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Northern Star (1837-1852), 10th July 1847, Edition 2 of 3, Page 2

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  • Departments (3)
    • HttHE «RBAT*ST SALE OF AM MBMCUiHS IH THE GLOBE.
    • THE LATE AWFUL COAL-P1T EXPLOSION.
    • /ir ^ *... ^^.*^^ - *.^.^^^ Correspondence*
  • Adverts (7)
  • Text (10)
  • Transcript

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      ' Nt The Korthern Sear. Jply 10m7 J_ * *...

      THE KORTHERN SEAR . JpLY 10 ' j _ * * _^ - ' ' """""~~"""""'""" "' 7 «! I

      Htthe «Rbat*St Sale Of Am Mbmcuihs Ih The Globe.

      HttHE « RBAT * ST SALE OF AM MBMCUiHS IH THE GLOBE .

      Ad00209

      HOLLOW A X * S PI ^ S . A A Ver y WtndcrW Ok * » t a Disordered IiTer aad Stomach . - ^» w «^ » f * Letter from , ifr OUrUs Wilson , 3 « , Pnnoes T » rrofe » sor H » Uoway . l _ ii- ^ .. taVen voar « UIs t » remove a du « t 9 e « t n ^^^ oliVwen ^ nrprfc-ttd instntcMons 1 havere-Uhf ^^ i ? J 5 th w ^ uch I h * d thoug ht lost for aver . 1 SS ^ SSMSM ^^ F tm * ma « lF spea » v j »«« . _ .. „ , j « nK « at hut

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      OK THE COKCEALED CADSEOF CONSTITUTIONAL Q & ACQUIRED ABILITIES OF-TH & GENERATIVE SYSTEM . Just Published . A new and ! mportaut Edition of the SUan Friend on irtraan Frailty . lice 2 s . 6 i , and sent free 4 a y part of the United Kingdom os the receipt of a Post Offiee Order for 3 s . Sd . 4 MEDICAL WORK on tee INFIRMITIES of the 6 E JO . HERA . TIVE SYSTEJf , faz'both sexes ; being an en quiry into tiie concealed cause that destroys physicaeoergy , and the ability of manhood , ere vigojbr has estal bHshed her empire : —with Observations en the banefu-

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      net * s $ * ee of time , withoat eonfinentent to the least ea poeuce . The above medietae * ate ted qb % by Henri . R usi L . PHRRY and Co ., Surgeoni . M , BenMrwfcwt , QsfenUttreet , Louden . Mutr * . FBRR T expect , tihtn oonsvHMh ymtr , ( to usual fee One Pound , wttftwt which newtraj ttwtfcter cm be tofcew * e eewwwmiwttoiv . Patients are requested to be as aumntsas . potsiblMn he detail ef their cases , as . . to thedarationtf-tfu comhunt , the Sfmptems , age , habits of fwing ^ nd general eeupatiou . Medicines can be forwarded : to » M & part U he werid ; no difficulty can occur , as t & ej will bo securely a « k « d , and corefully- protectecl from « WrvattoH .

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      CKJUr ! UOUTM GOUTJI ! "Btc Kea ^ pee ^ ietPatoKted 3 Tedichief * r < 3 e < it , tP * 1 cmised & y «« FacHUp . Kobility , and Gentry , ubc .

      Ad00213

      PM 'DOUGlKLL'S DROPS FOR GOUT . Rheuma-• - tism , Sciatica , Tic Dolorous , Lumbago , aud all painful Affections of the Joints . The unparalleled local reputation attained by these drops , during the time they have been beforerthe " public ( now upwards of eight years ) , has induced the proprietor earnestly to recommend them to the " attention el ^ hose persons who are labouring under the naitiful . effects , of the above-mentioned distressing complaints . Authority has been given by upwards of 300 persons , residing within a mile of the proprietors resi . rience , to use theirianies . aj vouchers of the extraordinary effects and wov .-Jerful efficacy of these drops , which effectually relievu , in the course of a few hours , tlieuiOStex . uerae coses . About-so . coo bottles have been sold , without a siugle instance of iailure having occurred .

      Ad00214

      SPINAL AFFECTIONS . THE tDISCOTERER OF THIS INrALUABlE SPECIFIC has , after great study and long practice , proced by facts that this fc the only efficient remedy for all Spinal Diseases ever yet discovered . The following are a few testimonials out of the many hundreds which might be aSduced : — I . John Barber , of Adlington , had lost the use of my limbs for the-space of eighteen months . By the use often pots I was enabled to walk well , and by persevering in the use of ten . more I was perfectly cured , and am nowable tO follfllV my employment . —Signed , John Barber , Adlington , near Macclesfield , Cheshire , September 19 th , 1816 . to mb n . tioe . Bear Sir , —J . eannot refrain expressing my gratitude for the perfect cnceil have received by the use of vour ointment . I was aflUcted for eighteen wonths , and had lost the use of my limbs . By using ten vats of your invaluble ointment I waS ( perfectly restored , and am now in the full enjoyment . of ; goed health . — Richard Jenkinson , New Mill , near Hialdersfield , Yorkshire , January 2 Gth , liS 17 .

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      TflE POPULAR MEDICINE . The following important testimony to the efficaCT . of PARR'S IME PILLS haBJuat & eenreceiveibj tbe Proprietors .

      The Late Awful Coal-P1t Explosion.

      THE LATE AWFUL COAL-P 1 T EXPLOSION .

      Wega*E In Our Last Number Tibet Turns Ou...

