PART II. CHRONICLE OF REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES IN 1863. JANUARY. 1. ACCIDENT TO THE PRINCESS ALICE.-AS Her Royal Highness the Princess Alice, accompanied by the Hon. Mrs. Bruce, was passing in a phaeton through Broadlands, a suburb of Newport, Isle of Wight, the phaeton came in contact with a cart and was completely overturned. Princess Alice escaped with slight bruises on her left arm, and Mrs. Bruce with scratches on the hands. They returned to Osborne in the course of an hour, and were both quite well next day. 3. DESTRUCTION OF THE SUNNYSIDE WORKS, SALFORD.-At midnight, a fire broke out in the bleaching and finishing works of Mr. Henry Statham, late Messrs. Thorpe and Statham, Sunnyside Works, Ordsal-lane, Salford. These works are very extensive; they comprise a four-story mill, measuring in length about 180 feet, and two-story finishing, pressing, and packing rooms. The mill runs down to the bank of the Irwell, and is hugged on both sides by large mills. No work had been in operation during the day, which, being New Year's Day, is customarily a holiday. On the appearance of the fire a messenger was despatched to the Salford Town-hall for the fire-engine, and before its arrival a large number of men voluntarily entered the burning building, and the houses in the neighbourhood were stored with the goods that were saved. The mill was an old one, and was filled with a very valuable stock, business having been exceedingly good, and all the hands being in constant employment. The fire made rapid progress, and before the arrival of the fire-brigade had obtained a complete mastery of the building. The floors burnt through in rapid succession, a loud report marking the moment that each story gave way. The roof seemed to be burnt through in sections, and as each portion fell, pillars of fire and smoke shot up into the heavens to great heights, illuminating the district by A the fierceness of their glow, and people in streets a considerable distance off shrank before the intensity of the hot breezes that were borne on the wind. The Salford Fire Brigade, under Mr. Superintendent Atherton, worked heroically. The men scrambled up the roofs of the adjacent building, and, standing upright on the stone window-sills of rooms in an adjoining mill which had caught fire, directed jets of water upon the flames. Masses of burning rains fell into the midst of groups of firemen who from the ground were directing streams of water upon the interior of the building, and great apprehensions were at one time excited for the safety of some men who had penetrated into the engine-room, and who, with flames on every hand, stood with the utmost coolness, stand-pipe in hand, playing on the burning mass. A large quantity of burning ruins fell while the men stood in the position described, and completely obscured them for a moment from sight, but when the smoke cleared away they were seen to be standing in the same position, and apparently unhurt. The mill, which was burnt up to the wall of Mr. Statham's, was occupied by Mr. Billington, and was used for the manufacture of small wares. One end caught fire, but the damage will be, comparatively speaking, slight. There was a large police-force on the ground to keep the crowd in order, and as there were many drunken men, the police had plenty of work. The total damage was upwards of 20,0007. 5. FEARFUL DEATH OF A MILLOWNER.-An inquest was held at the Shepherd and Flock, Farnham, before Mr. C. J. Woods, coroner for Surrey, on the body of Mr. Thomas Simmonds, aged forty-five years. Deceased was the owner of Bourne Mill, and went into the mill to examine the state of the wall, which had been injured by a quantity of water that came from the top. Having lighted his lamp, he was making his way to that part where the water-power works were, and for that purpose had to cross over a lathe which connects both the water and steam power. It appears that rather more than twelve months ago, two pieces of iron were put on to strengthen a portion of the works; these were secured by screws, the ends of which projected, and in one of them the bottom part of the jacket which deceased wore, caught, and in an instant he was thrown into the machinery and whirled round at the fearful rate of sixty times a minute. The miller heard a jumping in the machinery, and, feeling satisfied that something had happened, he ran upstairs and stopped the mill, after which he went into the house of the deceased for his son, who was immediately on the spot. Further assistance having been obtained, the unfortunate man was got out, but not before the whole of his clothes were obliged to be cut off. Mr. Clarke, surgeon, of Farnham, and his assistant, were promptly on the spot, and every assistance rendered, but Mr. Simmonds expired at a quarter past eleven o'clock, the accident happening a little before eight. The head was found to have no less than twelve cuts at the back, which was fractured in four places, and a portion of the skull driven in on the brain. There was a slight scratch on the face, and on the left leg there was a frightful gash; but considering the time he was in the awful position in which he was found, Mr. Clarke said he was quite astonished to find that the injuries to the body were not more severe. The jury, after remarking on the melancholy nature of the case, returned a verdict of "Accidental Death." The deceased, who was a man of considerable means, left a widow and ten children. 6. GREAT FIRE AT PLYMOUTH.-A fire broke out in an isolated block of buildings at Plymouth, consisting of an hotel, assemblyrooms, and a theatre. The site occupies more than an acre, and the buildings were erected by the Corporation at a cost of 50,000%. During the performance of the Christmas pantomime on the night of the 6th inst. at the theatre, at which there was a crowded audience, there was a strong smell of fire, and some uneasiness was in consequence displayed; but confidence was restored after a strict examination of every part of the building and a declaration that the supposed smell of burning timber arose from a piece of burning wood from a fire in one of the apartments of the building. The performances were brought to a close, and the audience left in as merry a mood as could be wished. After the house was clear, on a suspicion that a smell of fire still existed, the manager, Mr. Newcombe, his son, and others again went over every part of the premises, and the house was left under the assurance that all was right. Not long afterwards, however, the alarm was given of the outbreak, which showed itself by the smoke making its way into the apartments of the Royal Hotel, adjoining the theatre. The police and the agents of the fire-offices having engines soon received intelligence of the occurrence, while signal-guns from the citadel and the guard-ship in Hamoaze aroused the military and naval authorities. The fireengines immediately attended, but the fire-plugs could not be got up for want of the keys, and the military, though turned out, were kept at "stand at ease" till an official request was made for their attendance. At last a detachment of Royal Marines, under the command of Colonel Clavell, arrived with the barrack fireengine, followed by a detachment of the 73rd with an engine from the citadel, under the command of Major Wood. The 32nd Light Infantry also sent a detachment, accompanied by Major Clapcott. A large party of the Royal Artillery and Engineers were also present, as was also Brigade Major Keith. The naval brigade was accompanied by Captain Vesey, of Her Majesty's ship "Royal Adelaide." The Mayor, superintendents, and a strong body of police were carly on the spot. The other engines in attendance were the West of England (which arrived first), the County Fire, and the South Devon Railway-making about seven in all. The fire meanwhile had raged furiously, threatening the hotel, the inmates of which were aroused and escaped. A little before one o'clock flames had spread to the ball-room, and in a short time the whole of this splendid room was doomed. At a quarter past one |