The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-14 00:00:00

F_RENCII ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

At the last sitting a communication was read
from Father Secchi, astronomer at Rome, accom,
panying the gift of an atlas of lunar phases ob-
tained by photography. These phases are 20 cen-
timetres in diameter. The manner of obtaining
them is as follows :—A negative image, 45 milli-
metres in diameter, is taken on collodion ; it is then
magnified by a large solar microscope, and a posi-
tive image of the size wanted may thus be obtained
on a pane of glass coated with albumen. This is
then used to bret a negative impression, which will
in its turn give any number of positive ones on
paper. Father Secchi states that all these photographs
were taken in March and April, the summer mouths
being very unfavourable for the operation, on account
of the excessive light from the surrounding sky. The
time which it takes to obtain a photograph of the
full moon is not more than twenty seconds ; the
moon four days old, on the contrary, will require
as much as seven minutes.—M. Jolt' read a paper
on the silk-worm and its diseases ; but the only
new fact it contained was, that, whether the insect
be fed on the colouring matter called chiea, or its
body painted with it, in both cases it will spin a
red cocoon.—M. Lespes read an interesting paper
on the auditive apparatus of insects. The exist-
ence of the sense of hearing has been admitted
in the latter • but where the scat of this sense was,
had remained a mystery ; though most entomolo-
gists supposed it to exist in the antennae. M.
Lespes, while expressing himself with great cau-
tion on the subject, nevertheless adduces certain
anatomical facts which go far to confirm this opi-
nion. There exist, in the horny part of the
antennae, certain small openings, already remarked
by Ericbson, which are closed by a thin mem-
brane ; this seems to perform the offices of
the tympanum of the car in yertelarated ani-
mals; behind it, M. Lespes has found a small
pocket or bag filled with a viscous liquid in
which there seldom fails to exist a solid body,
which appears to be an otolith ; moreover,
he has been able to trace one of the terminal
threads of the antennal nerve to this bag. These
organs greatly resemble the auditive apparatus of
crustacea, which are also situated in the antennm.
—M. Dumeril read a paper on the classification of
the fish which constitute the echcneid group.
These fish, which are deprived of the advantage of
a natatory bladder, are, on the other hand, pro-
vided with a series of plates, situated on the ce-
phalic region, and arranged after the manner of
Venetian blinds. They possess extreme mobility,
and enable the creature to attach itself to any
floating body it may happen to fall in with.—M.
Kekule claimed the right of priority On the subject
of certain ideas borrowed from him by M. Couper,
who lately sent a communication to the Academy
on a new chemical theory. In some instances
quoted, the latter gentleman would seem to have
appropriated nearly the same words used by the
former.—M. Labarthe sent in a paper on a method
of preventing the grape-blight by means of olive-
oil.—Part of a letter was read, addressed by M.
Menabrea to the Perpetual Secretary. of the
Academy, in which a short outline is given of a
work lately published by M. Palcocapa, Minister
of Public Works at Turin, on the navigation of
the Danube. The author, after showing that the
branch called St. George would be the most con-
venient, as lying nearest the Bosphorus, examines
the question of effecting an easy communication
with the sea by one of the natural mouths of the
Danube, and proposes in that case a- series of hy-
draulic works, such as he himself executed. with
perfect success many years ago at the port of Ma-
lamocco, at Venice.

DESTRUCTIVE CONFLAGRATION AT TOWER HILL.
—Yesterday morning, shortly before two o'clock, consider-
able alarm was caused on Tower Hill in consequence of the
sudden outbreak of a destructive fire on the premises of
Mr. J. C. Reicharts, tailor.. Before the flames could be
conquered the whole of the building was burnt out, and
adjoining premises considerably damaged by fire and
water. The origin of the fire is unknown. The contents
wore insured in the Sun Fire-office. Mr. J. C. Reicharts
was burnt out in Colthester-street April 4, 1857.
A VETERAN SPORTSMAN.--The Duke of Cleve-
land, although entered upon his 71st year, is still to be
found at this season pursuing
his moorland shooting with
the same avidity as ever. His grace, however, is showing
this season the first indication of failing strength, for he is
pursuing his sport on a pony . Hitherto his stalwart frame
has enabled him to accomplish what very few men could
equal. His own moors, extensive as they are, were not
considered sufficient for this purpose, and he has for many
years rented a large tract of moorland belonging to Mr.
John Bowes, about 10,000 acres, over all which he has re-
gularly shot. The rate at which lie was wont to travel
over the heather has proved anything but pleasant to fol-
low to many of his friends who joined him, and very few
would venture to try his pace the second day.—Newcastle
Chronicle.
FEARFUL CATASTROPHE AT SHEFFIELD LAST
NiGHT.—SIX PERSONS KILLED.—A fearful calamity oc-
curred last night at the Surrey Music Hall, Sheffield, an
imniense building, holding 4,000 people, and where a variety
of amusements are carried on. The place was crowded,
when some villain in the gallery fired a pistol, evidently
with a view of creating alarm. The proprietor, Mr. Gou-
don, instantly came on the stage and succeeded in persuad-
ing the people to keep their .eats for the time ; but in a few
minutes three or four men simultaneously rose in the gal-
lery, and cried—" The place is on fire." Then ensued a
fearful rush. The audience, principally composed
of young
persons, frantically rushed to the various outlets of the
building, whilst many jumped over the gallery front into
the pit. The consequences were that six persons were
crushed to death, a seventh was removed to the infirmary
in a dying state, and many others were seriously injured.
The disastrous affair most clearly results from a conspiracy.
w AO the oliglatot oisaof any firo iii the Flaw,

