The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-28 00:00:00

,
ALARMING FIRE AT BRISTOL.
At about two o'clock on Friday (yesterday) -
ing, a tide-waiter on board one of the vessels inmorn the
floating harbour discovered that a fire had broken out
in the premises of Messrs. Whitwill and Allward,
shipchandlers and patent felt and oakum merchants,
on the Grove, which speedily extended to the ware-
houses of Messrs. Smith and Downing, provision
merchants and bonded storekeepers, Mr. Humphrey,
corn merchant, and Mr. Edward Reed, sailmakers,
the whole of which were completely destroyed, and
the premises of Mrs. Bailey, 37, Queen-square, much
damaged. The premises may be thus described On that part of the floating harbour called the Grove,
and which is at the back of the south side of Queen-
square, (the scene of the fires at the Bristol riots),
facing the new mud dock, are extensive warehouses
and stores. On the ground and first floors are the
stores of Messrs. Whitwill and Allward, filled with
tar, pitch, oakum, patent felt, and other highly'corn-
bustible materials, on account of which they are
closed at six o'clock, and no fire or lights used. Over
these stores were the sail lofts of Mr. Edward Reed.
At the rear are the provision stores of Messrs. Smith
and Downing, and over them the lofts of Mr. Hum-
phrey, corn-factor. Adjoining these premises is the
Curtoms Surveyor's Utficrs, which, on the discovery
of the fire, were broken open, and the books and docu-
ments removed to a place of safety. The fire-engines
of the city soon arrived, and began playing on the
burning mass, but from the highly combustible nature
of the materials, the flames gained a decided mastery,
and spread with great rapidity and fury. An abun-
dant supply of water from the plugs of the Bristol
Waterworks Company was speedily obtained, and
the efforts of the police and the fire•brigade were
directed to arrest the progress of the devouring ele-
ment. For some time, however, their exertions were
misdirected ; in consequence of a report being spread
that there was a quantity of gunpowder iu the cellars
of Messrs. Whitwill and Allward, the whole force of
the engines was directed to the saturation of those
portions of the premises. It turned out, however,
that the quantity of gunpowder was over-estimated,
and that it was secured in a copper can, on the ground
floor, and not in the cellars, as had been supposed.
At about three o'clock the flames reached the powder,
which of course exploded instantareouly, and the
roof of the premises fell in. The fire then spread on
all sides, and communicated with the house of Mrs.
Bailey, No. 37, Queen-square, a few feet from the ,
rear of the warehouses on the Grove.
The progress of the flames may be said to have
r been subdued about seven o'clock in the morning ;
but at this time (five o'clock Friday afternoon) the en-
gines are still playing on the premises. The total
loss is estimated roughly at from 6,0001. to 7,0001.
Messrs. Smith and Downing are fully insured. Mr.
Humphrey is covered by a policy in the West of
England Office. Messrs. Whitwill and Allward are
insured to about one-half of their loss in the Phoenix.
Mrs. Bailey's furniture is insured in the Sun ; but
Mr. Reed, the sailmaker, is wholly uninsured.
Mrs. Coote, the owner of all the premises, is also
uninsured.
From the proximity of the scene of conflagration
to the floating harbour, it was at one time feared that
some of the shipping in the port might have been de-
stroyed, so numerous were the sparks which fell
among them. Fortunately the wind was west-south-
west. Had it been northerly, the splendid vessels the
Laretan the Bell Rock, and several other first
class ships, must have been destroyed.

THE WRECK OF THE SUPERB.
SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY NIGHT.—It is now certain
that the loss of life consequent on this most extraor-
dinary casualty, is far greater than has yet been
stated. Upon a comparison of the passenger list of
the vessel, with the names of those saved, it has been
ascertained that at least 17 persons have been lost,
and from inquiries which have been made, it is feared
that in addition to those there were four other suf-
ferers. Mr. Willis and niece, Mr. Pinson, Mrs. Baker
and child and a native of Jersey, name unknown,
were amongst those drowned. A coroner's inquest is
sitting, and the circumstances attending the calamity
will no doubt receive a searching investigation.
The Superb, which was left high and dry on the
rocks by the receding tide, after the accident, has now
disappeared, having sunk in deep water.
On the arrival of the Collier at St. Helier's, with
the rescued passengers of the Superb, several gentle-
men who had witnessed the energy and promptituda
with which Captain Aske had acted throughout this
most lamentable affair, presented to him a handsome
silver cup, which was subscribed for and purchased
during the progress ,of his vessel to and from the
wreck, They accompanied the gift with an expres-
sion of their admiration of the disinterested conduct
and devotedness of himself, his mates and crew, to
whom, it is understood, similar testimonials will be
given

The carpenter of the Superb had a most Providen-
tial escape, having been floating about for three hours
on a grating, when the Collier's boat picked him up.
Painfully interesting indeed are some of the attendant
circumstances of this catastrophe. The two children
of Mr. Jackson, who bad been rescued from the
Polka the week before, were on the deck, and on first M
seeing the rocks inquired what their name was. The
ope
reply was " The Alinquiers ;" but the poor father Is
added, " I think they ought to be called the Polka
rocks !" Scarcely had the words been uttered when 3
the vessel struck, and the inquirers were precipitated
by the shock into the water, and were seen no more.

