman, and send him about
to see his own country, and to discover to his astonish-
ment that it is the most beautiful to be found anywhere.
But in England, gentlemen, there:is an institution which
does not exist amongst any other of the nations of the
earth. It is an institution so thoroughly English, that
only an Englishman can thoroughly enjoy it ; for while
it is as national as it is pleasant, it is as substantial as it
is beneficial. Gentlemen, it is the institution of dining--
(chenrs)—that is to say, dining together in large companies
it the purpose of being charitable—(cheers)—and that
Institution you are now nobly carrying out this evening.
ft is not the midnight Bacchanalian festival, when pro-
mises are often made that in the morning are quite for-
gotten. You are called upon shortly after you have
dined—when you feel disposed not only to be at peace
with your neighbour but with all the world—you are
called upon to be benevolent, and you are so at once,
for on these occasions it is no credit system—the money
is taken over the counter. Then, is not this dining to-
gether as noble an institution as it is a national one
and long long may it continue to be an honest and a
hearty English method of doing good. (Cheers.) And
now, my dear friends—(laughter)—fourtbly and lastly,
I mast thank you all, and make the way easy for our
worthy secretary to announce your donations. 'We
have present a genial party of friends to whom I must
particularly allude, namely, the company of amateurs
who performed last year for the benefit of our fund.
We have received a very handsome sum from their exer-
tions on that occasion at the St. James's Theatre, and
it was their wish to have done the same this year, but
the theatre being in the possession of a celebrateet eon..
juror, it was not to be had at present, but when he has
exhausted his wonders they intend after Easter to "do
the trick" themselves—(laughter)—and to exert their
talent and their influence in our cause ; and while we
thank them sincerely for their pains, I am sure it will
be a comfort for them to know that I read the other day
in a weekly paper, amongst certain answers to corre-
spondents, how "Jesnima" was informed that the editor
was of opinion that amateur acting was not injurious to
public morals. (Loud laughter.) And now, gentlemen,
I must conclude with announcing to you that we have
received the noble annual contribution from her gracious
Majesty of one hundred guineas. (Cheers.) I know
that we have her best wishes. I know that there is no
greater lover of the English drama than the Queen—
(cheers)—that it is her delight ; and for the comfort of
actors yet to come, and for the future prospects of
the stage, it is pleasant to know that she frequently
brings the royal family to the play when the play is
good and worth seeing—(cheers)—and, in announcing
this queenly donation, I will end my discourse with the
aphorism, that as charity covers a multitude of sins,
come, then, and according to thy means do likewise
(Cheers.)

4
3i 4

plays, but the truth and -pase,ion which an; in bill rou,t
be more or lees reflected in the great mirror which ha
holcit up to nature. Actors, tuanhgers, and authors are nil

represented in this company, and it may he supposed that
they all have studied the deep wantB tin- human heart
in many theatr,s ; hut none of them could h%ve studifll
it- iLysterioue. workings in any then' re to greater advan-
tage than in the bright and airy pages of " Vanity Fair."
(Hear.) To this skilful showman, who has so often de•
lighted us, and who has charmed us again to-night, we
have now to wish God spee,3, and that he may continue
for many years to exercise his potent art. To him E!I
a bumper toast, and fervently utter, God bless him I
(Cheers.)

The CHAIRMAN briefly returned thanks, and expressed
his gratification at the terms in which be hal been spoken
of by his friend, Mr. Dickens, as well as at the circum-
stance that two literary gentlemen could be found who
entertained such sentiments towards each other as they
did. (Cheers.)
Several other toasts followed ; and the contributions,
including 100 guineas from the Queen, reached 4001.
The musical entertainments, as usual on this occasion,
were of a high order. Many of our ablest vocalists at-
ten3ed ; Madame Rudersdorff, in particular, excited
great applause by the admirable manner in which she
sang " 'Twits within a mile o' Eelinbro' town." Mass
Poole also sang very beautifully, as did several other
vocali-te.

