The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-06-08 00:00:00

D.rtori.

Mr. John Walker, one of the surgeons to the parish of
Manchester, has died of fever.
A new church is about to be erected in Wallgate, Wigan.
Upwards of fifteen hundred pounds have been subscribed.
The factory of Mr. W. Bashall, jun., at Farington,
near Preston, was destroyed by fire a few days since.
The damage is estimated at upwards of £6,000, and above
300 hands are thrown out of employ.
CHESTER STATION.—The contract for the erection of
the magnificent railway station at Chester was let on Fri-
day last to Mr. Brassey. It is to be finished within nine
months after its commencement. The total cost will be
about £9o,ooo.—Chester Courant.
CORPORATION OF WARRINGTON.—The town coun-
cillors for the new corporation of 'Warrington were elected
on Tuesday, the Ist of June. In North-West Ward four
Liberals were returned, and two Conservatives ; in South-
East Ward, six Liberals ; in North-East Ward, five
Liberals and one Conservative; in South-West Ward,
three Liberals and three Conservatives.

SUICIDE AND CHILD MURDER.—On Friday week,
Sarah, the wife of Joseph Whitehead, cotton-mill oper-
ative of Higginshaw-lane, Oldham. a female of about 30
years of age, drowned herself and youngest child, a girl
named Mary Ann, aged one year and two months, in a
deep well situate in the land of Mr. Ashton Kay, farmer,
of Leaman Felds, Royton. At the inquest on Saturday,
the jury returned a verdict that deceaSed had drowned
herself and child whilst in a state of temporary insanity,
brought on through the want of the common necessaries
of life.

FATAL CARRIAGE ACCIDENT.—A most dreadful acci-
dent, attended with loss of life, took place at Newburgh-
bridge, about six miles from Ormskirk, last Wednesday
afternoon. George Ramsden. Esq., of this town, and his
lady, being on a visit to their relatives at Harrock-hall,
took a drive in an open carriage, accompanied by Mrs.
Boulton and one of her sons. They bad just descended a
hill, when the pole of the carriage broke, and the spirited
horses immediately set off, and became ungovernable.
Coming in contact with one end of the bridge (Mrs. Boul-
ton and her son were early thrown out, and dangerously
hurt), Mr. Ramsden sprang forward, at once, to get hold
of the heads of the frightened animals, stopped for a
moment li'y the concussion at the bridge, but they dashed
forward again, with his lady alone in he carriage, who
must have tried to jump out, and was killed on the spot.
FALSE ALARM RELATIVE TO THE POTATOE CROP.—
A report having appeared in the Chester Courant, of
Wednesday last, to the effect that all, or nearly all, the
crops of potatoes were destroyed in the neighbourhood of
Runcorn,-Halton, and other places in the neighbouring
county, by blight, these localities have been visited by
correspondents of the Manchester Courier, who find, from
personal survey, and the informationof practical men, that
the whole is either a misstatement or a gross imposition.
They state that crops never looked finer. The practical
gardener of Sir R. Brooke, bart., has even raised a splendid
crop from highly diseased potatoes. The growers in the
places named are ignorant of the existence of any disease,
either in gardens or fields. Similar reports have been put
forth relative to the Wirrall peninsula—long celebrated for
early potatoes, but we can assert from our own' daily no-
tice in Wallasey, &c., that the earlies already gathered
were very fine, and those in the ground quite strong and
healthy, whether in small enclosures or open fields.
HURDLE RACE.—A hurdle match, for £5O a side, two
miles, over two flights of hurdles, came off over Newton
racecourse on Saturday week, between a horse belonging
to Mr. Worthington, of St. Helens', and one belonging
to Mr. Baron, of Manchester. The horses were rode by
the owners. At the start Mr. 'Worthington took the lead
at a slow pace ; they had not gone far when Mr. Baron's
horse, who was pulling hard, broke away, and at the first
hurdle threw his rider. Mr. Worthington followed slowly,
topped the hurdles in fine style ; before Mr. Baron man-
aged to mount his horse again, Mr. Worthington was at
least a distance ahead. At the second hurdles Mr. Baron's
horse swerved again, and in coming past the winning-
post, the first time round, the horse tript and broke his
near hind leg, below the hock, Mr. Baron falling on his
side, but escaped injury. Mr. Worthington was leading
at least half a mile before the accident occurred. The
horse was killed on the ground ; he was a fine animal,
worth 100 guineas. There were at least fifteen hundred
persons on the ground.
DREADFUL EXPLOSION AT ST. HELENS : EIGHT MEN
KILLED.—On Wednesday morning an explosion of fire-
damp took place at Gerard's Bridge Colliery, St. Helens,
belonging to Messrs. Speakman, Caldwell and Co. There
were at the time fifty men employed under the ground,
and thirteen ponies. Most of them were got out in a few
hours, little injured, but eight were found to be dead.
The inquest was held before Mr. Heyes on Friday. The
explosion took place between seven and eight ,o'clock.
One of two men who were working together, a consider-
able distance from the shaft, remarked to his companion
that he had come upon " a bit of a slip or shoot," and
both in consequence put their candles out, one of them
remarking "Aye, Lord, it has fired ! " They made their
escape and sat down in the next opening. The foul air
then came out, and they ran down the main road to the
pit, a distance of 400 to 500 yards. The men were shouted
to to put their lights out. No foul air had been before ex-
perienced in the mine, which was well ventilated. Several
of the men smelt the foul air, and it is supposed those
found dead were suffocated by it, while endeavouring to
escape. It appeared that it was a rule in the mine to use
lamps, which would have been safe, but it could not be
enforced, as the men preferred candles. The jury re-
turned a verdict of death from suffocction, caused by gases
set on fire during an explosion. Those who perished
were four men and four boys, two of the former leaving
large families.
FEARFUL ACCIDENT.—A sad and fearful accident oc-
curred on Saturday week at one of the collieries of Mr.
Darlington, at Charnock Richard, near Preston, through
the falling of a portion of the roof. In working the mine,
it is usual, after opening a main or " drawing " road, to
work " drafts " at right angles to it ; these drafts are
about five yards in width, the intervening portions of
solid coal being left standing, and these are called pillars.
When the drifts are cleared, the pillars are gradually re-
moved ; and, oil their removal, it is generally necessary
to prop the superincumbent mass,—an ample supply of
timber, of from four to eight inches in diameter, and of
the requisite length, being always at hand for that pur-
pose. Men, inured to danger, become less regardful of
the consequences, and often neglect those precautions
which common prudence would dictate. There was no ap-
pearance of immediate danger in this instance ; a tapping
on the roof proclaimed it solid, and the men, without
putting in a sufficiency of props, continued their opera-
tions in removing a " pillar" about 180 yards from the
shaft of No. 1, or engine pit. About eleven o'clock in
the morning, 4 large portion of the rock—grey sand stone

