The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-29 00:00:00

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Mr. Spooner, Sir Charles Wetherell, and a deputation had
an interview with the Earl oY Dalhousie yesterday, at the *fee
of the Board of Trade.
Dispatches from the Governor of Ceylon, and also from the
Governor of the Mauritius, were received yesterday at the
Colonial-office.
Mr. Freshfield had an interview yesterday with the Chan.
cellor of the Exchequer.

THE LATE DREADFUL FIRE AT
RAGGETT'S HOTEL.

INQUEST ON THE BODIES OF THE SUFFERERS.
At five o'clock last evening Mr. Bedford, the Coroner for the
city of Westminster, and a jury of thirteen householders of St.
George's, Hanover-square, assembled at the Rising Sun, Charles.
street, Grosvenor-square, to investigate the circumstances con.
nected with the death of the four unfortunate persons whose bodies
have been discovered, and who lost their lives at the dreadful fire
at Raggett's Hotel, Dover-street, Piccadilly, on the night of Mon-
day last.
The jury were impannelled on the bodies of Mr. William
Raggett, aged d 2, Miss Anne Raggett, aged 37, Ann Jones, aged
28, and the body tri a female unknown (supposed to bethat of Mrs.
Round).
Lord Huntingdon and several other members of the aristocracy*
were present during the proceedings, which excited an intense and
painful degree of interest. The bodies lay in shells in the dead.
house in the rear of St. George's Workhouse, Mount-street, and
on being viewed by the jury presented a shocking spectacle. That
of Mr. Raggett, sen., and the body supposed to be that of Mrs.
Round, were literally burnt to cinders, whilst that of Lord Hunt.
ingsion's nurse, Mrs. Jones, and Miss Raggett, were very much
mutilated.
Miss Elizabeth King was the first witness called, and appeared
much affected whilst giving her evidence. Her left hand was
bound up in silk, and she had evidently been greatly burned about
the face. She said I reside at No. 2, Rateliffe-parade, Bristol.
Shortly after twelve o'clock on Monday evening last I was staying
at Raggett's Hotel, with my brother and sister-in-law. We had a
drawing-room and two bed-rooms. My sister had just left me to
retire for the night, and I went to my bed-room to obtain a little
water to make some liquorice tea. I procured the water, and re-
turned to the drawing-room, where I placed the water on the fire.
In about two or three minutes I heard a cracking noise, and I went
to the drawinwroom door to see what it was, and I then saw the
flames issuing from my bed-room door and over the door. I called
" Fire, fire I" as loud as 1 was able, and one of the waiters, a man,
came up the stairs and shouted fire also. My brother and sister
then came up to the room. I ran into the bed-room to get a Wars.
ket to throw on the fire. I found I could not, and I got mach
burned. I ran back to the drawing-room, and ray brother and
sister broke the window, and called out " flare," and " police." I
persuaded them to come down the staircase, which the tire had not
then reached. They had only their night clothes on, and were
afraid to ge, but I ran to the staircase to show them it was safe. I
thought there was plenty of time to get down the staircase,
but when I descended a step or two, the flames caught me and
burnt me in several places. Two men; I believe, rushed
unstairs past me at that time. When I got down I begged the
people to bring ladders to save my brother and sister, who were at
the window.
By the Conowzn—There was no fire In the bed-room. I took a
candle with me sheen I went in there, and brought it back again.
I was caught hold of by two er three men, and carried down stairs.
I cannot exactly say the cause of the fire, but having been in the
room so recently, and knowing there was no fire or candle
there, I feared that it had been caused by my candle.
My candle had no guard before it. To reach my bed-room I bad
to pass through a narrow passage, and the bed-room was very
small. I had no reason for believing that any one had
entered my bed-room. There were some lucifer matches In the
drawer of the washing stand. I had not used any of them at that
time. The bed curtains were of dimity, and a spark from the
candle might have ignited them, but I cannot say it did se. I
cannot say in what part of the room the flames commenced. They
must have burst through the door, or the door was open when I
heard the cracking noise.
By the jury—There is no circumstance which loads me to barns
that a spark from my candle ignited the bed curtains.
Frances Henry Earl of Huntingdon examined--I am residing
at prettiest at No. IS, Hill.street. On Monday night last I and
my family were staying at liaapett's Hotel. I had been on Motu
day night to the French plays, and returned to the hotel, I think,
about halLpast twelve o'clock. I went to the drawing-reom, and
just put my hat on the table, and was taking a chamber light to
go into my bed-room, when I heard cries of fire. Lady Hunt-
ingdon and her mother, Mrs. Power, had just preceded me, and
was wishing Mrs. Power good night at the time. I think I
can swear it was young Mr. Itaggett's voice I heard cry "fire," and
" oh, my mother I" I then ran first up stairs to my child's room,
and shook Mrs. Jones, the nurse, who was asleep, saying, " Jones,
Jones, the house is on firel give me the child." She said, " Wait.
my Lord, till I dress him ; the cold will be the death of him." 1
snatched the child from her and shook her again by the shoulder,
exclaiming " Good God I woman, the house is in dames. Follow
me." I then rushed with him down stairs, the whole of which were
on fire. Sly eye-brows and the child's hair were singed off. I
rushed into the street, and into Batt's Hotel, who kindly threw
their doors open to every one. I then found Lady Huntingdon
and her mother in the street. My apartments were the opposite
drawing.rooms to Mr. and Mrs. King's. After my wife was in
safety, I went back to see for Jones, and then saw the fire escape
being put up, but it was being done in a very bungling manner.
The room where my sen and Jones were was exactly over Mini
King's bed-room, and when I tried to ems out with my son the
flames had attached its dept,
By the Foremaa-.4 will not undertake to RIF there was neglect
on the part of those who bad charge of the fire-escape, but there
appeared to be some difficulty in their getting it close enough
to the house. The men appeared to be sober who had charge of
the escape.

