The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-28 00:00:00

BISHOPWEARISIOUTII IRONWORKS.

A dreadful explosion took place at ten minutes past eight
o'clock on Wednesday morning, at the Bishopwearinoutti
ironworks, belonging to Messrs. Cargill, Mounsey, and Com-
pany, in consequence of the explosion of a boiler connected
with those extensive works, where between 700 and 800 Men
are employed. It was most fortunate that the explosion
took place when the greatest part of the workmen were
absent at breakfast, otherwise the occurrence would have
been attended with more fatal results. Immediately upon
the explosion taking place, Mr. David Holsgrove, the
manager of the works, hastened to the spot, and caused
every assistance to be rendered 'to the unfortunate sufferers,
some of whom were conveyed to their own houses, and
others to the infirmary. Mr. Holsgrove has caused persons
to inquire after the sufferers every half hour, for the informa-
tion of the owners of the works, who have spared neither
trouble nor expense in alleviating the pain and the sorrow
of their relatives.

The Rev. Richard Skipsey, BA., incumbent of Saint
Thomas's Church, Bishopwearmouth, and the Rev. David
Alkenhead and the Rev. A. J. Liefe, curates of Bishop-
wearmouth, were most assiduous in their attention to the
sufferers. The damage to the works is estimated at about
1,0001. So terrific was the blast that some of the materials
were blown to a distance of four or five hundred yards,
and injured the engine upon the Hetton Coal Company's
Railway; about half of the boiler was blown against the
Bishopwearmouth Glass Works, belonging to James Hart-
ley, Esq., and partners, and the remainder was blown to
atoms.

The following is a list of the dead and wounded :

Names of the killed—Phillips, a boy; Cornforth, a young
man ; John Sugden, a boy ; Oxley, a man.
The wounded are as follow (22)—Mowbray, a boy; Chap-
man do. ; Pearson, do. ; Boswell, do. ; Metcalfe, do. ; Wil-
liam Carr, do. ; William Bailes, do.; George Liddle, do. ;
Bushells, do.; William Bell, do. ; two gardener's boys ;
John Oxley, a man ; Orwin Thomas, do. ; Lumber, do. ;
Downey, do. ; William Lewis, do. ; John Shottin, a young
man ; Almond, do. ; Cornforth, do. ; Pegman, do. ; Thomas
Pearson, do.

NEW POST-OFFICE ARRANGE-
MENT WITH SWITZERLAND.
The following notice has been issued from the General
Post-office :
"NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC, AND INSTRUCTIONS
TO ALL POSTMASTERS, SUB-POSTMASTERS, AND
LETTER RECEIVERS.
" General Post-office, Nov., 1845.
" On and after the Ist December next the foreign rates of
postage on letters between the United Kingdom and Switzer-
land, when sent by way of France, will be reduced from 9d.
to 6d. on each single letter. No alterations will take place
in the present British rates of postage on these letters.
" The British and Foreign rates must be combined and
taken on the same principle as that adopted with regard to
letters for France, as shown in the following scale :
" COMBINED BRITISH AND FOREIGN RATES ON
A LETTER.
" Weighing under a A ounce—British, 5d.; Foreign, 6d.
Total to destination, lid.
"Weighing a and not exceeding ounce—British, 5d.;
Foreign, ls. Total to destination, ls. sd.
"Exceeding and under ounce—British, 10d.; Foreign,
Is. Gd. Total to destination, 2s. 4d.
" Weighing 4 and not exceeding,' ounce—British, 10d.;
Foreign, 2s. Total to destination, 2s. 10d.
"Exceeding 1 ounce and under lA ounce—British, ls. Bd.;
Foreign, 2s. 6d. Total to destination, 4s. 2d.
"The payment of postage on these letters is optional, but
the letters must be either forwarded unpaid, or the whole
postage to destination, both British and Foreign, must be
paid in advance.
" By command of the Postmaster-General,
" W. L. MABERLY, Secretary."

SLEEPING IN A RAILWAY TUNNEL.—On Monday
a master of an Irish schooner, which is at present unloading
at St. Rollox, was brought before Sheriff Bell, and fined in
the penalty of five pounds for trespassing on the Edin-
burgh and Glasgow Railway. It appears that he was dis-
covered by a man who was proceeding up the Glasgow
tunnel with a lantern after midnight, lying across the rails,
and perfectly insensible from intoxication. The man dragged
him on to the opposite line, and in the course of a few mi-
nutes afterwards a goods train passed down the incline on.
the rails where he had been lying, and must inevitably have
killed him but for his providential removal.— Glasgow Courier.

