The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-28 00:00:00

BURGH CA 2 AST.ROPHE.

THE 'MIN

A NUMBER OF MIRACULOUS ESCAPES.
The Scotsman of Tuesday contains ample details
of the discovery of six more bodies in the ruins
of the fallen building, of the pulling down of the
ruins, and of marvellous escapes. The Lord Pro-
vost and the municipal authorities were again on
the spot at an early hour, and thousands of spec-
tators pressed against the barriers on each side to
obtain a glimpse of the ruins. Against the walls
were still to be observed hanging various articles
of household furniture, whose appearance in their
accustomed and familiar places added greatly to
the desolate aspect of the scene. Among these
articles may be mentioned two Dutch clocks, one
of them standing at half-past one o'clock, two
birdcages, a coloured print of the Prince of
Wales, china and crockery in the presses, walking-
sticks and articles of dress hanging on nails, pots
and kettles standing in the fireplaces, &c.
Operations were resumed at ten o'clock for pull-
ing down the remainder of the back wall by means
of the rope and windlass. While preparing for this
work, one of the workmen placed a ladder against
the west gable, and went up to a bird's cage which
was hanging about the centre of the wall. On get-
ting up to it he found the bird—a linnet—hopping
about on its perch, and a quantity of water, which
had a smoked appearance, still remaining in its
glass. About half-past two o'clock, as there seemed
little danger of the remaining portion of the gable
coming down of its own accord, the work of turning
over and searching the debris was resumed. This
was toilsome and unpleasant work, amid the pour-
ing rain and strong gusty wind ; but it was gone
about willingly and earnestly. The total number of
bodies which have been found is 26, which, with
the two—Mr. John Bruce and Mrs. Beveridge—
who died in the Royal Infirmary on Sunday makes
the whole number of deaths yet ascertained 28.
We select some of the stories of miraculous
escapes. Among the cases in which part of a family
escaped, as if by a miracle, while the remainder
were buried in the ruins before their eyes, was that
of the family of Alex.M'Donald, compositor, which
consisted in all of eight persons. Isabella, the eldest
daughter, had just gone to bed, and hearing a sudden
crackling noise, jumped up in bed and cried out,
" Oh, mother, I think the house is falling; I heard
a crack like sticks burning." The mother and two
daughters immediately jumped out of bed, and the
house was immediately alarmed. The father ran
into the kitchen to see what was wrong, leaving the
two youngerboysin bed, and as the horse began to
shake under their feet, all the members of the house
rushed naked to the door to escape, leaving the
eldest son to endeavour to rescue the two boys in
bed. As he was about to enter the room, how-
ever, he felt that to do so :would be certain de-
struction, and he succeeded in effecting a landing
from the passage on the staircase, the ground
giving way under his feet as he took the leap. His
leg was bruised by some of the falling debris, and
his mother was also severely cut in the left leg as
she was making her escape, as was also one of his
sisters. They were carried to the Infirmary. The
other daughter went to a friend's house in Milne-
square, and the father had to make his way, naked
as he was, to his mother's house, in Rose-street. The
daughter Anne, who escaped uninjured, states that
she:saw the house fall after she got down the stair.
The story of the escape made by the whole of the
numerous family of the Baxters in the fourth flat is
one of the most marvellous incidents which have yet
come to light connected with this tragic occurrence.
Baxter himself reached home from bis work about
midnight, when his wife and nine children were all
in bed. He took a small piece of bread and butter
for supper, and was in the act of undressing him-
self to go to bed, and placed his trousers on the back
of his chair, when he was startled by hearing a
rattling like a rumbling of gravel or " chuckie
stanes," as he termed it. His wife, on hearing the
noise, said to him, "There's a warning," referring
to warnings before death ; and she had scarcely
uttered the wards when his daughter Mary, a
young woman aged about 20, called out, in a tone
of great alarm, from the room in which she was
sleeping with three of her sisters, " Father, father !
