The Miner and Workman's Advocate. — 1864-10-08 (London, England)

WORKUN'S ADVOCATE.  LONDON. SATITRDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1864.  SUMMARY.  On Saturday the metropolis was visited with one of the severest shocks it has ever known, doors and windows rattling as if shaken by an earthquake over its whole extent. At first it was supposed to be the effect of an earthquake, but it was afterwards ascertained to have been caused by the explosion of an immense mass of gunpowder stored in two magazines near Erith, which has caused an immense destruction of life and property. It appears the first explosion took place in one of two barges that had come up from Dartford laden with gunpowder to be stored in the magazines. Both the barges were sunk, and all on board of them—how many has not been ascertained precisely. The same fate befel the greater number of those who lived near the magazines, which were next exploded; and it was their explosion that caused the shock to be felt all up Woolwich and Greenwich to the very heart of the metropolis. The amount of window-glass smashed and other injuries inflicted on house property down the river is something fabulous; but the most imminent danger arose from the blowing in of the river embankment. Fortunately the river was low, and before the tide rose large detachments of soldiers and railway navvies, working with a will, raised another embankment sufficient to prevent the low lands in that vicinity from being inundated. An investigation into the cause of this great catastrophe will, of course, be made; but it is feared, as is usual in such cases, that all who i could throw light on the matter have perished n the explosion. The excitement has not yet subsided. Several thousand persons visited the scene of the catastrophe in the course of Monday and Tuesday, and approached as near the spot as the guards stationed round it would allow. The main efforts of .the workmen were directed to the strengthening of the river embankment. Their efforts, it .is satisfactory to state, have been crowned with complete success. Monday was the highest tide of the month, and the flood rose to a great height, but nothing beyond the wash of the higher waves went over the b embankment. The excitement of the Po Peu loancd e on Sunday led to a shocking accident. There was an immense crowd of persons at the little side station of Belvedere on the railway, .and the most frantic efforts were made to get into the carriages as they arrived, which the police were unable to restrain. One gentleman fell betwe3n the carriages and was dreadfully mangled. He has since died.  On— Sunday morning a desperate struggle took place between a ruffian who had just robbed a hen roost, at Saxilby, and a Lincolnshire police-sergeant, who endeavoured to take him into custody. Seeing the thief lying down in a garden, the policeman seized him, and a sea& ensued, in which the thief managed to .Yet his antagonist down. After batting the officer about the head till he was well-nigh choked with his own blood, the ruffian drew a huge clasp-knife, with which he cut and stabbed him about the neck, inflicting five deep wounds, one of which just missed the jugular vein. This done the thief made off, but was followed and overtaken by the policeman, when another struggle took place, which was ended by the flight of the ruffian on the appearance of a neighbouring householder. Eventually the thief was captured, and awaits his hearing on a charge of attempted murder. The policeman lies in a dangerous state. A sad case has been brought under the notice of the Wakefield Magistrates. A young, girl, a domestic servant, who had always been scrapia.,