      Wega * e in our last number Tibet turns out to have been a very incorr ect account of the dreadful coal-pit explosion near Wigtn . Byoyersight it was not mentioned that that report was taken from the Mmzhattr Guardian , a p a p er aot t o o scru p ulous as reeards the truth when putsurag rts _ natural avocation of sheltering the masterclass from blame and punishment . We take the follewing account of this frighftul catastrophe from tbe Manchester Times of Friday , July-2 arL Thelihw htm Times commences its-report by saying :: —

      So'far as tho circumstances hawbeen elicited they are calculated to excite astonishment as well as horror , at the circumstance that any human beings should have been allowed to proceed with thoipwork hourly exposed to-such an awful catastrophe as that whiuhihas now overtaken'them . Xhe facts of tbe case are these . At'the . colliery in question , called Kirkless Hall tColliery , there are two shafts opening . into a considerable vein of-coat at about 266 yards depth , called p its No . 1 Mid No . 5 , and situated at a distance of-only , about 30 or 40 yards from each other . -The sinking of the shafts , as we understand , was completed . only about nine imonltis or a . year ago , and the workings are consequently all of them very vecentones . ( In . pit No . 1 , where -tiie . accident has

      oclOurred , the workings are divided irrto two . main -sections by . adrift way or road of considerable width , right and . leftfrom the bottom of the shaft , and extending to the diitance of .- € 80 . or 900 yards , ilu itfwse workings , at various points , a large number . of men were engaged on [ Tuesday , when a . eollitr named lilursi , employed in , getting « oalatthe < fai & he 8 t wnrking in theright-bandsection ( which does not extend near so far as the left-hand section , and who was not above two hundred and fifty yards from the sbafy . set fire to the mine . under the following circumstances . It appears that tbe . oe & liers in this pit ace allowed—or si , least if they are not " allowed , " properly speaking , by the masters , thepractice has been winked at by the overlookers and underlookers—to 6 re shots , or " blast tbe coal / ' in the manner adopted in

      stone quarries , and by tho sinkers of coalpits when they comeia contact with rocks . The process it one of using gunpowder and exploding it , thereby large frag , meats of rock or . coal-can be detached from tbe seam , and brought down wholesale , saving an immense amount of labour and time to the workmen , who would otherwise have to hew itdown by means of " picks ; " but in coalmines , so liable to accumulations of explosive gases , it will strike tbe mind of the most uninformed person in such matters that it is a dangerous practice . And wbat renders the practice more extraordinary , as brought to light through tbe present accident is , that in this minn , though a large number of persons were scattered about at great distances from each other , but in places connected by means of open passages , where all were ex .

      nosed to more or less common danger , these " shots" or "blasts" were fired without any intimation biing conveyed from party to party , so that they might be prepared in case of explosion to escape . On the contrary , it was no uncommon thing for the miners , after setting fire to the gas accumulated in their localities by resorting to this system of "blasting , " to struggle with it , and attempt to master it , by smothering it up , or walling it in , without evtn then communicating any alarm to their fellow-workmen . Hitherto they had hy such means succeeded in preventing the spread of these fires to such an extent as to cause wbat is called an explosion , though they must frequently have run the risk of such a c * astropbe . The fire in these workings on Tacsday murine had its commencement exactly in this manner ^^ i } , .

      Hurst and his companions had set fire to sooi 04 j > as accumulated behind the coal they had dislodged f -aadttiav , attempted to extinguish it themselves , as it bMflippbsc'd ; then they went for assistance to some of thorotkift-handii , and as a last resource to cut it off fromtheteair part of the mine an attempt was made to builS . walls up across the workings or roads , so as ; : chokeinrii ; but while these attempts were making , { be firoutot jsto eoimnuni cation with a more p ¦ werful body « nA > Ot air , and a fearful explosion succeeded . H < M-.- * mny were killed by this explosion it is not yet knownVstfut'Tho danger of those who happened to be in thoflMcttori it took may be ima gined , when it is stated that their position wcii .

      'dbesomothing like that of-partios { At ' cia in the ba / relofacannon during an c * ptosib ^ H «> dnnpo ' ltder in it . The result was , thatsomeo' >* it ?«^ fef s- ,, ' | d to wall up a portion of the \ torUin ^ : y ' ''^[ ' '<\ 'Vlhenisix of ( heir feliow workmen thus im ]> ns < HKp 2- ' ~ ! ' 't t )* r dead or alive is not known , though it-.:. <• , ¦ ¦ the ? ? i'd ^ htthere could be no possibility of their fci' . ' i : 1 ; ' r' ' 7 . M -aMd to ' muke iheir own escape , as they best i-frttf j ' , 1 aese man , upwards of twenty in number , more or ifS ?\ ii .-nt , escaped to tbe top of the shaft , or pit , carryi ^ irith them the lifeless body of one of their companion '( that » f J » hn Cartwright ) , and John Berry , who was ' sTv ^ aiSV ' bunit : Uathe died the following day , —the Vtmslmrlg six are still shut up in the mine )

      T .: e iolhTi ' mg will be found to be a more complete list © f tbefWUvd and wounded than previously given , and will serve rV ' correct some inaccuracies : — List op Persons still in the Mine — supposed to be Dead . —Joshua Penman , John Harding , Robert Saltbouse , or Southern , James Hurst ( the man who fired the mine ) , William Daintry , a boy , and James Harding . List of Minebs Bobht , and who have Died . —John Car twright , brought oat of the pit dead ; John Berry , rged 82 , brought out of the pit alive , but who died on the following day ; John Rhodes , died on Thursday , leaving a widow and five children . List op Persons hose or less Burnt—some vert SEVCTELT—BOX WHO JIBE YET ALIVE . — John HokrOft John Bolton , James Naylor , a boy , Robert Wilkinson Joseph Wilkinson , George Evans , Samuel Evans , a boy Henry Horsham , John Riely , Ely Monks , William Jackson , Richard Curry , James Belshaw , John Mills , Thos . Lsvison , Samuel Simpkins , John Webster , and Whittle .

