DISASTROU'S FIRE AT INVERCARGILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 108, 18 March 1864, Page 4

DISASTROU'S FIRE AT INVERCARGILL.

Ciir.Ai- I)i:sikc, n.iv or l'K..ri:i:i >. 1.'.1-s ,)i- l.in:. •■■-'■-■: iii.-.-5...u1,1:m,l N,.»,.- :i.-,; >I= s =-..i.. iiasvi-t l),.!:iliei'. our populous tow;;. An r'lt'-.'sivi-..four priu.-iiial shwls, an:!, added l'o 1 ;k- de-lvii,-: i,,n •■!' pn.i.ei-lv, a la.n-ntaMe loss of life. Karlv 011 Tuosdav r.ioniin- tiie appcai-ance of dense clouds of -.noke L-ave the first alarm of lire, ; , ;lu ;„ „„ in.-iv.'.i-'■!v short spar.- oi'iime the work of desh-urti..., was .■...indole. ■Rapid—almost li-htninn-lilco in ils ■li'ee! -tli,. lire. onVinatim; i,, 1 [„. roar of tlu- K\ccl--i:.v Hotel, T ; ,v-51v.T1.,-vtonded itself n'.on" Ihe cu--1 ire block of In.ildiu.rs towards (1 i>l ond of the i.nvn. ■]■)„' will,, siwce betnrcii ihf T'li;,.!, T.aiik ami ••!..• hurninii ranu'e i;:ive hop-s ;it lirst liiat it nii.-lit :.e p,vs,.rve.l. l.ut tin- wind fn.in the souih-W'sl seemed to a.-quiiv force with the piw.-ivss of tiio lire, and lli,. ilamos overleaped the c!ia>m, mid luid hold of tlio 1-aiilifullv coustriieted but inflammable buildin..'. Tlu- exertions of those pivsont were of no nvMil ; il was, so 10 spmk. consumed like a fabric of iissne papor. In one brief hull' hour a ran£i. of huildinirs—,'oiin>i'isiiiur tlio Ktc-lsior Tlotel, the printins c-tablishment of the htrerenrijill Tiiiwa, Sponee and Cd.'s kerosene mid lump warehouse, Xeusladt, iobaeeonist, the Criterion Hotel and Concert ITall. and. finally, tin- Tnion Bank-were levelled to the L-round. the stacks of chimnevs onlv ivmainin.', upright sk,'l,.ton-like in (he midst, of the a Win,r emhers. and scorehe<l. hnlf-melted. .-..id rhnoCf ,!• ';;<. The most dislressin; port ion ofthp misforluni' vomains tolv l.ild, in the fact of Ihe spectators liein<; made aware tliat two, if not more, lives wen. bcintr Hacrilieed to the devourim: element, and that the sufferers wore females only added to the sense of horror perviiding the (hrons; which had quickly cathored to the number of two or three thousand people. >\»- Ihin-r could, however, be done, as the Ihimes had o\londed with Mich fierceness thai it was impossible l.i approach the spot where they wore known to be, and attention was uivcu in the meantime to the preservation ofothn- buihlinu'sin theline of street. The heat uas now so intense thai fears were entertained for the hiiildinjisoii theopposile side of flic strcel. Tlic direction of the wind, however, prevented an extension in ihat direction. Nut- Hakes of fire were i-arried by the wind on to, ~,,d over the bouses in a line with the coullau'ralion, and the owners of provent' its ignition bv Mies,. ..^destruction. The Volunteer I'ire llri-ado was early a; the !iiv, and ihe hook and ladder api.aratus was hroujjlii into requisition. After ~„„.• delay 1111 en-iiie was Irrou-lif in to aid in cln'ckini; the lire, but a delicionoy" of water and ac-ident to the hose rendered its service ■'f little avail. I'ndev the cirenmstanecs it was considered ncce>sarv to pull down the premises of !Ur. iv". Hose, l). M .ksi'l!<.M-, and the work of de.-trnciion was commenced by willing hands. Vortnnalely it was ■•lisorvod that if? cmi]iara(ively shY'ht elevation, and the intervention of a fence sheeted with galvanized uvui. prevented the full action of the flumes from the I'nion IJiink. mid the demolition of the entire buildins; was consequently "tavod. The stock, both from this and the adjacent buildings, win conveyed with Siviit speed into the centre of the street, and the order preserved was excellent. The fact of the occurrence takinir phico in daylight, tended, no doubt, to the comparative freedom from those scenes of wild excitement sometimes witnessed on such oeeasio'is. As (lie lire subsided, Ihe most sfivmioiis exerlions were made to recover Ihe bodies of the two poor women, who were known to have been left in the Kxrelsior ITolel building, and here we may properly turn to the. account given by Mr. Hall, the landlord -husband of one of them, who saved himself by his e.'lerify. He states that about midnight his wife nnd ihe barmaid retired to their respective bedrooms, leaving him with a few friends playing cards. Between two ami three o'clock in f!ie morning they left the place, with tlie exception of a slr. Quinton, who laid down on the sofa in the parlour, us it was late for lii,,, to jto home. He (Sir. Hall) then retired to bed, and fell asleep, awaking shortly before six o'clock, I,ut as il was 100 early (o rise'he went to sleep a'.'ain in a few minutes. 