The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-13 00:00:00

Nand and Military intelligence.

We hear it rumoured that Vice Admiral Sir Thomas
Cochrane will be appointed commander-in-chief in the
Me,iiterratean.
The iron steam troopship Transit, Commander Ennis
Chambers, was removed from the steam basin in Ports-
mouth Dockyard and placed alongside the Belierophon
hulk on Saturday to reship her stores, provisions, &c.,
and to re-embark her troops. The provisions, we are
glad to report, were found damaged only to an inconsi-
derable extent, the influx of water having been confined
only to the two fore compartments of the ship. It is
currently reported that the ship was detained by a little
jobbery last week, or she might have left Portsmouth
earlier, and have avoided, in all human probability, the
necessity for anchoring before clearing the western pas-
sage to the Needles. We give this exactly as it has been
conveyed to us, without vouching for its authenticity ;
but we are in possession of a few facts which appear to
give a colouring to such a report. The ship appeared to
be well ventilated, and no fault was found with the ex-
isting means, but an official thought six more ventilators
would be an improvement, and six were consequently
unfitted from the gunboat flotilla the same night, as there
were none in store ashore. These were not fitted to the
Transit before an order was received to supply her with
some of a new invention by Mr. Watson, of Halifax, to
which place they had to be telegraphed for. This gave
double work to the fitters on board the ship, " doing and
undoing," as is the " way they have in the Navy." It
is remarked that the new article does not appear likely
to prove so efficient as those in general use, nor so easily
made good if defective. It will consequently prove an
additional expense in the long run beyond the fact of
being more cnstly'to start with. The Himalaya is being
supplied with 10 of the same sort. Vice-Admiral Sir
Charles Napier, M.P., was in the dockyard on Saturday
taking notes of these ships, so it is possible the ventila-
tors may be further ventilated. The Himalaya was sup-
posed to be the most admirably ventilated troopship
afloat, whether for cavalry or infantry. No neces-
sity for airing iher decks was discovered at Plymouth,
where she was last fitted out, but on her arrival at Ports-
mouth to receive her troops she is delayed for this pur-
pose. _ _

The paddle frigate furious, 16, Capt. S. Osborne, C. 8.,
is ready to go to Spithead. The Cormorant, 4, steam de-
spatch gun vessel, Corn. Saurnarez, will also soon be
ready. She hauled alongside her hulk to ship stores,
&c., on Saturday afternoon.

