On this page
-
Text (5)
-
June 28, 1851.] &%$ 3L$ail?V. 603
-
THE IRISH CONVICTS OF '48. Under the sig...
-
MOCK AUCTIONS. Two men, named respective...
-
PERSONAL NEWS AND GOSSIP. We have had no...
-
The interchange of military commands and...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Buried Alive!—The Bedminster Col-2 Lie11...
" effeminate" looking as youthotight , you did a good day ' s work that day . Peddar , an old man , the first rescued of the second set , said that when the timber and earth came thundering down the shaft , one of the men was working so near that his tools were buried in the ruins . They had made great exertions below to save themselves , but without success , and finally they had resigned themselves to death . The escape is truly marvellous . There was not a bone broken , nor is it thought that any of the sufferers , though greatly exhausted , will die .
and precipitating about sixty tons of timber , stones , and earth , into the shaft ; and thus the whole working force of the pit was buried alive ! The news quickly spread ; the wives , parents , and children of the miners flocked to the spot ; terrified , shrieking , weeping , and almost frantic , One woman said , " ker father , husband , son , brother , and uncle ¦ were in the pit . '' Panic and consternation for a time waa general . The men , however , set to work , made a hasty examination of the injury , and found it so great , that only three men could work in the shaft at one time in removing the wreck . The air trunks , too . were broken . All the men but two were in the
big vein , consequently nearly deprived of fresh air . In this state of affairs , Mr . Edwin Knight , proprietor of the Ashton Vale coal-pit went down , and on his return reported that the two men in the top vein ¦ were safe , that he had spoken to one of them , and that he had replied : — " We want something to eat , and lights . " Immediately lines were procured , and some men went down with three pounds of candles . When they returned , they said they had spoken with one of the men , William Braine , in the top vein , who declared that he and his companion could not get to the " tip " the air was so bad . Efforts were again made to repair
the shaft , but it was found that this would be a labour of three or four days . What was to be done ? At this juncture ( three o ' clock on Saturday morning ) , Mr . Reynolds of the Malago Vale Colliery arrived , and proposed that , in addition to the ordinary pit bonnet—an iron shield suspended above the bucket , to protect the men in descending and ascending , from falling stones and rubble—a second bonnet should be procured from his own works ; that these bonnets should be fastened to the hauling drain ; and that either a small bucket or some nooses of cord , into which the men could insert their legs , should be appended at the end ; the whole to be lowered to the
top vein , so as to give them the opportunity of effecting their escape . After great discussion and many objections ,. Mr . Reynolds urging the adoption of his plan with great energy , a brother of one of the imprisoned men , Phillips , descended , and reported that both below were willing that the attempt should be made . The question then arose as to who should go down in the bucket . Mr . Goulstone said , of course he co » uld not compel any man to risk his life , but he asked imploringly , " Will no one try to save them ? " On this a modest , indeed rather effeminate-looking youth , named James North , stepped forward with a courage deserving the highest praise ,
and said , *• I will ; " and at a quarter past four o ' clock North entered the bucket and descended . All was now breathless expectation , and every ear was turned anxiously to the mouth of the pit to catch the slightest sound . At length the signal " haul up" was given , the bucket ascended , and in a few minutes the two poor men , William Braine and Morgan Phillips , with their unassuming but intrepid deliverer , were safely landed at the pit ' s mouth . But the work was not half done . There were above thirty still in the big vein . The two rescued men were consulted about the possibilities of rescuing the rest , when Phillips declared that all attempts would be vain , but Braine thought the attempt should be made . North again came forward and volunteered , and his gallant example was followed by five others , Francis Smith ,
Samuel Page , William Smith , Richard Pike , and William Cooper . They descended one after another , and all means were taken to force fresh air into the mine . A blow force , with canvas bags , wooden air trunks , & c , to blow fresh air into the tip-shaft , and a hatchet and other tools , a windlass and strong rope of 40 or 50 fathoms length , were sent down . Another scene of painful suspense followed . The men were below a long time . At length they reascended : the candles would not burn ; they had hallooed and hammered , but got no answer . All now depended upon the infusion of fresh air into the pit , as the men declared that they would not descend any more unless this were done . However , the desire of preserving the liven of their fellows was too strong . They braved the foul air once more , but were forced to return at once . The men had now heen confined nearly
twenty-four hours . A large air-shaft , made of canvas on the spot , and the hose of the Bristol fireengine , were let down the shaft , and a stream of fresh air constantly poured down . Another fall of earth took place ; but , nothing daunted , the bravo fellows continued their exertions in the shaft ; and at length the welcome word was passed , that the men in the big vein were nil alive , but in the dark , and dreadfully in wantof fond . This intelligence stimulated everybody
to make fresh exertions . Food and lights were oonveyed to them through the tip bhaft ; more air was also forced in , and at length , tho windlass" and reels bein g fixed , tho poor creatures were hauled up singly through tho tip shaft into the upper vein . The difficulties were still formidable ^ but tho unwearied exortiona of North and his fellows triumphed . About lour o ' clock , the first captive was landed safely at tho pit ' s mouth amidst tho greetings and tears of the assembled throng . But it was not until seven in the evening that tho whole thirty-seven were brought safely to tho upper air . Bravo James North ,
June 28, 1851.] &%$ 3l$Ail?V. 603
June 28 , 1851 . ] & %$ 3 L $ ail ? V . 603
The Irish Convicts Of '48. Under The Sig...