—forming the roof, and weighing from seven to eight tons,
fell, while eight persons were at work beneath it. Four
were killed instantly; but the other four escaped, more
or less hurt—their preservation being owing to. the accu—
mulation of slack, the baskets, trams, &c., which caused
the rock to fall in an oblique direction.
MYSTERIOUS CASE.—As a workman was, going from
the Vulcan Foundry, at Newton, on Monday, he saw the
head and silk cloak of a woman in the canal. He threw
a stone, after tying it to a string, and pulled her to the
side—sent for an officer, who examined her, and found in
'her pocket six half-crowns, a sixpence, a thimble, a pair
of white gloves, &c. In her stays was stitched a piece of
--brimstone. She had on a green muslin-de-laine gown,
white stockings, and slippers. In the evening of the
same day, as tile son of the man who found the woman
.was returning from his work at the foundry, he found the
body of a man about fifty yards from the place where the
woman was found. Hia coat was torn up at the hack-
He was respectably dressed. The inquest was held on
Friday before Mr. Hayes, at the Swan Inn, on Newton
Common, when Mr. Robertson,l who farms Bold-hall,
identified the man as being William Kelly, who had been
his employ upwards of twelve months, and was of
steady habits. He had asked permission to go to the
races at isTewton, on Friday, which he granted him. lie
had not seen him since that day. The deceased was
thirty years of age. A woman, named Alice France,
residing at Bold, identified the body of the -woman as
'-.being that of Hannah France, who, until the last three
weeks, had lived in service at St.. Helen's, and had since
been on a visit to a friend at Sankey-green. She was
. seen at the races at Newton on Friday afternoon, in com-
pany with her brother and the man referred to, and about
twelve o'clock at night the woman's brother parted with
them at the canal bank, since which time they were not
heard of until their bodies were discovered in the manner
above stated. Verdict—Found drowned.

THOUGHTS ON LOCAL MATTERS AND THINGS.
IN GENERAL.

