The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-16 00:00:00

INCENDIARISM.

BIGGLESWADE, SEPT. 11.—The little village of
Arsley has been the scene of another incendiary fire,
attended by the most disastrous results, as the great
bulk of the property destroyed belongs to persons of
the poorest class, some of whom are literally without
a home. The fire broke out at midnight, and appears
to have originated in a hay rick close to a beer-shop
kept by a man named Livett. The spot was sur-
rounded by a number of cottages, the inmates of
which had long before retired to rest. There was
scarcely a breath of air, but owing to the hay being
thoroughly dry the flames spread to the adjacent
buildings before the arrival of the engines, which
were obtained from Biggleswadc, Ilenlow, and
Hitchin, all some miles distant from the
scene of conflagration. There was also much
difficulty in securing a supply of water, for which,
in rural districts, no provision is ever made. The
Rev. H. Smith, Mr. N. G. Edmonds, a large land-
owner residing in the neighbourhood, together with
Superintendent Blunden, of the local police, were
early on the spot, directing the operations of the fire-
men, and encouraging the labourers to exertion. The
fire, however, was not got under until nearly four
o'clock, having totally destroyed six small houses, be-
sides seriously damaging several others. From exa-
minations subsequently made, there is no doubt that
it was the act of an incendiary. The flames were ob-
served in the first instance by constable Link on
going round his beat; and he states that, although he
kept a vigilant look out, he saw no person near the
spot. The part of the stack fired was furthest from
the beer-shop, and could not possibly have been the
result of accident. The presumption is that it was
peaused by some chemical preparation, which was de-
posited in the hay at an early hour in the evening.
the occupants of the cottages in their terror were
unable to save any portion of their furniture, all of
which was consumed, together with their harvest
gleanings.—Cambridge Chronicle.
EATON SOCON, SEPT. 11.—Last Tuesday evening
some vile miscreant set fire to a large stack of wheat
straw (the growth of 1843), standing in the centre
of the rick-yard of J. 11. Day, Esq., in this village.
The flames threw their unearthly glare over the
neighbourhood for miles around, and thousands has-
tened to the spot. The first persons present put a
large cloth over the barley-rick, close to windward,
and wetted it; those were soon aided by the Eaton
Socon and St. Neot's engines, and thus the devouring
element was confined to the large straw-stack, which
was all consumed. Happily the evening was remark-
ably calm, otherwise it is probable no efforts could
have saved the entire homestead. We understand
Mr. Day is insured in the County-office, and that no
suspicion attaches to any individual.—Cambridge
Chronicle.
On Thursday afternoon, about one o'clock, a fira
was discovered on the farm premises at Lymage, oc-
cupied by Mr. Philip Armstrong, of Graffham. It
was first observed by a labourer, who had left his
work in the barn for the purpose of fetching some
water for his dinner, burning at the corner of a straw
stack placed round the yard, and communicating with
the outbuildings of the barns. The most efficient
assistance was rendered on the alarm being given, and
by judiciously cutting off the communication by pull-
ing down an outbuilding the damage was confined to
the destruction of the straw and the outhouse. had
the flames once got fairly hold of the buildings the
destruction of property must have been great—the
whole of the produce of the farm standing on the spot.
At present the loss is confined to about 301.; insured
in the Suffolk Fire-office. How the fire originated is
not known, but from happening in the middle of the
day, with but few persons on the premises, it is one of
those cases where the most searching investigation
ought to take place.—Cambridge Chronicle.
INCENDIARY FIRE.—We regret to have again to
record the occurrence of an incendiaryy fire in Suffolk,
which occurred on Wednesday evening last. Between
seven and eight o'clock flames were observed issuing
from a barn upon an off-hand farm belonging to Mr.
John Phillips, in the parish of Barton, near Bury.
The entire contents of the barn were destroyed, con-
sisting of 2.00 coombs of oats, and thirty of wheat, a
large quantity of straw, together with a shed contain-
ing a new broad-wheel waggon and various other
implements. We believe the property was insured.—
Cambridge Chronicle.
FIRE AT BROOM.-0a Sunday afternoon, about
three o'clock, a fire broke out from a pig- sty in the
occupation of Mr. Sells, at Broom beds. The flames
issued from two different parts, and there is no doubt
it was the wilful act of some wicked person. There
were several buildings connected with the sty, and if
active exertions had not been rendered, a large amount
of property would have been destroyed on this farm
as well as on the adjoining premises, belonging to E.
Lindsell, Esq. The fire was extinguished before it
destroyed the sty.—Cambridge Chronicle.