The Turkish screw frigate Geyvan Bailie will leave
Liverpool for Constantinople to-day. She has been fitted
at the former port by Mr. Laird with a lifting screw
and steam machinery.
The steam troopship Lebanon, Capt. Cook,Thaving
embarked the four companies of Royal Artillery, as de-
tailed in The Sun, sailed from Woolwich pier on Satur-
day at 3 o'clock for Canada and Halifax. Major-General
Sir W. F. Williams, attended by his aide-de-camp and
the garrison staff, and accompanied by Brigade-Major
Shaw, made a careful inspection of the several compart-
ments of the vessel, and expressed himself highly satis-
fied with the superior accommodation afforded by the
Lebanon for the su)rnfort and convenience of the troops.
The Mooresfort and the Neleus sailing transports, de-
stined to take out the four Artillery companies to China,
have likewise anchored alongside the pier at Woolwich
Arsenal, and are making preparations to sail to-morrow.
The Violet freight ship, Captain Paton, partly laden
with stores for Hong Kong, had bent sails and term'.
nated her arrangements to heave anchor at the com-
mencement of the week, but in consequence of the delay
in the transport from the military store department she
will probably not sail for six or eight days. Two maga-
zines capable of holding 51 and 21 tons of ammunition
have been erected, as well as extra cabins for the accom-
modation of the officers and of the military deparment and
the medical corps ordered to take passage in the Violet.
Her Majesty's iron screw steam gun-vessel Minx, Lient
Commander Richard H. Roe, arrived at Woolwich on
Saturday from Africa, last from Portsmouth, and together
with the Baun and Brune (the crews of the latter hav-
ing been turned over to the Leven and the Slaney) is to
be retained in ordinary, all standing. The paddlewheel
steam-vessel Adder, in charge and tow of one of the
dockyard hulks, laden with machinery and boats for
Sheerness, left Woolwich on Saturday. The Admiralty
yacht Banshee returned to Woolwich on Saturday, hav-
ing conveyed the Persian envoy and suite from Dover to
Calais. Two additional troops of the 2d divisio❑ of the
military train, under orders for China, having arrived at
Woolwich, under the command of Major Robinson, are
expected to embark on Thursday.
Her Majesty's screw steam-vessel Buffalo, at present
discharging stores at Woolwich, is under orders to hire_
paid off and laid up in ordinary, and the steam store-
ship Rbadamanthus is ordered to be docked to be sup-
plied with new boilers, &c.
Mr. Alex. Brown, the present master of the Vesuvius,
6 guns, paddlewheel steam-ship, commissioned her on
I Saturday for a post command. Her destination is re-
ported to be the coast of Africa, on particular service.
Lieut. C. J. Balfcur has taken up his commission and
joined.
The Pylades, 21 guns, screw steam corvette, was put
out of the fitting basin at Sheerness on Saturday, and
towed to harbour moorings.
The Miranda, 15 guns, screw steam-ship, Capt. Robt.
Hall, was taken into the fitting basin at Sheerness on
Saturday, to be dismasted, and is returning her arma-
ment and stores, preparatory to her being paid off on
the 21st inst.

The Seagull gun-boat, being fitted as a surveying ten-
der to the Porcupine at Sheerness, is to be commanded
by Mr. Wm. Stanton, master of the Porcupine (when
away on surveying duties). The Porcupine and Seagull
will be ready to leave in a few days.
Charity, iron screw merchant transport at Portsmouth,
has completed with provisions and stores, and will con-
vey to the Cape Rear Admiral the Right Hon. Frederick
Grey, the recently appointed commander-in•chief at
that station, relieving Rear Admiral Trotter. She will
also convey Captain Henry Lyster, appointed to com-
mand the Castor, 36, sailing frigate, and several other
officers. She is expected to sail on Tuesday next.
Janus and Firm, 2, screw gun-boats at Portsmouth, are
now complete—little men-of-war topsail schooner.. Their
quarters are fitted with hammock rails, and they have
threei -months provisions on board. In lien of their
heavygune, which have been placed on board the Furious,
they have been supplied with a considerable quantity of
8 and 10 inch shot, which serve as trimming, ballast
racks having been fitted for the purpose. Moreover, a
most important improvement has been carried out in
these gun-boats, which will be adopted generally—that
of high-pressure engines. The credit of the improvement
due to Mr. Francis Pierce, chief engineer of the Edin-
burgh, 60, screw block ships. The invention consists of
a circular bridge of brickwork, in the shape of a horse-
shoe, which saves the tubular boilers from the extreme
heat of the furnace, besides effectually preventing the
tubes from getting choked. The expense of the altera-
tion is very trifling. •
CHATHAM, April 12.—A great deal of activity prevails
in the shipbuilding department at this dockyard, which
has received considerable impetus in consequence of
the order issued by the Admiralty for the completion
forthwith of those vessels now in course of construc-
tion. The metal-and saw mills are also in full work,
and the various other departments of this establish-
ment are in active operation. Among the vessels now
building, and which will be completed forthwith, are
the Hero, 91, screw steamer, of 3,127 tons burthen,
commenced in June, 1854, which will be fitted with
engines of 600-horse power ; the Hood, 80, ecrew
steamer, of 600-horse power ; the Irresistible, 80, screw
steamer, intended to be supplied with machinery of 400-
horse power ; the Mersey, 40, which will be the largest
frigate in the British navy, and will be fitted with en-
gines of 1,000-horse power. In addition to these large
vessels there are also two steam screw corvettes build-
ing, both of which are in a very forward state ; they are
the Racoon, 21, which is ready for launching, and the
Char% bdis, 21, each of which is of 1,400 tons burthen
and of 400-horse power. Two other large screw steamers
are intended to be laid down, one which will be of 91
guns and 3,000 tons burthen.
The following appointments were made on Saturday
at the Admiralty :
Lieut. R. 0. Leach, to the Cordelia ; Lieut. W. J.
Walker, to the Vesuvius ; W. W. Poynder, midshipman,
to the Cumberland ; J. R. Fittock, master, to be agent
for transports ; D. H. Wright, surgeon, to the Cordelia ;
Stephen J. Burke, acting assistant-surgeon, to the Col,
della ; M. Mould, master's assistant, to the Cumberland,
,and T. E. Biddlecombe, master's assistant, to the Cordehe.
The following assistant-paymasters (1849) were on Sa-
turday promoted to paymasters :
R. Taylor, P. G. Smith, W. J. Stevens, W. E. Kelly,
G. Munro, and T. Bradbridge.

