The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-14 00:00:00

river-boat; and if the other magistrates follow the
example of Mr. CO MBE, the cabmen will, in a short
time, be subjected to the same condign punishment.

~,,,... ,

But are the public, in the meantime, to suffer, and,
while they pay at an enormous rate for police, to have
no protection ?

It is our melancholy task to record, this day, one
of those domestic calamities which come upon us with
the more appalling horror, as they occur in the course
of our daily avocations (as it were), without warning
or previous intimation of any kind, and amidst the
crowded resorts of our commercial and shipping acti-
vity. A still more distressing feature in this disas-
trous casualty is presented in the fact that
the principal victim has been an engineer of
reputation, who prematurely perished just after the
satisfactory termination of the first and only experi.
ment on some important alterations which his inven-
tive genius had introduced in the construction of the
beam of his steam-engines, the connecting ma-
chinery to work it, and the location of the engines
themselves. For the particulars, however, of this
fatal explosion off Black wall on Tuesday, on board the
fine new steam-boat of 600 tens, called the Gypsy
Queen, of the instantaneous annihilation of Mr.
JACOB SAMUDA (the builder of the craft, and the
constructor of her engines), and of six other persons,
who were with him in the engine-room at the time
of the accident,—as well as of the desperate injuries
sustained by other five persons who are now patients,
in a most precarious state, in the London Hospital ;
we must refer to the detailed statement we have
printed in another column. But the facts of the case
suggest some observations to which we think it to
be our duty strongly to direct public attention, the
more especially as, in so doing, we cannot in any
way prejudice the case of any parties who may be
brought before the Coroner or any other authority,
for examination touching this distressing affair.
It appears that the Gypsy Queen was built by the
Messrs. SAMUDA and Co., for the Waterford Navi-
gation Company, and was, therefore, we are to pre-
sume, intended for a regular steam-packet or passage
vessel. Of the brothers, SAMUDA, the deceased,
JACOB, appears to have been the senior; and we
presume the firm is identical or connected with the
spirited patentees of the Atmospheric Railway. In
this case, the reputation they have acquired by their
perseverance in carrying out into practical application
one of the boldest principles it has yet been attempted
to adopt in the modern science of locomotion, must
offer every guarantee for the assumption that the new
invention of Mr. JACOB SAMUDA was one of great
ingenuity and promise. But, however this may be, it
is certain that the engines of his construc-
tion on board the Gypsy Queen, with their
divided beams and socketed joints, and their
connecting rods acting at angles instead of ver-
tically, did perform, on the first trip from Bow-
creek down to 'Woolwich, and thence back to the
buoy at Blackwall, satisfactorily and safely. In this
same incipient experiment, the pressure on the
boilers—which had been constructed to bear 401bs.
the square inch—had been kept down to about half
that ratio, or 201bs. only. But it was afterwards de-
termined to increase this pressure to 251b5., and
whilst the steam was being got up accordingly, for
that purpose,—the Gipsy Queen being still at her
moorings so little danger was anticipated, so
little apprehension experienced, that Mr. SAMUDA,
with the engineer of the vessel, a Mr. DODDS, Mr.
SCHOLEFIEED (another engineer), SLANDERS, a
fitter, NUGENT, an apprentice, NEWMAN, a stoker,
and another man name unknown ), were
all of them standing in the engine-room, to
watch the operations, together with the foreman of
the Messrs. SAMUDA'S factory, the four other men who
are so severely hurt and scalded, and two or three
other persons who appear to have escaped—when the
steam exploded, probably Through the rupture of one
of the joints in the main-pipe, and swept into eternity
in an instant, the unfortunate individuals we have
named. Whether the safety-valve had been really
set or properly watched, and other questions of that
nature will probably be ascertained in the course of
the inquiries to be instituted by the Coroner's in-
quest. Whether the engines, which were equal to a
300 horse-power, were high-pressure ones or not,
does not at present appear. But the whole of the cir-
cumstances which have yet transpired warrant us in
concluding that this is a case which strongly confirms
the long-since admitted necessity for some organized
and well-considered and responsible system of
administrative superintendence, to the especial
cognisance and report of which should be referred
all primary experiments on new applications of steam or
other explosive powers, and new mechanical inven-