THE ORGAN CONTROVERSY.—The organ at St.
George's Hall will be the death of us. What its sound may
be when once it is erected, or whether it may be a little or
a large organ, we know not; but that it makes noise
enough, whenever introduced into the Council Chamber,
there is, unfortunately, little doubt. Its very mention
seems to set some of our local representatives up in their
stirrupi. On Saturday, for instance, Mr. Samuel Holue
merely read a letter, which he had received from a musical
professor, in which the writer says :—" The idea of erect-
ing a small organ in the hail is absurd, and convinces me
that some sinister and blighting influence must have been
at work to lead the committee astray," when up jumped.
Mr. Wm. Earle, and,—but we shall give the scene a
reported :
Mr. EARLE.-1 say the insinuation is false so far as I ant
concerned. (Sensation.)
Mr. HoLmE.—Sir, I shall not follow the example of Mr.
Earle by using such language in return.—(Hear, hear.) •
Mr. ALAI N.—You have been quoting very severe language:
Mr. EARLE.--.To be sure lie has, and I am not accustomed
to receive such words as "sinister and blighting," it applied to.
me.
A IVrEm BE R.—Readthe passage again.
Mr. HoLNIE having real it a second time,
Mr. EARLE observed that he had misconstrued its import.
Mr. HoLesE.—l say a sinister influence is at wmk, for look
at Dr. Gauntlett's letter to-day; he wants me to do an injury
to Dr. Wesley, and there is a sinister influence there.
Mr. MoonE seconded the motion.

Mr. PAUKER said the Corporation were talking of entertain-
ing the Queen at the ball; and would they have Her Majesty
down here listening to a penny trumpet whistling in the wind:"
—(Loud laughter.)
After a few words from Mr. Hodgson, Mr. Danson, Mr..
Aikin, and Mr. Sands,
Mr. EARLE replied to what be called the host of "Orgart
Wesleyans," that had risen up a;stainst him. He was for
having one of the best organs that, could be built; but he
was not for having a great roaring one like that at York
Minster, though he was for having a sonorous instrument
upon which a good so:d could be played. lie contended that
no Imo could tell what sort of sound an organ would produce
at St. Georgv's-hall,un!ess it was that tried with contemporary
instruments. He be;ifured Gauntlett knew a great deal more
about organ building than Wesley.
Most inharmonious notes to come from an organ ! It is
satisfactory, however, to learn that Mr. Earle is neither
" sinister " nor " blighting." He can be trusted hence-
forth in the neighbourhood of people's apple trees; and
may even be allowed to bring with him the barrel organ
which he is understood to have selected, in order to try
before a select audience no doubt, the capabilities of the
Hall. As for his not having " a great roaring organ like
that at York," we quite approve of his taste, although the
organ at York will doubtless feel the indignity of being
called a roarer. We fancy that he does not quite approve
of Mr. Parker's " penny trumpet whistling in the wind ; "
for we see that he `: is for having a sonorous instrument,
upon which a good solo can be played." As a keyed in-
strument, however, is open to the duetto performance, of
course a good sonorous barrel, one of those that never
move on for less than sixpence, must be tOe thing. As
there is no knowing " what sound a (barrel) organ will
produce in St. George's Hall, unless it is first tried with
contemporary instruments," a rehearsal ought to be
given, in the presence of the Council and the reporters,
Mr. Earle grinding his favorite solo instrument, and him-
self, Mr. W. Rathbone or any other member of the Coun-
cil, who has a voice, exercising his " contemporary instru-
ment."

VALUE OF A HOSPITAL NURSE'S LlFE.—Whilst doc-
tors and clergymen, relieving-officers and policemen, are
dying of fever, caught from their daily contact with the
disease so rife amongst the immigrants from Ireland, it is
pleasant to find that we have amongst us a class of persons
who, from the remuneration offered them, must be pre-
sumed to be unsusceptible of contagion. We saw, a week
ago, an advertisement from the Select Vestry for nurses
for the patients at the fever sheds, the salary offered being
eight pounds per annum. Of course, any poor woman,.
whose necessities may induce her to risk her life for such
a pittance, will be allowed to hope for a legacy from some
of her Irish patients some of these odd days; or the
chance of a matron dying off, and a nurse stepping into
her shoes, may be held out as a prospect of benefit of sur-
vivorship.

