The Sun.
London, England, 1828-11-20 00:00:00

ARRIVALS AT MELTON MOWBRAY.

The Earl and Countess of Plymouth, Lord and Lady Darling-
ton, Lord and Lady William Powlett, Lord Forrester, Count
Sandor, Sir Harry Goodrich, Sir F. Mackenzie, Sir James Mus-
grave, Sir James tioswell, Mr. Stephens, Mr. Moore. Mr, Maxse,
Mr. White, Mr. Ford, Mr. Hewitt, Mr. Warton, Mr. Cecil
Forrester, Mr. Buckley Williams, Mr. Maher, Captain Ross,
Captain Joiner.
ARRIVALS AT BATH,

Lord Bolton, Sir J. H. and the Hon. Lady Morris, Hon.
Mrs. Payntert Baron de Custine, Sir G. Bampfylde, Sir W.
Call, Lieut.-Colonel and Mrs. Shawe, Lieut.-Colonel Hely,
Majors Cadell, Harwood, liamond ; Captains and Mn, Morti-
mer, Garland, Huntley, Christie, Barrett ; Dr. and Mrs. Bliss;
Rev. Messrs. Wilkins, Grifties, Christie ; Mr. and Mrs. Arm-
strong, Matthews, Ludlow, Johnson, Mortimer, Egan, Clark,
Boys' Allen and family ; Messrs. Barlow, Back, Wilkinson,
Edgell, Elton, Fitzroy, Mitchell, Shiel, Pindar, Wallett, Finer,
Dowding, Doveton, Brooke, Moore, Ware, Abraham, Randall,
Montague, Es'ans, Thornhill, Simpson, Ward, Grant, Green,
hill, Deering, Sheppard, Bodenhan, Spicet Gawen, Adams,
Yeeles, Benson and family ; Mistresses Howding, Hewitt, Wy.
braids, West, Hallam, Coleman, Halkett ; Misses Hothani,
Barrett, Hallam, Young, Moore, Hibbert, Ludlow, Shiel,
Pollards, Richards, &c.
ARRIVALS AT CHELTENHAM.
Earl O'Neill, Lady Littledale, Hun. Mrs. Newcomen, Sir E.
and Lady Stanley, Sir Charles W. Burdett, Colonel Watt and
family, Lieut. Colonel Lambert, Major Wallace, Major Perkes,
Rev. J. Rathbone, Rev. Mr. Roberta, Captain Stuart, Captain
Taylor ; Mr. and Mrs. Leman, Trinder, Haywood, East ;
Messrs. Hart, Dunne, Jones, G. Browne, Burroughs, G. Mere-
dith and family, Kirk J. Kirk, R. J. Powell, Browne, Lewin,
Price, Powell, Coxwell Rogers, Johnston, Scott, J. B. Lousada,
Brisco, Legge, Willoughby, W. G. Andrews, Ednv, Mr. and
Miss Nihell ; Mistresses M. Turner, Bennett, G. P. Ricketts,
Parry, Waller, Bontein ; Misses King, Earlscott, Harrison,
Carter, &c.

TliF. METROPOLITAN BEACON.

(From the Dublin Morning Register.)

'We find we were right in the conjecture that
the managers of the infamous Beacon newspaper are
now at the head of an equally infamous paper printed
in London, and called the Morning Journal. The
following is from the last number of the Catholic
Journal :

TILE 'MORNING JOURNAL'S FASII,ICATION.A writer
in the Dublin Morning Rep;;ter quotes from the Morn-
ing Journal a set of resolutions, purporting to be resolu-
tions agreed to by a body of Irish Catholics, before the
Union. The Dublin writer calls fur dates, place, and cir-
cumstances, alleging that, in his opinion, the whole is a
fabrication. The fact is so; and when the following
statement is known in Dublin, we dare say that our able
contemporary will not think it worth his while to notice
the Morning Journal again. The editor of that Paper
began his literary career with a print called the Beacon,
whi At we beg to apologise fcc naming. This was in Edin-
burgh. After the disgraceful death of that Journal, he
proceeded southward. and, for some years, was enabled,
by one contrivance or another, to start a Paper in Lon-
don, entitled the IVatclonan. This was to be patronised
by the more moderate Tories, who were disgusted at the
outrages of the Paper on that side. But a few months
elapsed before they found out their mistake ; and the
IVatehman suffered the ignominious fate of the Beacon.
About four or five months ago the readers of the New
Times, which used to be conducted with talent, thought
they began to encounter a very strange spirit in that Jour-
nal. Inquiries were made, when, lo ! it was discovered
that our old friend of the Beacon was at the bottom of it.
The Paper forthwith began to totter—the name we,s then
changed—a new face was put upon it_ but all would not
do : the Editor is known, and nu human being now gives
the least credit to what he says. With respect to the fa-
bricated resolutions, we have to state this fact, unparelleled
in the annals of Newspapers.--that not one Paper, town or
country, has copied or noticed them, that we have seen,
but the Register,