THE FIRE AND LOSS OF TWO LIVES
AT GREENWICH.

Yesterday afternoon, Mr. C. T.—CarttaFrthe
coroner for West Kent, opened an inquest at the
Globe Tavern, Royal-hill, Greenwich, upon the
bodies of Caroline Isabella Roper, aged five and a
half years, and her sister, Eliza Jane, aged one year
and six months, who were burnt to death at a fire
which occurred on Sunday morning last, in the
house of their father.

Mr. Hodsoll attended to watch the case on behalf
of the Kent Fire Office, and Inspectors Marks,
Barry, and Wilson attended to watch the wee on
behalf of the commissioners of police.
Mr. Roper having identified the bodies of the
two unfortunate children, proceeded to say that the
deceased and 'the Servant girl slept together in the
attic. In the sitting-room, first floor, were sleep-
ing his wife, who had been confined only the pre-
vious Thursday, the nurse, and two other children.
He closed shortly before 12 o'clock on Saturday
night. The gas had not been put out entirely since
his wife's confinement. On Sunday morning last
he was awoke by an oppressive heat, and went
down stairs to see what was the matter, when he
was stopped by a body of flame. He then made
for the room in which his wife was, and assisted her
out of the window. He next tried to get back to
save the baby, but was unable. He spoke to the
servant who was in the attic, and he imagined that
she would have. been enabled to save the two chil- .
dren. After putting his wife out she fell into a
cistern of water, owing to woodwork giving waif,
He called out " Fire !" and a policeman came up
soon after. As the fire had not then burst forth,
he asked the first policeman who came up to lift
him over Mr. Morley's yard so that he could get a
ladder, but he would not. Several others came up
but they only pushed him about.
By the Coroner—l entreated the officers to ren-
der me assistance to procure a ladder, but it was no
good, and they then commenced pulling the shut-
ters down. I begged of them not to do so, as it
would kill the children. I knew the nature of '
such a proceeding—that it would cause the fire to
spread more rapidly. If they had not done so there
would have been plenty of time to rescue the two
children.

By a juror—l escaped through the next house.
Eight or ten minutes elapsed before the escape
arrived.

Elizabeth-Waterfall, servant to Mrs. Roper, said
that she went to bed just before Mr. Roper, who
was the last person downstairs. She slept in the
attic with both the deceased children. 'There was
another bed in the room, but as the boy was out it
was not occupied.
By the Coroner—l was awoke by Mr. Roper
calling out, and on opening the door found the fire
coming up the stairs. I did not close the door after
I opened it, as I forgot to do so. I knew that it
was impossible for me to save the children. I was
taken down the escape. I did not hear any one
about the house when I we* to bed. I took a
lighted rushlight with me to my bedroom, which I
placed in a Washhand basin, but it was not lighted
in the shop.
Frederick Hay croft, of the It division, said that
he noticed a light in Mr. Roper's front shop. He
went to the house and saw that the light was over
the shop door. He sprang his rattle, took out his
truncheon, and knocked violently at the street door
and shutters.

By the Coroner.--It was eight minutes to four
when he discovered the fire. Two police officers
came up, and he sent one for the escape, and one
for a ladder. The one who went for the ladder
came back and said that he could not get one. Mr.
Roper told him that his two children were in the
house. He told him that he could not get them
out, and that he had sent for the escape. A gen-
tleman Went for the escape, but it did not arrive
for 12 or 15 minutes. He saw the roof fall in half
an hour after the escape was brought to the spot
and after the young woman was brought down.
Ebenezer Hodd; 123 R, said that he called Smart,
the conductor of the escape, three times before he
answered. He believed that he was asleep at the
time, and was not sober. _

Smart emphatically denied this accusation, and
his evidence was confirmed by several highly re-
spectable tradesmen, including Mr. Moore, the
landlord of the Globe.

It was then decided to adjourn the inquiry for
additional evidence.

SIIOCKIXG DEATH OF A CRICKETER.

