The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-06-26 00:00:00

Distrirt

A Preston paper gives an account of two men, each of
whom kept an ass, and turned the animals out to graze
in Fox-lane, near Leyland. On going to fetch the asses
home, each man mistook his own beast, and did not dis-
cover the mistake until the animals refused, in spite of
cuffs and blows, to enter the strange stables to which they
were taken.

PROFITS OF TILE MANCIIESTER GAS WORKS.—What-
ever of profit is made is paid over to what is called the im-
provement committee, and by them expended, under au-
thority of the town council, in making new thoroughfares,
widening streets, &c, The amount thus expended annu-
ally is very large, having amounted in some years to nearly
£40,000.

A new Wesleyan Chapel is about to be erected in Bold-
street, Warrington. The estimated cost is about £4,500,
a considerable portion of which is already raised ; but
this does not include an organ. The building, when
finished, will contain 1,400 sittings, inclt.dinz 400 free.
The old chapel seats only 80Q, so that there will be nearly
double the present accommodation.
DREADFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION—On Saturday morn-
ing, a fearful explosion of fire-damp took place at Laffak
coalpit, near St. Helen's, in this county. The pit is the
property of Mr. J. T. Johnson, of Runcorn, and the shaft
160 feet deep, being driven into the Rushy Park mine.
The explosion occurred in a " slant," forming part of
some old workings. The explosion was in the morning,
and was of great force, forcing heavy planks into the air
even at the pit mouth. One man, the " browman," at
the mouth of the pit, had his skull fractured by a piece of
falling timber, and died soon after. There were in the
pit at the time sixty to seventy people. Four were brought
up dead, two men and two boys, and twenty-two were
seriously injured. The men were all married, and have
left families. It is conjectured that the explosion arose
from one of the men below throwing aside his safety lamp.
DEATH OF "THE•~BARD OF COLOUR."—On Tuesday,
Robert Rose, a West Indian, who is the author of several
poems, and is known as " the bard of colour," died sud-
denly, at the Salford lock-up, under the influence of a fit
of delirium tremens. For some time past, he has been
very intemperate in his habits, more especially during the
last three weeks, and on the evening of Saturday week he
is said to have drunk the almost incredible quantity of a
pint of whiskey, a pint of brandy, two quarts of ale, and
three bottles of porter; and on Sunday morning week,
the servant of the house where he lodged, in St. Stephen's
Street, fetched him some more liquor. For seven or eight
days previous to this, he is said not to have been in bed
at all, and to have taken no food since Friday. The de-
ceased, who wasabout forty-three years of age. was a na-
tive of Bcrbice, in the West Indies, and some fifteen
years ago he was sent to this country by his father, a man
of considerable property, to learn the Manchester trade.
Disliking business, however, and being possessed of suffi-
cient means, he gave himself entirely to literary pursuits
and led the life of a gentleman. Sometime ago his habits
became exceedingly irregular, and he took to fits of ex-
cessive drinking.
SALUBRITY OF SOUTHPORT.—We have great pleasure
in giving insertion to the following extract of a letter from
an eminent medical practitioner in Manchester :—" For
invalids and children Southport is a delightful place, and
invaluable to their health,its salubrity is not appreciated
as widely as it deserves. If such a mild and equable.•
climate were within tolerable reach from London, Brigh-
ton and Hastings would be depopulated in a twelve-
month. London physicians have no id a that such a
place can possibly exist so far north, or they would send
their patients pilgrimages to it. If any of the intelligent
resident medical men would publish a good meteorologi-
cal account of the climate, the place would double in size
very rapidly." We ourselves know that hundreds and
thousands of invalids and parents can vouch for the cor-
rectness of this graphic testimony, to the salubrity of
Southport, hitherto almost a terra incognita, owing in a
great degree to want of convenient access ; but thanks to
the promoters of the Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport
Railway, a direct rapid railway communication will, in
March next, be established to Liverpool and Manchester,
by the completion of the remaining three miles from
Waterloo to the point of junction at Sand Hills Bridge
with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. At the
present time, however, we believe we• are speaking within
bounds when we say that the want of an additional num-
ber of houses and lodgings of a superior order, alone pre-
vents the number of residents and visiters being doubled.
—Soutkport Visitor.

