Star.
London, England, 1821-08-24 00:00:00

MELANCHOLY CATASTROPHE.

Monday se'nnight a most distressing event occurred
at one of the Slatherill coal pits, near Audley, in
Staffordshire, originating in a neglect of duty in the
persons whose attention was required to clear the
mine of the foul air, and who unfortunately fell a
sacrifice to their temerity. Owing to the wakes and
races in the neighbourhood, the pit had been unem-
ployed the previous week, and in consequence an in-
creased accumulation of inflammable gas had taken
place; notwithstanding which, the usual precaution
of suspending a chafing-dish, or lamp .of fire, in the
communicating pit, to rarify the air, and draw out
the obnoxious part from the working pit, was not
taken until the morning of the accident, which when
in regular work should be done the preceding even-
ing. About eight o'clock in the morning of the day
above named, four men and five youths were at work
in the pit when the inflammable gas came in contact
with the flame of the candle by which they were
working, and ignited, when a most tremendous ex-
plosion took place, and the flame issued horn the
mouth of the pit as from a furnace ; the whole of the
party became a sacrifice to the effects produced. As
soon as possible means were taken for descending into
the pit; several persons went down, but were unable
to proceed for want of pure air, and sustained injury
in the attempt—one to such extent that his recovery
is considered doubtful, in consequence of a second
explosion. About eight o'clock in the evening two
men descended, and found the bodies of the sufferers,
when they were brought forth from the pit, some of
them in a very mangled condition: not less than a
thousand spectators were collected on the mournful
occasion. The force occasioned by the explosion was
such as to tear up the railway at the bottom of the
pit, shatter and destroy different articles, and cause
great devastatior. The remains of the deceased were
interred in Audley Church-yard on Thursday se'n-
night ; and the accident being of the most awful de-
scription ever recollected in that neighbourhood, some
thousands of persons were collected to witness the
solemn scene. Four men of the name of Barnett, a
father, two sons, and grandson, were among the suf-
ferns. The verdict of the Coroner's Jury was—Ac-
cidental Death.

Monday se'nnight, as Mr. Thomas Snowdon, of
Running waters, near Sberburn, Durham, was pto-
ceeding across the country, on horseback, to New-
castle Fair, he was thrown, near Itainton-gate, and so
snuck hurt that he died in the course of the day.
MANSION HOUSE.—Yesterday, IVilliam Rance, Car-
lite% shopman, was brought up to give bail.—Mr.
Murray, after the customary examination of the bail,
stated, that in any future application which he might
probably have to make, he should request of his
LOrd,hip to ask for higher bail than was required on
the present occasion (two persons in £4O each), as it
appeared that more efficient proceedings than any
that had been yet taken would be requisite to sup-
press the evil complained of.—The LORD MAYOR said,
the time was so near when the charges would come
before the proper Tribunal, that he thought no other
proceedings would be necessary before the prosecu-
tions already commenced should have been disposed
of. The defendant entered into recognizances to an-
swer the charge of having wilfully vended the libel,
&c. The usual fees were not demanded iu this case.

ASSIZES.