mother, mother I" Baxter rushed into the room,
followed by his wife, and, to his horror, found the
bed in which his lour daughters lay in two halves.
He was immediately sensible of their great danger,
called up all his children, and drove his wife and
them almost completely naked before him along the
passage and into the common stair behind his house,
which they reached not a moment too soon, for the
husband, who came last, had to leap for his life over
a chasm which already yawned between the falling
house and the staircase. The whole family escaped
in their night dresses just as they came out of bed.
Mrs. Baxter wished to put on a part of her cloth-
ing, but her husband would not permit an instant's
delay, and by his firmness and energy saved the
lives of all his family.
A Mr. Gray was about to celebrate his birthday
by drinking porter and whisky. Before going to
bed he was about to have a little porter and a pipe.
After some little talk Mrs. Mackenzie left the room
to get a glass or tumbler. During the few minutes
she was absent Mr. Gray heard an unusual noise in
the walls, to which, however, he paid little or no
attention. lie was in the act of drawing one of the
bottles when his landlady returned to his room,
with horror depicted on her countenance, and ex-
claimed," Run, run, the house is going to fall !"
Gray seta down the bottle on the hearth, startled
and bewildered by the intimation, and Mrs. M
kenzie forcibly hurrying him across his room and
through her own,which was the kitchen of the house,
they reached the door, but found it fixed by the
subsidence of the walls, and Gray found, on trying
to open it, that it got actually more tightly fixed as
he partially succeeded, thought not sufficiently for
egress. One of those heavy stools on which wash-
ing tubs stand was lying about, and with it Gray
violently broke open the door, which was very old
and frail, and both hurried down stairs, a wooden
stair of 17 or 18 steps, to the next floor, where Mrs.
Mackenzie turned tack for the purpose, Mr. Gray
believes, of securing a sum of money and some valu-
ables she had in the house, and so unfortunately
lost her own life atter saving that of her lodger.
Mr. Gray scarcely remembers how he got down
stairs, but he believes or fancies he felt the upper
staircase moving under him as he descended, and he
recollects leaping past a man and two children on
the stair. On emerging from the close Mr, Gray in-
stinctively ran across the street, and on turning
round in front of the spirit shop at the head of
Blackfriars-wynd he saw that the building, in the
upper floor of which he had been seated a few seconds
before, was now a mass of ruins. On reaching the
oppcsite side of the street he still held the corkscrew
in his hand, while the bottle from which he had just
drawn the cork before escaping was even yesterday
to be seen standing on the hearth where he had set
it the previous morning. One curious circum-
stance may further be noted. The house had been
previously infested with mice, but for five or six
days before the accident not a single mouse
had been seen or heard, and Mr. Gray had men-
tioned to Mrs. Mackenzie that the trap, in which
previously two or three mice had been caught of a
night, might now be taken away, as they seemed to
have got quit of them.
It may be interesting to note, says the Scotsman,
with regard to the fallen tenement, that in the
middle of last century it was owned and occupied
by persons of quality and importance. In the old
stent-books of the city for 1749, Louis Gauvin,
teacher of French (in all likelihood the father of the
founder of Gauvin's Hospital), is entered as tenant
of a part of it. Alexander Munro, surgeon, is in
the same year set down as the owner of a house
occupied by Mrs. Kennedy of Killhingie, and Gor-
don of Sands as the owner of a house occupied by
the Ladies o? March. Amongst the tenants for
that year are George Boswell, accomptant ; " Miss
Warrenders ;" Mr. John Gordon, advocate; Mr.
James Nisbet, minister; the " Ladys" Stormont,
and Charles Smith, merchant, from Boulogne.
Some of these remained in the tenement for twenty
years. In 1774, Mrs. Cochrane, of Waterside, is
found to occupy Mrs. Kennedy's house, and Lady
Forbes that of Mr. Nisbet, the minister. Lord
Provost Fettes's predecessor in his house and shop
in 1749 was Charles Cragie, merchant ; and in that
year Archibald Eagle, merchant, was the tenant of

TEE ROBBERY AND ATTEMPTBD
MURDER AT TADDIAGTON.