SUICIDE OF A RAILWAY CLERIC—THETFORD,
THURSDAY.—Thursday morning a determined act of suicide,
which has caused much regret amongst the officials of the
Norfolk Railway, took place at the station of this town. It
appears that a person named Thompson, who was much re-
spected, held the office of principal station-clerk since the
opening of the line, but owing to his inability to perform the
arduous duties of the situation, partly from ill-health, the
Board of Directors had intimated their desire to receive his
resignation. This step, it seems, considerably affected bins,
and his conduct for several days was noticed as being ex-
ceedingly irregular. Yesterday morning, shortly after the
departure of one of the up-trains, the porters at the station
heard the report of fire• arms, but, thinking little of it, did
not make inquiries as to the cause. Shortly afterwards se-
veral passengers arrived at the station to proceed by one of
the trains, and the deceased not making his appearance to
take their fares, suspicion was excited as to. his fate. The
station was searched by the porters, and in one of the ante-
rooms
was found the body of the unfortunate station clerk on
the floor, deluged in blood, the unhappy man having shot
himself through the head with a pistol which was lying by
his side.
THE SIIARE MARKET.—During this week the
share market has been heavy. Money continues " tight ;"
but the Dank has not again raised the rate of discount. It
was feared by a few that this would be done at the meeting
yesterday afternoon. Ws believe that the panic has now
done its worst. A few days will show whether our conjec-
ture be right. Much depends, of course, upon the mind of
the public ; if shares are sacrificed, because money is much
needed, the effects of the panic will continue lung after t 4
qctual t,auss have tTbsided, We advise holders of scrip to
keep scrip as long as they can. The thirtieth of this month
will try many lines, and those which escape the trial will
immediately advance in value.—Railway Express,

V

ACCIDENT AT THE BOX STATION

OF THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.

Thursday night the luggage-train, drawn by three en •
gines, and consisting of upwards of 40 trucks and two third-
,' class passenger carriages .started from the Box station.
Almost immediately e liock was felt by the passengers,
which was followed-ft 'some minutes by a fearful 'grating
sound and terrific jerks of the carriage. All was alarm and
consternation, when suddenly they were thrown off the line.
The night was intensely dark, the wind blew a hurricane,
not a solitary lamp to point to safety or warn of danger.
The night-man had arrived, and had promptly disengaged
the alarmed third-raters, but he was as dark as to the cause
of the accident as the night around him. On proceeding
down the line a short distance from Middle-hill Tunnel, the
mystery was unravelled, the great cause was apparent. The
engine lay in distress, unable, with all her immense power, to
do more than puff and fame, and smoke and hiss.
The driver and stoker, though frightened within an inch
of their lives, bad most fortunately that inch left to relate the
cause, and marvel at the effect.

They had literally tired a broadside into the passing train.
' It appeared that at this station, an engine called the bank
en,rine, is kept for the purpose of following the luggage
train, and assisting it up the inclined plane, which con-
tinues through the Box Tunnel. The wind being excessively
rough, had blown out the station lights, and the driver hav-
ing heard the whistle and seen the head lights pass, started
his engine from its place, and in an instant almost it was
thrown down, having struck the train about eight or nine
trucks from its end, and one only from the passenger car-
riages. The force with which the engine came, drove both
itself and the following trucks in the train completely off the
rails, and, strange to say, they were dragged on for a quarter
of a mile, ploughing up in their rugged course the transoms
and the framing, when the couples having given way, the
leading truck went over into the bank above.
" All hands" were immediately called. The mail train was
stopped, and the passengers, unhurt in body, but unhinged
in mind, being transferred, were shifted to the down line,
and proceeded to their destination in safety.
Upwards of 50 men were very shortly at work, and by
nine o'clock, under the able direction of Mr. Clarke, of Bris-
tol, who were early on the spot, all appearance of accident
had almost vanished.

It appears that not the slightest blame can be attached to
Temple, the driver, who bears the highest character, the
tempestuousness of the night and the length of the train
combining, as it were to deceive him. Had he been only
halfa moment later in starting how dreadful might have been
the result !

Strange to say, the luggage train continued its course to
Chippenham before the guards were conscious of their loss or
the accident.

THE THIRTIETH.

(From the Railway Express.)
Nothing, " within the memory of the oldest inhabitant,"
has ever equalled the anxiety to have the Standing Orders'
requirements complied with by twelve o'clock to-morrow
night. The bustle and the business have been transferred
from Moorgate-street to Westminster, and this is a happy
(because a well-paid) time for law stationers and their satel-
lites—the slaves of the quill. A rumour went out that the
Board of Trade, under the advice of the law-officer of the
Crown, had determined to receive plans, surveys, and refer-
ences, up to twelve o'clock on Sunday night. We mentioned
in our last that a doubt existed whether, as the 30th of
November falls upon a Sunday, a dies non in law—the ne-
cessary documents should not be lodged before twelve o'clock
tomorrow night. We have now to state that the plans,
&c., will be received until midnight on Sunday. The fol-
lowing letter, to a firm of Parliamentary agents, settles the
point :
" Railway Department, Board of Trade,
Whitehall, Nov. 19, 1845..