      THE INQUEST . An inquest was held on Thursday on tbe body of John Berry , who resided at New Springs , Aspul Moor . The inquisition was taken by Mr W . S . Rutter , county coroner , at the Running Horses public-bouse . Mr Roberts , solicitor , and commonly known by the title of "the colliers' attorney-general , " appeared at the inquest as the representative , we presume , of the colliers' union . The following evidence was given : — Edward Hayes , of Scholes , Wignn ( a colliery boy ) , said he was employed in the pit , which was near to Springbridge , township of Ince . It was Messrs Lancaster's pit . The explosion took place about ten minutes to one o ' clock on Tuesday , just as I had come up out of the pit , and reached the brow . I came up because the pit

      was then on fire at the far end of the workings , and I saw there would be danger . I worked at the secondeyc , not at the far end , but I had been to take them two waggon loads-of stuff to put out the fire . Could not say how long the £ se had been burning at tbe time . I had been going aboct a good deal , and whilst doing so the time would knock on . A yeung man ( Hurst ) had been to the pit eye ( where I was , having taken a tub of coal ) , and said he had fined his shot , and the coal bad taken fire , and he could mot get the fire out , I cannot say . what o ' clock it was whether twelve o ' clock or earlier , I had two matters , that I drew for , one was Jno . Harding , and

      tbe other his ofusin . They had been driven to that place by the fire . 1 have seen none of the men since who were with him . -When we had been told of the fire Harding and I caoe to the pit eye , he with a full tub and I with an empty . one . " Well , "he laid pulling off his jacket , " we must go and help them to get the fire out , " and when we had getten to the second landing , where 5 . had met with Hardicg , we foundGeorge Evans , the un-( krlooker , who said he wanted two tubs full of bricks as . saati as he could get then , ano . we got tu « m for trim- — ¦ tbe bricks being found between the first and second land . ing . We then took the brisks to the other landing , fur . thoron ( the third ) .

      QJhe Coroner ( to Mr Johc Lancaster ) : What do you call a landing !—Mr Lancaster : A turn table , where the workings meet at right anglae , to turn carriages round upon , so as to move them in aswther direction . Witness : When we got to the third landing we opened tiie door , and took one tab into the part of the workings . where the fire was ; the fgee was at about thirty yards * distance , and we emptied the tubs , and there being anottwr tub emptied by another man , George , the underJooker , said he wanted them out of the way to make mora room far the current of . sir ; eo I pulled one out of the pit . He said , " What ' s the use of going out V and that he would not go till the fire was out . I was afraid to remain , and that made me wish to go , seeing the fin so big . Z then went out , and bad been in the cabin at the top of the pit about twenty minutes when the explosion took place . There are now several persons in the mine , for anything I know : I have never heard anything of them since . The Coroner : Where U Hurst ?

      lir Lancaster : He is tbe man who set fire to the place , and it supposed to be still iu the mine . ' The Coroner ; But George , —where ii ha {—Lie is badly burnt . Mr Roberts : What , trere you afraid ?—I was afraid ot the sulphur . —Was there much sulphur In the pit at tb * time!—Not that I know of . —Did you work with rafety lamps '—Yes . —Why work with safety lamps if there was no sulphur!—Because we tbovghtbaply theremig'ht bo some . I never knew of any sulphur taking fire in that pit before : cannot say whether there has or ha ; not been an explosion there before . The Coroner asked if tbe man who fired tbe shot was ih attendance ! Mr Lancaster explained , that he had never been found since , having been left in the mine .

      Peter Britton called : I am a hooker-on at tbe fur nace-place of No . 2 pit , and was there at the time of the explosion . The fire was not above 200 or 300 yards ft om i here . I heard of the coal taking fire about half-past eleven o ' clock in the morning . The man who had fired the thotcame there and said , " Where ' s the fireman ?" I said ' ,- " I don ' t know—what ' s amiss ? " He said "My place i * on fire . " I went up with him quick , and found all the place on fire , but the coal was not on fire . I then sent for the fireman , Geo . Evans , and he came and brought a number of other men . I went with them and to

      we beg'an build and atop up the place with bricks , that w < f might smother it out . I went down to get them a few more bricks , and in backing them up George said , " We shall rant some good clay to fasten up crevices . " We bad some at the shaft , which only wanted softening , and I went for it . It was betwwn the two pits ( 220 yards' distance from tbe fire ) , and the explosion took place while I was there . [ The pits are 30 or 40 yards asunder . ] I had been where the clay w . 's lying about two minutes , wbec » be explosion took nlact . I . Ott t kBOff dure it fired , I kucw * , fcW 8 „ d . J . *

      Wega*E In Our Last Number Tibet Turns Ou...

      Berry , and he was helping me to build up the stopping I have mentioned . There were about three-men , I think , there with the deceased . One was Samuel Evans ( brother toitheunderlooker ) , and Robert Southern , who is notfqunoSyet . I was not aware of any sulphur being in the mine : I had seenrno signs of any , By Mr Roberts : I do not'know the time , < but I staid toiielpthem . get all the hands out . When I say that tbe coal waa > not on fire , I-suppose it to have been tbe sulphur that was burning . The men have -never complained , that ' . Iiknow of , inconsequence of the foul state of the air , 'They loft the pit-one day , as soon as we had opened it nearly , in couaequsacc foul air . The pit has been open mina months . -There was only four men left working then . I cannot tell the distance 'between the up . cnstanditha down-cast-shofts . The Coroner- It is said between 30 and ^ O yards .

