The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-17 00:00:00

1 11L' 13 ‘J 111

and John Sewell. aged 57, who has left a wife and
five children. The noise caused a great crowd of
persons to assemble immediately after the accident
cccurred, and many of the workmen who had just
left returned to the spot, and commenced without
delay removing the rubbish. In about half an hour
Whiteman was taken out alive, but he died in a few
minutes afterwards, having been terribly crushed
In the mean time groans were heard through the
wall into the warehouse adjoining, and a bole
was instantly broken ; but it was found impossible
in that way to reach the spot where the sound
came from. The parties, therefore, commenced
removing the rubbish from the top downwards ;
but it was nearly two hours before they discovered
the body of Sewell, who then had been dead some
time. His body was partially protected by a beam of
timber, and he was screened from the furnace by the
flooring and joists, which fell into a perpendicular po-
sition a short distance in front of it ; but an iron
wheel seems to have struck him on the head in falling,
and it appears scarcely probable, after the injuries be
received, that he could have survived so long as repre-
sented. There was a report that a boy was also
missing, but on assembling the workmen all were
found safe with the exception of those already stated.
As to the cause of the accident nothing satisfactory
could be ascertained. We were told that the building
was old and dilapidated, and had been threatening to
fall some days ; but the foreman, of whom we made
inquiry, gave a different version of the affair, stating
that the chimney had been built only eight or nine
years ago, and that new pillars had been put in to
support it, along with a new furnace, since Christmas.
No doubt the Coruner will feel it his duty to make a
full investigation into the matter. Without being
old, the chimney might still be insecure. Though
styled a "cone," that being the usual shape of glass-
house chimnies, it was not conical, but rectangular,
nearly square ; when first erected its sides were per-
pendicular and parallel, but for some time the upper
portion projected outwards. The cutting•room con-
tained a quantity of machinery, and a large wheel
used in driving it was formerly fixed to the chimney,
but that was removed some time ago. There were
also benches and a quantity of wood in the joiner's
shop, so that a considerable weight would have to be
sustained by the chimney, which itself rested on pil-
lars. How far the weight may have contributed to
the catastrophe it may be difficult at present to deter-
mine ; but inquiry will doubtless be instituted. The
whole is now a mass of ruins, and the loss to the pro-
prietor will be considerable. A report of fire was
spread when the accident occurred, and intelligence
having been conveyed to the " Newcastle" office, the
engine belonging to that establishment was soon on
the spot, and was used to keep the furnaces in check,
and extinguish them when necessary. •

[The following appeared in our Fourth Eiition of
last night :—]
FRAN CE.

The National says :—" M. Guizot has just address-
ed a long letter to each of the fire classes of the In-
stitute, declaring that he will not accept the candi-
datesbip for the Superior Council of Public Instruc-
tion, which had been offered to him. M. Guizot
founds his refusal on the character of the law : it
will, he says, " light up anew the quarrels which it is
desired to extinguish, and will lower the moral in-
fluence of the government."