The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-03-30 00:00:00

Thistrat ,41.t1D5.

AURORA BORRALIS.—A brilliant display Of these lights
took place about seven o'clock on Friday night last, at
Preston, when the northern horizon was comparatively
bright as day.

STRANGEI—The Independents of Manchester are about
to erect in that city a chapel, at a cost of 20,000 guineas,
in the Early Transition Style of Church architecture,
with a spire 166 feet high.
FRUITS OF RENTING COTTAGES UNDER EMPLOYERS.
—Last week, a person in the neighbourhood of Hindley
received one halfpenny for his wages, being the amount
due to him after deducting his rent, due to the master,
which he was compelled to pay for his truck cottage, not-
withstanding the stoppage at the mill.
THE Boy DEAN.—Dean, the -younger of the two lads
charged with the murder of the blacking boy, has been
committed, at Stockport, for trial at. the sessions, for ob-
taining goods and money under false pretences. It will be
remembered that his associate in the murder charge was
lately sentenced to twenty years' transportation on two se-
veral charges of theft, at the Manchester borough sessions.
MILL Bun', rr DowN.—Early on the morning of Wed-
nesday week, the mill of Messrs. Samuel smith and Ca.,
of Bacup, was discovered to be in flames, and no effectual
means could be brought into active operation before the
fire had completed its destructive effects. The loss sus-
tained is incalculable. The mill being situated in a some-
what solitary spot on the New Church-road, assistance
could not be collected so speedily as was at that time
desirable. Another instance in which the poor unem-
ployed will have to suffer.
NOVEL. RABBIT WARREN.—We have often heard of
very remarkable occurrences, but we were certainly quite
unprepared for a discovery which we made in the course
of the past week, namely, that part of the Lancaster and
Preston Railway is actually used as a rabbit warren !
Walking across the line early in the morning, at a distance
of about four miles from the town, we were much sur.
prised to observe a rabbit make its appearance from under
one of the sleepers. Pussey carefully scratched some earth
over the hole from which she had emerged, and then
scampered off up the line. On making a closer examina-
tion we found a kind of nest, formed directly under one
of the sleepers, and containing three fine young rabbits,
which appeared as comfortable as if they had been in the
most retired situation. It is a remarkable thing that such
a spot should, have been chosen, as the trains passing so
close must make their home anything but a quiet retreat.
Preston Pilot.

MEETING AT PRESTON, FOR THE RELIEF OF THE
DISTRESSED IRISII.—On Saturday week, a public meet-
ing, convened by the Mayor, was held at the Town-hall,
to consider the propriety of making a collection from door
to door on the day of the general fast, in aid of the des-
' titute in Ireland and in the Highlands of Scotland. The
Mayor, J. Paley, jun., presided. A number of influential
parties attended. It was, however, thought that an ad-
journment until Monday would promote the object in
view. On Monday accordingly such adjourned meeting
was held ; and the requisite machinery, collector, &e.,
were fixed upon. The amount thus collected was £9O.
2s. 412 d. On Wednesday £7. 7s 81 was collected in
Trinity Church towards the same object,. and £5. 5s has
been contributed since, making a total of £103.15;. ld.
This was contributed ri in small sums. Towards
a subscription to be 11-:-Laidlecipba principally
leading inhabitants of
the town, Chas. Swainsmoni3O:sAlL,
,tasgered to give £lOO.
ACCIDENT AT Sr.
what alarming accident occurred at St. achiael's l
Angel-street, Manchester, on Sunday evening. About
six o'clock, a very few minutes after the bell had begun
tolling for divine service, the centre piece in the ceiling
bulged downwards for a moment, then rose up again, and
the next moment, that portion of the ceiling, joists, &c.
between the centre principals, fell in, followed in immediate
succession by those parts between the two next principals.
The reading desk was completely smashed,,the door bro-
ken, and fourteen of the pews were more or less damaged
by the weight of the falling materials. The whole extent
of the space from which the ceiling has fallen is about
twelve yards by four, and the accident, according to the
report of Mr. Bellhouse, arose from a partial decay of
some of the timbers which support the plaster ceiling.
Had the accident occurred but a few minutes later, as the
service would have commenced at half-past six, there is
little doubt but that many lives would have been sacri-
ficed. An aged woman, grandmother-of the organ blower,
had already entered the church ; she was knocked down,
and completely covered with the materials of which the
ceiling was composed ; but, most • fortunately, she was
able to creep on her hands and knees from her perilous
situation to a place of safety. Two other persons were
also in the aisle at the time the accident occurred, an old
Irian named Richard Ashworth (a dyer, in the employ of
Mr. Johnson, Horrock's-lane, Red-bank,) and his wife.
He was much bruised and cut, and on being taken to the
Royal Infirmary, it was found that one of his ribs was
broken ' • but he is fast recovering. His wife escaped
without injury.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN GLOSSOP DALE.—Travellers
who have journeyed by railway from Manchester to Shef-
field, will readily remember, from the striking and roman-
tic features of the scene, the bridge near' Broadbottom
Station, which spans the tremendous ravine through which
the lithrow tumbles with precipitous force. At this spot,
somewhat classically denominated the " Lover's Leap,"
from its supposed resemblance to the rock of ancient lore,
is situated a cluster of cotton mills, far below the dizzy
height along which the train whirls its way. These mills
occupy a most advantageous position on the stream, which,
from local circumstances, have lately acquired considera-
ble celebrity. The uppermost and oldest of these esta-
blishments, in the occupation of Mr. Howard, and called
Bankwood Mill, but better known by his popular cogno-
men of " Botany Bay,"—a name probably derived from
its secluded location, or the penal character of its early re-
gulations,—was on Wednesday morning about three
o'clock; discovered to be on fire. At such an hour, and
in such a place, little effective aid could be procured, even
if the height to which the fire had attained before the
alarm was given had not defied all human effort. A part
of the building being very old, and wanting in all the mo-
dern safeguards from this fearful element, burned with
irresistible fury, and speedily communicating with the
more recently erected portion, and the whole fell in with a
tremendous crash, about five o'clock. Only the mere
shell of the walls is left, and the, chimney is expected to
fall every moment. This sudden calamity will involve
many poor families in the neighbourhood in great distress,
as they have already been working short time for several
months.