After the night charges were disposed of at the
Marylebone Police Court yesterday, Thomas
Puzey and George Reeve were placed at the bar
on remand, charged with robbery at No. 5, Ful-
place, Paddington-green, and also with assaulting
in the same house, with intent to murder a widow
lady named Sarah Green, aged over 70. Sarah
Collett, aged 40, charwoman, was also charged
with aiding and assisting the two male prisoners
in the commission of the above offences.
Mr. Edward Lewis, of Great Marlborough-
street, appeared to prosecute ; and Mr. Venn, of
New Inn, Strand, appeared for the male prisoners.
On the case being brought on Mr. Yardley made
some observations as to the necessity of the
lady's evidence being taken, and that if she was
considered to be, by her medical attendant, in such
a condition as would incapacitate her from being
present at the court, he should feel most happy to
attend her at her home at any time.
Mr. Lewis said he knew his worship would not
think it any trouble to have to attend upon the lady
for the purpose of taking her statement. He did
not propose to complete the case to-day, but only to
oft'tm some additional evidence, when he should ask
for a remand. The case was one of very great im-
portance, not merely as regarded the prisoners at
the bar, but the public at large. He then called
Sophia Jackson, cook to Mrs. Green, who. in re-
ply to his (Mr. Lewis's) questions, said—When I
was examined on the last occasion I said Collett
went out to fetch some gin. She went out upon
two occasions, the 23d and 24th October. On the '
24th she was from five to ten minutes gone. After
the alarm I said to her, " Is this you ; it was never
so before ?" On the night of the 23d, when Collett
called, she asked if Mr. Waite was then in the house,
and I said he was. It was before she went out for
the gin that she asked. When she went out this
time she did not return for a quarter of an hour or
twenty minutes.
Cross-examined by Mr. Venn—On the evening of
the 24th, Collett might have been there from half
an hour to three quarters before I heard the disturb-
ance. The time that she came might have been
from eight to half-past eight. From the time that
she came in till I heard the tray thrown down,
three quarters of an hour might have elapsed.
Askew (the housemaid) went up-stairs before Collett
went out to fetch the gin. This was when she
went up to ask if mistress would have her supper.
When the supper was taken up Collett had been
for the gin. Askew went up ten minutes after
the gin had been fetched or rather better.
Could not tell for certain how long after Collett
had fetched the gin before I heard the throwing
down of the tray, but should say it might be about
half an hour or three quarters.
Mrs. Anne Smith said—l live at No. 1, Fulham-
place, Paddington-green, and remember the evening
of the 21st of October. I was standing by my door
in the garden when I saw a dark man pass by Mrs.
Green's door and go round the corner towards Maida-
hill. He was about the place for near upon three-
quarters of an hour. He was a dark man with black
hair and a moustache, and about the middle size. I
also saw another man sitting on the balustrades op-
posite Mrs. Green's house, but did not take any par-
ticular notice of him. I think he had rather light
clothes on. I took more notice of the dark man. On
the 24th I was in my garden about 20 minutes to
ten, when I heard a noise at No. 5. I was with my
daughter and another person. I saw a young man
with dark clothes run down the garden of No. 5 and
then past our house. I did not particularly notice
him on that night, but he was in stature the same,
and as dark as the man I saw on the 21st. In about
a minute or so I saw a woman run after him. He
was a young man of middle size and dark. I think
I have seen him since. It was last Sunday week at
the police-station. The young man I mean was like
the prisoner Reeve, and I fancy he had a moustache
or something of that sort. He (Reeve) is the same
size and has dark hair. The woman followed in the
same direction as the man. She went between a run