There is a record in the parish registar of Tannadice,
near Forfar, of the closing of the church on a certain
Sunday, because the minister had to go elsewhere to su-
perintend the burning of a witch.
LAST MOMENTS OF SIR WALTER RALEIGH.—HIS
last moments were each,an episode, and bisects and words
have been carefully recorded. On the morning of his ex-
ecution, his keeper brought a cup of sack to him, and
inquired how he was pleased with it ? "As well as he
who. drank of St. Giles's bowl as lie rode to Ty
burne," answered the knight, and said, it was good
drink, if a man might but tarry by it." " Prithee,
never fear, Ceeston," cried he to his old friend Sir
Hugh, who was repulsed from the scaffold by the sheriff,
" I shall have a place !" A man bald from -extreme age
pressed forward: " to see him," he said, " and pray God for
him." Raleigh took a richly embroidered cap from his own
head, and placing it on that of the old man, said "take this,
good friend, to remember me, for you have more need on it
than I !" "farewell,my lords," was his cheerfulparting to
a courtly group who affectionately took their leave of him,
" I have a long journey before me, and I must e'en say
good-bye." " Now lam going to God," said that heroic
spirit, as he trod the scaffold; and, gently touching the
axe, added, "This is a sharp medicine, but it will cure all
diseases." The very headsman shrank from beheading
one so illustrious and brave, until the unquailing soldier
addressed him, " What does thou fear ? Strike man ?"
In another moment the mighty soul had fled from its
mangled tenement. Cayley, after describing Sir Walter's
execution, adds, "The head, after being shown on either
side of the scaffold, was put into a leather bag, over which
Sir Walter's gown was thrown, and the whole conveyed
away into a mourning coach by Lady Raleigh. It was
preserved by her in a case during the twenty-nine years
which she survived her husband, and afterwards with no
less piety by their affectionate son Carew—with whom
it is supposed to have been buried at West Horsley, in
Surrey, The body was interred in the chancel near the
altar of St. Margaret's, Westwilutcr.--FrOtri Wcff,
minder Memorialf," tet

)41.

Jane 26, 11

THE ;73.RITANNIA TUBULAR BRIDGE'
Everything aricli
stranger has difficulty discovering, and
appreciating the magnify& of the undertalong:.aot
at gip works is on a gigantic scaler
huge towers and other wasonfy at what in °Jro'
bridges would be called the abotroents, are of the oterio
iferous limestone attainable in the locality ,---3 lqio
, ot
adainantine strength and durability. The stones bl o
rusticated tiers in all the work, are in !minenSefl
Those in the Britannia tower are huge on th,e,ut"oo
about two feet in thickness, and average in ivel,over tk
five tons, which is far beyond the usual size.
throlg
square openings, or arches, for the tube?, hoof
towers there are six stones, forming the lentils, t
length of which only would be 120 feet, or 20 icer.ele
The stone admits of a high polish in the hands of tuoot
dary, and handsome brooches are formed of it', _Oa
are extensive iron works for the construction of tF,',O
along the Carnarvon shore, with forges, and PliloeS
drilling and turning machinery, worked by steam. •fl
extend nearly a mile in almost a continuous line,
number of men employed in all ( onry
mas
wood-work), until latterly, was upwards of 2,ukft"
of them domiciling in temporary wooden cottaFiriata
heights above, and others at the Menai Chain 00
Bangor, &c.—The next tube to be fixed
rand tbe
k tiOg
two are approaching to completion) is alreadY res A 00
the shore, supported on a bed of timber at each 0;610
supporting it in the manner in which it will be 0;0
its final resting place. It is also perfectly straight'
flection from the straight line having taken place: ;age
The mortar used in the stone-work of the
made from the same lime-stone forming the g;',oe!
structure, ground up with chippings of the sanci.,l'o,
which the interior walling of the towers are bull' , of'
lime is of great hardness when set, but little or n°l'-beisf
is seen, the jointing of the rusticated tiers of sOnke ste;
so close and perfect. The contractors for the yor'.,olP
for the mason) y, Messrs. B. J. Nowell and Co'' fie'
the iron-work Messrs. J. and J. Garfortb, and ,
Mare and Co. '
On Thursday the celebrated civil enginee'"slo
-- _ - .valk64

