Carlisle Patriot, 28 Jan 1826 - Local News (2)
petra.mi...@doctors.org.uk
Saturday 28 Jan 1826 (p. 2, col. 4 + 6 and p. 3, col. 1 + 6) [continued]
On Tuesday evening, a carrier who had been employed to bring a number of bags of cotton-wool from Sandsfield, for some of our manufacturers, carefully left his charge in the street, in the centre of Caldewgate, for the night. This was soon observed by a set of idle boys, who cut open one of the bags, took out a quantity of the cotton, and amused themselves by setting it on fire, and throwing it into people's shops and houses, all in a blaze! One person had the curiosity to weigh a portion which was thrown into his house, and it was upwards of a pound. It is doubtful which is most deserving of reprobation—the negligence of the carrier, or the wickedness of the boys. If the former had done his duty, the latter would not have met with the temptation.
On Monday, some boys were amusing themselves, in Caldewgate, by firing off an old pistol-barrel heavily charged with gunpowder and two or three slugs and stones, when it unfortunately burst. The boy who discharged the pistol escaped unhurt; but another who stood at some distance received one of the slugs in his abdomen. As the slug had not penetrated to any depth, it has been extracted, and the boy is recovering. We mention this as a caution to youths, or rather to parents, who frequently suffer their children to amuse themselves with such dangerous instruments—a practice very common in this city.
On Wednesday night, the mail-coach between this City and Manchester was upset just as it came out of Preston, by which accident several of the passengers were seriously hurt, but none lost their lives, as is currently reported. One Gentleman who was hurt came onwards to Carlisle, and is at the Bush Inn, in a disabled, though not dangerous, state.
The Carlisle hariers will meet, on Monday the 30th, at Wheelbarrow-hall; on Wednesday at High-Hesket; and on Friday at Mr. GIBSON's Cover—each morning at nine o'clock.
A Vestry Meeting was held at Penrith on Thursday afternoon, wherein it was determined to displace the present governor of the workhouse, and our paper, this week, contains an advertisement for another person qualified to fill that situation.—At this meeting, a gentleman brought forward a resolution to the effect, that no "report" of the proceedings should be made by any one—a resolution, the spirit of which we, as hungry news-hunters, must beg leave to protest; for if the example should become general, what should we newspaper folks do in these piping times of peace? Oh shocking! The best plan is, not to say any thing but what you may wish to see in print.
On Wednesday last, a grand coursing match took place on Knipe-Scar, near Lowther, to decide a wager which had been for some time pending between the gentlemen residing east of the Eden, and those on the west. A great many capital greyhounds were produced by both parties, and they afforded excellent sport; but victory was ultimately decided in favour of the west by three courses,—though the general opinion was, that they had the superiority by only one course. Nearly 80 horsemen and an immense concourse of pedestrians were assembled. There was abundance of hares; but as they ran with unusual velocity, there were only three killed. After the sports of the field, the company returned to Hackthorpe, where about thirty gentlemen sat down to an excellent dinner provided by Mr. SLEE, of the Lowther Castle Inn. The wine and song went round, and the evening was spent with the greatest hilarity and good fellowship.
On Tuesday evening, the 17th inst. about eight o'clock, one of those terrible calamities by the explosion of fire damp, of late so frequent in the collieries of this neighbourhood, took place at Jarrow Colliery, near South Shields, in the County of Durham, belonging to Thomas and Robt. BROWN, Esqrs. of London, by which 34 men and boys were killed, and some others who were at work with them much burnt. Forty-five horses and two asses were also killed in the mine. The explosion took place in the Bensham pit, recently sunk to the lowest seam, and the cause will probably remain for ever unknown, as none are saved who were in the place where the blast originated. It appeared on the inquest, held by Michael HALL, Esq. the coroner, on the body of Richard BELL, one of the sufferers, that the overmen and deputies had inspected all the workings in the morning of the day on which the accident occurred, and the wastemen had gone through the waste. There was no appearance of danger; but, on the contrary, the pit seemed well ventilated, and in a perfectly safe state. About two-thirds of the sufferers were boys; some of the men have left families, and it is impossible to describe the distress this melancholy event has caused. The number down the pit at the time is stated at 48.
Three or four persons have been apprehended on suspicion of being concerned in the atrocious murder of Joseph HEDLEY, near Hexham, which we mentioned in our last. They have been since discharged, however, nothing appearing on their examination to justify their detention. A proclamation has been issued from the Secretary of State's office, offering a pardon to all but the murderer.
At the close of the late frost the ice upon Derwent Lake, Keswick, was upwards of seven inches in thickness, yet notwithstanding this massy covering some fishermen were so anxious to possess a portion of the finny tribe below, that they cut holes in it through which they introduced their lines, and were rewarded with a plentiful take of Perch!—The Lake was often literally covered with skaters and other [sic] amusing themselves upon the ice; and amongst the number, says our Correspondent, we noticed Mr. Thomas MARTIN, writing-master, Keswick, sliding along with his pike-stick with all the alacrity of youth, although he is at present in the eighty-eighth year of his age!—Pacq.
As an instance of the intensity of the frost on Sunday night week, in a house near North Shields, the glass of several bottles of ale was broken and flew off, and the ale remained entire in a congealed state!
Two dead bodies have been recently intercepted at Newcastle, on their way to Edinburgh surgeons, and were interred.
P. J. SELBY, Esq. has presented the Rev. M. DODD to the rectory of Ingram, Northumberland, vacant by the death of the Rev. Lancelot ION, A. M.
We are sorry to state, that there is too much reason to apprehend the loss of the new vessel lately launched at our Canal Basin, "The City," Francis SCOTT, master, on her first voyage. She sailed from Dublin, with barley, on the 21st ult., bound to Glasgow, and has not since been heard of; she therefore most probably foundered at sea, in one of the gales which prevailed at the latter end of December, and all on board must have found a watery grave. The hands consisted of F. SCOTT, master, — DIXON, mate, and Geo. FERGUSON, of Annan; John RICHMOND, of Maryport; James M'GREGOR, apprentice from Annan.
The Linnet, DANIEL, which struck upon Robin-Rig sand-bank, off Bankfoot, Solway Firth, on the 10th of Nov. and upset, laden with oak timber—was seen on the 23d inst. by the crew of the Bee. According to their report, she is not more than eleven feet of water at half-flood—she is still on Robin-Rig. The William and Nancy has also fallen in with her, and succeeded in getting some of her materials. On Wednesday, Messrs. PEAT and Co., of Maryport, the owners, sent a boat to her to sink a boy [sic] on the spot, preparatory to making an attempt to sweep her nearer shore. At low tide, she is not covered by more than six feet of water.