The Sun.
London, England, 1827-09-26 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

Yesterday afternoon an inquest was held at the
sign of the Roebuck, in the Great Dover-road, be-
fore RICHARD CARTER, Esq., on the bodies of Mr.
William Swift, described as an artist in fireworks,
residing in the above road, and James Moor, his
foreman, both of whom were killed in consequence
of the .explosion of a quantity of loose gunpowder
and fireworks, in A workshop at the rear of Mr.
Swift's dwelling-house.
Mr. Swift was considered an artist of great inge-
nuity, and was generally employed by the theatres
in manufacturing the works used in their pyrotech-
nic exhibitions. He was a married man, and his
wife, now pregnant, has not only to deplore the loss
of her husband by the above accident, but also that
of. a daughter, 14 years of age, who met with a
premature death in the course of the last week.
The deceased was considered by all who knew him
as one of the most cautious men possible in the
business which he followed.

The Jury proceeded to view the bodies of the
deceased persons, which were deposited in shells at
Mr. Dunn, the undertaker's premises, in Kent-street.
There was a universal shudder of horror on behold-
ing the mutilated remains'of the unfortunate de-
ceased. The body of Mr. Swift could•scarcely he
recognized, both his arms and legs having been
blown off by the violence of the repeated explosions
which took place; that of his unfortunate foreman
also exhibited a frightful speethcle, his whole frame
having been burnt in such a manner as to render it
impossible for his own.son to identify-the body, had
it not been for the circumstance of a part of the
trousers that was left uninjured by the explosion.
James Moor, the son of Mr. Swift's ,foreman,
deposed, that on the preceding afternoon, between
two and three o'clock, while at home, he was sent
for in consequence of a fire that was represented to
him to have broken out in Mr. Swift's house. Wit-
ness-knowing his father was on the premises, im-
mediately proceeded there, and on his arrival dis-
covered the workshop level, with the ground, and
the timbers and other combustible materials on fire.
Witness looked in vain for his parent; and con-
cluding that some dreadful accident had befallen
hiin, he remained on the spot until the dead bodies
of his father .and Mr. Swift were discovered, and
taken out from beneath the timbers and burning
ruins. The body of his father was so dreadfully
disfigured, that witness could scarcely recognize it,
were it not that part of the trousers still adhered to
one of the thighs, by which he knew the mutilated
remains to be that of his deceased father.

Mr. William Mister, a pewterer, residing in Roe-
buck-place, opposite to where the accident occurred,
deposed, that on Monday, about a quarter past
three o'clock, while sitting at his dinner, he was
suddenly alarmed by a loud explosion, which shook
his house to the very foundation, and broke several
panes of glass; he immediately ran to the door, and
from thence observed smoke and flames issuing from
Mr. Swift's workshop; at the same moment he
beheld Mrs. Swift burst out of the dwelling-house
in a state of great agitation into the middle of the
road. Witness subsequently heard three or four
more explosions. After Mrs. Swift had escaped
out of the house, the street-door, by soroe accident,
closed, leaving an old lady and a servant-girl within.
Witness having been apprised of that fact, assisted
in breaking in the door, and the two females hav-
ing been extricated, he !Imbed up stairs, but was
forced to descend immediately in consequence of the
flames and smoke, in which the upper part of tbe
house was enveloped.
It was here stated, that Mr. Swift had just left
the dinner-tawiblelei;
thane
aind
eealad scarcetiastiopheoteicmuerrteod.7ach his
w
Grossmith, an officer of Union-hall, pro-
ducedojrkohs workshop,
watch belonging to Mr. Swiftwli
found in the ruins. close to where the body was
lying. It was fully ascertained in the course of
yesterday that no other persons were injured.
The Jury having consulted for a short time, re-
turned a verdict of" Accidental Death',iniechoi‘lraes-
quence of the explosion of a quantity of gunpowder."

It has been ascertained that plants cultivated
in pots thrive better by having the pots filled with
coarse moss, than in the best garden mould.
Plants rooted in moss are also better adapted for
transportation on account of their lightness. The
moss should be crowded hard into the pot, and
by frequent watering it will become decomposed.

The Master General, having taken the long standing i
the service of the Officers of Artillery into his consideration,
in order to ameliorate their promotion, has given rise to va-
rious rumours as to the measures likely to be adopted by
his Lordship to remedy this evil : among others are men-
tioned the sales of commission, and the adoption of the
regulation in existence in the Company's service, of giving
the rank of Captain to Lieutenants of a certain length of
service ;. but' when it is recollected that there are sixty
Captains in this Corps, withl3revet Rank superior. to the
regimental commissions, and ninety-four Lieutenants of
fifteen years and upwards in the service, it will appear
evident that more sweeping measures than these will be
necessary, to prevent the efficiency of this distinguished
corps being effected by the long standing of its officers.
The Depot of the 18th Regiment of Infantry, has 're-
ceived orders to proceed from Portsmouth to Plymouth.
A Detachment belonging to the 12th Lancers marched
this morning from Westminster for Norwich.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

NEWMARKET FIRST OCTOBER MEETING, 1827.

MONDAY, OCT. 1.

The Trial Stakes, a subscription of 10 sovs. each, for

three-yr-olds, '7st. 91b. four, Bst. 91b. five, 9st. 21b.,
six and aged, 9st. 61b. D.M.
Fifth Renewal of the Grand Duke Michael Stakes of 50
sovs. each ; colts, Bst. 71b. fillies, Bst. Sib. A.F.
Duke of Grafton's Turcoman •
Zoffani
Lord Orford's Protestant
Lord G. H. Cavendish's ro c by Partisan
Mr. Wyndham's Gaberlunzie, by Wanderer
Mr. Greville's b c by Waterloo
Miriam
Duke of Portland's c by Tiresias
Lord Jersey's h c Mameluke, by Partisau
Lord Jersey's b c Glenartnby, by PhantoM
Lord Jersey's ch c Apollo, brother to Nicolb
" Mr. Payne's br eby Whalebone

Lord Exeter's Recruit, ilst. '7lb. aist Mr. Uduy's fby
Partisan, out of Donna Clara, 7st. 121 b. D.M. 300, b. ft.

TUESDAY,

Fifty Guineas, free for any horse, &c. ; four-yr-olds car-
rying 7st. 4Th. five, Bst. 51b. six, Bst. 111 b. and aged,
9st. B.C.

AtATCHES.

Mr. Mill's Lunacy, Bst. 41b. agst Duke of Grafton's
Chloris, Bst. D.M. 200, b. ft.
Sir J. Shelley's Johnny, Bst. 71b. agst Mr. Premier-
gases Garnish, 7st. 111 b. R.M. 200, h. ft.
Duke of Grafton's Problem, Bst. 71b. agst Lord Jersey's
Dragon, Bst. 11b. D.M. 200, h. ft.

WEDNESDAY.
The St. Leger Stakes of 25 sovs. each, for three-yr-old
___

colts, Bst. 71b.• and fillies, Bst. 41b. D.I.
Mr. Haffenden's Trumpeter
Mr. Payne's br c by Whalebone—Snowdrop
b c by Rainbow
Duke of Grafton's Roderick
•Turcoman