THE IRISH CONVICTS OF ' 48 . Under the signature of " W . C . Gray , " the following interesting particulars , relating to the Irish political convicts , have been published in Saunders ' s News Letter , dated " Hobart Town , Feb . 27 . " It will be seen that Sir William Denison is resolved to carry matters with a high hand : — " Since I wrote last I have seen Messrs . Mitchell and Martin ; they are living together at a place called Bothwell , about forty miles from here . Mrs . Mitchell and children are soon expected , as none of the Irish exiles expect a speedy return to their country and home . Mr . Meagher was married to Miss Bennett , on Saturday , the 22 nd inst . The Lieutenant-Governor ' s ( Sir Wm . Denison s ) order , sending M'Manus , O'Dogherty , and O'Donohoe , to Port Arthur for three months at hard labour , for going out of their district , was overruled by the judges in the Supreme Court , on Friday , the 23 rd , where M'Manus appeared in his gray prison uniform , in which he had been working at Port Arthur since the 1 st of January . After his acquittal he had to walk , amidst the public gaze , from the courthouse to an hotel , where he had many friends to meet him . He had to borrow a suit of clothes , in order that he could at once proceed to Launceston . I heard Sir William Denison state , at the monster dinner given on the arrival of
the bill , that his stay in the colony was not likely to be more than a year or two at the farthest . I have seen Frost , "Williams , and Jones , the chartists . Frost is bookkeeper to a grocer here ; Williams is sinking shafts , making coal experiments , near Hobart Town ; and Jones keeps a watchmaker ' s shop near Launceston . You will see by the Courier , which I send , the Vigilant sails in a day or two for London with timber ; it is ( I believe ) for ship-building purposes . Many colonial ships have been built in Hobart Town with such timber ; it is called Cluegum , and found to answer well . Mr . M'Maims and his ship-mates at Port Arthur loaded this ship Vigilant .
" N . B . Since writing the herewith , poor M'Manus is again arrested at Launceston , by the express command of Sir "William Denison , whose order is , that M'Manus is not to come by coach , but to walk all the way by road , a distance of 125 miles , in the custody of policemen , whether handcuffed or not I cannot say . When he arrives in Hobart Town , Sir William Denison ' s orders are peremptory to proceed forthwith to Port Arthur , and join the chain-gang , at hard labour , to eat paste and brown bread , for a crime disposed of by the magistrates , whose punishment was simply a reprimand for being out of his boundary . So much for the King of the Cannibal Isles . M'Manus has taken very ill of fever , and two medical men are attending him . "
Mock Auctions. Two Men, Named Respective...
MOCK AUCTIONS . Two men , named respectively J . W . Chew and J . Smith , have been committed to trial on a charge of conspiracy and systematic swindling , carried on through the medium of mock auctions , at Liverpool . The specific charge was that they had sold four watches purporting to be gold watches , which were little else but copper and zinc . The trial was chiefly interesting on account of the revelations made by one witness named Richard Trigge , who had been employed by Chew and Smith in the auction-rooms asa" puffer . " "That was , to attend the sale-room , with others in the same capacity , in order to bid against the company coming to the sale . Every morning he received money , and at night he accounted for it , together with all property that was knocked
a certain price , lest he might destroy the sale . To prevent his bidding too much , there was always a signal given by the auctioneer , by raising his hammer in a peculiar way . The moment he so raised his hammer none of them were to bid again , and the goods were then knocked down to any stranger the moment he might bid again . Trigge had always a commission on every article sold which he had recommended and puffed off to a stranger . When a person
came into the sale-room whom they did not like , there was a cry of 'D ' ye see ? ' which was asignal not to effect sales until the person had retired . " No cross-examination being able to shake the testimony of the veracious Trigge , the mock auctioneers were found guilty , but bail was demanded , on the ground that the alleged offence was a conspiracy . Th . e bail required was the recognizances of the prisoners in £ 200 , and two sureties in £ 100 each .
down to him . Ho and others similarly employed , always received instructions from Chew and Smith what they were to do . That was as to the bidding themselves , and handing property round and showing it ofF to strangers . Smith also attended in the saleroom in tho same capacity , although he was one of the owners of the goods . Property was very often knocked down to Trigge . On one occasion he said to the culprits that a robbery had taken place in the sale-room , and on that occasion he remonstrated with them , and said that a stop ought to be put to it , or that it would come to the oars of the authorities , and the whole thing would be blown up . Neither made any reply . When strangers wore coining , or near the window , some of those employed like him would call to the auctioneer in a way that no one but themselves could understand , ' A mark . '
The auctioneer would then put up a watch or something else , and . the bidding Would commence , and if the stranger made purchases , the auctioneer , after selling him what ho could , would leave his scat , and another auctioneer would take the rostrum . That was generally tho case ; and one of the reasons for the practice was , that the pcruon might bo coming back , not satisfied with the purchases he had made ; and if another auctioneer was then selling , he would toll tho purchaser he know nothing about it . Trigge was frequently told to be cautious never to bid beyond
Personal News And Gossip. We Have Had No...