Evidence resumed—About three o'clock a pollesraan informed
ale that a body of a female had been found in the rear of the
hotel, and I went to see it. I have seen the same body at the
workhouse, and I believe it to be that of Ann Jones, from her
having red hair, and being a married woman, and having a ring
ea her finger.

By the jury—l never saw a body of firemen and police do their
duty on any occasion so effectively in any country in the world.
Everything was don• to save life and property. I have no idea
from what part the tames first came. Where Ann Jones's body
was found was immediately under the window of the room in which
I had let her on the second floor. It is my opinion she threw
herself from the window, and was crushed by the fall rather than
killed by the fire.

Mr. Frederick William Raggett examined—l am the son of the
deceased Mr. William Raggett, late proprietor of Riggett's Hotel,
in Dover-street. I acted as head-waiter and manager of the
hotel for nay father. I was at home when the fire broke out.
My father and sister retired to rest at eleven o'clock, and I was
sitting up with the head waiter and cook for the Earl of Hunting-
don and Mrs. Round, who had gone to the French plays ; the
latter lady having ordered a roast fowl for supper at half-pkt twelve
o'clerk. Mrs. Round occupied a sitting-room and two Wd-recnne
on •e second floor, which are all connected with one another
by doors. Mrs. Round and her daughter arrived borne at
twelve o'clock, and I took up the urn for making
tea, and the fowl. She then ordered some dry toast,
and asked to have the things left up there to save us
trouble, On my return down stairs I saw flames rushing
out of Miss Ring's bed-room, on the drawing-room floor, and
heard the cry of " Fire." I instantly rushed to my mother's bed-
room, she having been bed-ridden through a broken leg for three
weeks. My mother slept on the second floor, and my brother fol..
lowed me and assisted her down the stairs, bat the flames were so
overpowering that we both fell with her. I was assisted then by
some men, and we carried my mother to Batt's Hotel. I then re.
turned to see after the safety of my brother. I must here remark
that when I saw the flames I called out " Fire, fire," loud enough
to disturb every one in the house. On my going back to look for
my brother, I found him on the ladder, bringing Miss Round down
the escape. He went up again and brought down Miss Round's
servant. My brother appeared mad, as he said he could Ind neither
his father nor his sister. Had the fire.escape been there in proper
time, and the conductor not been drunk, it would hare been properly
placed, and I believe every soul might have been saved.
Mr. Raggett here said, that although the house was insured en
2,0001., every vestige of property belonging to his father was de-
stroyed. The candles used were all patent candles, and a spark
falling from them would not have ignited. Miss King's bed cur-
tains were of quilted dimity. He was of opinion, therefore, that
the candle must, whilst Miss King was passing the bed, have come
in contact with the curtains unknown to her.
By the jury—It is my firm belief that the two bodies so much
burned are those of my father and Mrs. Round, as they were seen
together by Miss King, my father endeavouring to save her, on
the staircase. There was a trap.door by which persons souk' escape
to the roof. The housemaid, Mrs. Barnes, slept in a front room
on the second floor, and, as I understand, these bodies were found
in the back part of the premises, I should say that the female body
is that of Mrs. Round.
The CORONER, at this stage of the proceedings, remarked, that
as there appeared to be considerable doubt as to the identity of
the fourth body, whether it was that of the unfortunate lady,
Mrs. Round, or Mrs. Barnes, the housemaid, perhaps it would be
proper to adjourn the inquiry in order to set that matter at rest.
Several persons who appeared to be interested in the Fire
Escape Society here wished to tender evidence as to their effi-
ciency on the occasion, but the Coroner said it was irrelevant to
the inquiry.

