The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-21 00:00:00

FATAL WELL ACCIDENT.

An inquest was held before Rupert Clarke, Esq.,
coroner, on Thursday last, at Mr. John Cooper's,
Norcot Farm, Tilehurst, on the body of Mr. Robert
Hart, aged 44 years, a tinman and brazier, residing
in Gun-street, Reading, who met his death the
previous day under the distressing circumstances
disclosed by the following evidence :
David Cox deposed—l was in the employ of the
deceased. I came here with the deceased yesterday
morning to mend the pump. We commenced work
at ten o'clock. I went down the well about 15
feet. I could not go further because of the smoke
in the well from straw having been lit to test the
foul air. I went down the well as far as where
the pump works in August last, and in the previous
May, Mr. Colman's -man, a plumber, went down
to restuff the box of the pump, I assisted him at
tie top of the well. I think there must be about
six stages down the well, the first about 4 feet
from the surface, and the other about 10 feet apart.
It is 66 feet to the pump. I have measured it.
When I was down at the pump in August it was
all boarded over to keep things from falling into
the water. The stages consist of two pieces of wood
four inches square. 'We used a sack, and let it down
with a rope to buffet the foul air out of the well.
The deceased went down about half-past 10 as far
as I had been down. He could not go beyond for
the foul air. We then let some wood on fire in an
iron basket down the well. It went out. About
half-past 11 the deceased descended again, as far as
before, but could not stand it, and returned. I then
used the sack again, as far as before, but could not
stand it, and returned. I then used the sack again
for three-quarters of an hour, we then tried a light,
it went out at about 30 feet down • deceased saidl it,
'
was better. At half-past 12 I was ou the ladder to
go down, and asked the deceased for my cap ; he
said, " I will go down ; if it is not safe for me it is
not for you." He went down to the third stage, he
then said, " It is better now," and he then landed
on the fourth stage, about 35 feet ; he then said,
" Pull up, I cannot go further, I feel so faint." He
got up to the third stage, but before he could step
off the ladder on to the stage I heard him say," Oh!
I am done," and he immediately fell off the ladder
down the well. I heard him break through the
bottom and splash into the water. Mr. Cooper im-
mediately afterwards proceeded to Reading, and
Mr. Workman, the surgeon, and others were soon
on the spot. The mode adopted on going down and
coming up was to attach a rope to the ladder, and
let down to the different stages, and pull up by
hand, and the deceased walked down and up the
ladder from stage to stage ; this was the first time
the deceased was ever in a well. The first time I
had been in a well was in August last. Neither the
deceased nor I were brought up to the trade of a
plumber. I have only been down one well since
August. The distance from the pump to the water
in this well is 12 feet, and there was about three
feet of water in the well. When Colman's man
went down in May w; used the sack, and after
about half an hour he went down by the same
means as used yesterday. I believe Colman is an
experienced man in well business. After some
further evidence, the jury returned a verdict of
Accidental death."—Berkshire Chronicle.