EFFECTS OF TRADE.— Contrary to established
custom, most of the mills in Huddersfield have already
begun to light up. This arrangement has usually come
into operation immediately after Honley feast, a period
which is a fortnight distant. Manufactories still con-
tinue to spring up in Huddersfield and its neighbour-
hood. Several of the first magnitude are at present in
course of erection.—Leeds Mercury. _

LISKEARD.—On Sunday last the Rev. F. Todd re
sumed his services i'a the church here, after his suspen-
sion by the Bishop, for omitting apart of the burial ser-
vice.— West Briton.
MILITARY PUNISIIMENT.—A Vienna letter of the
28th ult. relates that a few days ago, on the plain of
Sohmelz, near that city, while a regiment of ions was
at exercise, a captain being dissatisfied with the manner
in which two of the privates of his company had per-
formed, called them out of the ranks, and ordered to be
inflicted upon each five strokas with a cane. A crowd
of persons, who had assembled to see the exercises, mur-
mured, and hooted the officer, because, according to the
articles of war, this was a punishment not to be given
in public. One of the two soldiers, however, imme-
diately stripped, lay down on his face, and received the e
five strokes on his bare back. The second man was pre-
paring to submit, but the populace became so exas-
perated that they began to pelt the officer with stones,
and showed a disposition to proceed to more violent in-
terference. On this the colonel ordered the regiment to
fall in, and marched it off to the barracks, followed by
the crowd, shouting, " Long live the King! No more
corporal punishments!" 'When the regiment was back
in its quarters, the captain was put under arrest, and
will be brought to a court-martial.—Galignani.
THE WINDSOR AND ETON HUMANE SOCIETY.—
SWIMMING AND DIVING MATCIIES.—A few days since
the members of this Society gave a variety of prizes to
be contended for on the Thames, above Windsor-
bridge, by lads from twelve to sixteen years of age, as
an encouragemeet to induce them to perfect themselves
in the useful knowledge of swimming and diving. The
distances were marked by flags on either side, and in
boats on various parts of the river. The banks were
lined with spectators to witness the several trials of
skill, which were superintended by the Bev. Stephen
llawtrey, of Eton College. At the conclusion of the
matches, which were admirably contested, the judges
and all those who had contended for the laurels (losers
and winners) proceeded to Porney's school, at Eton,
where the prizes were delivered to the successful com-
petitorsime by the Rev. S. llawtrey, who, at the same ,
delivered an excellent address, explaining that thet
ob-
jects the Windsor and Eton humane Society has n
mew
are that there may not be wanting,
gency, persons in every way n cases of e-
competenti to render assis-
tance to their fellow-creaturesinthe hour of need. The
prises consisted of the Society's medals for the best
swimmers, divers, &c. ; and other prizes in money,
A " MAN-FACED" BIRD!—At Waiapu, in New
Zealand, the natives speak of a monstrous animal, which
is called a Moa, and which, in general appearance, is
deScribed to resemble an
imniensoessedsosmingestaic,,cfoacele;,ilwkietha
the difference, however, of its p
man ;" to live upon air, and to be guarded by two enor-
mous tuataras, who, Argus-like, kept incessant watch
while the moa slept. The Rev. W. Colenso, in the sum-
mer of 1841-2, obtained some moa bones, from which it
is calculated that this extraordinary bird must have mea-
sured in altitude, when alive, at the lowest rate of esti-
mation, from 14 to 16 feet ! Thus, it must, have formed
an enormous feathered monster, well worthy, from its
gigantic size, of being classed with the Megalosaurus of
Buckland, and the Mastodon of Cuvier. A mechanic,
who had been residing at Cloudy Bay, in the Middle
Island, asserted that this bird now existed in the high
hills near Cloudy Bay ; and that one had been seen by
two Americans, who had gone to shoot it ; but were so
petrified with horror when they beheld the monster that
they were utterly unable to fire on it. Truly, this is a
ram avis in terri.y.