The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1867.

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7.1111 REIVIAN'OLTIRAGES,

DEPUTATION TO THE CHANCELLOR OP THE
EXCHEQUER

Yesterday afternoon a •deputation from the com-
mittee appointed to relieve the sufferers by the recent
Fenian outrage at the House of Detention waited upon
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, at Downing-street, for
the purpose of ascertaining the views of the Government
regarding indemnification. The deputation was composed
of, amongst others, the following : - The Rev. R. Maguire,
incumbent of Clerkenwell ; the Rev. A. Herring ;
Churchwarden Willcocks ; Mr. Churchwarden Nunn ;
Mr. H. Pownall, chairman of the Midctiescx magistrates ;
Mr. E. J. Thompson, member of the Metropolitan Board
of Works ; Messrs. R. H. Jones. E. D. Johnson, T. Dix,
J. W. Franklin, G. Savwell, W. Gittingwater, vestrymen
of the parish of Clerzenwell ; Mr. Overseer Chubb, Mr.
Woridey, Mr. Ayers, &c.
The Rev. R. MAGUSILE, in the absence of Mr. Torrens,
M.P., introduced the deputation. He said it was felt by
the Relief Committee to be the proper time to put them-
selves in communication with the Government on this
important subject. The application that day was on
public grounds. Clerkenwell had become the vicarious
sacrifice for all England. Therefore he thought the maxim
ought to be, that if one member suffer all the members
suffer with it. Hence the deputation. The committee
represented a benevolent fund, which at first did not con-
template any more than the supply of the ordinary neces-
sities of the sufferers—that was, the provision of new abodes,
furniture, help to those thrown out of work, the care of
the ellidren of the sufferers, the purchase of tools, and
the general reparation of shattered tenements. All this
the committee had been doing, and would continue to
do until their task waa complete. But besides all these
things, there was the much larger and greater question of
the buildings, some of which were in ruins, and many
more in a shattered condition. He had himself person-
ally taken account of the number of houses thus affected
—in all 200, and containing some 600 families. The
solicitor acting for the sufferers had stated at the com-
mittee that already fifty of the householders had claimed
for damages under £3O each, and the claims of fifty more
ranged from £3O to £2,000 respectively, It was felt by
many that the case was similar to, that of a bombarded
town wherein inoffensive ixdrabitli* suffered by reason of
their vicinity to the place attacked. He felt that on a
moderate calculation this destruction of property would
involve an expense of from £12,000 to £15,000 to repair
and restore it. He was the more anxious to state this
because of his assertion in a letter to the Times last week
that the total loss N., ould be about £6,000. That statement
referred only to the ordinary needs created by the cata-
strophe, but would be far from covering the whole loss,
which would include dismantled houses, shattered furni-
ture, homes in utter ruin, tools and working materials lost,
forty persons in hospitals maimed and disfigured, some of
them for life, and for niany of whom annuities would have
to be provided. And then, above all these, there was the
matter of the buildings themselves—a matter which,
unless seriously provided for, would involve the owners in

utter ruin.
Mr. Churchwarden WaLconles made use of similar argu-
ments.
The Rev. T. E. THORESBY said unless the Government
came to the assistance of Clerkenwell, many of the
sufferers would not receive anything like an adequate
compensation for the injuries they had sustained. He
inigut inform the right hon. gentleman that the com-
mittee had that morning passed a resolution, which was
as follows :—" The objects for which we apply to the
Government are—firstly, for an amount sufficient to
meet the damage done to the buildings, and, secondly, for
an amount sufficient to grant annuities to those who have
received permanent injury. The reasons which make it
necessary to seek the help of the Government are :-1.
The amount of subscriptions received and probably to be
received, will not be more than equal to the relief of the
sufferers who have been blown out of their homes, having
their furniture and their tools destroyed, and their em-
ployment lost. 2. It is nearly certain that the county is
not liable for any of the damage done, and therefore no
hem can be ext,ected from that source. It is feared, there-
fore, that unless the Government come to the assistance
of Clerkenwell, the heaviest sufferers will be left to sink in
utter ruin. Inasmuch as the suffering and loss were
caused by an attack of the Fenians on one of her Majesty's
gaols the event is national, and one in which her Majesty's
Government may with great propriety render assistance
in this most deplorable and overwhelming outrage and
emergency."
Mr. E. J. THOMPSON said the committee wished to know
whether, supposing those very generous private subscrip-
tions coming in she, 1 fall short, they might rely upon
obtaining from the Government the implied promise that
they would step in and enable them to place the sufferers
in possession of those social and moral benefits which they
enjoyed before the commission of the outrage. Whether
the Government or the county were liable was a legal
question which would be shortly determined ; but it was
perfectly clear that some one must pay. If they appealed
to the country at large it was probable they might get a
sufficient amount of money, but the question was whether
if such a resource fell short the Government would come to
the rescue.