11 is next recollection iv:i> In-ill-,' aroused bv the. voice of the barmaid. Hessie. calling out that Ihe place was on fire. He Ihcu jumped out of bod, callin-on his wife and fhe. barmaid to follow him. lie rushed down stairs and trie I to net 0111 at the hack door, hut was at lir.-! unsuccessful. Al lenixlli, he opened (he door and got out. Me thought of trying to get hack into the house, but the llamcs were too strong. A ladder was I lvinu' "ii the -fround, but bo could not lift it. hv ren- I j son ofhis ban Is being so severely burnt. lle'lhen ] called out to tlios,. ;., i) lf . lions,-, but obtained no answer, and then he ran round to the street for help. Mr. ((tiiintou had Ijoen aroused liy Air. Hall, who called out lo him 10 save his wife.' but had barely 1 tin.- to ,va.,h the window of th- room in which i he ha 1 slept (over Ihe bar) and dro'i himself into the slreel. .As we slated above, (h;-attempt was tun lo l<. re-! cover the h,,.1i..s of the two females, and they were at Icn-ih extricated, 10-ke 1 in each others arms, luil so t .rril.lv burned, that not more than the outline of the ; human form could h-distinguished. They were taken ' fo Ihe Roval IFotol |~ ;,_,„(( t ] u , j,,, im .sl. ' Connectinc; : the statement of Mr. Hull as lo h-ivin- been aroused j bv (1,,, cries ~f the barmaid, (Kli/abefh | with the position in which the scorched remains were j found, it is impossible io resi-t lite conviction (ha! the I poor girl fell a victim lo the lire in a heroin endeavour to resell., l.e- nii-ti-i-vs. It is 11 sal n-;d liaipfu! rellec;i,n thifl <■-, leeileamilmshoul.ii.ancb.vi. fn;s'.rii*i-d, and :., ~v<if,,!:i s:i-r:!i.-.-1v,.. M ~:i :-. l,ui we sm- im o'i.eMi-- I!.;!!.•.•,., „,„,„,,-! 1 , i; v i,,,..,:,:.!. ,„;;;,•,:,» i

■oeared to equal tlic boilily ac;nny produced by severe burns on the upper part of his person. Tlio ranid svrend of (lie fire was due, no doubt, to (lie fact tlml. one of the buildings ignited was a warehouse which a large quantity of kerosene was stored —the vessels containing ii exploding with a loud report when subjected to the iuteneo heat' linil the fluid eonlenfs being instantly transformed into masses of Ihime. wliit'U were horn forward by the high wind. Seinv.'ly Had the occupants of the adjoining buildings j time to escape before the cut ire block was one mass of | sheething. lurid fir. , . Tlie smoke rose in dense, dark j masses on the wind, the clear daylight, adding to the glooms effect of the scone. i .As the outline? of the building gradually collnjysed, 1 I and iln? whole body of fir> sank into comparative | ! quiescence, the most conspicuous object was 1 he new | ! printing machine, lately imported by the proprietors j | of fie ini-crrnrqiH 'funis. Tt lias suslntiicrf (lie fiery ! ordeal, and stood out in bold relief, sn apperently per- i fe'-r rondiiion—a striking contrast to the surrounding j | ruins. Tt fan hardly be ascertained as yet wether it ! i< repairable—the excited zeal of anxious workers j having induced them to Ihrou ;i quantity of cold water ! on the machine while it was st ill almost at lived heat. The brick buiit strong room of the Union TJank, from whieh tin , contents were removed with but little injury, next claimed attention. The fall of a chimeny broke through its vaulted roof, and cave it the appea.iane of a hug." and ruined tomb. The tall chimneys of the TSank. slender nnd whitened by the action of'the fire, waved to and fro with ever gu-"t of wind, and were at length pulled down by the Tnro Brigade, assisted by tho onlookers. An uncertainty seemed to prevail as to whether mor-.' bodies were buried henenth tlie. ruins of the Excelsior Hotel, and the ]"re brigade hnving by the aid of a rope, pulled down ,i chimney ■which t'nvateneil to fnll on, nnd crush the searchers, the work was pushed forward with uuubuted energy. ■Some few coins were found by those engaged, nnd were immediately handed over io the police. The interest of the spectators was now riviied by (lie. inherent feeling which prompts to desire to view the horrible, but to the relief of all no fresh discoveries were made. The wooden pavement in front of the j buildings destroyed, became charred, nnd in some parts ! burned quite away, (fie whole in fact is so much ; da'MHged as to require replacing. i The origin of the fire is involved in the most proj f.mnd oh-eiiriU : the men who weiv employed to I Mi,-k in, th.