Brunel and Mr. Locke, visited the works, walitiolti
the top of the placed tube, and expressed their 1"-
of the whole work. c hoe,
The abutments, on either side of the streits'l43fe'
piles of masonry. That on the Anglesey side is toe is
high, and 173 long. The wing walls of both tetllos
splendid pedestals, and on each side are two coissffie core'
couchant, of Egyptian design, lifting their limestlipt?.,,,
heads in the face of every train. These liens'
tubes they adorn, are on a gigantic scale, each Olhe
d)
feet long, 12 feet high, though crouched, 9 feet sighs
body, and each paw 2 feet 4 inches. Each
tons. There is some intention of surmounting,'ee
tit'
tral tower with a colossal figure of Britannia, 60 of
The towers for supporting the tube are °f ?too°
magnitude with the entire work. The great plitotO
Tower, in the centre of the straits, is 62 by 52 fee,t coo'
base ; its total height from the bottom, 230 feet; 'coo:,
tains 148,625 cubic feet of limestone, and 144,625,°;005s
stone ; it weighs 20,000 tons •, and there are 381 c. ,ircle°
cast iron built into it in the shape of beams and
Its province is to sustain the four ends of the 1.0 ore.;
iron tubes which will span the straits from shoresage
The total quantity of stone contained in the w'a eel
1,500,000 cubic feet. The- side towers stand St
distance of 460 feet from the great central Will.; ,iia/
again, the abutments stand at a distance from
towers of 230 feet, giving the entire bridge a tote. cot a
of 1,849 feet, corresponding with the date of thi' Yof
grace. The side or land towers are each 62 fe:10 too'
feet at the base, and 190 feet high ; they contain
of cast iron. 0"
Another point of attraction was the huge stsvfructo;
scaffolding, probably the most extensive ever enlvlcist;l!;
They are of the same character as that employ' tone'
new houses of parliament. The scaffolding of the. lir
is very lofty, and the weight it has-to support
tons. The framing round the Britannia Tower PA
the vast height of nearly 250 feet. The entire sea is
is capable of sustaining 2,000 tons.. Thero
570,000 cubic feet of timber and 20 tons of iron boil
THE TUBES. ,he iOte;
The chief centre of attraction, however, was'-tbecs•

rior and exterior of the novel and gigantic iubes;,- opr),
floated on the pontoons, and the others as they
aS
the platforms, presenting the appearance of slur ntlF‘
iron tunnels. As these were the lions of the (1a);',063
one of the largest was safely floated to its fine' 80(
place, much interest will attach to its description ;,iope.,
description of the one in question will be a descrill,
them all. The length of the great tube is eXBCteo
feet, being 12 feet longer than the clear span bet'crrhe
towers, and the greatest span as yet attempted. i',oo';
ditional length is intended to afford a temoorarY
of six feet at each end, after they are raised into
places, until there is time to form the connexion beitotYA
them across the towers. The greatest height lsa to"i
centre, 33 feet, and diminishing towards the en 0, ",
feet. Each tube consists of sides, top, and botte,inei
formed of long, narrow, wrought-iron plates, or'01)1‘
length from 12 feet downward. The direction ie„eibl,
these plat's are laid and rivetted together is gove!"of
the direction of the strains on the different Par,tl,'„-a 1,9
tube. They are of the same manufacture 05oh
making boilers, varying in thickness from threer'd
Or
to three-fourths of an inch. Some of them weigli o
and are among the largest it is possible to roll
existing machinery.. In the side, the plates are ionreo
eight feet long, and half an inch thick ; but the
~o
plates are in the bottom, being 12 feet long by the
four inches wide, and are in double layers. A.t ‘
they are six feet in length, and one foot nine
breadth. The connexion between top, bottom. Owes
is made much more substantial by triangular
ab vii
thick plate, rivetted in across the corners, to en it 'rot
tube to resist the cross or twisting strain to vible-31e5.0
be exposed from the heavy and long-continued Ft iii
wind that, sweeping up the Channel, will assail
lofty and unprotected position. be c°l3;
The rivets, of which there are 2,000,000, each 01 01
taining 327,000, are more than an inch in diaraetero.t, 10,4
are placed in rows, and were put in the holes red bort ;
beaten with heavy hammers. In cooling, they eon ;bi
strongly, and drew the plates together so power .i/0,4
it required a force of from four to six tons to eaeh,'„eir:
cause the plates to side over each other. The tots' irld
of wrought iron in the tubes is 1,600 tons. Thetobo
will pass through them over the straits at 100 fee" „
high water. , ,peed
Several thousand tickets had been issued to the
tors. The ropes that towed it along on the P"
would, if extended, cover a space of fifteen miles; befit
a quarter of a mile long were strung at the Ple,r,:atied
along the straits, on which were suspended ever) le b•t,
of flags. A special tier of seats on the AngleseY 01;4
been raised for the directors and their distinguis,,be,,tel
ors. The total weight of the mass of iron D°'
3,0e4 tons.