EXTRAORDINARY FISH.
The Londonderry Journal contains the follow-
ng :---

" About the beginning of the week, no small ex-
citement was produced here by a report that the Fe-
nella iron steamer, on its way down the lough, had
been piratically attacked off Ennishowen Head by
some indescribable animal, which, having seized it by
the bow with its jaws, dragged it all the way into
Portrush harbour—the very port to which the vessel
was bound—where the terror in which the passengers
and crew were was greatly augmented by beholding 11
the creature preparing to board ; and that they were 2
saved from the cruelist of all imaginable deaths by the 11
prompt interposition of a party of the constabulary—
-2
commanded, of course, by an active, intelligent, and 2!
most intrepid chief, whose services the Government
could never sufficiently acknowledge—who, by re- 5
peated volleys, compelled the monster to a hasty re-
treat. It was said that they aimed their shots speci-
ally at the tail, which, with all nondescripts, is sup-
posed by the vulgar to be the seat of the living prin- 1,
ciple. On hearing the rumour we felt bound to make
particular inquiries into its origin, and really aster- 4'
tained that it was not without foundation, but that cir-
cumstances had been greatly exaggerated. One thing is '
1
certain, that the vEsly(asAtta,gk 2ed by a fish—the first
instance of the kin, we believe, that was ever au-
thentically known, which alone renders this occur-
rence memorable. It seems that, when the Fenella
was at the tail of the Tons, nearly opposite to Down-
hill, those on board felt as if she had grazed upon 2'
something, which they supposed might be a sunk
wreck, though, from the depth of water, that was
scarcely possible, and, at the time, some observed
about the bow an agitation as if caused by a huge
animal. When the Fenella reached Portrush harbour,
which is about seven miles distant from the tail of the
Tons, it was observed by those on shore, as well as '
some on board, that an enormous fish had hold of the
vessel by the bow with its jaws; and in the sequel it
turned out that the marks of its teeth were distinctly 3
imprinted in the paint of the bow, which, like the I,
rest of the vessel, is iron. Mr. Black, the harbour-
master, and a number of others, put off in boats, in
the hope of capturing the animal. Unfortunately the
only weapon they had with them was a bayonet,
which they converted into a spear-head by fixing it
to a pole ; and with this they made sundry blows at
the animal, which drew blood from it, and it then
dashed out of the harbour into the ocean. It was
then twilight, so that its shape could not be well ob-
served, but it was judged to be 14 feet in length, and
of a very dark colour. We think that it may have
been one of the basking sharks which are common off
the coast of Galway.'

---
EXTRAORDINARY CASE Or SELF-AMPUTATION.--
Yesterday Mr. W. Baker, coroner, held an inquest at the
Locdon Hospital on the body of Edward Murry, aged fifteen,
who met with his death under the following shocking cir-
cumstances :—Charles Dale, sawyer, employed at Hickmoth's
steam saw-mills, Charles-street, Mile-end N@W•tOWD, said
the deceased was employed as a btoker to attend to the fire
of the steam-engine, which is a considerable distance from
the machinery. On Saturday, the 14th instant, shortly be-
fore one o'clock, witness was removing some timber from the
saws which were in motion to the other end of the building.
He had been absent frcm two to three minutes when he was
alarmed by a piercing shriek, and on hastening to. the spotie
he found the deceased lying close to the saws in an
e insensible
bl
the
state, his left arm completely cut through b
by smalltwe piece
shoulder and elbow-joint, and only adhering a "
of skin. He had him removed immediatetlyatnodthhee hospital.had
The deceased had no business at that Bp
the saws. After the
fre-
quently chastised him for playing withllpiece of wood, partly sawn
accident he picked up
when the
action
nh 0
fdetcheeamsaeadscravaidanmeriyttwedaahteee
falling across the working
d that the left
wasstro strong playing
ni
igi mw iandth
saw. Mr. Moun p .
f it had been amputated
through as clean he was pulled ovetribirt,d
arm was cut as i
his
soulesfet saurmrgeon, state
fever supervened, whic caused his death on Wednes-
day. when
scientifically. The deceased went
ent on very well for some days,
Verdict, " Accidental death.' ,

PRIMROSE-HILL PARK.—On Thursday evening the
North London Anti-Enclosure Society met at Chalk Farm,
Mr. Fallon in the chair. The following resolution was una-
nimously agreed to, viz.:—" That the Commissioners of her
Majesty's Woods and Forests, in answer to the applications
of this society for the lighting of the new pathway through
Primrose-hill Park, leading from the Portland to the Hamp-
stead-road, having expressed themselves favourable to such
proposal, provided it was not at the expense of their board,
a committee of this society be formed to receive the subscrip-
tions in aid of so desirable an improvement," &c.