WE REFORMERS MEET IN CLAYTON-SQUARE.—Vide
Mr. William Earle's speech in the Council.—Of course
we do. Very few people would call at the Amphitheatre,
or any other place, especially if money was to be paid, to
hear the wise sayings of we, the reformers of Liverpool.
We reformers, therefore, meet in Clayton-square just
about dinner time, in order that people going to and from
that excellent meal may be allowed to swell, our auditory
for a while, and take in our talk as a kind of soda draught
or bitters before or after dinner.
THE FEVER SHEDS.—Our doctors dont give us credit
for imagination. No danger, Dr. Duncan says, is to be
apprehended by parties in the neighbourhood of the fever
sheds. "No instance is on record, so far as lam aware,
of the contagion of typhus fever having been propagated
under such circumstances." Ergo : it is pleasant and
conducive to the comfort of the people who are so happy
as to live in the locality of fever hospitals, to see cart
loads of coffins brought in daily, of course to be freighted
back with the bodies of human beings. It is pleasant too
to see fever-stricken wretches staggering by your door,
in search of the means of dying under proper medical
superintendence, and being buried at the cost of the
parish. Viewing the thing in this aspect, Mount Pleasant
was never so pleasant before. Great Howard-street,
however, ought to be re-christened. We should suggest
" Great Fever-street."

THE HEALTH COMMITTEE AND THE REPORTERS.—
We are not, it seems, to be admitted to a hearing of the
deliberations of the Health Committee. Mr. Rathbone
considers that it would be unwise for the body to be seen
en dishabille. The members must be all dressed before
they are fit to be seen. Mr. Samuel Holme, too, is afraid
that if we get our note-books in, we shall not note down
plenty. Don't be afraid ! The world knows pretty well
that every man is not a hero in the eyes of his valet ; and
being well aware that the public have a particular wish to
know what this Health Committee arc doing, there is little
fear of the reporters giving quite as much as some gentle-
men will care to read. The reporters will get in somehow
or other, the committee may depend upon it. Mr. Rath-
bone, we observe, admits that speeches which serve to
enlighten the public, are most legitimate." The very
thing the public want is to be enlightened as to the doings
of this committee; and the fair presumption is that their
doings are to be gathered from their sayings.
A MOST JUDICIOUS EXPEDIENT.—WC observe, front
the proceedings of the Select Vestry, that the Health
Committee, with a view to prevent any further occupation
of the cellars closed under the provisions of the Sanitory
Bill, are about, "I? 3, way of experiment," to fill up about
twenty cellars, which, it is said, "are, properly speaking,
cesspools, not cellars, for there are about two feet of water
in each." Filling up places which are not cellars, but
cesspools, is certainly a very original way of preventing
cellars being occupied. It is something like tilling your
shoes with dirty water to prevent you putting on your
boots.
LIVERPOOL A BEGGING FOR REPRESENTATIVES.—
Like Belisarius, tottering down the street,
With date obolum' to all we meet,"
this deserted constituency seems to be completely in a fix.
A Conservative contemporary, we observe, proposes Lord
George Bentinck, and, as a colleague—save us !—Lord
Palmerston ! ! Should the former Lord rot be willing to
come to our rescue, the same print proposes the monastic
Lord J. Manners. Shades of St. Domingo house, what a
choice ! Is there no Mormon prophet to be found to
serve as a suitable foil for his monastic lordship ?
THE FAMINE IN LIVERPOOL.—Our Town must bc iso-
lated. The people in Brunswick-street will have it so.
Prices of grain are falling in every other market ; but Li-
verpool is evidently in a state of siege. No corn, it would
seem, can reach us from other ports, or from the markets
in the interior; or how could Brunswick-street think of
holding out against the example of all the other markets
in the kingdom. We think of sending an order for our
next weeks bread to Wakefield or to London, as it is
evident that we are going to be starved.
HERALDRY.—Some parties, we observe, are getting up
alarming accounts of the reappearance of the potato dis-
ease. As a few of these gentlemen have, no doubt, made
fortunes out of the recent potato panic, and will be in want
of armorial bearings, we should suggest the portrait of a
well authenticated rotten potato, of this year's growth, as
the subject, although as yet it may be difficult to find such
a thing. Three of the diseased esculents in question
might be hung over every baker's door—two above and
one below—to intimate that the price of bread go 's up
twice as fast as it comes down. To guard against the
sign being mistaken for the pawnbroker's, nextdor, the
potatoes might be done brown; which would afford a use-
ful suggestion, with respect to their future fate, t
o parties
frequenting the said next door establishment.
SINGULAR THREAT.—It is said that the sea is just now
sheaving very unequivocal symptoms of a dispositiori to
make a short cut into the Mersey, by way of the Pool at
Birkenhead. As ships don't come into the Birkenhead
Docks by the existing channel, nothing is more natural
than an attempt should be made to introduce them by the
back door. The Wall-o-Sea Commissioners, however, Nut
trust, will defeat such a discreditable attempt.