A conversation then took place as to the tenure of the
possession of the demolished and injured houses ; after
which,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said : I have
listened with very great interest to the statement you
have made, and I cannot help expressing my opinion that
you have all shewn a great deal of public spirit in Clerk-
enwell by the way in which you have come for ward to
relieve the necessities of the sufferers by the late calamity.
Your worthy incumbent also deserves a great deal of
respect and praise from the country at large for his inde-
fatigable efforts in this matter. I must say that, acting
under the great excitement which naturally arose at the
moment, and the absorbing nature of the outrage, the
Government came forward in order to supply the more
pressing necessities of the sufferers ; but still I cannot help
thinking that the question as to the necessity for funds has
never yet been really put before the country, nor has any
adequate idea yet been given of the actual amount of damage
done. There is, as you are all aware, deep sympathy in the
minds and hearts of the people of this great nation, and I
doubt not you will receive a ready response if those sym-
pathies are only properly appealed to ; but still, at the
same time, I and others with whom I am associated
have felt that we should like to know what amount you
would be likely to require before we come forward with
Governmental assistance. So far as the Government is
concerned, I may at once tell you that the sympathy of
the Cabinet is as fresh as ever ; but I do not think your
cause would be at all injured if you were now at once to
appeal to the sympathies of the country at large. I think
some general statement of the effects of the calamity, of
the various classes of sufferers and the several kinds of
sufferers, would do you a vast deal of good and bring you
all the assistance in the shape of funds you may require.
I have no doubt you will take some action in that direc-
tion, and I should think if you were to call another public
meeting you would give the adjoining districts an oppor-
tunity of contributing towards the general fund. I say
general fund, bet Ruse I consider this a general thing ;
and as you will have doubtless to appeal to other districts,
it is just as well that you should take advantage of it at
once. There are also other modes of accomplishing the
same result—such as publishing letters in the various
leading journals signed on behalf of your committee, and
I think the whole of your case should be at once
laid before the public. That at least is my impression,
for, as I told you, I do not think the case of the sufferers
in the various branches of trade and manufacture carried
on in Clerkenwell has yet been more the country in that
complete form in which I think it might be. You should
prepare a statement which would not only show the various
classes of the sufferers, but at the same time a fair estimate
of the complete loss sustained and the amount necessary to
supply every little necessity, and then I have not the
slightest doubt you would find that ample funds wou7 I be
provided to reach them. Again, I may frankly tell you that
I know Persons—in fact, I myself have wished to hand in a
suuscription to the funds - who did not know where such
sums as they might wish to have applied to the purpose
were to be sent ; and beyond this we have heard that the
class of people who have suffered would have all their losses
made up out of the funds that have already been subscribed.
Now all you require may, I think, he accomplished by some
of the means I have suggested, so as to put the case
completely and fairly before the country, which, as I
have said, I believe has not yet been done ; and I think
that would best be done-by calling a public meeting out-
side Clerkenwell. _ _

A MEMBER of the DEPUTATION : Supposing that after
doing all you have suggested there remains still a de-
ficiency, how is the loss to be made up to these poor
pec2ple?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER : I would not con-
template such a state of things, for I am convinced, if
there is a fair appeal made, there will be ample funds
forthcoming to meet every just claim. Of course, the
subscribers would look to the committee of management
for the proper distribution of the funds. You know
it is not desirable that Government should always inter-
fere in such cases, but this is o'ic of a very peculiar kind,
and I may tell you that C. reason the Government
acted as they did was pecause they thought that probably
some days, or even weeks, might elapse before a com-
mittee could be appointed and be in possession of an
adequate fund to relieve the sufferers, and as it was very
desirable that a sum sufficient to meet their immediate
necessities should be at once distributed, we thought it in-
cumbent upon us to take immediate action. However, i
may say this, if you appeal to society and society turns A
deaf ear to that appeal, then we shall be in a position to
deal with it ; but such action on our part does not appear
to me to be at present necessary. You must all, I think,
feel that the sympathy with the sufferers is very general,
and I cannot help thinking that if you adopt the means
I have indicated you will get ample funds to meet every
emergency.
After a brief conversation as to what the committee have
already done, the deputation thanked the right hon.
gentleman and withdrew.

