Star. — 1829-12-18 (London, England)

FISH 314111TT.  :MANCHESTER, Drc. 16.  The titaio3t const(_,rivition prevailed in dd.: town this afternoon, in consequence of an explosion of gas having taken place at the house of Min Parry, the King's Ile 'l Inn, in the old Shambles, immediately opposite t.) ti.. new Fish Market, which was heard in nearly all parts of the town. On inquiry, it was ascertained where the causa of alarm originated, and the following appear to be the facts of the case :—lt appears that several men employed by the Manchester Gas Company were iayi.►g down a main pipe through the market, which pipe, it is con :lectured, had a connection with the pipe boonf.iing to the King's Head, and the gas having escaped front smite part of the main pipe, the men, to learn from witenee the strong stench of gas proceeded, foolishly applied a lighted candle to the connecting pipe atttche 1 to the mail", when suddenly a tremendous explosit n was the consequence, which burst throudi the wit dow4 and. into the brick work of the King's Head int' tht. street, which were blown to a great distance, b eak;ng in the windows of the neighbouring shops; this was about half-past three o'clock. The shock caused by this dreadful explosion having subsided, assistance was procured, and several individuals entered the King's HeAl, a truly dreadful spectacle presented itself. Mrs. Parry, the landla;ly, and a friend named Mrs. Taylor, who were sitting in the ditring room at the time the dreadful catastrophe oceurral, were found amongst a heap of ruins in the cellar, having been precipitated, together with the floor, into the cellar. When taken up, the unfortunate females were discovered to be alive, but  dreadfully burnt and bruised I Mr. Parry and the barmaid were in the bar at the time, and were so much scorched and bruised that their lives were considered to be in danger. The bar and all its contents were literally dashed to pieces. Another female servant, who was in the lobby, is also dreadfully injured : the long-room, dining-room, vaults, kitchen, and, indeed, all the lower partof the premises, are wholly demolished. The vaults are immediAtely adjoining the house ; and most fortunately it happened, that no customers were in either the vaults or the house, otherwise incalculable injury might have been the consequence. A young girl was corning out of • the house, but seeing the flash she contrived to make her escape, with comparative little injury. Surgical tsdistance was with the utmost promptitude procured, but it is impossible, in the present juncture, to state, whether Mrs. Parry, her husband, and Mrs. Taylor, will survive the lamentable event. The whole of the street along i the line of road on which the pipe was laitl, is completely blown up by the explo:ion, and considerable damage is done to the stone part of the new Fish Market. The dreadful catostroithe has excited the utmost senration in the town, anti much blame is attached to the men efull eyed by the Gas Company ; as thro,igh their want of eautfm, and negligence, the necHent hap pened. We have, jurt left the unfortunate sufferers, labouring under the most excruciating agony. and the medical men are using their utmost endeavours to an% the pain under which they are suffering. The landerti, Mr. Parry, has only lately become the succereor of tie late Mr. Smitten!, whose dreadful suicide in tie t:,ine house was recorded in our paper some time ngo:  The loss sum Maid estimated at about 5601  The Duke of NV ELLINGToN left town yesterday gioiuing for his seat at Strathfieldsay, Hants. Mr. Secretary and Mrs. PEEL left town in the afteruoon rm. Strathfieldsay, on a visit to his Grace and the Duchess of Wt.!, A fßsh personal altercation, little less vehement th:trt that in -which Sir C. Wetherell was a party, to3k plat-14 yesterday, in the Vice-Chancellor's Court, between the Solicitor-General end a Metnbcr of the outer Br. . Morniag Chrunick.