" Gentlemen,—ln reply to your letter of the 17th instant,
having reference to the Standing Order of Parliament, which
requires plans and sections of railways about to be brought.
before Parliament in the ensuing session, to be deposited at
the Board of Trade on the 30th November instant, and in-
quiring as to arrangements for their reception on that day,
being Sunday, I am directed by the Lords of the Committee
of Privy Council for Trade to acquaint you, that their Lord-
ships, having consulted the law-officers of the Crown on the
subject, and the law-officers baying given their opinion that
,it is inTeratiye on their Lordships to direct-the office of the
Ward of - Trade to be.kept, open for the reception. °hallway
plans, and on Sunday, the 30th of November instant, this
office will be kept open accordingly.
" I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your obedient ser-
vant, "D. O'BRIEN."

[This fact was stated in The Sun last week.]

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—My name having appeared in the published list of
Provisional Directors in several railway companies, and
without my authority, I have in consequence thought it right
to state publicly that I have now withdrawn my name from
every undertaking of the kind. N. IVKANN.
Parliament-street, Nov. 28, 1845.

FATAL DRAY ACCIDENT.—Last evening, Mr. W.

Payne held an inquest at Guy's Hospital, orrihe body of
Thomas Watson, aged twenty-five, a dray man in the em-
ploy of Messrs. M'Leod, ale brewers, of Camberwell. On
the forenoon of last Wednesday week, the deceased was pass-
ing Newington Church, Surrey, walking on the near side of
his horse and dray, and in trying to avoid coming in colli-
sion with a Newington omnibus, he was struck by the shaft
of a light cart which was passing in the same direction,
which forced him against his own horse, and before he could
recover himself he fell to the ground in front of the near
wheel, which passed over his left leg and arm, crushing them
in a shocking manner. He was taken to the above hospital,
where for a time he appeared to be going on well. Ile was
ultimately attacked with delirium tremens, of which he died
en Tuesday last. Verdict, "Accidental death. "
MELANCHOLY RESULT or SHARE SPECULATION.—
On Friday evening last, at the Crown and Shuttle public-
house, Long Alillgate, Manchester, an inquest was held be-
fore Mr. Chapman, on the body of Henry Kirby, fifty-three
years of age, who bad destroyed himself. The deceased was
a chimney -sweeper, from 1 ork, whence he had come to
Manchester, with his wife, to attend the funeral of a little
girl, their grand-daughter. On Thursday forenoon, a short
time before they had arranged to return home, he hung
himself from a bed-post in the house of his •son-in-law,
Joseph Taylor, currier, Barlow's-court, Miller-street, and,
when discovered, he was quite dead. A clue to the cause
of the melancholy occurrence was furnished by the evi
deuce of Susannah Kirby, the deceased's widow, who stated
that about three months ago he purchased, in conjunc-
tion with another person, ten South Midland, and twenty.
Leicester and ledford Railway shares; the latter he after- I
wards sold at a small premium. At that time they held
twenty shares in the Eastern Union Extension Railway,
and they had since had allotted to them twelve shares in
the Cambridge and Ely Extension. Since then the de-
ceased bought ten Grand Union, Nottingham, and Lynn
shares, at 4/. per share; and ten water-works shares were
allotted to him, and twenty-seven others he bought from a
broker at 3/. 4s. each. He sold some of these at a premium,
but twelve of them were not paid for according to agree-
ment. This preyed upon his mind, and he was constantly
alluding to the circumstance; and the rest of the shares
having fallen in value, had increased his despondency. lie
was cheerful on Thursday morning, and said he would sell
all his shares on getting home. The jury returned a verdict
to the effect, " That the deceased destroyed himself during
temporary insanity."—Manchester Guardian.
THE GLOUCESTER MISER AND HIS BOY.—Old
Wood, the miser of Gloucester, whose will has lately been
before the Courts of law and the Privy Council, kept a boy—
a little one—miserably fed, and in great bondage. One Sun-
day the master was getting ready to go to church, but got
his dinner in some readiness first, that nothing might have to
be done when he came home but to eat it. It was a roast
chicken, which the boy stayed at home to dress. The old
fellow also got out the quantity of wine he meant to allow
himself, and put it upon the chimney-piece; but to prevent
it being tasted, he wrote upon it, in large letters, " Poison."
So off he went. The lad was cravingly hungry, and as the
fowl roasted he could not help drawing his fingers across and
tasting it. But this sharpened his appetite, and he could not
resist pulling off a leg. The theft began, he soon went on to
the other leg, and so further and further, till he had quite
devoured the whole. What was to be done? for then came
remorse, and, worse than that, soon was coining his master.
He felt quite desperate; and just at that moment his eye
caught sight of the phial with the label upon it. Off he
drank, at one draught, the whole contents; and old Wood
came home to find him well-fed and in high spirits, the first
time he ever had animal spirits to be so since he had been in
his service.— Sharpe's London Magazine.
FATAL FALL IN THE STREET.—On Thursday,
Mr. Mills, deputy Coroner, held an inqnest at the Feathers,
North-street, Lisson-grove, on the body of James Lake,
aged eleven years. The deceased was the son of an omni-
bus-driver, living in Fitzroy-court, Tottenham Court-road.
A few days ago, as he was running along the street, he
slipped off the kerb-stone, and fell on his right knee. He
got up and limped home, but did not then complain of pain.
On the following day his knee swelled, and he was taken to
the University College Hospital, where the medical officers
deemed it necessary for him to stop. Erysipelas supervened,
under which deceased sank, and died on Monday last. Ver-
diet, "Accidental death." _ _ _