Thp Duchess of KENT and the Princess
VICTORIA, we are happy to state,. are both recovered from
the effects of their colds. The Piincess VICTORIA walked
out, and also took an airing in a carriage on Tuesday, for
the first time since her recovery.

Lord HILL held af;grupo,it
at the Ofe.e cf
.c11!11140,1fi of the Furve%
Horse quail 3, Vvilich was attended •
military dicer% , wards of forty

THE MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE AT

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

Yesterday a respectable Jury, consisting of seve-
ral inhabitants of the parish of St. Paul, Covent-
garden, assembled at half-past three o'clock, at the
Garrick's Head, Bow-street, for the purpose of in-
quiring into the respective deaths of Richard Fen-
nell and William Douglas.
W. H. GELL, Esq., one of the Coroners for the
county of Middlesex, having sworn the Jury, briefly
acquainted them with the melancholy duty which
they had to perform. He then suggested the pro-
priety of adjourning to the theatre for the purpose
of viewing the bodies prior to the reception of evi-
dence. The Jury, accordingly, repaired to the pro-
perty-room at the King's side of the theatre, where
the bodies lay in the same state in which they were
first discovered. The bodies exhibited no outward
bruises whatever, with the exception of a slight
contusion, which appeared over the right eye of
Douglas, which was probably occasioned in falling,
as he attempted to mount the staircase. The hands,
face, and clothing of both men were blackened by
the smoke, but they did not appear to have been at
all scorched by the flames. The person of Douglas
was large and muscular, and his face presented a
manly and rather noble outline. The expression of
the features was perfectly tranquil and composed,
and indeed both men appeared rather to enjoy a tem-
porary sleep than to be locked in that slumber "from
which they must not awaken." Their clothing was
strongly impregnated with the noxious vapour which
had caused their death, and on entering the room the
smell was most offensive. The servants of the
theatre appeared a good deal affected at the untimely
death of their companions, and Douglas, in particu-
lar, was spoken of as a kind friend and an excellent
husband and father. The Jary having viewed the
bodies, repaired again to the Garrick's Head, the
doors of which, as well as those of the theatre, were
crowded with persons anxious to obtain information,
and to learn the result of the inquest.
James Corder, vestry clerk of St. Paul's, Covent.
garden, having been sworn, deposed us follows :
Yesterday, at half-past one, I was in my house in
James-street, when I heard an explosion. I was
told that it was at Covent-garden Theatre. I went
there, and found there was a fire in the vaulted pas-
sage of the theatre. I observed a strong smell of
gas. I then saw a fireman and some Bow-street
officers, together with several persons connected with
the theatre, actively engaged in endeavouring to
suppress a fire which was then burning in the gas-
room and the avenues adjacent. Upon inquiry I
found that in all probability two men were still re-
maining either in the gasometer or the vaulted pas-
sage adjoining; one or two attempts were made to
descend by a fireman and another person, but the
force of the impure air was so great and obnoxious
that the attempt was obliged to be deferred. Shortly
afterwards the fire was considerably checked, several
engines having been playing; I then recommended
that the water, which had nearly inundated the
lower passages, should, if possible, be pumped off.
Two or three apertures were made into the
vaulted passages, and a person of the name of Preston
descended a short way, calling out several times,
but no answer was made. It occurred to me, that
with a safety-lamp a person might possibly reach
the extremity of the passage. I sent in various di-
rections, and at last obtained two lamps, and, in
company with Rawlings and Ramsden, two men be-
longing to the works, I descended into the vaiilted
passage. This, to the best of my recollection, was
about a quarter past four, but the confusion was so
great, that I cannot distinctly recollect the hour.
The gas was then almost insuff.erable. We pro-
ceeded cautiously along, searching some recesses
which we passed, and which were nearly filled
with water. We reached the gas-room, and,
after one or two efforts, succeeded in reaching the
gasometer, where the men were supposed to be. I
searched every part about the gasometer, but did
not find them. As I was about leaving, I heard
Rawlings, who was some yards before me, call out.
I groped my way to the place from whence the voice
proceeded, and then, through the aperture of a wall,
that seemed but newly built, I discovered the re•
mains of Douglas, He was lying at the foot of
some steps with his legs up, from which position it
was evident that he had fallen in the act of escaping.
At the top of the stairs, which were about eight in
number, we found the body of Fennell against the
door, which was locked, as I understand, for many
years. I assisted in conveying the bodies, by break-
ing open a door leading to the "Bedford Avenue,"
where in a few seconds we had the assistance of
four medical gentlemen; but we found that the
bodies were quite dead. At this time it was five
o'clock. The medical gentlemen attempted to bleed
them, and also to inflate their nostrils; but although
every ellbrt was used to resuscitate them, the me-
dical gentlemen were unanimously of opinion that
any further effort would be unavailing. The bodies
were then removed into the room where the jury
had seen them. There were no bruises nor distor-
tion of feature, and the opinion was that they died
from suffocation. The wall at the foot of the stairs
must have been forced by Fennell, On the body of
Douglas were found a gold watch, seven sovereigns,
and other monies.