      By MriRobtrts : Have nny . ettempts . been "made to get the other men *> ut since ? No , aad I don ' t < knoir who would -venture"to make it . —iHave not several « nen asked leave , and been refused f Wot that J know of . The Coroner- How did you get out deceased 1 Why we « awhimijuctas we were leaving , and die was nearly exhausted . -We carried bim-skty yards about , through tbe sulphur . > Ee was a little on this side the place we had walled up . ( By Mr , Roberts : I have neper told any one I could have got more . colliers out if I had hud proper tackle . Southern wasinear to Berry when I left hinvand I asked him to go with > me , but he would not . I do not kno * whether he may ba alive . I do not know whether any of the others in the pit may be alive ! Tho Coroner : i & ould tbernotfcaye walked out ; if alive , like the others ? MrStoberts : They are bricked up ! Witness * . Tbey ace bricked up .

      MrEobsrts ,: They are bricked up — they are murdered ^ Mr . ffefan Lancaster ; Tbe fact is I was there till we were nearly all chofced , and I knew no one could live were those men were , and so we bricked up the place for the safety of the others . Mr'Roberts : You ought to have them out by now , either fiead or alive . I hope to God that an officer from governmesH will be down here by to-morrow , to investigate the matter . These men might , or may be alive , and are out off from all escape ! Do you not know that you are liable to indictment for what you bare done ! [ Mr Lancaster here pointed out at the request of the coroner , on » plan-f the mine which he had brought , the position of the passages in the mine which had been blocked up . ]

      George Gough was next called . He said : I was in the mine on Tuesday , when this happened , at my place of work , which is about 200 yards from the bottom of the shaft . I was putting my clothes on there , when the explosion occurred . The first notice I had of it was a little stoppage , or sucking of the air , and the next thing 1 felt was a gust ef wind coming , with cobbles of coali and dirt against my head . I then made tbe best of my way to the pit shaft , and came . out . I did not know where the mine had exploded , but I did know it bad " fired " some time before , and in consequence of the smoke caused by that fire I had left off work three quarters of an hour before . I bad not seen the fire , and there was none where I worked . Iworked with a safety lamp . By Mr Roberts : Why did you work with a lamp f Lamps had been regularly used there , and it was given to me when I went to the mine .

      By the Coroner ; I did not senrch for any of the men , i was too ill and exhausted witb walking through the -moke to do so . 07 Mr Roberts : Is the place on fire ' now ? I cannot iiy .- -Have you ever known of any fires in that pit before ! V « b , 'hire has been several little flashes up , when firing sbots :--Sometimes , I suppose , there is no explosion when these " flashes up , " as you call them , occur t No . —And ' at other times they catch the sulphur , and then there ' is f Yes , The Coroner : What is the necessity for firing these shots ! Mr Lancaster : It is an easier way for the men of getting the coal . Mr Roberts : It is easier for the men and easier for the masters also—no doubt of it , sir . The Coroner : But it is not common to do it in coal mines f

      Mr Lancaster : It is common to do it here ; but it is not desirable , because it shatters the coal and renders it less marketable . Mr Roberts ( to the witness ) : Do you think the cage going down the up-enst shaft would render the ventilation loss perfect , and make such an accident more likely to occur ? It would interrupt the passage of nir to some we ent , perhaps . —Do you know if any colliers have atked leave to go down this pit since it was closed up ts recover these poor men who are buried in it , and have bien refused ? Not that I know of . The Coroner ; Durst you go down ? I should not like . " - > ¦ Mr Roberts : Why , what danger is there with year safety lamps ! Tfce lamps , I think , are not always safe when there is a fire . —Bo you think there is a sufficient current of air through the workings to prevent explosions , with care ! I think there has been aforetime but not in such weatheras this .

      William Whittle , sworn : I worked in this mine till Tuesday last , in the first drift of the second level . Recollect the explosion . Nearly an hour before it took place the firemen came for our spades that they mijiht use them in putting out the fire . He said there was a place fired , but he did not say the coal was on fire . It did not alarm me , and I kept at work till I felt the wind . I did not hear it . [ Mr Lancaster explained that the witness tvns working further up the workings than where the fire took place , but in another section ] I and my fellow-workmen then went out . We found no difficulty i nly from the after-damp , or choke-damp , to avoid whieh we laid down awhile . We had used gunpowder in our part of the mine last week , I cannot say whit others did .

      By Mr Roberts : I do not know that we ever played more than part of one Saturday in consequence of sulphur , I har « heard the men say the cage being let down the up-cast shait would be a little injury to the draft . I do not know that twenty men have offered to go down the shaft since tbe accident , and help those out who are in . I should not like to venture down , Mr Lancaster : I can assure you , Mr Roberts , we have not hnd one application . Mr Roberts : Tou may not have heard of it , but I can assure you that at least a dozen colliers have made the application . I could have them down to-night , if you will allow it . Mr Lancaster : Well , we should be very glad of any assistance to help our own men . The Coroner asked if any witness ceuld be had to speak to the explosion , Mr Lancaster said he thought not . Tbe Coroner : Are you prepared to be examined !

      Mr Lancaster said he was willing to give evidence , Vut would rather postpone it till he bad had an opportunity of going into the pit again , when he could discover the place where the firing took place , and probably give a more correct account of its cause . George Evans , he understood , who was getting better , would also ou a future day be able , probably , to give evidence , and tell the exact cause of the accident , Mr Roberts thought it would be best then to adjourn . The Coroner thought so too * Subsequently , at the request of Mr Lancaster , another collier , who was working in another part of the mine when the accident occurred , was briefly examined , the object of tbe examination being to show , as he ob . served , that the fire was only local , and confined to one part of the mine and his evidence tended to prove that it was so .

