The Sun. — 1842-06-04 (London, England)

FATAL ACCIDENT AT A POTHE CARIES' H A LL.  • An explosion of a very serious character, took place this morning at the Apothecaries' Hall, Union-street, Blaekfriars. As soon as the intelligence was brought to our office, we im. mediately despatched one of our reporters to the spot to ascertain the particulars of the accident. It appears, that Mr. H. Hennell, who was the gentleman at the heat of the experimental department, was in the act of preparing a quantity of detonating powder, which had been ordered for the East India Company's service. At about ten o'clock this morning the neighbourhood was thrown into great alarm and consternation, caused by a tremendous. explosion, which was discovered to proceed from that part of the Apothecaries' Hall in which Mr. Hennell was engaged. He was preparing the powder, it seems, in the open air at the time of its explosion. As soon as it was possible to get near the spot, it was discovered that Mr. Henry Hennell had been killed on the spot. The surrounding buildings were all. shattered, and upwards of 500 windows were destroyed. Fortunately. Me. Flannel' was the only person on the spot, or the accident would have been most frightful. The body of Mr. Henneli was dreadfully mutilated, his arms being literally torn from his body. We understand that one of the unfortunate gentleman's fingers was picked up as far off as Union. street, by a person of the name olJames. The body of Mr. Hennell was immediately placed in a shell to await the Coroner's inquest. We understand that he has left no family. The inquest will be held on. Monday evening between five and !ix o'clock.  A public meeting of the Two-penny Postmen took place on Tuesday evening, at the Hole-in-the-Wall, Chancery-lane, for the purpose of petitioning. the Lords of the Treasury for an advance of wages, in consequence of the increased labour caused by the penny postage. Several speeches were made by Messrs. Bradley, Thurling, and others ; and a Committee of twelve appointed to draw up the petition, and to meet for that purpose on Tuesday evening next, at the aforesaid tavern. • Yesterday afternoon a boat, in which were five privates, and a corporal named Pattison, belonging to the Scotch Fusilier Guards, was on its way to the Tower, when on arriving opposite the London-bridge-whalf, the waterman ran against a steam-boat which was moored off the wharf; three Of the soldiers got up, and, in the confusion, the boat was upset, and the whole of them were the next moment struggling for their lives. Several boats instantly put off to their assistance, and, after great difficulty, they were all saved but Pattison, who met with a watery grave. The steamer was moved in as short a time as possible, when the body of the unfortunate man was found, and conveyed to the vaults of St, Magnus church, to await a Coroner's Inquest. CORONER'S INctuEsT.—Last evening an inquest was held at the Blockmakers' Arms, Ashley-street, Shoreditch, on view of the body of Arn Freesdale, a fine young woman, 21 years of age. The deceased, who was the daughter of a tradesman at St. Alban's, was principal superintendent of the establishment of the Bev. Mr. Macdonnell, at that place, and had formed a strong attachment to a student there. The consequence of this attachment was, the loss of her situation, and on Saturday week she came to town on a visit to her sister, who resides with her husband in the vicinity of the New North-read, nr.d while there her manners seemed very much altered. Her father had written to her to return home on Monday last, and the dread of the reproach of her friends for leaving so excellent a situation, and under such circumstances, tended further to depress her spirits. On Monday she complained of illness, and on Tuesday afternoon she left her sister's for the purpose of going to consult a medical man, but had not afterwards returned, and at eleven o'clock on the same night her body was taken out of the Regent's Canal. The majority of the Jury we: e of opinion that the deceased had committed suicide, but under the direction of the COroner returned a general verdict of " Found drowned," thereby leaving tke.ease-still open to-tlie iniestigatioa of the-poliee.