In answer to a question by the Coroner, Mr.
Corder replied, that in his opinion the disaster was
purely accidental.

To another question, by a gentleman present,
Mr. Corder replied that he was not aware er a door
being at the head of the staircase. Certainly, if
witness knew that such a door was there, he might
have proceeded to where the men lay much sooner.
A short discussion here arose as to an alleged
neglect on the part of some persons belonging to
the theatre, and who ;t was alleged had prevented
some persons from proceeding to where the men lay
by means of tho door in question.
Mr. Fawcett explained that a temporary wall had
been erected for the purpose of cutting off any ac-
cess to the door.

The CORONER decided, that there did not appear
to finve been any desire expressed by the indivi-
duals named to prevent persons from proceeding to
the door to discover the bodies.

James Bryant, fireman to Covent-garden theatre,
sworn—Yesterday, about twelve o'clock, I was sent
for by Mr. Robertson, the treasurer, and a Mr.
Cooke, to know if one of our small engines could
get the condensed water out of the tanks. I ex-
plained to Mr. Cooke that our suction was not long
enough. Mr. Lott, engine-maker, Long-acre, was
then sent for, and he endeavoured to get a suffi-
cient suction to reach the water in the tank. I was
preparing the eagiae to get it ready tot work. Mr.
Fennell, Mr. Douglas, and other men, were all gone
to the other end of the gas-room. I and one of the
lamp-lighters were walking after them, and were a
dozen yards from them. When they got to where
the gasometer war, the flames came out of the door
way in the middle of the gasometer. I and the
other man ran back again on seeing the flames come
along the passage. Fennell, Douglas, and the rest
of the men, were about this time within 14 yards
from me at the further end of the passage.
—The fire men, Douglas, Fennell, and the
three men gone to the ospitai, were close
to the gasome4..T et the time. Three of them, with
their clothes on fire, came running after us. Ti, hel'e
was a door at the end of the passage which shat to
with the wind and closed us in. pe)101, it open.
Skinner was the first man who followed me.. He was
in flames. I pushed him down, an,4 etgleaYoured
to tear the clothes from him, The two deceased
men ran in another d;reztion, The three men who
{Awed ttle :an up stairs: I then went to procure
assistance to extinguish the flames. I saw no more
of Douglas and Fennell until they were found,
a Juroried a " lamp ". Wo hut Os()
By r--
ve cue;, Canvey
of them ea
safety lamp.
ing a lamp
or
caiNii4s?eitlylieito4ts,,ltc.e..,olfivee
cOPNCW7—Wottid
tile
,ac lamp have occasioned
?
cannot account for the fire ;
I suppose that it might possibly have e;Nrredlii
means of the back lamp. Neither Douglas nor Fen-
nell objected to the lamp. The fire could not have

happened without the lamp. I have known, how-
ever, lights to have been carried several times past
the gasometer, and have carried them myself without
considering there was any danger. We had a safety
lamp at the time at the gasometer. There is no
blame to be attached to any person whatever, not
even, in my opinion, to the parties who suffered.
A Gentleman said that be had admonished Fen-
nell not to use a light near the gasometer.
Mr. CroAces' surgeon, examined—The cause of
the death of the deceased was suffocation.