PERSONAL NEWS AND GOSSIP . We have had no restive baloon to talk about ; no fancy dress balls to disturb our imaginations ; but we have had a great fire , and the Queen has for the first time walked forth among the people—that is to say , among them so far as the policemen would permit , stationed to keep off the crowd . King Leopold , who was with her , is accustomed to walk the streets of Belgium . Could he not give his fair relation a hint as to how it is to be done ? Prince Albert laid the foundation-stone of the new City of London Hospital for Diseases in the Chest , on Wednesday . The building will be erected on the site of the spot where Bishop Bonner ' s house once stood , and is close to Victoria Park . The hospital , now permanently established , was instituted temporarily in 1848 .
The Duke and Duchess of Somerset gave a grand dinner to Marshal Narvaez , on " Wednesday . The Marshal is one of the Lions of the season . Leaving the Duke ' s house , in Park-lane , he went to a dancing party at Bath House , Lady Ashburton ' s , the same evening . The old soldiers who , chiefl y through the exertions of the Duke of Richmond , received the Peninsular "War Medal , gave him a grand dinner at Willis ' s Rooms on Saturday . The object of the dinner was to present the Duke with a splendid piece of plate . The day fixed on was the thirty-eighth anniversary of the battle of Vittoria . Prince de Johxville and three of his relatives have been lately visiting the Lakes of Killarney .
M . Drouyn de l'Huys delivered his letters of recall to the Queen , on "Wednesday . He will be replaced , as our readers will remember , by M . Walewski , who is on his way from Madrid , through Paris , to London . Mr . Dilke , one of the Executive Committee of the Great Exhibition , was suddenly taken ill in the Exhibition building yesterday , from over-fatigue and heat , which caused him to faint . Upon being restored to consciousness Mr . Dilke was taken home by his father and Colonel Reid . The Lord-Lieutenant has appointed Mr . Robert Ball , LL . D ., to be secretary to the Board of Queen ' s Colleges in Ireland .
Captain Watson has been acquitted by the courtmartial sitting to inquire into his conduct during the Ceylon insurrection in 1848 ; on the same authority , the celebrated proclamations are declared to be " forgeries , " and the evidence given by Captain Watson before the select committee in 1850 , to be " true , " and not" false . " Mr . Fox , one of the builders of the Crystal Palace , was entertained at Derby on Saturday . His brother , Mr . Douglas Fox , has been elected mayor for the third time . Mr . Fox made an interesting speech on the occasion , concerning his share in the erection of the Palace of iron and glass . A correspondent , says the Inverness Courier , who dates from the Temple , states that her Majesty and Prince Albert have commissioned a gentlemen from the north to engage the services of a Gaelic teacher for the Royal Family ! " There is every chance , " he says , " of an intimate friend of mine getting the enviable appointment . "
The Interchange Of Military Commands And...
The interchange of military commands and orders seems to be generally adopted as a sign of the good understanding subsisting between tho Northern Despots . The Emperor of Russia has conferred various military orders of knighthood upon a long list of Austrian generals ; especially distinguishing Field-Marshal Nugent . and Prince Windisehgratz , to both of whom he recently paid a personal visit at Olmutz . The Emperor of Austria Ikih accepted the command of the 13 th Bavarinn regiment , ¦ which has been presented to him by the King . Marshal lladetzky returned to Milan on the 17 th . The Austrian authorities of Lombardy have . suspended the journal the Lombardo Venefo . The King of Bavaria arrived at Modena on the iOth , on a visit to the reigning duke .
The Araldo of Naples announces tho death of Field-Mur . shal Spinelli , Prince of Cariati . The Turin journals of the 20 th instant announce the departure for London ' of Count do Kevel with powers from the Sardinian Government to contract a loan of 7 >> millions of francH . Duelling is as vivacious as ever in France . Thin week , M . Arislide Olivier , editor of the Suffrage Universal , and hoii of the old coiiHtituent , DcinoHihcnc Olivier , fought with sabres at Montpclher with M . Fernand de GinefitouM nephew of M . Orosset , representative of t , )> e llernu ' lt , who took the place of M . Kscaude , editor of the Kcho ( ht Midi . The duel was fatal to both combatants , one of whom , M . Oinestous , was pierced from side to side . Among the news from lierlin is the account of u feud
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), June 28, 1851, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_28061851/page/7/
-