The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-12-28 00:00:00

FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT AT MANCHESTER

MANCHESTER, SUNDAY MORNING.—I regret to state
that, in removing the outer ruins of the buildings which
were destroyed by lire last week in this town, no less than 5
lives have been sacrificed. and ten other workmen so se-
riously injured that the lives of three of them are quite de-
spaired of. In my last communication it was stated that the
whole of the property belonging to the Liverpool and Man-
chester Union Carriers' Company was consumed, and that
nothing but the walls remained standing. The firemen were
actively engaged in removing the property which it was con-
sidered could be saved from destruction, and they succeeded
in recovering a much greater amount than might have been
anticipated. At an early hour on Friday morning the wall
facing the London-road was pulled down, and the workmen
then made preparations to take down the wall in Grosvenor-
street, standing immediately over the two arches of the
branches of the Rochdale Canal, which runs underneath ths
property.
I believe this duty was intrusted to Mr. Clarke Palding,
the contractor for the Manchester and Birmingham Railway
Company, and that under the direction of his foreman the
erection the scaffolding was commenced. Various opinions
are expressed as to the danger of erecting the scaffolding
within the interior of the ruins, inasmuch as the long extent
of the wall was evidently leaning in that direction ; but, as
it was considered safe by those whose duty it was to inspect
it, the works were continued. In the course of the day many •
parts of the ruins were pulled down by ropes without any ac-
cident, and no danger was apprehended from the exterior
portions of the warehouse.
At about four o'clock the men had raised the scaffolding
nearly four stories high, and there were at that time numer-
ous workmen engaged underneath in the removal of the
rubbish and materials which had been thrown against the
basement of the wall. At twenty minutes past four that
portion of the wall which stood nearest Grosvenor-street,
and at which the men were chiefly engaged, suddenly gave
way; the consequence of which was, that the workmen em-
ployed were thrown from their standing, and, as will be seen
by the subjoined return, either killed or so severely injured,
that their lives are despaired of. The centre of the wall fell
outwards, whilst the left-hand portion fell within the shell
of the ruins, but the men engaged near had time to remove
from the spot, so great was the crash which the first fall
created. It is singular, that although this wall was seven
stories high, it did not in its descent reach more than half
way across the building ; thus, it must be evident, that the
base or foundation gave way, and that the whole of the super-
structure immediately followed. This is the more easily
accounted for when it is considered that the wall itself is
built rather upon the curve, and over two branches of the
Rochdale Canal. At the time that the accident occurred, a
boat, belonging to Lord Francis Egerton, was passing un-
derneath the ruins, but fortunately the men perceived the
wall tottering, and running forward, escaped with their lives,
although a portion of the brick-work fell on the stern of the
flat, and it is still covered, and not at present able to be
continued on its voyage.

Soon after this distressing occurrence a search was made
for the bodies of those who were said to be utlier the ruins.
The rumours were of course various, and, as usual, exagge-
rated, but I am sorry to inform you that five of the workmen
are now lying dead at the infirmary, and that two are not
expected to live throughout the night, whilst ten others are
seriously injured and wounded. Their names are—John
Parkins, Thomas Finnigan, Patrick Conlan, George Proud-
man, Patrick Radical, Michael Mahon, Thomas Garland,
J onn Donally, Patrick Finnigan, William Hatrison, Michael
Dolan, Patrick Tully, William Hurly, Thomas Silcox, and
John Roach—in all, 15 persons.
The first man taken to the Infirmary was named Thomas
Finnigan. He was 33 years of age, and has left a wife and
three children. The second was :Patrick Tulley, 32 years of
age, with a wife and one child. The third, Michael Do-
lan, 24 years of age, and a single man. The fourth, Arthur
Roach, 23 years of age, and a single man. The fifth, John
Donally, also a single man. These all died, almost instanta-
neously after being brought to the infirmary. The unfortu-
nate man Roach was most horribly mutilated. His head was
completely smashed, and his body reduced to a mere mummy.
Tulle), presented a more horrifying appearance. Both his
legs were severed from his body, his face and chest were
dreadfully mutilated, and his extremities greatly swollen.
Both of these unfortunate men were also much injured by the
fire, which still burnt beneath the ruins with great intensity.
Of the other ten men conveyed to the infirmary, it may
be said that two will not survive throughout the night. The
remaining seven it is hoped will eventually recover, although
a long time must elapse before they are enabled to resume
their work. It was most distressing and heartrending to hear
the cries and lamentations of the wives of the unfortunate
men who have thus been hurried into eternity. Long before
the bodies of some of them had been discovered, the children
or sisters having heard of the accident were bewailing the
loss of their parents or relations in the most pitiable terms,
and if possible the scene was rendered more distressing when
the dead bodies were recognised at the infirmary this morning.
Since the occurrence the most dangerous part of the build-
ing has been pulled down, and there will not, I hope, be any
more sacrifice of human life. There is now one of the
workmen under the ruins, but up to one o'clock this morning
his body had not been recovered, or any traces of it as yet
found. Every attention was paid to the sufferers as they
were conveyed to the Infirmary by Mr. Holland, the house
hecarv.

apothecary.
Yesterday morning Lord Francis Egerton arrived in town,
and having visited the ruins and made a few inquiries, imme-
diately went to the Infirmary. His lordship there inquired
particularly as to the circumstances of the unhappy men who
have lost their lives, as well as those who have been otherwise
injured. The noble lord appeared much affected by this
deplorable sacrifice of human life, and I may remark that his
lordship offered no opinion, but made the most minute in-
quiries into the particulars of this distressing event.
The origin of the fire has not yet been discovered, further
than the opinion I have before given, The captain of the
boat and his son are fast recovering, and it is possible some-
thing may he learnt from them respecting it. The committee
of those who have been losers have not yet concluded their
inquiries, but I am told, upon the best authority, that the
loss will exceed the sum I previously mentioned, of £30,000.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.-DEATH OF TWO MORE OF THE

SUFFERERS

MONDAY EVENING.—I regret to inform you that two
more of the unfortunate men hurt at the late melancholy
accident in Piccadilly, Manchester, have died from their
wounds. Their names are Garland and Mahon (or Makin,
for he is called by both names.) These men died this morn.
ing. There is now no probability of Radical's recovery, and
Harrison is still in a very precarious state.
Inquests have been held on the bodies of the seven de-
ceased, before our rival coroners, W. S. Rutter and J. Chap-
man, Esqrs., at the Infirmary, this day, when, after a long
investigation into the circumstances of the accident, verdicts
of " accidental death" were returned by both juries.
It is feared that the bodies of two or three other men may
yet be in the ruins of the building, several men having been
engaged to work on the day of the accident, whose names
were not taken down by the contractor. There is no chance
of their rescue alive, however, and as, from the condition of
the western Wall of the warehouse, the lives of those em-
ployed to search the ruins would momentarily be exposed to
danger, it has been thought prudent to wait till the wall shall
have been thrown down.

We are informed that during the recent visit of Sir James
Graham to Netherby, he has nrovided abundant employment
for the labourers of the district, by the diversion of various
watercourses.—Carlisle Patriot.

The Rev. Augustus Hewitt is to be minister of St. James's,
Ryde, Isle of Wight, void by the cession of the Rev. R. W.
Sibthorp.

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