The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-25 00:00:00

DIABOLICAL OUTRAGE BY TRADES

UNIONISTS AT SHEFFIELD.

SHEFFIELD, SATURDAY.
This morning another of those •diatiolical out-
rages for which Sheffield has become unenviable
took place in Acorn street. It seems that for some
time there has been a " strike" amongst the fender-
grinders of Alderman H. E. Hoole, Green•lane
Works, and as one or two men have gone into
work, these have been singled out by the turn-outs
specially to insult and annoy. One of the men
who have gone in, named Wastnidge, resides in
Acorn-street, Shalesmoor, and he was singled out as
the first victim of the system of terrorism which
has existed since the strike.

The house in which Wastnidge resides is one of
a row of cottages opposite the gates of the Cannon
Brewery. Shortly after one o'clock the person
who resides next door to Wastnidge heard heavy
footsteps in the street, and the next moment a
crash, as of breaking glass. While she and
her husband were getting up to ascertain the cause
an explosion, which seemed to shake the house to
its foundation, took place. The man (who is em-
ployed at the brewery) hastily dressed himself and
ran into the street, and a number of the neighbours
who had been awakened by the explosion, were also
out of their houses in a few moments. They were
joined immediately by William Thompson, who
forced open the door of the hause, and made his
way upstairs, whilst the others fetched a ladder to
rescue the inmates, inasmuch as they saw escape
from the garret was almost cut oft by the flames. In
the chamber a large tin can filled with powder and
other combustibles had been thrown, and in this
chamber an old woman, named Rourke, a lodger,
was sleeping. Her screams and the noise of the
broken glass aroused Wastnidge, and his wife and
child, who were sleeping in the garret. Mrs. Wast-
nidge got a light and ran down into the chamber.
She saw the bottle on the floor, with a fusee smok-
ing, and instead of throwing it back through the
the window, she lifted it up, and was examining it,
when the explosion took place. She escaped by a
miracle being killed upon the spot, but her night
dress was set on fire, and she received dreadful in-
juries upon the face, arms, and abdomen. She ran
up stairs, and in her progress, of course, fanned the
flames. Mrs. Rourke was very seriously injured,
and she ran down into the cellar. The bed clothes
in the garret were ignited by contact with Mrs.
Wastnidge'a night dress, and for a few minutes the
death of the whole family seemed inevitable.
The neighbours in the street, however, placad
a ladder against the garret window, and Mrs.
Wastnidge attempted to descend. The poor crea-
ture was almost blinded by the injuries upon her
face, and in " feeling" for the head of the ladder,
after she had got out upon' the sill of the window,
she fell. Fortunately the ladder broke her fall, or
otherwise she mint have been killed upon the spot.
She was at once assisted by the neighbours. West-
nidge followed, carrying his young child (a boy)
in his arms, but after descending a few steps he
was almost suffocated by the smoke pouring through
the chamber windows, and he fell. His child was
caught in the apron of a man standing at the foot
of the ladder, and was not hurt, and Wastnidge
rolled down the ladder, which materially broke the
force of the fall. The old woman had by this time
been fetched from the cellar, and the four sufferers
were put in a cab and taken to the infirmary,
where they received every attention frog® the
officers of that invaluable institution. Mrs. Wast-
nidge, it is said, cannot recover.

COUN7RY MiIIZ.AL

YORK— Nov. 23.

The supply of wheat at this market to-day was small.
Market steady, and sales made at last week's prices. In
barley a fair business was transacted, in &your of buyers.
Oats well supported, but a poor inluiry. Beans a limited
supply, with an active demand.
Wheat, with
60s to 63s Oats.... 23s to 24$
White do .62s to 66s Beans .. 48 to 60e
Barley .32s to 38s Peas . to —0

Malt, 68s to 70s per qr.; rye, 36s per qr. ; flour, 466
to 48s per sack.

NORWICH—Nov. 23.

Wheat to-day was in short supply, and last Saturday's,
prices were fully supported for the best descriptions. Of
barley there was not such a good show, and prices were is
favour of the buyer. Flour unal, ered.
I.Vhite wheat 60s to 68s I Red wheat 56s to 644
Malting ba.r1ey....39s to 40s I Chevalier barley 37, to 38i
New d 0...... ....37s to 39s f Oats.. to —0
Flour, 44s Od to 44s Od per sack from the miller.