TUE ROYAL BRITISH BANK.—The arrangements
which a short time since were on the lapis for effecting
a compromise between the creditors and the shareholders
of the bark have been suspended for a time, in conse-
quence of the dissolution of Parliament preventing the
carrying of a bill through both houses applying the prin.
ciple of the rights of majorities to the settlement of the
affairs of this unfortunate concern. Immediately on the
assembling of the new Parliament a bill will be intro-
duced by the Attorney-General for making binding on the
small minority who may refuse to accept it the compro-
mise which the great body of the creditors 'nay be will-
ing to receive. The whole subject of the law relating to
joint-stock banks and their management, as illustrated
by the proceedings of flail' Royal British and Eastern
Banking Company, will no doubt be made the subject
of special inquiry, as Mr. Wyld, M.P., intends on the
earliest possible day to move for a select committee to
inquire into the whole subject of joint stock banks, and
the state of the law as affecting the appropriation of
moneys entrusted to the care of these institutions.
SUSPECTED MURDER OF AN ARTILLERYMAN AT WOOL.
WICIL—At the Woolwich police court on Saturday last,
John Walsh and Catherine Coulson were placed at the
bar, before Mr. Traill, on a remanded charge of causing
the death of John Lawler, a gunner of the 11th Battalion,
who was drowned in the Thames, off Hog lane-stairs, on
the night of the 24th of March. The only additional
evidence produced was that of a man named
Green, who deposed that, on the night in question,
he beard a scuffle near the water aide and cries for
help. He also heard some person say, " Give it him,
Jack." From the evidence previously taken, it is
beyond doubt that the deceased was thrown into
the water whilst intoxicated, and as the tide was high
he had no chance of escape. The police are still actively
engaged in investigating the matter, and a portion of a
pair of tongs, marked with blood, has been found in a
back yard near the spot where the scuffle took place. In
cAisequcoce of the strong opinion which prevails that
several crimes of a similar nature have been committed
in Reg lane, which abounds with brothels of the worst
description, a memorial, numerously signed by the in-
habitants of Wool wich, has been presented to the Wool-
wich Local Board of Health, and that body is now in
communication with the Commissioners of Police, with
a view to the adoption of measures for the removal of
the evil.

THE COLLIERY EXPLOSION AT
LUND HILL.

