The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-23 00:00:00

SUPPOSED CASE of POISONING.

BATH, Ave. 22.—This day the inquest on the body of Lieut.-
General Dick was resumed at one o'clock, before the Coroner, Mr.
Bn?lish, at the Lamb Inn, Stall-street.

areavesi barrister: and Mr. Smith, solicitor, attended on
behalf of the executofi.

The CORONER said, he was sorry to have to state that it would
be necessary again to adjourn the inquiry, as Mr. Herapath, whose
evidence was most essential, was engaged at Bristol upon a trial at
the assizes as to a patent right. Mr. T. Barrett, the surgeon it ho
made the post mortem examination of the deceased General's
body, was in attendance, but it would not be advisable to take the
scientific evidence at two sittings. There was, however, a wit-
ness present who had come from Trowbridge, and the jury could, if
they pleased, receive his testimony, or they could adjourn at once.
The Jury said, that as they were now assembled, they would pre.
fcr going on as far as they could.
Mr. Joseph Cuff was then sworn, and deposed, that up to the
13th March in the last year, he lived in the service of General
Dick as butler, at Catherine.place, Bath. The body exhumed some
days since in the Abbey Cemetery was that of General Dick.
Ile died on the 13th of March, at about one o'clock. In
the morning he appeared to be in his usual health up to
twelve o'clock. He took his breakfast as usual at
eight o'clock, his usual breakfast hour, and at half•past ten
o'clock he read prayers, according to his general custom. There
was nothing then at all unusual in his appearance. At a quarter.
past eleven o'clock witness took up his chocolate as usual. Witness
put the sugar into the chocolate cup and the cook poured the cho.
colate into it. Witness left the chocolate with the deceased and
presumed that he drank it, as he afterwards saw the cup emptied of
its contents. He was at this time sitting in a back-room behind the
dining.room, which was usually occupied by young Mr. Thomas as
a sleeping-room. Mr. Thomas was the General's grandson.
When this chocolate was taken to him deceased seemed as usual , he
made no complaint of illness. At about half-past twelve o'clock a
friend of his, Captain Hutchison, called to see him. Witness
went into the room and announced him. The General
then looked altered ; lie was paler than usual, leaning
back in his chair, with his mouth partially open, and
his eyes looking dim, as if he were drowsy. Witness
announced Captain Hutchison, and he said, " Very well, Cuff;
I will go to him." Witness then asked the Captain into the
drawing-room, and went himself into the dining-room to lay the
cloth for luncheon. Mr. Thomas then called out from the sitting-
room, " Cuff, come and assist me " He went in, and saw the
General on his hands and knees by the bedside, and Mr. Thomas
trsing to lift him up. Mr. Thomas said, " the General has had a
lit, Cuff." Witness could not see the General's face, but he was
still, and did not struggle at all. Witness assisted Mr. Thomas,
and sat back in the General's chair, and they got the General off the
ground, and sat him on his (witness's) knee. He gave one sigh,
leant his head back on witness's shoulder, and his mouth fell more
open than before. After that he exhibited no signs of life. He
was never subject to fits, and had not been ill before. Mr. Thomas
left witness in the room with the deceased, and went to fetch Dr.
Spry, who was In attendance in three or four minutes afterwards.
Mr. Thomas followed in abcut a minute, anti Dr. Daniel also
came, as did Captain Hutchison. Dr. Spry tried to bleed the de.
ceased in the arm and in the temple, but only one drop of blond
came. He had been dead half an hour and more before any of the
servants or family knew of it. They knew that he was very ill,
but not that he was dead. . _

The witness was here taken ill and fainted, and his evidence
was interrupted for a time. On its being resumed,
t he cm-
inned—

Mr. Thomas cautioned witness not to tell them he was dead,
fearing that they might tell the General's daughters and frighten
them. Mr. Thomas afterwards said to the gentlemen that he
thought they might bury the body without an inquest, as he did
noL went a stir to be made in the house. Witness did not know
of anything besides the chocolate having been given to the General.
He was not in the habit of taking medicine. Never knew of his
drinking peppermint-water. He had not been sick at all during
the morning. Witness observed nothing unusual in the choco-
late cup when he took it out of the room. Saw no glass or medi.
eine bottle about.

There being no other witness in attendance,
The CORONER adjourned the inquest till to-morrow at 1 o'clock
when it will be held at the Guildhall.