Within an hour after the close of the grand
cricket match between the Eleven of -England and
Twenty of Rochdale, on Saturday evening,a shock-
ing accident occurred on the railway, which pro-
duced a very painful sensation in Rochdale, and
which terminated in the death of Mr. Thos. Hunt,
the well-known cricketer. Gentlemen who reside
in• the neighbourhood of Oldham-road, Rochdale,
have made it a very common practice, with a view
to shorten the distance, to get upon the Lancashire
and Yorkshire Railway at MilkstOne, and to walk
thence to the pavilion.on the cricket ground, which
abuts upon the line. Mr. Hunt, at the close of the
game, was requested to stop in Rochdale, in order
to attend a banquet at a quarter past seven o'clock,
to be held at the Wellington Hotel. He refused,
saying that it would cost him less to go home, and,
after packing up his cricketing materials, he en-
gaged a man named John Wild to carry them to the
Rochdale station. Unfortunately, without any
leave whatever, the example of walking on the
line had increased very much during the match,
and large numbers entered the cricket ground
on Saturday that way. Mr. T. Hunt and the
man Wild determined to walk upon it to the sta-
tion. Wild went a short distance before Mr. Hunt,
and the latter ineautiously'picked his road between
the up rails, and when he had gone a distance of
about 200 yards, and had nearly reached the houses
at Milkstone, Wild heard the whistling of an en-
gine, and turned round to look what it was. 'lt
was a train due at Rochdale station from Manches-
ter at 6.50. He saw the danger in which Mr. Hunt
was, but was too far off to render him the slightest
assistance. He appedred to be in a complete state
of bewilderment and unable to discover a place of
safety. He turned round quickly, and in a moment
was caught by the buffer of the engine, which
threw him down on the rails. Both his legs and
his left hand were across the rails, and in that posi-
tion the train passed over him, cutting off both legs
across the calves, except a few shreds of skin and
flesh, and smashing all the fingers of his left hand,
over which the wheels seem to have gone in a slant-
ing direction. Some of the passengers, attracted
no doubt by the gay appearance of the cricket field,
were looking out, and saw a man on the line and
lustily called out. The driver did all that he eould
to stop his train, but was unable to do so until the
accident occurred. A number of people from the
adjoining house jumped on the line to render assist-
ance. The train went forward to the station to
apprise the officials of the accident, and the people
procured a labourer's truck close by, lifted the un-
fortunate man upon it, and conveyed him to the
station, under the directions of Mr. Cross, the sta-
tion-master. Mr. Hunt was then removed to the
Fleece Inn, adjoining the station. Mr. Cross in-
stantly telegraphed to Dr. Harrison, of Manchester,
the company's surgeon, but he had left for Hudders-
field. Mr. Ogden, surgeon, was then called in, and
he sent for Mr. Bowers, and in a short time. after
Messrs. Sellars, Coventry, and Wood (assistants to
Mr. Lawton) arrived, and rendered all the assistance
they could to the unfortunate man. No hemor-
rhage of any moment took place. The rough man-
ner in which the limbs were mutilated caused the
vessels to contract. Shortly. before 9 o'clock Mr.
Sellars announced that Mr. Hunt was dying. Mr .
Cross had telegraphed for his wife, who was ex-
pected to meet him ht the Manchester station. Dr.
Molesworth, the vicar, was sent for to administer
consolation to the dying man. The latter arrived
just when the spark of life had fled, and Mr. Hunt's
wife came by the train which leaves Manchester at
8.15 p.m., and was five minutes too late to sec him
alive. It has been reported that Mr. Hunt was in-
toxicated at the time, but this is not true ; he had
had a glass or two, and boasted, before leaving the
ground, that he had spent very little during the
match. Ile appears to have lost all self-possession,
and the shock to his system by the accident Fo-
duced almost immediate delirium, which continued
till within a few minutes of his death, when he be-
came sensible, but his voice was very feeble. He
called for his friend James Clegg, who had never
left him from the time the accident occurred. In
person he was remarkably good-looking, being
somewhat• portly. lie was much admired on the
field during the match by the spectators. He was
born at Chesterfield in the year 1819. By trade he
'
was a coachmaker • but for the last 14 years he has
been a professional cricketer, and a great portion of
that time in the service of the Manchester Club, by
whom he was much respected. He generally played
with the United All-England Eleven, and in his
time was considered the best s. ngle-wicket player
in England. In the match at Rochdale,
e,Hunt was
wicket its wi keeper. He
one of the professional players "given"kt to the
Rochdale Club, and acted as
leaves behind :our children—a daughter about 17
years of age by his first wife, and three children
by his present wifi,, the eldest of whom is about
nine years of age.--Manclie • Guardian of yes_
erclay.
•

POSTAGE ON LETTERS FOR BARBADOES, TRIM-
DAD AND ST. HELENA.—General Post-office, Sept. 10.—
On the Ist Oct()ler next, and thenceforward, the compul-
sory prepayment of postage will be extended to all letters
addressed to Bilrbadoes, Trinidad, and St. Helena. The
postage also of letters posted in those colonies, addressed to
the United Kingdom, will be re aired to be prepaid by the
senders.—By command of tike rotuitoer-Qmerai, goy-
aD Secretary.