Thomas Hedge eaamined—On Monday after-
noon I received a letter from Mr. Robertson to go
to Covent-garden theatre. On arriving there I
saw Fennell, one of the deceased men, who brought
me to the gasometer. There was a very strong
smell of gas and essential oil. I told Fennell that I
never saw any apparatus so liable to catch fire. I
left the workmen there to take down the pipes.—
On Tuesday, on my arrival at the theatre, my
foreman told me to caution Fennell as to the ne-
cessity of being very cautious, and by all means to
keep the cocks closed. Fennell assured me that
no accident could happen. I then went home, and
soon after heard of the calamity. I feared that the
men would be for getting the gas out of the gas-
holder. I conceive that Fennell ought not to have
taken a light to the gasometers. lam quite satis-
fied that Fennell would not have done so of him-
self, but Mr. Douglas's anxiety was so great to re-
move the cause of annoyance, that he most pro-
bably prevailed upon Fennell to act contrary to his
first determination.

Joseph Hutchinson sworn—ls foreman to the
last witness. Went to the theatre at six o'clock on
Tuesday morning. Mr. Douglas came at nine
o'clock. I told him what 1 thought respecting the
gasometers. I went with him and found that one
of the cocks was open. Mr. Douglas appeared
surprised. We turned it off. I told Mr. Douglas
then that it was very dangerous to connect the pipes
with the machinery above. I told him also that no
person ought to be admitted to the gasometers. Mr.
Douglas told me that he was determined not to al-
low any person there, and that he would close the
door leading to the gasometers. I rather suppose
that some of the three persons who were with Mr.
Douglas when the accident happened, most likely
Mr. Cooke, had induced him, against his prior de-
termination, to go to the gasometers with a light.
Mr. Phillips, chemist, sworn--I was sent for on
Tuesday morning, by Mr. Robertson, to the theatre.
1 found the walls very much saturated with essential
oil. There was no appearance of gas. I carried a
candle with me round the gasometers, and if there
had been danger at the time I should not, most pro-
bably, be here now. I asked Fennell if the gas was
entirely removed from the gasometer, and punched
a small hole in the corner of the gasometer to try.
A great smoke arose, not however from gas, but
from the oil 1 have mentioned. I cautioned Fen-
nell, and pointed out 4 way to remove the offensive
air without any danger. I told them not to bring
candles there. I told them that if they did, the
oil m ould most probably take fire and roast them
all. These were my words, Ido not believe there
was any explosion, and I attribute the accident to
the folly of poor Fennell in incautiously using 4
light. I consider the accident to have been ma-
siona by mismanagement, and had my advice been
followed no such accident could have occurred,
Mr. Robertson, treasurer to the theatre, said that
he attributed the accident to the over-zeal of
Douglas and Fennell. Two more excellent servants
the theatre never had.

John Palmer, principal inqwelt4r to the Chartered
Gas Company, dpqilited his attempt to proceed, in
company with a man named Bliss, to where the de-
ceased lay. Bliss exclaimed, "My God 1, I hear
some voices ; let us obtain assistance, and break
open the door." In short time, however, he
(Bliss) said he was sorry he could not afford any
more assistance, as he had been ordered off the pre-
mises, The witness then went to repeat his evi-
dence as to the finding of the bodies nearly to the
same effect as Mr. Corder had previously stqed.
A Juror.—Who is the peso Op ordered Bliss
off the premises? I coosider it to be very daugerous
to ose such an apparatus as that in Covent-gardeo
theatre.

Mr. Robertson explained with respect to Bliss;
that he had been discharged last year from the
theatre as a gas-man, and tinder these circumstances
he did not consider that he ligd way right to be
present,
William Miss deposed, that he used every exer-
tion to put out the fire. Hoard the cries of the
men, and told Mr. The was that he could probably
save them, but that he was cadered out.

