Star.
London, England, 1817-04-08 00:00:00

mEzdiscacar ACCIDBItIf mar WOOLWICH.

A brick-maker, on Plumstmul Common, about a
mile below Woolwich, had a shaft or well dug, to the
depth of about 180 feet, for procuring sand, chalk,'
&c. At the depth of about 80 feet from the surface
of the earth was an entrance into a chamber, from
which two of his workmen had been some time em-
ployed in digging sand for the brick-makers: one of
the two was a married man, having six children ; the
other was single. On Friday, the 28th March, the
brother of the single man, passing the mouth of the
well, observed, to his great terror and surprise, that
the earth near it, and over the chamber or mine,
where he supposed his brother was working, had con-
siderably sunk in, and fearing for his safety, ran to
the shaft, and receiving no answer to his loudest call,
procured assistance, and descended in the bucket to
the entrance of the chamber, which he found com-
pletely chocked up with dry gravel, sand, &c. Sus-
pended in the bucket, with lOU feet of the well still
inder.liim, he applied his shovel to the loose earth,
which caused it to run like sand through an hour-
glass, until it entirely filled up the 100 lees of well
under him ; and, finding the earth still ready to fol-
low the motion of his shovel, with no prospect of
getting at his brother, and unfortunate companion,
recourse was had to the assistance of some well dig-
gels, who, after working about 24 hours, gave up
the search for the bodies. The Magistrates and Pa-
rish-officers of Pluni,tead then applied to the Engi
neer Departmet.t at Woolwich, who immediately sent
a company of sappers and miners, who commenced
their operations on Saturday week, since which time
thirty men have been employed without intermission,'
day and night (being relieved every eight hours with
fresh men), in mining in the most scientific manner
round the part of the earth that has fallen in, in or-
der to discover the bodied, which they succeeded in
doing yesterday evening (Saturday, sth April) in a
chamber they themselves had excavated. They were
lying dead in the remote part of it a one appears to
have been injured by the earth having fallen upon
him, and to. have been dragged out by the other to
the place where they were found; the other died
resting on the breast of his companion. Too much
praise cannot be given to the parish officers of Plum-
stead, for their attention and anxiety to recover the
bodies; two or three of theria being in constant at=
tendatice, day and night, for eight days, in adminis-
tering refreshmeats, Ste. to the sappers, &c. during
their long and Most laborious employment. The
widow of one of them, whose case is much to be de-
plored, was also, without intermission, in most anxi,
ous attendance. The sappers and miners worked in
the most ardent manner for eight days, each man
labouring most earnestly 16 out of every 24 hours.
Yesterday an Inquest was held at the Fox and
Hounds public-house, in the palish of Plumstead, be-
fore one of the Coroners for the county of Kent, on
the bodies of the above unfortunate men: the'r names
were Francis Wiltshire and James Cox. The Jury,
after hearing some witnesses, found a verdict of—
Accidental Death.—Cox had been a private in the
marines, Ir.= which he was discharged at Wool-
wich. •weave months ago.

:h, about L'

During the morning service at the Chapel Royal,
Brighten, on Good 'Friday, the hlicibter, the Rev.
Mr. Lc, % ELL, was interrupted in his sermon by the
sudden fall of a portion of the cieling, about a yard
in diameter, which made considerable noise in its
descent. The Marquis and Marchioness and Lady
CIIARLOTTE CHOLUONDILEY. and Lord ROBIRT Sty.
moult, were in the PktINCE RIC:ENT% pew•. The frag-
ments fell into an empty pew, and did no injury.—
Several ladies were so alai turd, that they were obliged
to withdraw from the Chapel, but neither of those
named. The service was suspended about 5 minutes.
Fines—Friday se'nnight a barn occupied by Mr.
Wood, of Stoke, Herefordshire, was consumed, with
a large quanta), of grain therein ; the flames having
cemmunicated to the dwelling house, that likewise fell
a prey to the devouring element ; but providentially
a woman and child, who were the only inmates at the
time, were saved, together with nearly. all the house-
hold furniture. There is strong reason to suppose the
premises were fired by some wicked incendiary. The
loss is calculated at nearly atel2oo.
Last night, about a quarter before twelve, a fire
suddenly burst out on the premises of Mr. BAW-
L/OMM a carver and gilder, in High-Holborn.. The
flames burnt with such tory, that in a short time the
home was entirely consumed; but the timely and
strenuous exertions of the firemen prevented the mis-
chief from spreading to the adjoining houses. The
neighbours, most of whom were in bed, were cured-
;oily alarmed; but no farther damage accrued. The
cause of the fire is sot known. No lives were lost.

Last night, a little before` twelve o'clock, a fire
broke out at a green-grocer's, in Milbank, Westmin•
stet-, which entirely consumed she same, with nearly
the whole of the adjoining house.
Saturday se'nnight about-ten o'clock as Mr. Monk,
butcher, of Thorn, was returning from Taunton mar-
ker, he was attacked between Blackbrook and hiS
home by two fellows in salters' &eases, who pulled
him off his horse, and after cruelly besting. him with
Wudgeons robbed him of between 45 and £6, with
which they ran tiff.
_Thursday afternoon, about five o'clock, as a wag-
gon, belonging to/deans. Clark and Son, was return.
ing from Waltham Mill to Farebani, the horses ran
away at the top of Crocker-hill. The driver, in en-
deavouring so stop the team; after being dragged a
short distance fell ruder the wheels, and was killed
the spot.
Thursday even 4,, about ball-past seven o'clock,
at one of the poranys of the Star Inn, Southampton,
was returniog from Winchester with a pair of horses,
he was stopped near the Hut, and robbed of 41. 13s.
by two men with sticks, dressed as sailors.
The third adjourned Imp( st, on the supposed mur-
der of Mr. Lunn,' of Da wley, &lop, met on Tues-
day. After an investigation of eleven hours, the Jury
came to the decision, that, upon mature and minute
investigation, net evidence has been adduced that
would justify them in returning a verdict of Murder,
but that, from the diseased state of the body on dis-
section, they find themselves necessarily called upon
to return a verdict of—Died by the Visitation of Goo-
Bow-ezazirr.—Jehe Oarthur was committed for
trial, charged with picking the pocket' of Lfentenatit
Cuppage, . yesterday, iq the Strand, of his silk ban
kerchief. The Lieutenant turned flPddadY round,'
and seized the prisoner before be got the handterchief
conrcjcd to his cosipanions.