      The inquest was then adjourned till Thuwday , July 8 th . Here ends the report from the Manchester Times . Should the report of the adjourned inquest reach us in time to appear in our second edition of this day ' s Stab , it sh a ll be given ; if not , we shall continue this frightful narrative in our next . We subjoin a copy of an important PETITION FROM THE COLLIERS AT WIGAN , LANCASHIRE , RESPECTING THE EXPLOSION AT KIRKLESS HALL COLLIERY . To the Honourable the House of Commons of Great Britain and Ireland iu Parliament assembled , The Humble Petition of the undersigned Colliers , working in the collieries , near Wlgan , in Laneashire , and other places in tho neighbourhood of the Kirkless Hall Colliery , ( Signed . July 3 rd , 1817 ) Humbly Sheweth , —

      That your petitioners have heard with sorrow and dismay that your Honourable House has postponed till the next Session of Parliament , the appointment of in . specters for the preventing deaths and accidents in collieries . Your petitioners respectfully crave leave to tell your Honourable House , that as the collieries are now managed , it is almost a certainty that many lives may be sacrificed before the next Session of Parliament , which might be saved if your Honourable House would interfere in behalf of your petitioners .

      Your petitioners inform your Honourable House , that the cause of the late explosion at Kirkless Hull Colliery was , that the colliers , with the knowledge of tbe master and the underlooker , were in the habit of using gun . powder for getting ( he coal , although it was known that the pit continually made sulphur , arid the men were therefore obliged to use lamps instead of candles , On tho blast being fired , it set fire to the sulphur , and then tbe coals were set on fire , and , a quantity of gas that bud been accumulated in another part of the pit , was blown upon the fire , and there was an explosion .

      . And further , your petitioners inform your Honourable ILouse , that the Kirkless Hall Colliery was not properly ventilated , and that if it had been tbe sulphur would have i > een carried away as fast as it was made ; and that there wW but one downcast shaft and one upcast , and that the M from tbe downcast was divided into six parts , to * ventilate different parts of the mine , instead of til going togetber , as ii ought to do , through the whole of tut workings , »^ tbe * therefore the part Where the explosion was ha ; *> one-sixth p „ rt 0 r thereabout of the air from the sh « ft > wMch was only about tin feet in diameter ; and , mo \ 'eorcr , that a cage was continually travelling up and dow . ' > the upcast shaft , thereby forcine back tbe foul air Into tl > works ; and for the truth of this statement your petii . ' oncrs humbly refer your Hon ourable House to the evidsm / c taken at the inquost be . ' tore the county coroneron Thu'wday last . '

      , Your petitioners are well awourfhat it will be said by the masters , and those who wish to prevent inquiry , that the oolliers need not use gunpowder , , > nd that it \» their own fault if tkey do ; anu that they &» ' * " » toeo ( old sot

      Wega*E In Our Last Number Tibet Turns Ou...

      to use It , and that their masters cannot P" « nt J *« J using it ; hut then , unfortunately for your petitioners , so it is that coal isgotten more cheaply by using gunpowder , and all parties , men , masters , and undcrlookers , have an intmst in getting as much coal as tbey con to bank . And If . one master weve to enforce the prohibition ofguupovrder , he wouldbe « t a disadvantage with other masters , who did not eaforce ^ he prohibition ; and tbe same argumeat holds good-with the men . And , therefore , it is that whatever is-said against using gunpowder , it is still continued to housed , and witb the knowledge of their matters and their agents . __ __ - * .. <«

      tfour petitioners-inform your Honourable House that ot . tbe inquest on TJwrsday , on sis « r seven of the bodies , thoraaster oftbe . pit , Mr Lancaster , said , that he could deno more than he had done to prevent the using of eunpowder , for that the men would use it , and he could not . hinder them ; for that , if he did hinder them , they woUld allg We overworking . And your petitioners , therefor * , fenr that , though gunpowder may not be used for a time , jet it will be resumed again before very long . Aad , moreover , that in other pits in the neighbourhood , where there is sulphur , gunpowder is censtantly used Honourable

      And with regard to what was said in your House about the power of tbe magistrates to interfere , your petitioners inform your Honourable House hat whether the , have po »« or not , it will be of very little use to your petitioners ; for that in aca «» of wages on Friday last ( yesterday ) at Wigan , it transpired that gunpowder was in use in the pit , and that there was sulphur there ond when the attention of the mag istrates was directed to this , they said that tbey could do nothing , and that the men had been repeatedly cautioned . Your petitioners pledge themselves to your Honourable House that if they are allowed tbe opportunity , they will prove ( aud they undertake to pay all the expenses by „ subscription among themselves ) , that all the recent deaths and ascidents would have been prevented , i ( there

      had been inspectors to make general rules for internment of collieries . The explosion ot Barnsley , in Yorkshire in March last , by which more than seventy lives were lost , was in consequence of the men working with candles , instead of lamps , close to old workings which were well known to be full of sulphur ; and your Honourable House will see that this was so , by referring to the report on the accident and inquest , published by the desire of your Honourable House . At Saint Helen's , in the neighbourhood of your petitioners , there was an explosion and severaldeaths , from the men breaking , in the course of their work , into old workings , from whence there was « rush of sulphur to a candle , which caused an explosion . And since the last explosion at Kirkless Hall Colliery , there have been three other explosions close by , and two colliers are now lying like to die from them .

