The Sun.
London, England, 1827-09-25 00:00:00

ALARMING EXPLOSION,
OF -TWO PERSONS. $ uno.lict
06 Yesterday. afternoon afternoon the Borough Was thrown
into the greatest alarm and consternation, in con-
sequence of a most tremendous explosion, wbich.
took place at the manufactory and residence of
Mr. Swift, maker of fire-works, in Great Dover-
road. The premises nealry adjoin the sign o. -
the Roebuck, and are situated near the turnpike.
At first only a slight explosion took place in Mr.
Swift's manufactory, at the back of his house ;
but, in an instant, another and most violent
shock was felt, and in the next moment the
whole of the building was uprooted, and fell into
ruins. Mr. Swift and his foreman were at work
at the time ; and from the appearance of the
bodies when found, it would seem that they
had attempted to escape, but were struck
down by •the bricks 'and other fragments
which were thrown into the air, and sub-
sequently lluried in the ruins. ImMediately
after the first explosion took place, Mrs. Swift
ran out of the house, followed by the maid ser-
vant and three children, in the most dreadful •
alarm. Her situation is most lamentable ; she
is in the last month of her pregnancy, and only
the day previous buried a daughter, an interesting
girl eleven years of age. Scarcely . had they left
the house, when the second explosion took place,
which levelled the factory. There were at the
time upon the premises several barrels of gun-
powder, and a very large quantity of fire-works.
The burning materials were scattered in all direc-
tions, and, as may be conceived, speedily com-
municated to Mr. Swift's house, the interior of
which, and also the one adjoining, are nearly
destroyed. The shells of the crackers, squibs,
rockets, and other fire-works, and also the
bricks from the building, were thrown, by
the violence of the explosion, over the houses
in the neighbourhood, and great fears were
entertained for the safety of the contiguous
dwellings ; fortunately the engines were soon
upon the spot, and although the men were cau-
tioned against venturing too near the building,
on account of the imminent danger that threatened
them, these brave fellows advanced close to the
premises, and played with such spirit that in a
short time they subdued the flames, and flooded,
the remainder of the powder. Mrs: Swift and
her three children were removed to the house of '
a neighbour. The body of Mr. Swift, when
dug out of the ruins, presented a most frightful
appearance ; he was burnt almost to a cinder.
The body of the other unfortunate man was not
in so bad a state, but when found there was not
the least appearance of life. No one could tell
how the dreadful catastrophe occurred; the only
persons who could answer that inquiry have
perished : indeed, in all cases of accidental ex-
plosion, the eye-witnesses seldom or never sur-
vive "to tell the tragic tale." The explosion
was heard for many miles round, and the win-
dows of many of the houses in the neighbour-
hood were destroyed.
The bodies of Mr. Swift and the man have
been removed to the residence of Mr. Dennis,
the undertaker, who had only on the preceding
day buried Mr. Swift's daughter.

Died, of a consumption, on Tuesday last, at
his lodgings on Shirley Common, aged 28, the
Rev. R. Pollock, A.M., of the University of
Glasgow. He had come thus far from Scotland,
on his way to Italy, in the hope of recovering
his health. This regretted young man had very
recently made himself advantageously know-ii by
the publication ~r . 1..---:,4,...
4, --r-110'---.121.,kr-gt A YAM) CAT.—On
Sunday morning, the 9th ul,r„ Thomas M'Cou-
nigle, a little boy, six years old, was attacked in
a field by a cat, whiff(' bit him in three different
parts of the leg. There was no medical aid
near, and the child had to be taken to Dungiven.
Doctor Love, on examining the wounds, (this
was nine hours after they were inflicted,) was led
to apprehend, from the swollen and livid appear-.
ance of the injured parts, that the virus had been
communicated, and to guard against absorption,
he determined on excision, and instantly per-
formed it, directing such farther remedies as his
experience suggested. These, we would hope,
have been effectual in saving the little sufferer
from an untimely death in its most awful form.
Such was the fury of the rabid animal, that it
pursued the little boy's brother a considerable
distance, and sprang at a man whom the cries of
the children had attracted to the spot, and who
fortunately succeeded in, killing it, after much
difficulty and danger. Previously to its attack-
ing the latter, it seized a cow by the nose.—
Derry Journal.
A rather ludicrous affair took place on:Sun-
day evening, at the Ranters' meeting-house in
while South t
hSehi
congregatione Ids. lt is i
st the
assembling, practice,l light
t
PI allow art
the
gas lights to emit just about g
hleancthisa,ptie
Ile.
make " darkness visible," but as soon as the
stiuotffialacient to
minister appears in the pulpit, as if to shew that
with him cometh light, a perfect blaze of illu-
minationtteliestgas had been entrusted
ieseednoothoi:
over
inexperienced the w
ollei obtet
place becameenlightened, turn-
light, the
oTni The
ul
nitladnaaiygs
ensmiugtedohid:t
teinnao,lisfyut
person unfortunately produced..
total darkness_
ch and in
lessen the tehxeplodseigoren eofogfas
was
im_
taken to
to hear that
eliAril: ecgadgptieah: t)eee excited,arlpyasilpgaliaiter6mk
as and
possible.
gl. veiits blockedou
ltv,
icio ladieswu spa,
n. 1. idy.‘ \
rthe
gentlemen . a
r ceh 'happy
endeavouringpe\rNyeT hti
with the exception of the loss of half a
the utmost consternation, leaping out of the dif-
ferent
Coat, a
gown, or some ornament of dress, and a few faint-
ings, no ill consequences ensued.----Carlinfi::
Patriot.

THE SEAsoN.—We have lately' conversed
with several gentlemen from the ' countryi Who
unanimously concur in reporting that there his
not been a better harvest •or a more plentiful
crop for a great number- of years. Throughout
Rosshire and Sutherland about half the produce
is secured ; and in Caithness the reaping of A
very abundant crop is going
efreteblieheen
of infinite service in more
on under the most
this week, we had some heavy rain ; but this,
thebe erffec.eoctlleocrteddr,ouigshtthies
crop,winigthshowers of the last three
favourable circumstances.
a,
~ I , ni
contemporary
1 the
p rovbeeg ihingnhii nlnygwtb:hoio_fs
states
:rear
fit
fourefcrsioatmlitdaaitnyvvjtsiul
eherianrasegrg,
net
ways than one.
opinion of agriculturists that we
Not only was vegetation at a
and although
too much of late, as it has occa-
sioned but iniaslotmoedistri and
sndthere was a scarcity
This,
we have experienced
yi
ncthoi
country
oituvr:veidi water.
htlidieyaserrydn.;
tesharfivaneTcmt
;thitotwigihlt
strong naturally
invseegcettsa,tioenx-;
stiroenmeedlytliine
juirnicorienasetoofungdreurbls
under-ground
wohfiwchhetahte, doeafitsc,ieanncdy,tiilfrnainpys: 1:. ns
tthis
be year'satt r
i-
ktverness Courier.
tagnruodtNevdttoi.,_