HORRIBLE CATASTROPHE
NEAR ROUEN.
The Memorial de Rouen of Wednesday contains the following
sad account of the effects of the storm in the immediate neigh.
bourhood of that city :
" A frightful event occurred yesterday to fill all our district
with consternation. A rather violent storm had broken over
Rouen about noon ; the rain had fallen in abundance, and some
claps of thunder were heard, but there was nothing to presage the
horrible disaster which has desolated one of the richest and most
industrious portions of the arrondissement.
" At thirty-five minutes after twelve a furious whirlwind arose
in the valley beyond Deville, commencing at the Houlme. It first
carried away a part of the roof of the factory of M. Itouff, then,
gaining force as it proceeded, it overthrew several small buildings,
broke down trees and hedges, and destroyed crops. Further off,
buildings were unroofed, and others were literally crushed in. We
have seen some in which the ruins, the furniture, the corn, hay, &c.,
were so confounded with the uprooted trees of the field, or gardens
which surrounded them, that it is impossible to say where the
buildings stood, or where was the garden. The scourge, moving
with the speed of lightning, carried to a distance some parts of the
ruins, then uprooted the highest and largest trees, and at last
struck three of the principal factories of the valley. Lightning is
in fact less rapid than was the destruction of these establishments.
_The destruction is so complete that the imagination cannot con-
ceive it, and no description could give an idea of it. They have
been literally reduced to crumbs. To crown the fatality, the
event took place at an hour when the greatest activity is going on,
and the hands are most numerous. Of the three establishments
which have been destroyed, one is is the commune of Malaunay
—viz., that of M. Bailleul, and which was carried on by
M. Neveu; the two others were situated near Monville—viz.,
those of M. Picquot and M. Marc At M. Neveu's 120 persons
were at work, the roof fell in, and the walls gave way before any
person could escape. At M. Mare's, where the number of hands,
at work were seventy, the calamity was slot less sudden and com-
plete. At M. Picquot's the number of persons at work was not
less than 180. The roof being first carried away, all those within
rushed to the doors, and they became so crowded that only a few
comparatively could get out. This factory was finished scarcely a
year ago, and the proprietor was blamed for erecting it in a more
solid manner than any others of the valley. The cnimney, Which
was 150 feet high, tell down to within a few yards of the ground,
and I was thrown across the river. The third floor, cut off with
wonderful precision, was also carried into the water. The two
other stories next gave way, and at last the ground floor was so
completely demolished that scarcely twci bricks remained in their
places. All this was accomplished in less than two imputes ; people
from all parts hurried to render assistance ; al! the manufactories
and workshops in the neighbourhood sent out their men, and at
once began to clear out the ruins to save those under them who
might be yet alive. Nothing can equal the scene presented
at the three principal theatres of this vast disaster. Machinery-
looms, bars of iron were fractured, and enormous pieces of timber
were broken as if they were mere straws, and all lying together in
one confused mass. Torn fragments of clothing were seen among
flocks of cotton wool, with arms and legs protruding from the
heap; pieces of flesh were adhering to the irons, and many parts
were dyed with blood. Now and then deep groans were heard :
some men and children, preserved as if it were miraculously, by an
overhanging beam, were taken out uninjured, but more frequently
some severed limb or dead corpse, or a body so mutilated that death
would have been preferable to the torture it endured. On the road
nothing was to be seen but I,tters or carts, carrying away the dead
or wounded. Temporary hospitals were promptly established. Sur-
geons came from Roues, brought by M. Flobert, and bestowed their
care and pains upon all, evert those of whom no hope could be en-
tertained. The master of the hotel of the Cheval Noir placed at
the disposal of the faculty the largest room in his house, with all
the linen and every other useful thing which he had then at his
command; 26 of the sufferers were laid in the ball-room and in
the orchestra. A number of the clergy came to bestow the con.
striations of religion, and the Cure of Afonville, dressed in his
surplice, recited the last prayers for the dying over those whom the
faculty despaired of saving. Men, wamen, and children were
weeping over their relations, many of whom were expiring in the
most cruel agonies. This dreadful scene was rendered even still
more harrowing, when the medical men, in the interest of such of
their patients of whom they entertained hopes, required that all
persons who could not be made useful should be withdrawn.
This necessary demand was executed by the authorities with the
most affecting kindness and consideration, but the cries and
lamentations it caused were rending to the hearts of all present.
At the guard-house at Monville were placed alt the bodies taken
out of the factory of M. Picquot. We have seen 17. Two were