A discussion then ensued amongst the jury as to taking further
evidence. when, in answer to the Coroner,

Mr. Inspector Agga stated that the hotel was being now shored
up, and there was every probability of the other bodies beingidia.
covered, if they were in the ruins, in the olurse of to-morrow
(this day).
The inquiry was then adjourned till Friday next.

COAL ALEURIEET.
Prices per ton at the close of the market :—Carr's Hartley
188; Chester Main, 15s; Hasting's Hartley, 183; Holy_
well Main, 16s 6d ; West Wy-lam, 15s; Wylam, 14s. 6d
Wall's-end, Hilda, 16. 6d; Eden Main, 16, 9d; Belmont
17s 3d; Braddyll's Hetton, 18s 6d; Haswell, 18s 9d;
.Hetton,, 18s 6d ; Lambton, 18s 3d.; Pemberton, 17s 6d; Russell's
Hetton, 17s 9d ; Shotten, 18s ; Stewart's, 18s 6d ; Kelly, 18a ;
Eden Hartlepool, 17s; Maclean Tees, 16s; Seymour Tees,
17s 6d ; Tees, 17s 9d.—Ships arrived, 46.

ADVERTISEMENT. —TO TRH LADIDS. —" ROW_
LAND'S KALTDOR" FOR THE CO3IELEXION.—This eminently
balsamic preparation is equally celebrated for safety in applica-
tion, as for its mild and soothing operation, in thoroughly
purifying it of all eruptive maladies and discolorations, and in
producing a healthy freshness and transparency to the skis and
complexion ! These, with its salutary and inconceivably re-
freshing effects on a shin rough, dry, and heated by travelling,
or otherwise, have obtained its selection by the Court and the
Royal Family of Great Britain, and those of the Continent of
Europe, together with the whole " elite" of the aristocracy
and haut ton." The high reputation it bears, causes unprin-
cipled shopkeepers to offer their spurious " Kalydora " for sale,
composed of the most deleterious ingredients, containing mine-
ral astringents, utterly ruinous to the complexion, and by their
repellent action endangering health. The only genuine artiele
has the words " Itowland's Kalydor" on the wrapper.
[ADTEIrTISEMENT.]—BRUSHES.—NI3W INVENTIONS.
—The Triple Hair Brush, One stroke of this is equal
to the effect of ono penetrating, five small-tooth (tombs,
and one even-cut brush ;to be had in foz sizes, No. 7
ss. 6d, ; No. 8,7 s. 6d. ; No. 9,9 s. 6d. ; No. 10, I la. 6d
The Double Anti Pressure Nail Brush, which does not
divide the quick from the nail no pressure being re-
quired, and thoroughly cleans and polishes the nails in
a tenth part of the time of any other method ; price in
bone, No. 1, 25.; No. 2,2 s. 6d.; No. 3,3 s. 6d.; No. 4,
55.; and of all sizes and prices in ivory. The New
Tooth-pick Brush, which entirely enters between the
interstices of the closest teeth ; marks, full-sized
brushes, No. 1, hard ;;No. 2, lsss hard; No. 3, middling;
Nu. 4, soft. The narrow brushes, No. 5, hard; No. 6,
less hard; No. 7. middling; No. S, soft, at ls. each, or
10s. per dozen in bone; and 2s. each or 21s. per doyen
in ivory, the hair warranted] never to come out. The
Medium Shaving Brush, between the usual badger hair
and bristle brush, being a selection of the strongest hair
only from the badger akin, in a variety of sizes, both in
hone and ivory. The above articles are the ieventions
of Ross and Sons, 119 and 120, Bishopsgate-street.
them
will and, being protected, any one imitating
will be proceeded against.
two lecture. "On the
Rural Economy (Dr. Daubeny) witl deliver
thrt.,
and on Monday,
Rotation of Crops," on Saturday. the
OXFORD.—BoTANIC GARDEN
.'-The
day corninencing at two o'clock; on the
,The Professor of
tha t•l'd of June, each
the botanic apratz during
which have been ca on in he will n the results of some ex-
periments connected lb the subject of his lecture.
tletelars to f
ten*hyicrah rB",in

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