      Your Honourable House bas no knowledge how constant these explosions are , for tbe newspapers do not speak of them , unless there are a great many colliers killed at once . Your petitioners submit most respectfully that , to say that some of them are careless , is no answer to tbe case of this , their petition ; for it is not only the careless who suffer , but all who happen to be iu the pit at the time . Labouring men , not brought up as colliers , are frequently employed , and young boys ; and , besides , some men are naturally reckless . But all in the pit are alike subject to the danger , although only one may have been guilty of neglect or ignorance . Your petitioners humbly implore your Honourable House to grant them some protection . It has been said that your petitioners do not care about tb « se things—but the iruth is hot so . And this petition , signed in less than an hour , is a proof that tbey feel tbe necessity for appealing to your Honourable House .

      Your petitiosers take leave to remind your Honourable House that the explosion at Haswell ' s colliery on the 28 ; h of September , 1844 , by which nearly 100 colliers were killed , was brought under your notice at the time , and commissioners appointed , and a report made ; and that then it was said that the government had taken the matter into their serious consideration , and that some general measure would be passed ; and since then in reply to letters , and whenever & targe number of colliers have been killed during the sitting of parliament , the same promise has been repeated . But still nothing has been done ; the old plans have been continued , aud many scores of lives have been lost . Your petitioners humbly submit that the usual observation , that no harm will occur from a delay of a few weeks , docs not apply to their case , for almost every day some accident is occurring .

      Your petitioners are anxious not to appear intrusive to your Honourable House , and they admit with sorrow that the time of the present session may be too short to allow of the passing of any large measure of protection . But still they venture to implore your Honourable House not to separate without passing some short act to last for a limited time ; or , until a more complete law could be passed , rendering it highly ' penal to suffer the use of candles or gunpowder in collieries , where it was known or suspected that there is sulphur . Your petitioners humbly submit that there could be no fair objection to a law , that the Secretary of State might require the owners of collieries to send him an

      account of tbe state of such collieries with regard to sulphur , and the mode iu which they were worked , and therefore to direct the same to be inspected and reported upon , and afterwards to give orders for tbe alteration of any mode of working or circumstances that appeared to endanger life . And j our petitioners , with even more confidence , submit that there could not be any fair objection to a law doing away with the use ofcandh'S orgunpowder where , there was sulphur cither known or suspected ; and inflicting high penalties , and making it an infamous crime in the owners and agents where such use was allowed , and an infamous crime also in the men who used candles or gunpowdtr at any time when warned not to do so .

      Your petitioners hare no desire to screen the working colliers from punishment , but they venture to submit that the guilt of permitting the continuance of any practice dangerous to life is much greater in the masters than in the men , Your petitioners firmly , believe that such a law , however imperfect as a government measure , would save more than 100 lives in six months . Had such a law been in existencejEixJmonths ago , at least 150 lives would have been saved . Such a law would not take long to prepare and pass , and it would claim and obtain the lasting gratitude of your petitioners . And your petitioners , as in duty bound , will ever pray , July 3 rd 1847 .

      ANOTHER COAL-PIT EXPLOSION . On Thursday , July 1 st , an explosion took place in a pit belonging to A . T . llaliburton , Esq ., adjoining the North Union Railway , in Wi ga n , known as t ho No . 2 pit . At the time of the explosion taking place , four men were in the pit , engaged in sinking lower down to a bed of coal called the Arley Mine . I t a p pears the men , on account of the quantity oi damp in the pit , carried on th e ir works wi t hou t th e u s e of li g hts ; and , in blas t in g , came to the top of t he shaf t a nd fir e d t he tr a in , by a process called " ringing it , " each explosion of which caused the damp also to be fired . A shot was laid on Tuesday

      l a st ; and i t would seem , from some part of the train being imperfect , the main body of powder was not i g ni t ed , the damp alone being fired with part of the train . The men , on Thursda y mornin g , were at work with the boring-rods again , and , at the explosion , it is supposed they were boring through the powder laid on Tuesday , from the friction of which the powder was fired , and the explosion produced . It i a also su p p o s e d , in the blowing up of the recks , the damp would also be fired . Two men , named Winstanley and . Morgan , were taken out very seriously injured , with , it is fear e d , very little hopes of their recovery ; but the other two , who were at the time behind a tub of water , escaped a p parentl y unhurt .

      Dbgkadiko Exroscre Op Pnisoners Before T...

      DbGKADIKO ExrOSCRE OP PniSONERS before Trial . —We cannot refrain from an expression of our feelin g s which were indi gnantl y exci t ed on Tu e sda y morning last , by the utter want of all moral feeling and such coraon decency aa all ranks of society , in the improved age in which we live , most properly indul ge in and cherish . As Englishmen , we blushed for our country , to see , in the streets of Winchester , six countrymen of exceedingly decent appearance , hand-cuffed and heavily chained together , and surrounded by policemen enough to eat them , if the y had been fricaseed in the last New Zealand fashion . We conciuded , of course , they were all murderers , or hi g hwa y m e n , or burglars , and on their wav to

      the hulks , after cenviction ; instead of which , we found they had not even been tried , but wer on their way for such ordeal from the gaol to the County Hall , and their offences , wirin g a hare , destroying partridges' eggs , neglecting to provide for an illegitim at e child , aud rebellion in a workhouse , or such other minor offences as the magnates of the land ( county magistrates ) adjudicate upon . We denounce this improper and disgraceful exposure of men , who may in a tew minutes after be found to be innocent , and insist that the Visiting Justices ought to have had them conveyed in a covered vehicle . The G eorge Inn would hare f o und a bu s s gladly at six . pence per head ; and the county-rate is not yet so