Style pervades the object ; manner floats on the
surface.—Eliza Cook'tgournaL

Near the pulpit of Dunstable church, there is a
monument to the memory of a matron who bore nineteen
children at five births:—thrive three and twice five !—Car.
lisp Journal.

1 WHY THE CLERGY ARE CALLED
ROOKS.
At the agricultural dinner held at Warrington,
when the health of the rector was given, the Hon.
and Rev. Horace Powys responded in a speech of
some humour. Ile said—Gentlemen, if you can ima-
gine such a position, I feel that I am placed in a very
bad one. I feel as4f I were taken bodily possession
of by a strange congregation, put into a strange pul-
pit, and given a text to preach from when I do not
know the subject which the text alludes to; and as
when a man gets into a difficulty be has rather a high
precedent as to the mode of getting out of it—when
he is in one he ordinarily eets himself about throwing
in a bone of contention amongst those who are listen-
ing to him, I will at once apply myself to what I know
to be a subject of agricultural discussion, and, I be-
lieve, of wide difference of opinion. I remember once
dining in company amongst a large number of far-
mers, and one of them very good, naturtdly and face-
tiously alluding to my presence in the company, said
he thought the farmers could do exceedingly well, if
it were only to get rid of certain exl enses which they
had felt too long; and, I believe, that there is a bird
which is toe ordinary representative of those who
usually wear the same colour in their clothing.—
(Laughter.) I have heard there is a very wide dif-
ference of opinion on the sulject of the merits and
demerits of the rook, and I have heard certain sports-
men say that they are very injurious birds to them,
inasmuch as they suck the eggs,_ and otherwise destroy
great quantities of game.--(Hear and laughter.) I
only know I have not paid any very great attention
to this portion of the subject, but 1 have also heard
numerous complaints that they do a great deal of
mischief amongst the seeds; and I have heard others,
who know most perhaps about the subject, say that
this is a great mistake; that they merely rid the
farm of venomous insects; and that it is the habit of
the rook, by some extraordinary providential dispen-
sation, to be able at a great distance to mark and
ascertain where the noxious vermin lies at the root of
unprofitable grass. So he descends and plucks up the
grass, feeds on the worms, and makes room for more
fruitful herbage.---(Hear, hear, and laughter.) Now,
I believe that is our trade and profession, gentlemen
—(Great applause and laughter)—and, therefore, this
particular district must not expect from me any very
enlightened practical illustrations on farming or agri-
cultural principles. I believe I know the difference
between a bull and a cow—(Laughter)—but I be-
lieve it is quite as much as Ido know.—(Continued
laughter.) However, I feel it is my duty to aid the
farmer as much as I can do by moral means, orby any
powers I may possess given me by others. Anything
which is noxious to the moral and intellectual welfare
of the country must materially affect its industrial
occupations.—(Hear, hear.) lam always rejoiced to
find myself in the presence of farmers, and I hope, as
far as I shall possibly be enabled to do so, to main-
tain that part of the controversy which certainly sets
forth the fact that rooks are an advantage to a com-
munity, by feeding on vermin and devouring them

STRANGE CREDULITY.
A singular case of audacious imposition and ridi-
culous credulity occurred at Gosport last week. A
woman called at a house in Chapel-street to inquire
if there were any umbrellas or parasols wanted mend-
ing. The servant girl informed her that there was
not ; upon which she said to the girl, who is a raw
import from the country, " Good luck attend you,
my dear; shall I tell your fortune, or rule your
planets ?" The girl replied that she had money.
However, after a little persuasion, and a promise on
the part of the sybil that she would tell her " the
young man's name," she gave her threepence. This,
however, was not enough to bribe Fate, and so the
creature said she must cross her hand with a piece of
silver or gold. The girl went to her box and fetched
sixpence for her. Upon which she went away,
saying she must go to the bottom of the street to
see if she could " turn the seven stars for sixpence."
The seven stars, however, appear to have been exceed-
ingly stubborn, as she returned for some more money;
the girl, however, had no more, so she asked for some
articles of clothing that had no holes. Forthwith a
shawl and petticoat were produced by the credulous
simpleton; the woman took them away and said she
would bring them back next morning at seven o'clock.
However, in about two hours she came back, bring-
ing another woman with her, declaring--such rub-
bish as we should scarcely imagine the most degraded
savage would believe. By their united persuasions
they induced her to lend them another gown and a
shawl, and went away promising all sorts of presents,
and, most delightful of all, telling her that she should
be a wife in three months, and the mother of four
children ! They then lett, promising to return the
articles of clothing the following morning. It is
almost useless to say that neither Fate nor the "seven
stars" have as yet forwarded any of the rich presents;
and the sybil has entirely failed in returning any of
the clothing of which she so mercilessly fleeced this
silly servant-maid.