and a walk. She tnrned round the same corner as
the man. I had never seen the woman before or
since. I noticed her dress and that was all. I
thought first that it was a young woman from No.
6, but I said, " No, that is an old woman with a
plaid shawl." There was no one else in the street.
Mr. Venn cross-examined Mrs. Smith, who in re-
ply said—l saw the man on Monday, the 21st. I
watched about three-quarters of an hour. I did
not watch the other man. The reason I watched
him was because I wanted my daughter to go to
Maida-hill, and I did not like to let her go whilst
he was there. On the evening of the 24th, about
ten o'clock, I heard the noise. It was dark, but
we had a lamp opposite the garden. I was stand-
ing on the steps. The man that came from No. 5
came very fast. I noticed him so fully that I took
him to be the young gentleman from No. 6. I did
not at the time take him for the young man I had
seen on the 21st.
Re-examined by Mr. Lewis—The young man
was in my sight for about three-quarters of an hour
on the 21st. I believe that the man I saw on Mon-
day is the same in size, and dark, as the one I saw
on the night of the 24th.
Mr. Astley Wakefield, surgeon, 37, Nottinzham-
place, Marylebone—l have been attending Mrs.
Green for many years. Shortly after ten o'clock
on the night of the 24th ult., I was summoned to
her. I found her greatly disfigured by injuries to
her face and head. Her hair and upper part of
her dress, as well as the chair on which she was
reclining; were completely saturated with blood.
She complained of great pain in her throat and dif-
ficulty of swallowing. One man, she stated, seized
her by the throat with one hand.
Mr. Venn objected to witness stating what was
stated to him by the lady.
Mr. Yardley—You must state exactly what
you saw yourself.
Mr. Wakefield continued—On examining her
head I found bruises in all direction. She had also
three contused wounds, two on the left side and one
on the right of the head, crushing the scalp and
penetrating the skull.
Inspector Steer produced a formidable gutta-
percha life preserver, and
Mr. Lewis asked if such wounds were likely to
be caused by a weapon like that.
Mr. Wakefield—Yes, I should so.
Mr. Yardley—Were the wounds fresh ?
Mr. Wakefield—They were bleeding profusely
when I arrived.
Mr. Lewis—When did you last see Mrs. Green ?
Mr. Wakefield—The day before yesterday.
Mr. Lewis—Do you consider her in a fit state to
attend and give evidence ?
Mr. Wakefield—No, I do note. -
Mr. Lewis-1)o you think she might be examined
at her own house ?
Mr. Wakefield—l think she is in a fit state for
that.
Mr. Yardley-4 should like you to consider that
cpeestion well before answering it. nmy opinion
I do not think that the excitement consequent upon
her attending here would be so great to her as it
would if she were to be examined at her own house.
Mr. Lewis—l believe, Mr. Wakefield, that Mrs.
Green has not been out of her house for some time.
Mr. Wakefield—Not for 18 months. She has
been suffering from a complaint of her knees as well
as neuralgia.
Mr. Yardley—You, I have no doubt, Mr. Wake-
field, will understand me when I say that my im-
pression is, that if the three prisoners, besides
other parties necessary to take and hear her evi
dente, were taken to her house, it would excite
her far more than if she attended here.
Mr. -Wakefield—She has a very great dread of
this matter.
Mr. Yardley—Well, I have no doubt that she
has. I hope you will discuss this matter with her,
and give her to understand that if she consents to
attend she shall have her comforts consulted. You
must tell her that I believe the excitement would
be more to her in a small house where several
parties would have to bo present besides the pri-
soners, and a concomitant force of police.
Mr. Wakefield—I will see her and speak to her
upon the subject.
Mr. Yardley—She is recovering from the injuries,
I believe ?
Mr. Wakefield—She is, sir, but still she is very
feeble. •
Mr. Yardley—You will bear in mind what I have
just said, and counsel with the lady, as her evi-
dence might be very essential to fix the right