"London, Feb. 16, 1859.
" Sir--Referring to our recent conversation on
the subject of the Exhibition of 1861, I desire to
convey to you, by letter, my conviction, that it can-
not fail. to attract a number of foreigners to this
country, who would not have thought of coming
here in 1851.
" Whatever the statistics of the past may show,
they are, in my mind, almost valueless as affording
indications of what may be done if a large and com-
prehensive system for attracting visitors to us from
all parts of the world, in 1861, be carried into
effect.
" I will give you my reasons.
"Since 1851 various railways on the Continent,
converging more or less towards this country, have
been opened, and several others of great importance,
both in respect of shortening ex-sting routes and
of opening new districts, will be completed this
and next year.
" Besides, the continental railways have now
learned to appreciate through-booking, return
tickets, and excursion traffic at reduced rates,
which they would not look at a few years back.
" I have the proof of this within my personal
knowledge. I was engaged last year, when it was
understood that the Great Eastern was to run to
Portland, in the United States, to make arrange-
ments for through, return, and excursion tickets
for the passengers by her. The system was to ex-
tend not only through the United Kingdom, but
also through France, Switzerland, Germany, and
Belgium. In no case was there any difficulty inter-
posed by the numerous railway companies with
which I communicated, and considerable facilities
and reductions were offered by some of them.
Therefore, what was agreed to in the case of this
ship would, beyond all doubt, be approved on the
more extensive system.
"The case of our own railways affords abundant
proof of travelling development since 1851. The total
number of passengers conveyed on them that year
was 85 millions ; in 1857 there were about 140 mil-
,tubers are constantly on the
increaraie-orlii-uportion imincn..sely beyond
the additional mileage opened each-year.
" You can now travel from London to Aberdeen,
a distance of nearly 600 miles, in 16 hours ; and you
can go by railway as far north as Inverness. In
1851 the railways did not extend beyond Edin-
burgh and Glasgow ; and it required 17 hours to
reach these places from London.
" Owing to the expected completion of the new
railway now constructing between London and
Dover, and to the opening of sections by which two
or three of the detours now existing between Calais
and Paris will be cut off, the short sea passage
journey between the capitals of France and Eng-
land will in the autumn of next year be effected in
ten hours, and at a cost, for a first class passenger,
nearly £1 less than at present.
"In 1861 the communication between London
and Dublin will be completed twice a day each way
in 11 hours, under penalties of £1 12s. a minute
for all avoidable delays beyond that time, and at
fares about 30 per cent. cheaper than they were in
1851. At that time the railway system was only
beginning to be developed in Ireland. By the end
of next year it will be extended almost to its fur-
thest western, northern, and southern limits.
"As respects the American continent, the number
of persons who come to Europe every year is largely
on the increase, especially in steamers. In 1851
there were not more than 76 steam passages from
America to Europe. Yet, in last year, with all its
commercial depression, there were upwards of 150.
During this year there will be nearly 250 (the fares
at least 30 per cent, cheaper than in 1851), and I
have not the smallest doubt that there will be, on
the average of 1861, a first class steamer leaving
Europe for the United States or Canada, and a
similar steamer leaving Canada or the United States
for Europe, six times a week. In the summer
months there will be an excess of this quantity; in
winter below it. •
" Now there arc complete railway sys-
tems extending from New York, Boston,
Portland, and Quebec, the ports for the
Atlantic steamers, as far west as the Mississippi and
beyond it. In 1851 they did not extend beyond a
third of this distance from New York or Boston,
and there was no railway from either Portland or
Quebec.

" London is at present only 30 to 35 days from
our chief cities of India, and there is now a weekly
communication. In 1851 it was monthly, in about
45 days. Australia is 50 days as compared with
100 in 1851. By the advances in steam navigation,
the passages to and from our -West Indian colonies
have been diminished by nearly a third of what
they were in 1851. We now have well organised
steam communication to South America, which did
not exist in 1851. The same as regards our African
colonies.

"In short, look to what part of the world we
may, we see increased facilities of communication.
Every one of these tends towards England, and of
necessity towards its great metropolis. I therefore
think that as regards facilities, without saying a
word on the increased desire of every one for travel,
or on the reduction of fares which has taken place
almost universally, sufficient has been said to prove
that the statistics of the past cannot form a real
criterion as to what may be expected if the Exhi-
bition of 1861 have in it—as I believe it can have

—features every whit as attractive as, though
differing in many respects from, its great predeces-
sor of 1851.

"Let me, suggest that the traffic arrangements
for this. Exhibition be begun in ample time.
Minute, varied, as well as complicated internal
organisation will be necessary so that everything
may be clear, simple, and explicit as regards the
public. Coupled with this business must be a good
system of lodging arrangements for the accommo-
dation of the strangers whilst they are in London.
But your own experience on this matter renders it
unnecessary for me to more than refer to it.—Be-
lieve me, yours faithfully, _

" C. P. RONEY.
"C. Wentworth Dilke, Esq., Chairman of the
Council of the Society of Arts."

