The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-16 00:00:00

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

The balloon descended safely in a field adjoining the
small cottages at Bayview Avenue, and Mr. Hampton
securely alighted from the car, and every assistance was
rendered to secure the balloon, when, by a sudden shift,
it came in contact with a cottage chimney, which, by the
collision, fell; sparks were perceived immediately to as-
cend from the chimney, and almost instantaneously the
balloon was in a blaze, and in a few minutes reduced to
ashes.

ANOTHER COAL-PIT EXPLOSION.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, OCT. 15.-I have only a mo•
ment to communicate the intelligence that has Just
reached Newcastle of another coal-pit explosion. It is
now past twelve, and the post leaves at one, therefore I
can merely prepare you for further particulars upon my
return from the scene of this second catastrophe. I shall
express my communications if the matter is of sufficient
importance. The colliers of these two counties are not
an ungrateful, though an oppressed class ; and they still
cherish the recollection of your advocacy of their cause
while on strike, and they, therefore, look to your journal
for a correct report of all matters connected with their
movements and their interests. I shall write you full
particulars on my return from the pit.

ATTEMPT TO SHOOT A LANDING
SURVEYOR AT LIVERPOOL.

Considerable sensation was excited about three
o'clock on Saturday afternoon last, by a rumour, rapidly
circulated in all quarters of the town, that an attempt
had been made to shoot a landing surveyor at the
southern entrance to the Prince's Dock. It appears that
about the hour mentioned, Mr. John William Arkle,
landing-surveyor in her Majesty's Customs, was leaving
the Prince's Dock, and that when he had got from under
the end of the eastern shed, and was approaching the
southern gate, he was met by M'Gaffey, who presented
a loaded pistol to his breast, and, as we understand,
pulled the trigger. Fortunately the contents were not
discharged, as the pistol missed fire, in consequence of
the cap, which was a size too large for the nipple, having
fallen to the ground. The utmost consternation, as might
be supposed, was created by the alarming circumstance.
An immense crowd of persons from the surrounding
quays were upon thn,spot in the course of a few minutes.
M'Gaffey, who mado'no attempt to escape, was almost
immediately arrested by a Custom-house officer, the
same man who apprehended Martin Walsh for shooting
Mr. Southgate in the Old Custom-house-yard. He was
at once conveyed to Bridewell. He is a low-sized man,
apparently about 45 years of ,age, and was formerly em-
ployed as a locker in the customs. From being a locker
he was reduced to the less lucrative situation of weigher
in the customs, owing to his confirmed habits of intoxi-
cation, and lately, for the same cause, he was dismissed
from the Customs altogether. His dislike to Mr. Arkle
was in this manner originated ; for, as the latter gentle-
man was the landing surveyor over him, he received the
reports of his drunkenness on duty, and had, of course,
to make those reports, in his official capacity, to higher
quarters. Mr. Arkle is a tall, stout man, apparently
about 35 years of age.
On Monday the prisoner was brought before Mr. Rush-
ton, at the Police-court, for examination, when the evi-
dence haling been gone through, he was fully committed
for trial at the next assizes.