tions for directing them. We cannot imagine what
possible objection there could be to the establishment
of a Board or a Commission, constituted of scientific

as well as practical authorities in such departments
of experimental mechanics. The rights and interests
of priority of discovery or invention could be secured
to at least as great an extent as they now are in the
absence of any such body. Many valuable lives, in
the higher as well as the more mechanical or techni-
cal branches of practical science, would be annually
spared, instead of being sacrificed by wholesale to
pure accident, or accidental carelessness ; to
evolutions of forces hitherto untried or un:„easur,d ;
or influences, all the power of which lias never before
been tested. It is matter, .54trely, of high public
interest that original ex:fiefiments upon expansive
forces, like those of st.,eam, should not be made, ex-
cept under—fir,,t, arrangements embodying every
pre for the protection of human life
possible pr
and inr4mber, in the event of unforeseen disaster, or
fal.'iure ; and, secondly, arrangements carefully limit-
ing the persons to be present at their trial, to the
smallest number compatible with the work to be done,
the assistance to be rendered, or the general success
of the operations.

Her Majesty the Q'
Albert 20/., towar:s4l .1.-en has given .50/., and Prince
of a new ors ''a a fund now raising for the erection
was gi':en by George the Third (having been taken from
4.
7,-.&n in Windsor Church, the old one, which
S- George's... Chapel) being in a state of decay.
The Ranting, a Ghent journal, has the following :
—" Amongst the convicts in the prison of this city, there
is living a man who, ten years ago, having murdered a
schoolmaster from jealousy, was condemned to hard labour
for life, and this man is now worth nearly a million of
francs. He is clothed in the livery of the convicts, and is
working as a bricklayer's labourer. In the same prison
there is also living a man, who half a century since was
pardoned, and to whom liberty has been offered many
times. He, however, is so much accustomed to the lift.
of the prison, that he requested as a favour to be allowed
to remain there until the time of his death. He is now
about ninety years old, he has lost all his relations and
friends long since, and has no desire to mix again in a
world in which he knows nobody. He is very kindly
treated in the prison, as his conduct was always good."
FIRE IN NEW-ROAD, MARYLEIIONE.—.TUeSday even-
ing, about seven o'clock, a fire broke out at the residence
of Mr. T. Kent, 20, Southampton-place, facing the New-
road, Marylebone. The first alarm was given by some
of the domestics, when a back apartment on the second
floor was found to be in flames. Prompt assistance was
rendered by the workmen of an adjoining factory, and
several engines were soon on the spot, so that the flames
were got under without any very great damage. Ap-
pearances, however, were at first somewhat threatening.
ATROCIOUS CONDUCT.—On Sunday afternoon the
Dover up-train, with nine carriages and 150 passengers,
when within one mile of the London side of Folkestone.
was nearly meeting with a most fatal accident 71-he
guard on the first carriage perceiving abolo- -
"...; 60- feet high, ,f an
the other
e. feet or-
ward, and between an embankment
iue,he
signalled
to use the break ; the engineers
obstruction lying across the.
dgiudarsdosi (two
snot
if_t:..
iii)
y when the first engine ran over a parcel
9f planks twelve in number, which had been most mali-
ciously placed across the road, and crushed them to
pieces. Happily, however, from the caution taken, and
the act of Providence, the train was not upset, and im-
mediately stopped. A beer-shop is situate a short dis-
tance from the spot, where a number of loose characters
were found, upon whom suspicion fell. The landlord
and his customers disclaimed all knowledge of the
transaction.
GREAT FOOT RACE FOR, TWENTY POUNDS.--Tues•
day the match between Bee (of London), and Powell
The Paris papers of Monday, which have been de- (of Hampton), came off near the White Hart Inn, at
Hampton. The distance contested was twelve miles.
flayed by the boisterous weather in the Channel, bring Both men had acquired celebrity, and the match drew
no news of importance. The Journal des Debats has together a large concourse of spectators. At the start
a long article on the state of the lower classes in Great the men went away, and completed two miles together
Britain, and the means in preparation for betterin in eighteen minutes, and at the tenth mile Bee was in a
g their condition. The Conslitutionnel has a leader on leading position, and was walking strong and full of con-
fidencc, while his opponent manifested s mptoms of the
the statistical returns made by the Prefect of