MEXICAN BONDHOLDEBS.

eTxhi c bondholdersat
ena nd o
t w
a tt
chic,
irn
8. thepersonsinterested
news
eiv
s fromtthatM
Quarter with peculiar interest, being very anxious
to sec the result of the intervention of the British
Government. The following memorandum is from
the Committee of Mexican bondholders
The Committee of Mexican bondholders have received
advices from Mr. Whitehead, dated Mexico, the 19th ult.
Ifer Majesty 'S Minister in Mexico, Mr. Otway, acting in
concert with the French Minister there,, had instructed
Capt. Dunlop, R.N., to apply for the amounts belonging to
the bondholders and convention creditors, which had been
appropriated by the Governor of Vera Cruz, Gen. Zamora,
and at the same time called Captain Dunlop's attention to
the necessity of his insisting on the admission of an inter-
ventor in the custom-houses of Vera Cruz and Tampico.
(This explains most satisfactorily the important Vera Cruz,
via Washington, news, published in the London papers of
Tuesday, to the effect that the British and French Admirals
had united in demanding of the Vera Cruz Government—
first, payment of the interest due to British and' French
creditors ; second, full monthly statements of the 'revenues
collected from imports.) After the arrival of a private courier
from Vera Cruz a report spread that it was sought to arrange
with a house in the capital to draw to the extent of 600,000
dols. against a credit obtained by the Government of Juarez
from the United States. Mr. Whitehead observes on this:

—" If the American Government are lending a helping
hand to that of Juarez, they are sure to have required a lien
of some hand, which in their hands will be made effectwe,
and will necessarily prove favourable to the bondholders.
Meanwhile it is needless to direct attention to the very dis
tinguished part which Mr. Otway, with his usual great
ability and efficacy, has on this critical occasion acted for
the benefit of the bondholders as well as British interests
generally. General Miramon has reached Queretaro, on his
road to Mexico. Whether he would accept the Presidency
was still doubtful. His victory over Degollado near Guada-
lajara was, however, confirmed, and it was hoped that this
would re-open the communication of the capital with the
west coast, after many months' interruption. Already had
Mr. Whitehead received advice from the agents of the
bondholders at Mazatlan of the shipment, by her Majest3's
ship Alarm, of 1,600.49 dollars for the dividend fund, and it
was expected that Mr. Otway's instructions to her com-
mander would be productive of further remittances from
that quarter.

Saturday morning
SUICIDE IN A CEMETERY.-0°
last as Thomas Monkhouse was diggingll d a
quite dead, and
headstone. Upon e •
man lying on the ground
near
person was'xailia-
eingt
oe gst rshae
the
obDia idln the
yoilofoaf
Kendal Cemetery, I:lnisiititstteponctliroeant
a bottle was found pue-oans
containing
he hadpoisoned hi
almonds, whith which mse f. About hal
the fatal act he ad come to the gravedigger
examina-
tion it was as ermined that
an hour before
and asked if he had not seven graves open. Receiving ar3-
ply in the affirmative, the wretched man went away, and
shortly afterwards made further work for the sexton by
swallowing the deadly poison already mentioned. A sin-
gular circumstance was mentioned at the inquest that the
wretched man had formed an attachment to a certain widow
which was not returned, and whenhis deadbody was found
it was lying at the headstone of the widsw's late husband.
lie had occupied a loom-stand in the house of this person,
but had been obliged to remove, and a witness to whom he
went for leave to place his loom in her cottage, described
him as being in very low spirits, unsettled and distracted,in
his mind. Deceased was 39 years of age. An inquest was
held on the same day at the Cock and Dolphin, before R.
Wilson, Esq., when the jury returned a verdict of " Poi-
soned himself, being of unsound mind."— Westatorelatki
Gazette.
AN ANSWER WILL OBLIGE.—We observe the
General Omnibus Company have lately made the addition
to the adornments of their omnibuses of the word
"Limited." Would one of that courteous and affable body
of men condescend to inform us whether the word "limited"
refers to the amount of civility to bo looked for from the
conductors, the quantity of room assigned to the inside
4144 gyliCkl
passengers, or the litte of NNW at IA nth
t
likely to go r—QO4. • - •

WILLIAM and ALFRED PURSSELL, Con-
fectioners and Biscuit Bakers, 78 and 80, Cornhill,
and 1 and 5, Finch-lane, are and have been the SOLE pro-
prietors of the above business since 1857.

OVAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT
IA GARDEN, under the sole Management.of Miss Louisa
l'yne and Mr. W. Harrison
=THIS EMNING THE ROSE OF CASTILLE.Harrison.
Messrs.
Weiss, Honey, St. Albyn, Bartleman, and Mr. W.
Miss Louisa Fyne and Miss Susan Fyne.
Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon.
To conclude with th Harlequin antomime of LITTLE RED
R !LYING- HOOD ; or, and the Wolf in Granny's
Clcddng.