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE ORWELL.—TWO LIVES
LOST.—On Sunday last three engineers, who have been
employed by Mr. Billingsley in erecting a steam-engine
for the purpose of manufacturing cement at Harwich,
took a small sailing-boat with an intention of visiting
Ipswich. They put in at the Butt and Oyster, Pin Mill,
and left that place shout three o'clock in the afternoon
for Ipswich; they had proceeded but a little way when
the boat was upset. Mr. Benjamin, the head engineer
of the works, had the helm; he by great exertion swam
for about half an hour, and was saved by catching hold
of a skiff. It is supposed that Mr. Hunsted, of London,
and the other, who was from Birmingham, got entangled
with the sails, and went down with the boat. Their
bodies have not been found. We lament to add that
Mr. Hunsted has left a wife and two children, and his
companion has left a wife and seven children.—lpswich
Express.
HONESTY NOT REWARDED.—On Monday morning
George Hume, a drayman with Messrs. Campbell and
Co., brewers, when crossing Dean-bridge, found a pocket-
book, containing a sum of money in bank-notes, amount-
ing to 112/. The pocket-book contained a letter which
led to the discovery of the owner, to whom the man went
on the instant, and delivered up the money. The poor
but honest drayman was rewarded with the handsome
sum of ss. ! About a fortnight ago, another poor man,
while walking along Prince's-street, picked up a lady's
bag, containing a large bundle of notes. A letter in the
bag disclosed the owner, to whom the property was re-
stored, and who gave the honest man the still more
handsome reward of 6d.—Caledonian Mercury.
FATAL ACCIDENT ON LANCASTER SANDS.—On
Tuesday evening, as John Moore, jun., of Flookburgh,
carrier, and two other men, of the names of Woodburn
and Bell, from Lindale-in-Cartmel, were crossing from
Hest Bank to Flookburgh, with two horses and carts,
they were overtaken by the tide while attempting to
ford the main channel, and Moore and Woodburn un-
fortunately drowned, as also the two horses. Bell, after
clinging to one of the carts for some time, during which
his cries for assistance were heard on shore, was res-
cued from his perilous situation by a man in a small
boat, and when picked up was nearly exhausted. He
was removed to Silverdale, where he now lies in a very
precarious state. The body of Moore was found on
Thursday morning, close to the channel, below Cartmel.
He has left a wife to lament his premature death. Wood-
burn was a single man.--Lancaster Guardian.
A STARTLING METAMORPHOSE.—A Paris paper of
Sunday last relates a ludicrous incident which occurred
at the Jardin des Plantes, the Parisian Zoological Gar-
dens. In one of the dens or cages of that establish •
meat, the visitors frequenting the gardens had been
accustomed to notice an animal gifted by nature (as they
thought) with a beautiful glossy skin ; on the front of
its den were inscribed the words " Black wolf of
Europe." One fine day, however, the neglectful keepers
forgot to take the wolf his pittance of provisions, when,
to their alarm and dismay, the half-famished animal sig-
nified his displeasure by breaking out into a loud bark-
ing I The murder was out ; the supposed " Black wolf
of Europe" was discovered to be " a wolf in sheep's
clothing ;" in other words, he was pronounced a dog of
magnificent species, which, it appears, had been painted
over by a mountebank, -and dignified by the sonorous
name already mentioned, for the purpose of thereby
obtaining for the animal a better situation in the gardens.
His ex-wolfsiiip is; still to be seen in the Jardin des
Plantes, having been converted, alas I into a watch-dog,
thanks to the sad mutability of sublunary affairs ! 11e
are not told whether the perpetrator of this practical
joke has been dealt with as he deserves, if indeed he has
been arrested.

KENNINGTON-GREEN.—The triangular
.piece o
ground near Kennington-cross, which, during many
years, has formed an open space, conducive to the health
of the surrounding inhabitants, has been let on lease by
the officers of the Duchy of Lancaster for building.
Thirty or forty houses are to be erected, and Kenning-
ton-green will no lonFer be a pleasant spot for the eye to
rest on, but a mass of brickwork, rendering the neigh-
bourhood close and unhealthy. The inhabitants have
petitioned against this proceeding as an inroad upon
their comfort. Marlborough-place and Cardigan-place
will be deprived of the agreeable view of a garden which
they have so long enjoyed from their windows. No
answer to the petition has been received. Economy in
conducting the revenues of the Prince of Wales is said to
be the cause of this building speculation, but the manorial
rights of the Prince might be made profitable without
trenching on the health of the inhabitants of the manor.
The Marquis of Normanty, in the course of last session
of Parliament, drew the attention of Parliament to a re
port of the bad and unhealthy state of the metropolis,
and proved that the want of a free circulation of air in
confined districts was the cause of disease. After the
report to which we allude, it is really remarkable that
the Duchy should consent to allow an evil which the
Commissioners of Health are actively employed in re-
moving.

THE FATHER IN SCOTLAND.—The weather has
been very unsettled during the past week—high winds
and heavy rains having alternated with occasional sun-
shine. Yesterday, however, was a charming day, with
the brightness and warmth of early summer ; and the
birds, which had been for some time alcuost mute, were
again vocal in the woods. There are still insignificant
patches of grain exposed in stook in the higher districts.
Around the city the farmers have nearly completed the
lifting of an abundant crop.—Glaegow Herald of Monday.