ATTEMPT TO FIRE THE LEEDS GASWORKS.
LEEDS, Thursday Evening.
A Fenian case has been heard to-day at the Town Hall,
Leeds. Two Irishmen, one named Patrick Brady and
the other John Reilly, were charged with having been
found, under very suspicious circumstances, in the Immo-
diate vicinity of the Leeds Gas Company's extensive
works in Meadow-lane, Leeds. It appeared that late on
Christmas night the prisoners and three other men were
seen near the works, moving about in so suspicious a
manner that it was thought advisable to communicate
with the police. A constable joined in watching the sus.
pected men. One of them was heard saying to
another, " Well, you have been a lamplighter,
and you will know exactly how to do it." The
constable summoned assistance, and when the Irishmen
saw the officers approach all five ran away. They were
followed, and the two prisoners were caught. The other
three managed to escape. When they were taken to the
Town Hall the prisoners refused to give any account of
themselves. They would not say either where they lived,
or what business they followed. When before the magis
trates, Reilly stated that he came from Newcastle, am
had at some former period been employed at the Leed
Gasworks. Brady also stated that he had been a labourer
at the works for the last twelve months. They were boti
remanded for a week,

iV,IT.RO-GLYCERINE.

Nine persons were recently killed at the Newark and
New York railroad station in South Bergen, New Jersey,
iy the explosion of a can of nitro-glycerine. At the
nquest held upon the bodies, professional testimony was
adduced as to the nature of this terrible compound.
Otto Burstenbinder testified : I am now in the blasting
business, and reside in the city of New York ; nitro-
glycerine is composed of nitric acid, sulphuric acid, and
glycerine oil ; it is a liquid of light yellow colour, and
about six-tenths heavier than water ; in exploding it
expands 10,400 times, and powder expands about 800
times ; this compound called nitro-glycerine will not ex-
plode by simple contact with fire ; it requires about 360
degrees of heat to make it explode ; it will not easily
explode by concussion or friction when fluid, but it
changes its qualities entirely when frozen ; if frozen it will
explode very easily by a stroke or slight concussion.
William H. White said : I know that glycerine, is no
more explosive when frozen than when in a liquid state;
frozen, it is less liable to explode ; it is very hard to explode
a cartridge when frozen ; a very heavy weight coming on
glycerine either in a frozen or liquid state would explode it:;
I have seen a man let a can of frozen glycerine fall from
hie shoulder on a rock without exploding it ; I consider
nitre-glycerine twenty-five times safer than powder for
blasting purposes ; I have seen a chunk of nitro-glycerine
a big as my hat cut open with an axe.
Professor R. Ogden Doremus testified : I am Professor
of Chemistry at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, and
A the College of the City of New York. On December 2
I received from the coroner two bottles of nitro-
glycerine, with a request to report upon its properties.
I have subjected it to ultimate chemical analysis,
and find it to correspond to the formula C. 6, H. 3,
0. 3, and (N. 0.) 5. The substance freezes at about 46;
it does not explode when red-hot copper is placed in it.
We tried it with the most intense heat we can produce
with a galvanic battery, with two hundred cella, holding a
gallon and a half each. Some nitro-glycerine was placed
in a cup and connected with one of the poles of the bat-
tery; through a pencil of gas carbon the other poles of the
battery were connected with the glycerine, and no explo-
sion ensued ; but when the point touched the britannia
vessel, the nitro-glycerine took fire, a portion burning, and
the rest scattering about. This is as severe a test as we
can submit it to in the way of heat under the pressure
of the air; we therefore would conclude that nitro-