parties.
Mr. Wakefield—l will, sir.
Mr. Venn—lf she were to appear here do you
believe it would injure her ?
Mr. Wakefield—l think if she appeared here it
would be calculated to do her a very serious in-

jury.
Mr. Yardley—Do you think so now ?
Mr. Wakefield—l do, sir.
Mr. Yardley—lt is very essential that she should
give evidence. It is impossible to say that she
might not be able to give very material particulars
as to the right parties, and the position she was in
when attacked.
Air. Venn—Do you know the exact time when
you was summoned ?
Mr. Wakefield—lt might have been after ten.
Inspector Steer said he could explain the
reason why Mr. Wakefield was not in attendance
earlier. lie (Mr. Wakefield) lived about a mile
from the lady's house, and the servant knowing he
was the regular attendant upon her mistress, ran

the Laird of Swanston, in the house and shop which off to hHe (the inspector) was in the house
ye minutes after the occurrence, and found
.r
were afterwards possessed by Lord Provost Alex- within fi
Grey in the state described by the doctor, and
ander Henderson, of the firm of Eagle and Hen- Mrs.
the place u dis'orde•
Air. Vent
aged ts
it was ,11clieve that upon the last occasion
derson• ,at Mr. Steer was to give evidence
arras e
now ?
Mr. Yard ley—Ye s, I think it was. Has Inspector
Braddick an y furtle er evidence now ?
Mr. Lewis :--Not ;at present, sir. I propose to
call inspecte r Steer ne. xt week, if your worship will
grant a rear.a.nd.
Mr. Yardley—Yes, I will remand the prisoners.
Venn—ls the remand to be with the under-
stantiing that the lady is to be brought here, or to
be ex; ,mined at her own borne ?
Mr. Lew is-IVhichever way it is, Mr. Venn, you
shall ha ve notice.
Mr. Yead.ley—l hope she will be in a fit state to
be brow ;;'it here. -
Mr. Venn--I should like to as•ii. Mr. Braddick (the
inspector) c question.
Lospector :Braddick then stepped into the box.
Mr. Venn— -I believe you have been assisted by a
constable of the name of House in the capture of
these prisone. is ?
Inspector Ii raddick—l have.
Mr. Veun— Did you know them before ?
Inspe•ltor—,T knew the two men.
Mr. vc,an—You had one of them upon another
charge latei V I l.'elieve?
Inspector—
luid not, but House had the prisoner
Puzcy on aeh ark-se of lead stealing.
Mr. Venn—AT. .should like to ask the constable
House a questio 11.
Mr. Lewis—lle has not been examined yet.
When I have done 'sYNlith him you may ask him any-
thing you like.
The female prisoner Collett asked his worshi if p
she might speak.
Mr. Yardley—Yes, certainly, hut I caution you
that what you say might be given against you.
Collett—l wish to toll you that I was not the last
person at the door, becalm° when Mrs. Green's ser-
vant came down there was a knock at the door, and
when it was opened by the cook, it was found to be
the fishmonger's boy.
Mr. Yardley—l will ask the cook about that. (To
cook)—Now,- did you hear A knock at the door
whilst Collett was in the heuss ?
Gook (Sophia Jackson)—Tlaore was a knock at
the door, and when I opened it it was the doctor's
boy, with Mrs. Green's medicine, which I took up
to mistress.
Mr_ Yardley—Was this before or after the gin
was brought in.
Cook--After, sir.
Mr. V;a:n—That is most material,
Mr, Yardley—Was it before the alarm.
Cook— Yes, sir.
Mr. Yardley—How did you find the door when
you heard thc. knock ?
Cook—lt svt:E3 fastened. I also fastened it after
the boy. I did not admit any one after this. As I
was going up the first-floor stairs I met Elizabeth
(the housemaid), who told me to take the medicine
up. She went into the kitchen, where I found her
when I went dow,a.
Collett—They were both in the kitchen when
the doctor's boy came-
Cook—We were not.
Collett—Did you not say that the boy had brought
the fish for dinner, and your mistress would not go
to the box for money to pay him?
Cook—Never said such a thing.
Collett—You were both down there, and cut me
some supper, and Elizabeth had some.
Cook—l speak the truth.
M?. Venn—l believe it is ,clearly on the deposi-
tions that it was after the gin was brought in that
the alarm was given.
Mr. Phillips, chief clerk—Oh. yes, it is.
The prisoners were then remaJided.

