The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-08 00:00:00

A WORD FOR MR. _ROEBUCK.

We may not generally approve of his principles,
but we cannot but admire and respect the man. He
is a genuine Englishman, and, however exaggerated
his views may be in some respects, no one ques-
tions that he has at heart the welfare of his coun-
try. He possesses, too, in that weak and attenuated
frame of his, the courage of a lion. He dares to
speak the truth, and to speak it boldly. With
such a man a corrupt cause could not possibly
triumph. He would tear it to tatters, and expose
in all its hideousness, its gross hypocrisy, and its
wicked injustice. We have, therefore, great hopes
that, if not in the present session, at least in the
next, Mr. Roebuck will•turn his attention to the
corrupt election practices, as revealed before the
Committees. We care not on which side such
practices may prevail, although, as we have shown,
up to the present time, it is not to the Conservatives
that such charges can be laid. But, in connexion
with either party, this bribery and corruption is an
intolerable disgrace to our Parliamentary system.
We think, with Mr. Roebuck, it is folly to suppose
that candidates at elections can be totally ignorant
of the costly efforts exercised in their behalf. The
stream of bribery and corruption does not flow but
from a well-supplied fountain-head, and the mem-
ber of Parliament, who will courageously trace the
evil to its source, will merit and obtain the appro-
bation of his country.—Bath Chronicle.

EXPLOSION OF GUNPOWDER AT
BALLIN COLIG.

About half-past 10 o'clock on Saturday morning
an explosion of gunpowder occurred at Ballincolig
Powder-mills, which was attended with the de-
struction of human life to a deplorable extent.

The scene of the disaster was the storehouse at
the western extremity on the banks of the river,
known as No. 1, Dusting-house, but by others de-
scribed as a refining-house. At that hour five men
were engaged at the house in removingthe powder
stored in kegs, into a boat on the canal, by which
communication is effected between the several de-
partments of the mills along the banks of the river.
The unfortunate men thus engaged were blown to
pieces.

Three of the bodies when discovered are described
as black masses of flesh and bone, only distinguished
by fragments of dress which hung by them. Of
the bodies of the other two not a limb remained
—but their relations might be seen wandering over
the anjacent fields, picking up black fragments of
flesh and bone, which no doubt formed part of their
living bodies two hours before.
The cause of the disaster must for ever remain a
mystery, as not one of those who knew it, if indeed
any of them knew it, now survive to account
for it. As to the dusting-house or refining-house
at which the catastrophe occurred, not as much as
a stone of it remains ; for the very ground on which
it stood has been blown and rooted away as if a
mine had exploded beneath it. The house was
situated at the extremity of a fence planted with
fir and other trees ; these trees were torn up from
the very roots and now lie scattered about the fields.
On the other side of the river, by the roadside, are
four or five small slated houses, the roofs of these
were shattered and knocked away by the mass of
stone from the exploded refining-house. One work-
man is missing, but the five are probably the only
sufferers. Further information will, of course, be
elicited on the inquest.