The direction of the music was confided to Mr. Love'
Phillips.

THE LATE DISASTROUS FIRE .AND LOSS

OF _LIFE IN BLOOMSBURY.

This morning at 11 o'clock Mr. Wakley, coroner for
he Western Division of Middlesex, opened a❑ inquiry
at the Fox Tavern, Duke-street, Bloomsbury, into the
cause of death of the unfortunate individuals who lost
their lives at the late calamitous fire in Gilbert-street,
Museum-street, on Sunday morning.
Previous to swearing the jury,
The C,roner addressed the gentlemen summoned,
saying he intended sitting to-day until 3 o'clock, and if
they did not conclude the enquiry by that time he should
adjourn it till Thursday morning and sit till 3 o'clock.
If not then concluded, he should adjourn the enquiry
over for a week or ten days. It may be a very brief
enquiry, or it may be a very protracted one, and he men-
tioned it that no gentleman might be sworn on the jury
and bound over to appear day after day to whom it might
be inconvenient to attend. If any gentleman was likely
to be out cf town, or wished, or was likely to be callel
away by business engagements on Thursday, or the early
part of next week, he would advise him at once to name
it, in order that he might be excused from further attend-
ance, because it would be awkward for gentlemen to be
bound over to appear and incur heavy penalties for not
attending.
Mr. Cooper asked if the enquiry extended over a
month or six weeks the jury would be bound over to
attend !
The Coroner said—Yes. His knowledge of the cir-
cumstances was at present limited, and he could form no
opinion until after he had heard the evidence on oath.
It was an awful calamity, and it was one of the most
horrid sights he had ever teen. No time would be mis-
spent to endeavour to discover the cause, and to pre-
vent, if possible, the recurrence of a similar calamity
Mr. Cooper said he believed the whole of the proposed
jurymen were tradesmen, and it would be exceedi❑gly
inconvenient for them to attend for three mouths. He
instanced the protracted inquiry in Tottenham-court
road.

The Coroner said even in that case the jury would be
bound to attend. He took it there were no gentlemen
summoned on the jury connected in any way with the
proprietor of the premises.
The jury were then sworn, Mr. Adams, churchwarden
of St. Giles's, being selected as foreman,
The Rev. Horace Roberts, and several of the pa-
rishioners were present during the enquiry.
Mr. Sampson Low and Mr. Inspector Badderley at-
tended to watch the proceedings on behalf of the Royal
Society for the Protection of Life from Fire.
The jury then proceeded to inspect the premises, and
also to view the bodies of the unfortunate sufferers,
fourteen in number, which were lying in the dead house
of St. GEee's Workhouse. Their appearance has already
been miuutely descrebed. The young man Smith, who
jumped out of the window, is lying at University College
Hoepital.
The names and ages of the 14 persons on whom the
inquiry was held were—Richard Smith, 40 ; Harriett,
his wife, 41 ; Alfred, 15 ; Harriett, 13 ; Harvey, 11 ;
Walter, 9 ; Thomas, 7; Maria, 5 ; and Jesse, 2 years of
age, children of the first two named ; Jae. Hedger, Q 3;
Eliza, his wife ; William, 20 ; and John, 13 years of age,
children of Hedger and his wife.
On the return of the jury, the Foreman and others re•
marked they had never witnessed such a horrible sight,
and said to the Conner, " Did you ever in your expe-
rience witness such a horrible si;ht I"
The Coroner—l certainly never did.
A Juryman—Covent-garden Theatre was burnt down
without a single life being lost, and here a miserable
hovel takes fire and all these lives are lost.
The Coroner—l really cannot understand it.
The first witness called was
Alfred Ciiilman, No. 6, Graham-street, Walworth•
road, porter, who deposed he was brother to the de-
ceased Mrs. Smith. Ile identified her body and that of
her husband and children, now lying at St. Giles' Work..
house. His brother-in-law was a porter. He was a poor
labouring man, and he and his family were in grer,t
distress., He never knew him or his sister attempt or
threaten to commit suicide. At times, he regretted to
say, he was given to drink. He was not aware
if any of the children were in burial clubs.
The last time be saw his sister alive was at
his house at Walworth ; she then complained that
the house was lout for them to live in, and that as soon
as she could get apartments she should leave; she was
then looking out for apartments in Pied Ball-yard ;be
knew nothing of the fire except from general report. He
had been to the house where they occupied two rooms,
a front room and a back zoom on the second floor. The
rooms adjoined and opened into one another. There
was no back window to the house, and the family had
to come from the back-room to the front-room before
they could get to the landing. There was a skylight ;
but he did not know if there was a means of egress from
it. There were four rooms on each floor. He did not
kr.ow who else lived in the house. There was no venti-
lation or light for the back-rooms but that borrowed
from the staircase.