COUNTRY MABEL 2 AS.

~~

NEWCASTLE-UPON TYNE--Nov. 26.
At to-day's market business was almokst at a standstill,
and all kinds of wheat met a dull sale at 1s decline on last
week's prices. Flour met with very little Attention, Outs
and other ar;icles very dull,

SIIEFFIELD—Nov. 26.
Red wheat, per lead of 3 imperial bushels...lBs Od to 25s Od
White II yl ...23s Gd to 268 Od
New red , , ...178 Od to 26s Od
New white „ /) ...20s Od to 24s 6d
Beans ), 7, ...18s Od to 198 Od
Peas, per qr
Grinding barley, per qr 33s Od to 35s Od
Malting ditto, „ 37s Od to 40s OA
Oats 2ss Gd to 348 0d
_77
Millers' prices for flour-2s 2d, 2s 4d, and 2s 6d per
141 b.

HULL—Nov. 26.
At our market to-day we had a moderato supply of Eng..
lish wheat, which sold slowly, and the prices of last week
were bare.), realised. Foreign not much inquired for, and
prices about the same. Malting barley fully is cheaper,
and grinding qualities met a ready sale at former prices.
Beans and peas met with a rather slow demand. Oats met
a slow sale,
Wheat.... Old wilite per qr. Ms Od to 58s Od
Old red
New white .. „
New red .... ,
Dantzic, Konb , &c. old white 63s Od to 67s Od
Dutch, Belgian, and French. 58s Od to 62s Od
Baltic and Hamburg, red 6os Od to 62s Od
St. Petersburg and Riga, old. 50s Od to 52s Od
Barley.... English malting 36s Od to 40s Od
Grinding 3os Od to 32s Od
Saal and Oderbruck
Holstein and Danish 34s Od to 36s Od
Grinding
Oats English, old
Archangel and Riga, per st oBl2ld to 13d
Friesland and Dutch 0,513d to osl3o
Swedish and Danish osl2id to Osl3d
Beans ....English, old, per qr 4Bs Od to 50s Od
New pigeon 42s Od to 44s Od
New tick. 4os Od to 42s Od
Egyptian
Peas Foreign breakers . 36s Od to 38s Oel
Grinding
Tares ....Spiing —s Od to —s Od
Indian Corn
Linseed, feeding
crushing
Linseed cakes (Hull)
Foreign' 8 5 oto 9 0 0
Rape cakes 517 6to 6 0 0
Bones 5 5 oto 510 0

---
FOREIGN HAIL PACKET LIST.

MAILS DUE.

Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton. Dec. 19.
via Marseilles Dec 13.
Brazil and Cape Yards, by British packet. Dec. 4.
Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena Dec. 2.
China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton Dec. 2-
- via Marseilles Nov. 27.
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar, via Southampton
India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Dec. 2.
via Marseilles Nov. 27.
India (Bombay), via Southampton
via Marseilles Dec. 6.
Lisbon Dec. 1.
Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Dec. 2.
via Marseilles Nov. 27.
Newfoundland ...Nov. 27.
Oporto and Vigo
U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet Dec. 5.
by U.S. packet
by Canadian packet. Nov. 21.
W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe Dec. 10.
Bahamas, via New York Dec. 19.
Mexico .... Nov. 28.
All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, 1 Nov. 28.
California,and British Columbia..

BAYSWATER ATHEN.2EIIM.—Last evening Mr.
Henry. 0 ttley gave a lectute" On a new version of ' Othello'
from a French point of view," before a well-filled room,
including many lite? all and critics of eminence. The lec-
turer went with great minuteness into a critical examina-
tion of Mr. Fechter's Othello. condemning the " wholesale
omissions and mutilations" of text, and the "extraordi-
nary stage business" involved in it ; and was listened to
with great attention throughout, and warmly applauded at
the close.