glycerine carried about expOsed cannot explode, even
if you drop a coal of fire into it ; if the liquid is
confined under pressure, then an explosion will
ensue ; if paper be moistened with it and put
on an anvil and a smart blow given with a hammer, a
sharp detonation ensues. Nitro-glycerine is more diffi-
cult to explode than powder. Much less is known of nitro-
glycerine than of gun-cotton, and probably several varieties
of this article may be formed, as of gun-cotton ; this would
explain cases of spontaneous explosion. If the nitro-
glycerine is not carefully washed, to get rid of the acid,
a gradual decomposition will ensue, producing gases which,
if the vessel be closed, will explode. My opinion is that
nitro-glycerine should be used in the most careful hands.
Do not think I would put it in the hands of a common
labourer for blasting purposes ; it is less dangerous in a
frozen than a liquid state. I think concussion would ex-
plode frozen nitro-glycerine.
The following letter from Professor Doremus was read
to the jury: "Since leaving you I have learned that the
can of nitro-gly cerine, the explosion of which proved so
fatal, was full of frozen or solid nitro-glycerine. Now,
although the cork might have been removed, it is possible
that the red-hot irons melted and decomposed the material
at the bottom of the can, leaving a quantity of solid nitro-
glycerine above, which, by preventing the escape of the
gases, produced the pressure required for an explosion.
A red-hot iron, or the more intense heat of a powerful
galvanic battery, will not explode the nitro-glycerine
unless it is under pressure. Thin stopper of frozen nitro-
glycerine might have closet the orifice of the can suffi-
ciently to produced th;.., required pressure."
The jury, being out over five hours, found that the
deceased came to their death by the explosion of a can of
nitro-glycerine, consequent upon the careless handling of
the same by Thomas Burns, one of the decea. e 1; and
they censured the contractor, Colonel Schafner, for not
being more careful in the selection of a man to use the
article of nitro-glycerine, and recommended that in future
men should be employed in its use who understand its
explosive qualities, and requested the council of the town
of Bergen to order that there shall not be any more than
100 lb. of nitro-glycerine stored or kept in the town of
Bergen, the same to be stored in a fireproof vault when
not required for use.

Mr. Nobel, the manufacturer of the nitro-glycerine
which exploded at Newcastle, writes a very interesting
letter to the Times with respect to the explosive character
of the compound. He commences by saying that it is
high time that the public should know Lhat nitro-glycerine
has won its battle over the prejudices of the people of
several countries. Notably he instances Sweden and
Norway, in both of which countries it is freely carried by
rail, and has not led to a single accident. In Germany,
too, before the prohibition, thousands of parcels were
sent by rail without causing the least damage. On in-
-quiry the writer finds that accidents only occurred
when the parcels were sent under wrong declara-
tions. Whenever people convey explosive materials
the first thing they ought to know is its nature. With
regard to the minor accidents, Mr. Noble gives a list of
them which we subjoin. Looking over the list of those
minor accidents, of which the cause has been clearly ascer-
tained, which unfortunately with explosives is but rarely
the case, we are forced to admit that the substance has
been strangely abused. In five cases congealed nitro-
glycerine has been melted purposely over the fire.
In three cases a red - hot poker has been inserted
into the oil in order to melt it. In one case a
man kept a cartridge with a percussion cap and
fuse affixed and lighted in his hand until it blew it off.

In one instance, a man stood watching the burning of a
fuse inserted into nitro-glycerine until it went off and hurt
him. In one case, a captain set fire to a sailing vessel
with a cargo of nitro-glycerine, and people went on
board to extinguish the fire, but saved themselves, seeing
what was the cargo, and the ship was eight hours on
fire before it blew up, which could not possibly have
been the case with gunpowder. In one instance, two
workmen, while filling cartridges with nitro-glycerine at
the light of a tallow candle, set fire to some gunpowder
strewed on the floor, but found time to save themselves
and carry away considerable quantities of nitro-glycerine
before the explosion took place. In one case two leaky
canisters, full of nitro-glycerine, were soldered under con-
tinual reports produced by the heating of drops leaking
out, but caused no accident. In one case a captain of
artillery was hammering on a shell filled with nitro-
glycerine until it exploded and killed him. In one
case a man took to greasing the wheels of his
waggon with nitro-glycerine, knowing what it was,
and it went all right till it struck hard against some-
thing, and the wheels wept to pieces. In one case it
was burnt in a lamp as an improvement on petroleum.
Mr. Noble urges that did we prohibit on the plea of acci-
dents, we should check the use of steam and fire,
which would be coming back to the days when igno-
rance and safety went hand in hand. Mr. Nobel then goes
on to say that it is nonsense to talk of substances which
are used in mines exploding by the scratch of a needle,
and cases have been known where parcels of nitro-glyce-
tine dropping from a considerable height have been
smashed, and yet have not exploded. Mr. Nobel, from
these facts, comes to this conclusion : " Whenever an
article can be regularly manufactured it may be regularly
used, and accidents are only the result of inexperience—
the want or neglect of instruction." It is admitted that
nitro-glycerine has its drawbacks, but Mr. Nobel considers
that most of the charges against it are made by persons
who have never seen it. He denies the truth of many
rumours as to its explosive qualities, and concludes with
contradicting the Northern Evening Express as to the
accident at Berlin. He says:—" In these days every
mischief is charged to nitro-glycerine. Thus we read in
the Northern Evening Express that recently a box with
nitro-glycerine exploded at a railway station in the city
of Berlin, and that the simple act of placing it in the
van caused it to explode.' It is a proved and confirmed
fact that it was fulminate of mercury that exploded.
Last year somebody pretended that the mere contact with
oil of turpentine would cause nitro-glycerine to go off.
It has grown to be almost a truism now, and yet there is
not a particle of truth in the whole story."