By a Juryman—His sister's reason for wishing to leave
was the dilapidated state of the house, the rain came in
from the skylight and made the room so damp that it
was unfit for the children to sleep in. His brother-in-law
had not been in constant work for some time. His
sister had complained of a carpenter's shop under the
dwelling which she considered dangerous and that she
would leave. Her reason for not leaving was that she
could get no one to take her in. The shop was opened
about Christmas last. There was an outlet from the
back-ground floor before it was turned into a carpenter's
shop. The deceased Smith and his family had resided
in the house about six years.
Eliza Sarson, 10, Richarde-place, Haggerstone, wife of
a labourer, deposed—l am the daughter of William and
Eliza Hedger and sister to the children. I identify three
of the bodies. My brother John is so much disfigureil
that I cannot identify him. My father was a journey-
man biscuit baker and confectioner ; he lodged on the
second floor and occupied two rooms. lam not aware
if my father and mother had attempted suicide ; they
were not in distress. I last saw them in the house
last Sunday week ; they had lived in the house nearly
three years.
The Coroner—Do you know where the fire broke out I
Hain (the beadle)—Yes, sir, in tte carpenter's shop.
The Coroner—And where then I
Hain—l have a witness who knows all about it.
Witness continued—They had a front and back room.
By the jury—I don't know anything that compelled
them to live there ; they only owed a fortnight's rent.
She never heard them make any complaint about the
house ; but my father frequently said that if a fire took
place they would all be burnt to death. They had never
experienced any fears as to the stability. of the house.
deposed
James George Fleming, No. 11 Fire
—I belong to the Chandos-street Fire Elin
arriving
gon ;
at
I was at the fire, and got there fourth,fie
wasil over I
about half-past 3 o'clock. After the
assisted in getting out the whehorlonttfhwatahlel: baonddiense.arTthhee
young man was found near t
window at the east of the building on the second floor.
The floor had fallen, and the front wall before the bodies
were found. From the position of the body I cannot
I
say where it must have been. When arrived there
I saw the front would fall, and I gave an alarm. It
then immediately fell, roof and all, and we had a narrow
escape.
The walls, floor, roof, and all fell in a second.
After cooling the ruins, and whilst the ruins were still
burning, I went by direction of my foreman into the
ruins, where I found a young man near the front wall of
the east end ; his father was underneath him.
We then cleared away the ruins further, when
we found eight children, males and females.
Then we found Mr. and Mrs. Smith—they
were all one on top of each other, as it were.
By a Juryman—The Smiths were in the back part.
Some of the children had fallen with their heads down-
wards, and I had to pull them up by the legs. I took
out 14. The first we found about 10 minutes
past 4.
They were all dead. The pressure was enough
kill
any one. They had only their night clothes on, which
were much burnt. One body had his trousers partly OP,
and he Must have been in the act of pulling them on
when the house fell. He was least burnt of all. I beard
no cries nor saw any person at the windows when I
came up with my engine.
By a Juryman—The house was inflhafrn
aeisa
rfrri47l
firethe
bottom to the top when I_ arrived.