Mr. Corder,—lf there were any cries, I must
have heard them, as I was close to the spot at the
time.

Mr. Preston said, that the voices proceeded from
Mr. Belgic), and himself, who were calling to the
men.

Witness resumed,--Mr. Thomas, the constable,
came to me, and told me that he was directed by
Mr. Robertson to order me off the premises.
Mr. Thomas, the constable of St. Paul's parish,
deposed, that he we's present soon after the accident
happened, and stated that Mr. Bliss never told him
that he could have saved the meTi if lie were allowed.

o thought
Tu isi v ' verdict'
Mr. Fawcett requested to be sworn, and the oat!
was tendered to him. 1 have the honour of being
manager of Covent-garden theatre. Owing to the
bad conduct of Bliss, he was discharged about
twelve months ago, since which time he has been
about the theatre, at the different public-houses,
endeavouring by every means to revenge himself
upon us by abuse and evil reports. Had he pointed
out the means by which the unhappy melt could
have been saved, there were at least twenty men
present who would have flown to the spot, with
crow-bars and other implemeuts to rescue them.
The fact was, that the character of this man, Bliss,
was bad before, and this attempt to throw blame
tipon the persons connected with the tneatr.e,. by
charging them with a want of feeling, shows it in a
still worse light. " My Gad," continued. Mr. raw-
cetr, with great warmth of feeling, " is there. one
if we
htoh a‘t'Q lidassistance
beingnot c havelocs eodu,l could
flown
spotn''.Jeut:rdyielh"eadfe'r' an un-
important discussion, returned a verdict of " Acci-
dentally suffocated."
After the return of the verdict, one of the Jury,
addressing Mr. Fawcett, hoped that after the dread-
ful accident which had happened, the proprietors
of the theatre would discontinue the use of gas alto-
gether, at least in ;hoe interior of the house,
Mr. Fawcett—l wish it to be pablicly lia,t,r.taaa
that it is the intention
Indeed,tentionofttlihecypriloupdriemtoardse nuepv ertli
tacit
make gas again in the house, and never to use it as
mindsPl in
to that ign
before the accident took place. He
(Mr. Fawcett) was always opposed ta. the use of
gas, fromits extremely hazarduus and irulammable
nature, not to speak of it; offensive smell.
We understand 0,1,U a subscription is about to be
opened for t4e families of the deceased, to which
the proprietors of Covent-garden propose contd.
busing.

TO lIIE EDITOR O) THE SUN.
81R--As several erroneous statements and greatly
exaggerated accounts of the accident at this theatre
have appeared, I think it right to inform you of the
fo)lowing particulars:—
In pursuance of the public intention of the pro.
prictors to remove any future fear of yuisuNze to
the public,from the effluvia oft:- gas, persons of
experience had beenWil vkoyed since Saturday to
effect a comil,cte iemoval of all the gas-appart,„,;,,
the, Ocae, for which purpose it was ees_
r"; I'l
to
do this effectually andi safi'gy., r!:inaining gasll To
persons from as. public
empty the gasometers of all the
gas establishment dad been employed, and these
gentlemen ;,ad taken every precaution to prevent
uccielotlt, and had most particularly directed such
workmen as were not immediately under their con-
troul to be careful in their operations. In spite,
however, of this precaution, during the temporary
absence a tir; superintendant at li9 dinner, one of

the unfortunate men who has suffered by the cala•
Laity, in his over anxiety, it is supposed, to get rid
of the gas, perforated a small hole in the gasometer,
with a view of burning it out. The flame produced
by this unfortunately communicated with the vola-
tile oil of the gasometer, and the tire coming in con-
tact with the gas which was unavoidably floating in
the arched passages, it instantly ignited, and occa-
sioned the accident. Every exertion was made on
the part of all persons present to preservg the lives
of the two unfortunate individuals who have suf-
fered ; and it is my most sincere regret that their
efforts should have proved unsuccessful.
I think it right to add, that the solidity of the
arches on which the Theatre is built entirely pre-
vented any serious damage occurring to the build-
ing,--I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,
JOHN FAWCETT.
Theatre Royal, Covent-garden, Nov. 19.