The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-19 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

Yesterday s highly respectable jury 1.-as empannelled at the Royal
Mortar Tavern, IVoolveleh, before Mr. C -1 Oarttar, to innnire into
the death of the seven unfortunate persons who lost their lives Ly
the explosion in the Royal Arsenal, on Wednesday morning last.
From all the information we could gather on the subject, it appears
that the deceased were the only persons in the building when the ac-
cident occurred, so that the cause of the melancholy catastrophe is
at present involved in mystery. It appears that the building in
which the sufferers were at work was, In consequence of the explo-
sion, considered so unsafe, that a portion of it was immediately
pulled down, all the glass having been destroyed and the rafters on
fire. The remains of the unfortunate men were removed to another
building in the Arsenal for identification, awaiting the Coroner's in-
quisition. They did not seem to be much mutilated, there appearing
on some of them a few contusions. From what we could gather, it
appeared evident they had died from suffocation, the action of the
fire having nearly destroyed the greater portion of their clothes, yet
from their personal appearance it was impossible to identify them ex-
cept from the remaining portions of their clothing.
The jury, having been sworn, proceeded to view the bodies. They
presented a most horrible spectacle, not a feature of any being re-
cognizable, the whole of their clothing, with the exception of their
shoes, being entirely calcined, and the bodies scorched in a most
dreadful manner, the skin coming off at the touch.
Mr. Colquhoun, the solicitor to the Board of Ordnance, was present
to watch the proceedings.
On the return of the jury witnesses were examined who identified
. .

the bodies of the deceased, after which
Joseph Carlisle, master turner in the Royal Laboratory, was exa-
mined, who stated that he had been engaged there 30 years. Yes-
terday morning about 10 o'clock he was in the shop, and heard
the explosion, when, seeing the smoke, he went towards the building
which was on fire. Asked where the persons at work in the
building were, and was told they were inside. Witness forced
the door open by running a barrow against it, when he discovered
the bodies lying close. The engines came and commenced playing.
On opening the door witness saw that the bodies had no life in
them. The bodies could not be removed until half an hour after-
wards, in consequence of the rapidity of the flames. The method of
destroying the old fusees was by removing the priming, and then
splitting the wooden case by means of a steel chisel and wooden
mallet, the composition in the cases falling into a copper pan. For-
merly this process was gone through by means of a steel hatchet.
There could be no danger in splitting the cases unless the chisel came
in contact with some hard substance, such as grit. Witness could
not say whether there was any great accumulation of composition in
the copper pan, or of priming in the box into which that was first

emptied.
Mr. Colqnhoun remarked, that the Board of Ordnance wished for
the most searching inquiry, to ascertain whether any preferable
mode could be adopted, or whether there was any fault.
This being the whole of the evidence to be brought forward this
evening, the inquest was adjourned until ten o'clock to-morrow (this)
morning.

YORK AND LANCASTER RAILIVAIre--A special
meeting of the members of the Provisional Committee of this
railway was held on the 16th September, 1845, at the Com-
pany's offices, Palace Chambers, St. James's-street. The
meeting was numerously attended, and the customary preli-
minary proceedings having passed, some highly influential
gentlemen were elected by ballot as the Committee of Ma-
nagement of the Company, including the Hon. Douglas Kin-
naird Pulteney, as Chairman ; Sir Henry Webb, Bart., as
Vice-Chairman, and Sir Thomas Woollaston White, Bart,
and others, whose names are given in the advertisement in-

serted in another column.
BELL'S LIFE IN LONDON, PRICE SIXPENCE
SUN-DAT, SEPT. 2L—Doncaster Meeting—Portrait of the
Winner of the St. Leger—The late Disgraceful Contest for
the Championship of England. Bell's Life, Sept. 14, price
Sixpence, containing the battle between Bendigo and Caunt,
to the extent of five folio columns, has been reprinted,
and will be kept on sale all this month of September. A
Sixpence inclosed to Mr. Clement, jun., No. 170, Strand,
will ensure a copy by return of post. The enlargement of
Bell's Life will take place Oct. 12. No extra charge. Only
6d. when considerably enlarged.
Tin Cow-us PlM—This strangely-formed little
tenant of the waters is amphibious, holding a place with the allgator,
turtle, antl others of the crustaceous kinds. It is capable of travers-
ing for a long distance over dry sand, by propelling itself forward
through the active agency of two pectoral fins, which it moves alter-
nately. It will also leave the water and ascend trees in the locality
of the above element, on which it will bask, and solace itself in the
sun for hours together. Sometimes whole shoals of these fish have
been observed, :'during a heavy north-wester, to fall upon the flat
roofs of houses, and in gardens, and this deciduous circumstance may
be attributed solely to their being snatched away on the irresistible
wings of the tempest, and dashed upon spots remote from any ap-
pearance of water.
DEATH OF A CONVICT IN NinvGATß.—Last even-
ing an inquiry was held before Mr. J. Payne, the Deputy-Coroner,
at Newgate gaol, respecting the death of William Camplin, aged 32,
formerly a marine-store dealer. Mr. M'Murdo, the prison surgeon,
stated that the deceased was brought to that gaol the last March
sessions. He had been convieted on a capital charge of rape, and
had been sentenced to transportation for life, which, however, was
subsequently commuted to ten years. Deceased soon after fell ill,
and the Sheriffs made an application to obtain him a free pardon,
coneeiving that from his diseased condition neither of the above sen-
tences could be carried into execution. Deceased grew gradually
worse, and every attention and requisite was afforded him, but sink-
ing rapidly, be died on Tuesday last at the above prison. Deceased
was quite resigned, and felt from the nature of his malady that he
could not recover. On a post mortem examination it was ascer-
tained that death was caused by diseased lungs. Verdict—" Natural
death, from long-standing disease of the lungs."
THE NEW CHURCH BUILDING COMMISSIONERS -
____

The new church at present building at I'Vlitechapel is rapidly pro-
gressing, and affords a very splendid sample of taste. The architect,
Frederick J. Francis, Esq., has adopted the style of the early English.
The tower is surmounted with battlements; there are no galleries,
and the roof is of open timber, similar to Westminster Hall. The
building affords accommodation to 1,000 persons, and the school-
rooms in the rear of the sacred edifice are calculated to hold 300
pupils. Toward defraying the expenses of this building the Church
Commissioners have afforded 2,0001., while the congregation of the
Rev. Mr. Ellis have added 3,0001.
BRIGHTON, SEPT. 13.—Viscount and Viscountess
Ponsonby arrived yesterday at the Bedford Hotel. 'Viscount
Si East-
nor also arrived at the same establishment during the day. rF.
and Lady Thesiger have taken a suite of apartments at the Albion
Hotel, and arrives yesterday from London.
[ADVERTISEMENT.]—DR. DR DARREL, OF VAN
DIEMEN's LAND, AND HOLLOWAY'S PlLLS.—Extract of II
letter from John Knight, Esq., dated ‘' Launceston, Ist of
March, 1845.—Professor Holloway,—Dear Sir, lam autho-
rised by Dr. de Dassel, of this colony, to inform you that,
having witnessed here in several instances the extraordinary
effects of your pills, he in consequence is induced to say that you
may make use of his name as attesting their efficacy. Signed,
John Knight, Carr Villa, late proprietor of the "Launceston
Advertiser." These pills aet upon the foundation of the
system: thus curing the most deep-rooted complaints, even
when every other treatment has failed.—Sold at Profe4or
Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand ; and by all respectable
Maori of radioing throughout the olviliaed world,