the pace being too fast, but endeavoured to symptoms of the
the statistical returns made by the Prefect of the pace being too fast, but endeavourod to continue on the
Seine, and some of the other
papers contain contest. Both men made strenuous exertionswhen near
comments on the new loan. One of them thebeating
turn
hiso adversary by 400 yards. The twelve miles
of the last mile, and Bee concluded the distance,
expresses a belief that the great capitalists was accomplished in one hour and fifty-seven minutes,
will agree as to the price to be offered, and that con-
it4rPLettaksinitzmor HANGING.—On Monday after-
fair toe and heel walking.
W
'j,
lohsyldoafnvviri
William
mst at the Cricketers,
sequently there will be no competition. The Com-
er
merce expresses indignation, that whilst Belgium and Camden-street, Yon' theF
Chelsea pensioner, aged seventy-three, who imanvgetehiramn
Isenlftg.et hcoisurlosedgc!fngths,el4, Wellington-street, last Friday.
Holland resort successfully to a national subscription
ye eidlionr,otehaes i
nCortter observed
in cases of loans, the French Ministry should have so
little confidence in the wealth and patriotism of the that it was extraordiPnrae;
I all the personsfwho committed suicide by hanging, the
French nation as to suppose that a similar course 1 hanging were. That was apparent from the fact, ethtast of
here would not be successful. The French Ministry,
. of majority were ound either in a sitting posture, or with
their feet or knees touching the ground. In one instance
however, know the people better than the editor
the Commerce.
a young lady, who was watched by two females, one at
led herself with the strings
The Journal des Debats gives the following details I either side of her bed, strang
of her nightdress, without their knowledge. On an-
relating to the trial of General PRIM, transmitted by i.
hung himselfwhile
its own correspondent, who was present at the court- i other occasion a man stretched upon
martial :
!his face, with his nose almost touching the ground. A
short time since he held an inquest at Balls Pond upon
" The appeal laid by General Prim's counsel against
! a man, who having hung himself up, the cord broke be-
the jurisdiction of the court-martial has not been allowed. fore he was dead, and he survived the attempt thirty-
Although the General, under'an accusation of treason five hours ; he stated that he had enjoyed the most
against the State. thus finds himself desufuero, that is, pleasing sensations while suspended. Persons who com-
deprived of privilege of the fueros, which was anciently milted suicide by hanging (continued the Coroner) went
granted to both military men and ecclesiastics ; he is off as in a sleep, and died without pain. He did not
nevertheless brought before a court-martial composed of speak of malefactors hanged at the Old Bailey, whose
his equals, all generals, as he is himself. The six mem- necks were broken, but of those who, like the deceased,
bers of this Court, among whom are General Ribera, an hung themselves without subjecting their bodies to a
old friend of Espartero, the Marquis de la Concordia, jerk In the case neither was the nor
General Pignero, and General Jose Concha, brother of was. the windpipelatter closed, but a congestionneck ofbro thek en
brain
o,:sceearntdlie leading members of the Opposition ; all are I ensued, which caused death. The jury returned, in the
' moderate men, and believed to be incapable of case of William Carter—" That he destroyed himself,
suffering their judgment to be biassed by personal or 1 but that there was no evidence of his state
of mind at the
political animosity. The President is, ex officio, the time he did so."

Session after session we have Committees appointed
for purposes of this truly conservative policy. Accidents
in coal mines ; accidents from machinery, employed
in mills and factories; shipwrecks, their causes, and
the means to be adopted for their prevention; these,
and twenty other subjects of not less signal import-
ance to humanity at large, or less connected with
the duties of good government, are referred by the
Legislature to Select Committees. But the num-
ber of practical plans adopted for remedy or prevention
of such casualties is really in the inverse proportion
of the number of the Committees and the amplitude
of their reports. It is high time that steam machinery,
especially in its application to maritime purposes,
should be brought (to the limited extent we have sug-
gested) within the reach and precautionary control of
the Legislature, as occasion may demand. We should
be sorry to see the same reckless indifference dis-
played to the consideration of human life and its
liabilities, in connexion with steam navigation, on
this side of the Atlantic, with which our American
brethren are so often and so justly reproached.