FIRE AT NEWCASTLE.—The ISTaraterit &ening
Express of Thursday reports a fire which occurred at
St. Anthony's, a village within the borough of New-
castle, about two miles east of the town. A co-operative
store was burnt down. The loss is estimated at £2,000.
The stock was insured for about £1,500. The members of
the store fear that the fire was caused by the wilful act of
some malicious person.

ALARM AT HA/UPTON COURT PALACE.--In conse-
quence of information which reached the officials in charge
of the Royal Palace at Hampton Court on Tuesday after-
noon, it was considered advisable to increase the number
of watchmen on the premises. Accordingly, most of the
gardeners employed were divided into parties, and patrols
were appointed to keep under view the principal ap-
proaches to the palace. Other men were stationed in the
courts and passages, and so a close watch was kept
throughout the night, it being so arranged that the patrols
met at some point or other at very short intervals.
On Christmas morning a fresh body of men went on
duty, apd the watch and guard were kept up through
the day. It is expected that the military guard will be
increased,

POLICE INTELLIGENOP.i.—.This Day,

MARLBOROUGH-STREEr.

CAUTIOI‘; TO CAB PROPRIETORS.—SamueI Tugg,
a cab driver, badge 10,026, was charged before Mr.
Knox with cruelty to a horse, by working it while
in an unfit state, the charge being preferred by the
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals.

Simon Sell, officer of the Royal Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, saw a horse
attached to a cab near St. James's Hall last
night, and on examining it found it to be old, worn
out, in a very low condition, and totally unfit for
work, and in answer to questions he put to the de-
fendant, he said that the horse had been in the same
state for a month, and that his master, Mr. Martin,
of Charlwood-street, Pimlico, knew its condition.
Mr. Knox remanded the prisoner on bail, and
ordered the proprietor of the horse to be summoned,
and in the meantime the horse was to remain at the
Greenyard for the inspection of Mr. Cherry, the
Government veterinary surgeon.
SCANDALOUS CONDUCT IN A WORKHOUSE.
Albert M'Grady, a young man, was charged before
Mr. Knox with behaving in a refractory manner in
St. James's Workhouse.

Robert Bradley, the porter of the workhouse,
said that at half-past seven the previous evening
the prisoner, an inmate of the workhouse, returned
from three days' leave in a state of drunkenness,
and as soon as he was admitted he began making
a great disturbance. The priSoner was put to bed
but shortly after got up and again made a disturb-
ance, made use of the most disgusting language, and
set the officers of the house at defiance, and they
were obliged to have him locked up. The prisoner's
conduct in the house was of the worst description,
and he had been in prison three times, once for six
months.

Police-constable Win. surgess, 129 A R, said
he was called to the workhouse to take the prisoner
into custody, when he found him to be very drunk
and violent, and making use of bad language. He
said that he had done one six months, and that he
could do another on his head.

Bradley said that the room where the prisoner
made the disturbance was over the sick ward, where
a man was dying at the time.

Mr. Knox asked if the person was present who
could prove the convictions against the prisoner ?
Bradley said he was not.

Mr. Knox said he thought the prisoner might re-
flect on what the porter had said, and think of others
as well as himself. The prisoner had got drunk,
and made a disturbance, a poor creature passing
from this world to another at the time. As the
other convictions could not be proved, he should
de,il with the case as a first Gffence, and commit the
prisoner for 21 days' hard labour.