      ruined but that it might have borne the expense . — Hampshire Telegraph , Watbbi . 00 . —A drive of about two hours on the high road to Namur and Liege will bring the excursionist to this field of slaughter . The distance is ten miles . A carriage with two horses , to go and return will cost about 20 fr . A vigilante ( cab ) may be hived lor about one-half , there and back . About two miles tram Brussels tiie road passes through the forest of boigmcs , a gloomy track of woodland , nine miles long a nd seven and a half broad . On the outskirts ol the forest is the little Tillage of Waterloo , whence the principal portions of the plain will bo found about two miles distant . May no " citizen of the world » set

      foot on this sadly memorabld plain without -iTi rf ? ectl , S that " seventy tii'ivwanu men were slaughtered on the field of Waterloo . ' " And may no one return from it without a firm resole to do something towards the prevention of war , and : he promotion ofthat feeling which recognises the perlect brotherhood of tho great family of nations ! - hraekland s Continential Guide . Sir William Burnett ' s process for the preservation ot timber from dry rot has been extended to surgical pur p oses , ennabling dissecting operations to be carried on in tbe hottest weather without injury to health or danger of losing life . The fluid , chloride of zinc , constituting his process , has no effect wpon t iJekwm

      /Ir ^ *... ^^.*^^ - *.^.^^^ Correspondence*

      / ir ^ * ... ^^ . *^^ - * . ^ . ^^^ Correspondence *

      What 13 An "Eqrjivalejft !" To Tub Idito...

      WHAT 13 AN " EQrjIVALEJfT !" TO TUB IDITOB or TBB KOltTHEBH STAI . Deak Sib , — " At length , and at last , " the grand problem is solved as to what really is an " equivalent , " " It is , " sajs Lord Holland , " in acts not words , to rob the public of the right of way ; and to restore to them one of which they have been robbed some time ago : that is an equivalent ; " ay , and a pretty equivalent it is too , about as pretty a one as the " equivaleat " of the pedlar iu the Winter ' s Tali , who makes a man » present of his own motmy . How would Lord Holland like to be robbed , this year , of one-half of Holland Park , and nexfyear , to be told by those who had stolen such half , that they had taken a fancy to the other half , but would give him an " equivalent" for the tame , in

      the shape ot the hal ( already stolen ? ( Vould he coniidet it an " equivalent I" and if he did not , ( and ho could not ) how , in the name of common sense and outraged feelings , can he think , that the public will , ever consider his "New (?) footway" through Holland Park an " equivalent , " when it is nothing more than an old way of which they had been robbed , and is intended as a substitute for one of which they are to bs robbed I Olfiiig to the public thiir own is no " equivalent , "it is nothing more than an act of justice , and I reall y am surprised that tho son of 80 distinguished an advocate of public rights as the late Lord Holhind was allowed to be , should prove himself so ignorant of first principles an , in this ca « e , he has done . The late Lord Holland would not shut up the public footway before Holland House , though it was suggested ( as an aid to the Hip .

      podrome scheme , ) that he should do so ; and why ? because , as he said , tiie public valued it . Such respect for public feeling is above all praise ; but the respecter is no mora , and we are now to be robbed of one of the most convenient thoroughfares in Kensington , public feeling being no more considered than public conve . nience . It is not of tbe aristocracy tha t the people complain , but their acts—their most oppressive acts—and let but the present Lord Holland respect public feelingin this case as his father did , and he will find tha * those who honour bis father for such conduct will honour him . " All men have their feelings , brother , " as the late George Colman observed , and although Englishmen ( from the wrong they have suffered ) may be quick to censure , they are not slow to praise . Trusting that y .. u will give publicity to the above , I remain , Dear Sir .

      Yours , for respect for Public Rights , Tub Secbetabv or the Wnsr London Cbntiai Akti E . yctosuhE Association . —Marjlebone , July 6 th .

      The Leeds Election. To The Editoss Op Th...

      THE LEEDS ELECTION . TO THE EDITOSS OP THE HOITHlKlf STiB . Gentlemen , —From the announcement at the head of the leading articles in this day ' s Star , I anticipate a rich repast being laid before us in the forthcoming nam . ber ; I am therefore glad thut " A sincere Chartist" ol Holbeck has not imposed upon me a task requiring a multitude of words . Hts letter is no reply to wbat I advanced , yet it may require n remark or two : He alludes to my motive—that is on the head and front of my communication , I wish to see the same spirit evinced by the Chartists throughout the provinces ,

      aa wa g manifested , by the men of Wesiminsuv . I also deem it an act of consummate folly , on the part of the Chartists of Leeds , to sacrifice their energies in aid of tbe forlorn hope of a disjointed and almost defunct . fastion . Tbe tumult at the Black Bull , Woedhouse , the other evening , was the ou'pouring of "Whi ggery ' s eapiring agony , which I would rather increase than assuage . We are quite strong enough to fight our own battles ; but we should beware lest faction shears away our strength while we loll in its lap . The writer next thinks I am wrong . I allow him to think so . However , I think if we tbe Chartists abide by the piinciples which distinguish us from faction , we shall not find ourselves long wrong .

      Next , h « "thinks" I have " abused" Joseph Sturge hy alluding to the " Complete" humbug . I allow him to think so too . I recollect the Baines' clique gulling the people with unmeaning jargon about" full , free , and fair representation . " Many nibbled at the bait . At length wt got their definition of tbe " full free , and fair , representation , " in the shape of " the bill , the whole bill , and NOTHING but the bill . " The " full representation , " and the " complete suffrage , " are synonymous termegilded pills prescribed for gulls . " A sincere Chartist" says he heard J . Sturge say he would " vote for the Bailot . " Who are we to believe J Our reporter in the i'Utr of the 12 th ult . gives us these words : —' - " He was not friendly to vote by ballot , " s » e page 2 , col . G . Perhaps Joseph can harp ou two strings . We are told that it is the government scheme of education that bas driven Edward Baines to the support of Joseph Sturge . If that be the only reason I roust codfess that my mind is too obtuse to foresee any mighty effect result from such a tiny cause .