DURHAM ASSIZES, AUGUST 20.
FURIOUS DRIVING.
The charge was killing two men by furioui and
negligent driving of the Mail, at Sunderland-bridge.
The present trial was for the manslaughter of Samuel
Whitaker, who died a few hours after the fall.
Thomas Chater.—l am a solicitor at Newcastle. I
took my place by the mail-coach on the 16th of June,
from this town (Durham) to Darlington. There were
two Gentlemen, whom I did not know, on the roof.
I was on The box. About three o'clock in the day
time, and about half a mile on this side of Sunder-
land-bridge, we were going at a full trot. I ob-
served a Gentleman's servant riding on a level with
the leader on the near side. We moved at the same
rate till near the bridge. We approached the bridge
on a flat. The prisoner was the coachman. He ap-
plied the whip just before we came to the bridge.—
The horses went into a gallop. They were on a gal-
lop at the turn. It is nearly a right angle. The man
on horseback appeared to quicken the pace of his
horse to extricate himself from the leaders. He made
the turn first. 1 think he was free from the leaders
on making the turn. A very few yards past the turn
the coach went over on the right side. I was thrown
off before the wheel, within the bridge. The coach
was then on her right side: it had struck the battle-
ment in falling, and had then fallen. We were
taking a short tutu to the left. I first saw the two
men under the bridge. I had immediately got up,
and looked over. Both appeared to be dead. One
(Mr. Whitaker) revived. • I continued there half an
hour nearly. There was no fright or unruliness on
the part of the horses. The tumbling of the coach
stopped the horses. I conceived myself in danger,
for I thought the coach lost its balance at the turn.
I think it was not prudent to make the turn at that
speed. It occurred to me that the prisoner's object
was to pass the horseman. I saw no other cause.
By Mr. Wiwasis.—The man on horseback was
very near; and on the near side. The coachman was
perfectly sober. No conversation had taken place
between him and the rider. Within the parapets it
is a smartish rise. The whipping was a short way
before we came to the rise. I cannot speak to the
manner in which the whip was applied. It is a very
common case to lay the whip on the off horse in
turning a corner. It is usually done with the thong
doubled. Whether it was so here I cannot say. I
understood from himself that he was partly over the
parapet. He was of course in equal danger.
By the COURT.—The faster he drove the closer he
came upon that horseman.
John Anderson.—l keep a public-house nearly ad-
joining the north side of Sunderland-bridge. I was
in my garden on the 16th, and saw the mail-coach
coming about twenty yards from me. It was coming
very quick ; in a gallop. I saw a person on horse-
back opposite the leaders nearly. The prisoner was
using his whip more than common, and shaking the
reins, shoving •the horses forward. He was about
sixty yards from the bridge when I first saw him.
When they took the turn they were in a gallop, the
whole of them. I have frequently seen the mail pass
there before. I cannot say I ever saw it at that pace.
It appeared to me an unusual pace. Just before be
entered the bridge at the turn, he applied the whip ;
I heard it crack. I feared for him running down
the groom. When the coach took the turn I saw it
go over. I ran as hard as I could, and I saw two
Gentlemen lying on the frame-work. Thomas Do-
naldson appeared dead. Samuel Whitaker lay on
his side, and asked me to help him up. He asked if
the man beside him was dead. I said he was. He
said he was dying too ; he had a wife and seven
children at Bingley, in Yorkshire. He died in
about six hours. _ _ _

By 11fr. WILLIAMS.—I did not apprehend the
coach was going over till I saw it over.
Thomas Salk:ll.—l am a surgeon. I saw Whitaker
lying on a bed in the last witness's house. He had
fallen twenty-two feet. His lower jaw was broken.
He died from the fall. His pulse was scarcely per-1
ceptible. He said his name was Samuel Whitaker,
and desired me to write to his wife.
Henry Kiplifig, the guard, was called by the
Counsel for the prosecution, and examined by Mr.
WILLIAMS for the prisoner.--I have known the pri-
soner three years. I am not the regular guard of
the mail. He is a very good coachman. I never
heard any complaint. I had a main bar on that day.
One of the regular bars had broken, and the spare
bar was used. It is very dangerous to turn, it will
give no way. If the horses get a little out, they won't I
I turn as with another bar.
I By Mr. JONES.—I cannot tell whether the pri-.
Isoner knew of the temporary bar, it had been used
before we came to Durham, and when he was not
the driver.
The prisoner said, that if the groom had not been
there, the affair would never have happened : it was
to avoid him that he had gone so far to the other side.
John Pattison, proprietor of the Telegraph, had
known the prisoner nine years, and always considered
him a very steady driver. He could say that he had
never seen him in liquor.
Thomas Holt, innkeeper at Rusheyford, employed
the prisoner four years to drive the Wellington first,
and then the mail. He never heard a complaint
before, never saw him in liquor, and never heard
him swear an oath.
The Jury found the prisoner Guilty, but recom-
mended him to mercy.
His Lordship, in passing sentence, admonished him
In strong terms on the great impropriety of his con-
duct, and said that it could hardly be taken in exte-
nuation of the offence that he himself had been also
in danger of being deprived of his life; but in conse-
quence of the very good character he had borne, the
Court was only disposed to inflict on him nine months
imprisonment.
He was charged on another indictment against
him for the murder of Thomas Donaldson, but as
the circumstances were precisely the same, he was not
arraigned upon it.
BIGAMY.

Jane Nicholson was indicted for marrying Jol
Smith, on the 2d of August, 1819, in the parish of
Jarrow, Richard Nicholson, her former husband,
being then living at Jarrow.
The marriage of the prisoner to her first husband,
in 1807, was proved by the clerk of.the parish.
The marriage of the prisoner to John Smith, on
i the 2d August, 1819, was proved by the Clergyiuml.