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Leader (1850-1860), 28th June 1851, Edition Town of 2, Page 603

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      Untitled Article

      and precip itating 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 , " her father , husband , son , brother , and uncle ¦ were in the pit . '' Panic and consternation for a time ¦ was 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

      bi <* vein , consequently nearly deprived of fresh air . In ' this state of affairs , Mr . Edwin Knight , proprietor of the Athton 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 B raine , 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 woiks ; 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 could 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 minutc 9 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 b ' . g 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 lives of their fellows was too strong . They braved the foul air once more , but were forct'd to return at once . The men . had now been confined nearly twenty-four hours . A large air-shaft , made of canvuh on the spot , and the hose of the Bristol fireengine , were let down the shaft , and antream of fresh , air constantly poured down . Another full of earth took place ; but , nothing daunted , the brave fellows continued their exertions in thu shaft ; and at length the welcome word was passed , that tho men in the big vein were all alive , but in tho dark , and dreadfully in wantof food . This intelligence ttimulHtcdeverybody to muke fresh exertions . Pond and lights were

      conveyed to them through the tip shaft ; mare uir was also forced in , and at length , the windlass and reels being fixed , tho poor crea me * were hauled up * iiu . > ly through the tip shaft into tho upper vein . The diflicuitics were still formidable , but the unwearied exertions ol North and his fellows triumphed . About lour o ' clock , the first captive wuh landed safely at the pit's mouth amidst tho greetings and tears of tho UBBembled throng . But it was not until seven in tho evening that tho whole thirty-seven were brought safely jjto the upper air . Bravo James North ,

      " effeminate" looking as you are thought , 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 .

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      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 jthree 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 , tbat his stay in the colony was not likely to be more than a year or two at the farthest . 1 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'Manus 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 . "

      Untitled Article

      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 wutches 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 as a " 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 down to him . He and others similarly employed , alwuys 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 the Bume capacity , although he was one of the owners of the goods . Property waa very often knocked down to Trigge . On one occasion he said to the culprits that n robbery had taken place in the sale-room , and on that occasion he remonstrated with them , and uaid that a stop ought to be put to it , or that it would come to the ears of the authoritieH ,

      and the whole thing would be blown up . Neither imido any reply . When strangers were coining , or near the window , some of those employed like him would cull 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 , mid tho bidding would commence , imd if the stranger niado purchases , the auctioneer , after Belling him what he could , would leave his Heat , and another auctioneer would take- the rostrum . That was generally the case ; and one of the reasons for the practice was , that the person mi ^ ht bo coming buck , not Hatisiied with the purchaHCH he hud made ; and if unother auctioneer was then selling , he would tell the purchaser he know nothing about it . Trigge was frequently told to be cautious never to bid beyond

      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 ' 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 . The bail required was the recognizances of the prisoners in £ 200 , and two sureties in £ 100 each .

      Untitled Article

      PERSONAL NEWS AND GOSSIP . We have had no restive baloon to talk about ; no fancy dress balls to disturb our imaginations ; butwe 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 , chiefly 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 Joinvitle 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 arc 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 Pal : ce , 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 ei ection 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 cettintr the enviable appointment . "

      Untitled Article

      The interchange of military commands nnd orders seems to be generally adopted as a sign of the good understanding subsisting between the Northern Despots . The Emperor of Russia has conferred various military orders of knighthood upon a lonjr list of Austrian <» cnerals ; especially distinguish -in ^ Field-Marshal Nugent and Prince Windischgratz , to both of whom he recently paid a personal visit , at Olinutz . The Kmperor of Austria ban accepted the command of the l . 'Hh Bavarian rt ^ huint , which has been pret-twUcd to him by the Kin-r ,. Marshal Rudetzky returned to Milan on tlie l / tn-The Austrian uuthoiiiies of JLoinliardy have Kuspended the journal the Lombardo Vcncto . The Kin of li . iva . iiit arrived at Modena on the Uln , on a viHitto Hie uiunint' diiKe . " ..

      , , _ , ,,,, ThcylraWoof Naples announces the death of 1 ' ield-Marshiil Spinelli , I ' riiin- vf < . "iaU . The Turin journal * of «! . «¦ 20 fh .... slant announce the departure for London ot 'Count de Hovel with powers from the Sardinia (^ ' -i'mienl to contract a loan of 7 f > millions of frnn «« - DuelliiiK is «« vivacious an ever in France . 1 'hiH week , M AiiKticle Olivier , editor of the Sujfrngo Ihuvt-rscl , and mm of the . old constituent , DeinoMhene . Olivier , foiiirht . with sabres at Mnntpellie . r with M . l'Vniaiid do ( Jim ' . sUMin , nephew of M - <« ronMet , repri nentiUive of the lle inult , who took the place of M . Encaudo , editor of tho I ' tho ( lit Midi . The duel waa lutal to both combatants , one , of whom , M . OincBtouB , waa pierced from aide to Amontr tho news from Berlin in the account of a feud

      Untitled Article

      June 28 , 1851 . ] ^^ t Qtfl btX ' . 603

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 28, 1851, page 603, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1889/page/7/