      There is nothing more in the letter calling for remark , save the exertions spoken of , as being made by Joseph , and lauded to the skies by the Editor of the Northern Star . The Editor of the Northern Star and I may differ is our opinions of Joseph Sturge as a politician , or we may agree in opinion . I don ' t ask that question . How . ever , I find the following crumbs of comfort for the Sturgeites in the Northern Star : — " Dr . Wade told us at Birmingham , that it was our principles , and not our name , that the Sturgeites dreaded . This is tho fact ; and gloss their deeds over as tbey may , that belief will never be disturbed from the mind £ of the Chartist body . " Sec leader in lVorttern Star , Aug 19 , 1843 .

      Another crumb : — " There needs no other argument than this one alone , to satisfy the mind of any unprejudiced man , who is not a fool , that the object of the Sturgemen has always been to perpetuate divisions when they ( ound them among the Universal Suffrage ranks , while many other portions of their conduct show equally their determined purpose , and the deep , dirty schemes resorted to for the creation of divisions , when they found union in those ranks . " Again , in the same leader , ( Jan . 14 , 1 S 43 , ) the Editor speaking of unity on the principle of Universal Suffrage , says : — . " This was the very thing the Sturgeites nsver wanted —the very thing they always dreaded ; hence the constant doctrine of Friend "NO , " that he did not wish tho Chartists to join him . " This is " lauding to the skies , " aint it t—Tours truly , July 3 , 1847 . Wihiam BiBiB .

      Misplaced Leniency. — A Man Named Les O ...

      Misplaced Leniency . — A man named Les o urd , who was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment for thett , appealed against the judgment . The President represented to him that he had been very leniently dealt with , since he had confessed the offence . "That leniency , " said the man , "is the very thing I complain of ; for as I am to be imprisoned from MUy 29 , 1 shall get out on Jan . 29 , which is an inclement season of the year that I do not like . Could you not , therefore , give me a few months more , to bring me into the spring ? " The Court rejected this prayer , and confirmed the formerjudgment ; bnt the prisoner gains something by his appeal in the way that ho desired , as it caused a delay of nearly two months , which will not count in the imprisonment on the first sentence . —Galignani .

      Pension to Mr Leiq h lluNT .-We last week adverted to the terms of the letter in which Lord John Russell had conveyed to Mr Hunt her MaiestyW-• f t £ urtoward 2 - T "e following is the letter itself . There are few who will not read it within terest and admiration : — "Downing-street , June 22 , 1847 . Sir , —I have much pleasure in informing you that the Queen has been pleased to direet , that in consideration of your distinguished literary talents , a ptaeion of tiro hundred pound * yearly should be settled u » ou you from the funds of the Civil List . " Allow me to add that the severe treatment yoafor * merly received , in times of unjust persecution of LiHerol writers , enhances the satisfaction with which I t » aie this announcement . " I have the honour to be , Sir , yourfaithful servant ,

      "Leigh Hunt , Esq . "J . Rdsseli . " " Unjust persecutions ot Liberal writers has now , it is to bo hoped , taken its place with other unjust persecutions ; and in such a letter as this we hare an excellent guarantee against its possible return . All writers , no matter wbat their opinion may be will know how to value such expressions from the ' foremost statesman of the time . — . Examiner . [ We are not quite so sure as the Examiner seems to be that there will be no more unjust persecution of " Liberal writers ! " Such p er s ecu t i o n h as , before now , been countenanced by Lord John Russell himself . As that may happen again , we think it well to place " his lordship ' s' letter on record ; it may be useful toreier to in days to come . —Ed . N . S . ]

      Royal Polytechnic Lvstitutio . v . —At a recent visit to this excellent establishment we observed a splendid engraving , " Head of Christ , " from a painting by Mty . This engraving , which appears quite original m style and execution , is e n g raved wi t h great vigour and freedom of hand , and is highly creditab . e to the talents of Mr Nass . There is no subserviency of copy , nor any preconception from the heads ol the Messiah , so repeatedly produced by the Italian and Spanish masters . It partakes of the human attributes , and is not idealiz . d , or rendered e ffeminate b y an attempt to refine ! It is engraved in a manner that preserves solidity , and b r in g s it nearer to the style of the painter and to the imitation of painting than heretofore has been met with . There is something original in the manner in which the engraver has produced this effect—it being certainly quite a novelty in art , and also a great improvement in portraits engraved from oil paintings .

      Dediliti And Conkibhed Astuha. — Extraor...

      Dediliti and conkibhed Astuha . — Extraordinary Cure by llollowny ' s Pills . —Extract of a letter from 3 . ' . "hompson , Esq ., proprietor of the "Armagh Gnitrdiau , ' Al ) l -il 17 , 1847 :- " To Professor llollowuy . - Sir ,-A serjca'Vt living iu this city , lately returned from the East Indies , . "aught a severe cold by the change from a tropical to a iuo . ' climate ; he became very ill , weak , and usthinnticai . * ' happy to say that he is not only quite' cured o . ' tbe asthma , but is also now so strong a »* rigorous that h . '« n run round the mall with any persoa in the city . This euro has beou efftcted entirely by usiue your wtuiwues , —fc . !< jucd ; J , ThowwvaJ

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), July 10, 1847, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_10071847/page/2/