A short time since we stated that it was not un-
likely that some of the bodies might rise and float
to the surface of the water i❑ the shaft. Our anti-
cipations have been realised, and the first body was
found between 11 and 12 o'clock on Friday night.
The men employed in connection with the drawing
out of the water work eight hour shifts, and every
time they commence their shifts they descend to
the surface of the water to see if any bodies have
risen or if thane is any debris wants removing. For
this purpose, a little after 11 o'croCk on Friday
night, John Warhurst, Wm. Bevors, and John
South, the men on duty, descended, and observed
something floating on the water, which on closer
examination proved to be the remains of one of the
unfortunate men. They immediately came out of
the shaft and made preparations for bringing out
the remains, and again descended with a quantity
of cotton, which they placed in the water, and
drew nnder the body, by which they brought it
out of the shaft. The spectacle presented was of
a most awful character. The features were fright-
fully distorted, the legs and arms broken, the feet
cut off, and the head and other parts so crushed as
to render it the appearance of one shapeless mass of
flesh, and entirely unrecognisable. The remains
were carefully placed in a coffin and removed to the
shed erected for the purpose of receiving the bodies,
where it will remain till viewed by the coroner
and jury.

The intelligence of the recovery created quite a
sensation in the neighbourhood.
The body when brought out was in a far ad-
vanced state of decomposition, and, although dis-
infectants were freely used, the operatfons of bring-
ing it out and placing it, in the coffin made one of
the men engaged in the task ill.
After the body had been brought out some hours
were spent in repairing the conductors, which bad
been damaged at the bottom of the shaft, by the
explosion, and it was not until 3 o'clock in the
morning that, the operations of drawing the water
again fairly commenced. At 11 o'clock on Saturday
it was found that the water lowered within one
foot of the chair which is imbedded at the bottom,
and as one of the buckets only could fill, and the
conductors wanted repairing, a stoppage of six or
seven hours again took place, or there is no doubt
but by Saturday evening the water would have
been Unrcofe 1.

The height of the water in the shaft is now
about nine feet, and this, if no great delay takes
place in removing the chair and debris at the bot-
tom, will be got out in a few days.
The action of the buckets when dipping and corn-
ing out of the water, now it has so neatly reached
the bottom, is such as to be likely to cause other
bodies to rise to the surface, to meet which emer-
gency a number .f coffins ara ready for immediate
use.

The graves at Darfield and other places are now
nearly completed. About 160 of the bodies (if so
many can be recovered) are to be interred at Dar-
field. The graves are made sufficiently deep to
hold several coffins which will be placed one above
another, a layer dbricks being placed between the
different. tiers. In the centre will be placed a
monument bearing the names of the men and the
cause of their death.

EXPLOSION AT TII E ROUNSLOW
POW DER MILLS.

An accident took place on Saturday last, at a
few minutes after noon, in the premises belonging
to Messrs. Curtis and Harvey, gunpowder manu-
facturers to the Government, &e., at Hounslow.
The factory in question is probably the most ex-
tensive of any near the metropolis, and is con-
structed with due regaid for the safety of the vari-
ous,
persons employed in such a place ; for instance,
the grinding and corning mills are built apart on
one part of the ground, whibt the composition
houses, the mixing rooms, and other compartments,
are formed either of brick, or timber and slate, and
guarded by poplar trees, hedges, and water-courses.
A few years ago a terrible accident took place in
precisely the same part of the factory as the
present. .

On Saturday, last, some four or five hands, prin-
cipally youths, were engaged in what is termed the
composition mill, a building not more than 30 feet
long, and not nearly so wide, but which contained
a great quantity of saltpetre, sulphur, and other
art clew used in making gunpowder. All of a sud-
den three of the lads employed in the mill had their
attention directed to the north-west end of the
building, by seeing a blue, and at frst a slow light
flickering round the place. Knowing at once what
WPS likely to ensue amongst so much combustible
matter, an instant cry of + Fire, and run for your
your lives," was raised. The various persons in
the place made an attempt to run out, and three
were fortunate enough to reach the open ground,
hut the other two met the " blast" as they were
running away, the ho &t of which severely scorched
them, and considerably Injured the f-ot and heel of
one. At the same instant the whole of the stock
in the place becoming ignited went off; blowing the
roof away, and before a lad, named Warwick, could
get clear of the place he was struck on the head and
severely injured by a beam filling upon him.
Before the extent of the mischief done in the
composition mill could be ascertained two explo-
sions followed, which blew two of the mills almost
to ruins.