those of young girls, one that of a woman, and the rest of men and
boys. Among these last several had been taken out of the river,
into which they had been precipitated from the third floor. Some
were entirely crushed, others had their heads and chests driven flat,
and some had their heads severed from the trunks. Need it be
said that the spectacle was most horrible. When we withdrew
from the scat of the catastrophe, at ten at night, we found at M.
Picquot's house 25 dead and more than 50 wounded, part of whom
could not be expected to live through the night. It was believed
that there were 10 more victims stilt under the ruins. Out of
three foremen, one was killed, the two others saved alive, but
severely injured. The loss in money is estimated at 120,000 f.
At M. Neveu's there were 9 killed and 15 wounded, but how many
remained underithe ruins was not known. His loss is estimated at
250,000 f. At M. Mare's there were six dead and a great number
wounded. His loss is put down at 120,000 f. In all 40 dead and 100
wounded—many of these last mortally. Theaggregate loss is com-
puted to amount to 620,000 f. for these three establishments only.
From one of these phenomena, of which these storms present so
many varied examples, these buildings were not destroyed re-
gularly one after the other, but the whirlwind seemed to have
moved in angular directions, and less solid buildings between the
spinning mils were left standing. The effects of the hurricane
extended upwards of a league and a half in length. The com-
munes which have chiefly suffered by it are Le Houlme, Malaunay,
Monville, Eslette, Cleres. and Anceaumeville. Over the whole of
the crest of the hills which inclose the valley of Monville the trees
have been destroyed. At Anceaumeville the buildings of a pro-
perty belongidg N. Barnet have been blown down and the trees
uprooted, and also a number of sheep and cows belonging to
M. Caron were killed. A gigantic tree was raised upwards of forty
yards, and transported to a considerable distance. Roads are ren-
dered impassable by trees laid across them. Carts, waggons, and
other carriages hare been blewn over, and many persons carried far
away out of their paths. Among the thousand incidents cited, we may
notice that M. Picquot was on his way to his factory when the
storm came on, and stopped, and before he could recover his road
the ruins of the factory alone were to be discovered. Whilst the
work was going on in the ruins at M. Neveu's, cries were heard
from him, and the men were directed to turn their attention
towards the spot from whence they proceeded. He was found sup-
porting himself on his wrists, with his back supporting a mass of
rubbish, and protecting his mother, who had fallen close to him,
and who would have been smothered, had it not been for his admi-
rable courage. He had remained in this position, forming a sort
of arch over her. Both wero taken out without any serious in.
jury, but the emotion of M, Neveu was so great that for an hour
and a half after his deliverance he could not articulate a single
word. A workman who happened to be in the third story
of M. Picquot's factory, was thrown into the meadow, where he
fell without being hurt. As he got up, and was endeavouring
to proceed toward the ruins, he was knocked down by an
apple.tree, uprooted by the wind, but he was only slightly hurt.
The mutilated remains of two young girls had been just
taken from the ruins of N. Mare's, when a woman, who was
watching what was ping on, recognised them as her
daughters. She immediately gave way to the wildest gr'ef, and,
rushing to the river, threw herself in and was drowned. We have
said that aid was brought from the town. We think it right to
mention the names of the persons who distinguished themselves by
their zeal and devotedness. M. de la I'reugne, Secretary-general
of the Prefecture, quickly organised the means that were to be
employed, sent orders, and gave instructions, which powerfully
contributed to render the labours as efficient as possible. M. Ton.
gard, Councillor of the Prefecture, remained on the spot as long
as he could be of use; M. Dubue, physician at Monville; the Cure,
Baron de Monville, the mayor of the commune; M, Loritz, of the
H. Edward, and Henry Lemaitre,
gendarmerie; M. Genoa, son.,
M. Durand, of ars indirect taxes, &e. We ought also to mention
the Municipal Guards, who
kept excellent order; a squadron of
gendarmerie, and half a battalion of the 21st regiment of the line,
who arrived with the surgeon anst assistant-surgeons of the regi-
ment. M. de la Preugne has demanthad succour from the Minis-
ter, to be distributed amongst the most neces.,itous sufferers."

The Mini3ter of Public Works yesterday received
a deputation from the English Committee of the Decal' Leheuf
Northern Railroad Company. This deputation was composed of .31r.
Francis Mowatt, President of the Committee; Alderman Hughes,
of London ; Mr.- Wegnelin, a Director of the Bank of England ;
Colonel Barlow, President of the Southampton Doak Company ;
M. Adolphe de Milly, member of three Euglish Committees, and their
representatives at Paris, and Alderman Sir Maguay, late
Lord Mayor of London, who presented the address of the corporation
to his Majesty Louis Philippe at hit late visit at Windsor.—Freacit
Paper.