ROYAL ARTILLERY.—Captain D'Arley's Company,
Ist battalion, assembled on the guard-mounting parade, at
Woolwich garrison, yesterday morning, for the inspection
of the commandant, who was pleased to express himself
highly pleased with their clean appearance. His Lordship
was accompanied by Colonel Turner, C. 8., Lieut,-Colonel
Russell, Captain and Adjutant Been, and Captain and Ad-

jutant Ormsby.
Lord Radnor, in a letter to the Chairman of the
Anti-Corn-law Leauge, says, " I rejoice to see that the
League are still in full activity. How are your funds? If
you are looking for further subscriptions, I will send, as in
former years, 501. The signs of the times are strongly for
you; but I agree with Cobden, that we must not relax in
our efforts."

-... -..--
GRAVESEND AND ROCHESTER RaiLwar.--The
following are the traflic returns for the week ending Nov. 22,
1845—passengers, 4,800 ; amount received, 117/. 19s. sd.
ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.--The Direc-
tors of this Institution, ever anxious to cater for the public
amusement, have for many years displayed greatin every
ejudgment in the selections they have madestablishment, and
depart-
ment of this colossal and magnificent
an taste and
adition tth
among the more recent we find has b
,mot the Directors o introe -
musical department, and on Tuesday
duced an American flutist, namedPowne4The pieces selected
popularlrish •
et
iy ,u bi
ttti te
d also
himselft he c
withap a -
with variations. These were admirably adapted to call forth
by the debutant were several airs, from music,
portions
not only the perform
bilities of the instrum
aern'at.taeMter. Dfoor%m.neel°l(ll
lo'nfutchhe variations where double-tonguing was required. Mr.
skill and precision, more particularly in those
Downe was accompanied on the pianoforte by Doctor Wallis,
musical director to the Institution, who displayed great taste
and execution, and most deservedly came in for a large share
of the applause. After the musical performance, the dissolving
views were shown, and, as many of them represented scenes
which her Majesty had visited on her late tour to Germany,
created great satisfaction, and elicited bursts of applause,
proving that subjects well chosen will never become " stale
and unprofitable." The theatre of • the Institution was
crowded in every part.
FATAL ACCIDENT ON TILE RIVER.—John Gilbert,
a Waterman, occasionally employed at Charlton-pier, and
nearly 60 years of age, went down the river in a boat on
Wednesday afternoon, with his son, a youth of about 17
years of age, and the captain of a vessel. The boat having
her sails set, when opposite Erith, and it blowing very fresh,
gave a sudden lurch, which precipitated John Gilbert into
the river bead foremost, and before the progress of the boat
could be stopped he was drowned, and the body has not yet
been found.

NEWELL AND CLASPER.—A race is being arrang: d
between Newell and Clasper. The former has offered to
stake 100/. to the latter's 120/., which has been declined,
Clasper insisting on equal terms. There can he no doubt a
race will take place between these two parties, and the terms
will be agreed on hi a few days.—Tyne Mercury.
DISEASED POTATOES.—The -Wiltshire Independent
says, that diseased potatoes have been offered for sale in the
neighbourhood of Devizes by the 1,000 sacks, at Pd. per sack.
This shows that the quantity of diseased potatoes in Wilt-
shire must be immense.

.- - -- 3