The engines of the firm havin; b?ea got out,
they were set to work from th) mill s'reams on
the groundq, and the fire was soon subdued, but
not until the mill in which the disaster commenced
was burned down, and its contents of composition
consumed.

P.RIGIITFUL EXPLOSION AT STOCKPORT.

STOCKPORT, APRIL 11.
The Bredbury New Pit belongs to Messrs. J. and
J. Jowett, who are also the owners of two other
.pits the immediate neighbourhood. The pit at
which the explosion occurred was only opene i for
about six months, and it is not even yet worked
to its fail extent. The number of men employed
in it at present is only 12, but there is also a simi-
lar number of boys.
This morning the colliers assembled, as usual at
6 o'clock at the mouth of the pit, and they were
let down in the "cages," and nothing wrong was
at that time noticed. The shaft is 157 yards deep,
and when the men arrived at the bottom they. dis-
persed in various directions and proceeded with
their work. The part of the mine which is known
as the No. 7 level was worked ,by Samuel Platt,
who was assisted by a boy named Hopwood. In
the next, or No. 6 level, were William Holworth
sometimes called Whitehewl) and his two sons,
Joseph and Samuel. Everything proceeded as usual
till about a quarter to 7 o'clock, when a loud ex-
plosion took place in the Not 7 level, worked by
Platt. The explosion was heard not only in every
part of the pit, but also for some distance in the
neighbourhood. The fire rushed along the various
workings, and frightfully barnt those of the colliers
who had not taken the precaution to throw them-
selves on their faces. The distance from the bot-

torn of the shaft at which the explosion occurred
was 78 yards. Platt, who was frightfully burnt
•
and bruised, contrived to crawl to the shaft's mouth.
The lad Hopwood attempted to follow him, but
missed his way, and fell a distance of 30 feet,
thereby severely injuring his back. He neverthe-
less, by some miraculous means, groped his way to
the month of the shaft. The occupants of No. 6
level, William Hol worth and his two sons, were
not so fortunate. The father and his two bvs were
both killed, not, it is supposed, by the fire, but
by the choking vapours which succeeded the ex-
plosion. As we have said the report of the explo-
sion was heard by the inhabitants residing in the
locality,and a largenumber of persons were quickly
on the ',Pot. Without a moment's delay the cage
was hoisted and the living men taken up from the
shaft, many of them being horribly disfi?ured by
burning. After nearly an hour had elapsed all
were thus taken out, with the exception of the Hol-
worths. An unfortunate delay then occurred in
consequence of the sulphur having beconie so strong
in the pit as to prevent the men going down. At
length, however, ventilation was so far restored as
to enable them to descend, and shortly after ten
riclock the bodies of Holworth and his sons were
recovered. The father breathed once after he was
taken out, but the two sons were quite dead. Of
the other men five were severely wounded, most
of them being both burnt and bruised. Their
names are :—Samuel Platt, burnt, and 'very much
bruised, about the bead ; Richard Lomas, ribs
broken, about the head, and burnt ; John
Andrew, frightful injuries on the head and burns ;
Thomas 'Redfern, very much burnt ; Henry Hop-
wood (boy), dreadfully burnt, and injured by his
fall.

There IS very little doubt- that the lamentable
accident was caused by the culpable negligence of
Platt in working with his naked candle. Some of
the workmen assert that he did not use a lamp at
all, though one is provided for each man ; but we
believe Platt himself says that he had a lamp, but
that he removed the top of it, and that the explo-
.
mom took place immediately.4l There is no fireman
employed in this pit to go down and examine the
workings before the men commenced work. There
is a general manager, named George Way, who goes
1„ down into the pit generely every day to see that
all is right. lie states that he made a thor3ugh
examination of it on Wednesday last, and that there
was then no damp. lie also made a partial exa-
mination on Thursday, but did not then visit the
No. 7 level, worked by Platt. Good Friday f-+
lowed, and the men did not work, so that the
mine had not been tllorouarwy examined for two'