- pins in the buwling siloon of llieV.xcel- \ j si..r Hotel siiiie. tint when thev left the premises at '■ \2.:\(\ a.m.. on ihc iiav of the lire, there was not the ! slightc-i in.iiciitii.n of <l.tiig.-r«i.<.u! t!ic premie-. The I saloon li'-'ht- weiy rxliii'xiiii-lied in the usual milliner ] some time before they left, but they remembered to j have -em tire burning m the lower y.:u-\ of the bole!, j ■leav I in- loci of the stair.,. So far. tiien. ali was well. ' ■ Mr i.liiinlon's statement throw- no light on the ni::t- ' I ler. wliileT\lr. Hall suns ihm iiolh tire- nnd lights: I ncrcilidyi-vtiilgiii.-hcil be'ore-he wein to be.l. The ■ ; constable who was on duty in Tav-s!iv>. at ihe time \ ' of I he occurrence bad passed I lie Lote! (on (lie op- j posile side of ihe slivel.l VimO ii \ i> or MX lniiillli s '. : b.-fore I lie lire wax discover.- i. There wa- no imiiealion uffire at that lime. I laving .ompictei his beai ; ! to the. Tower end of the strcei.lu! was rei nrning, when he heard cries, and saw .-, man running acros- t!,e ■ sir. it from the diivctiou of tin- Kxivlsioy. 'j'iii- man tiirin .1 a'.-aiu. ami !hc constable turnol towards liini, .- 1 believing prohablv that a nu-rii brawl was tin: .> ' sin:: of the ne.isc he had hour,!. The. burifing forth j I 01'5t,.:,-.'. l:c.w..ver. at o:-.-.- er.r-v-net-.l him ih-it a iiiv : I ha-l'.n.ken on 4 ., an 1 !•..■:•'. ci-tv r-i-hed to t-i- ~•„.! .; ! giving the ai:iiiM of '' !ir," as he v..-nt. Some . |gbt j j or ten pel-son-: wi-r- i ..iiect.-d by this time, .-in.i it was : : I'onii.- mom-iH su:>;.,,<eil all the ] p|.- lielonging ti> j the house had ..se:.'v,ed. With niu.-h promptitude he I I ran to t!,o i'oliYe Slatf'H! and -_-.ive t!i<- al.-irrn. return- ' liiir- to tin- M-.-iic of lire at mice. T-lntering tho next ; liMii.-e he rushed up stars and fo;-i ci <>\ivu tin- doors j of several i m<, calling on! " lii"" to anui-.- any ; sicepei's. The arrival of the vest of (lie fore, who ! won- at the M ition at tin- time, was almost mime.liato j and thev were at one,- set lo work to save as much ! ru-opi-'.-ty a-: 1.-:y in i!n-ir pouvr. Tin- pr..]iri.tor of ■ I the'i'oval Hotel T .ivily Stables, xvhos.- InIMU. ss 11i.,1 | (•:i!li-d Mm out. a! the cnm]i:ii-itivc!y euly lionr {:',-:u> | a.m..'. n-iti.el i'ame< issiiimr iVoiii tiie'extreme end | ■tow-lrds I'uni (V-l::- of i\w bowlin- alley, and with i ' L'l-eat ]iresenee of mind heal once proceeded to the! front of the , hotel, and hur.si in tli>: ii.ir door, i-udea- j vouriniT, by shouting ' ; lire" to aiann the inmates of i the house, who lie believed wore none of them astirat ■ the time. Tho constnu-tion of tho house, if w re- 1 member riurbtlv. would render egress by tin- back of \ tho premises the most likely course to be adopted iu ■ the event of a sudden alarm. Tt is of course nu-rely coujecluvc, but, them appears every reason to hrlicvu the tire to have extended itself in'the interior of the. hnildimr alons,' the light «ud inflammable lining to such a decree that with the first access of fresh air the whole building in a manner exploded. "With the hi-h wind blowing at On- ({me, i> i.--a matter of surprise that tin- lire was stayed in its .1,stiiietive eareer—to the wall-liki -f.-nr-e surrounding the rnion r.ank on tbn-e si.l.-s, ii i : , in : , U r, V at lne.isuvi- t<. 1... .ittrihuW. Som.' s-ven or eight Ic-i liigh. and reaehing to th.- ground, the galvani'-.-.l iron plat..-s arrested the Hying embers, wliieii would have otlic--wise be.-n ilriven b\ the foiet: of the wi:i,l b.-n.-ath the houses further up the street. The flakes of tire c:u- ---| rii-il over tli.- top-: of the bouses wi-re necessarily I lighter and moiv'easily guarded against, but w, re, j notwithstanding, su.'licient ill two or (Jm- insi-un-es ! to ignite the roofs ol houses. Tlie ; ,l:irm had been so j well spread, both by flie fire-bell ami the people, that j measures had been taken to meet the emergency, and i a few Wkets of water averted the «l:uiL-er. " Men ! were kept on the watch dtiriiiir the night, but providentially no fresh outbreak nr-urr.-.!. Tii •amount of pr..;..-:l \ ■ ,!-:f..v.-1 i- iliill.-ult fo •,-■_ rive at. We are inclined 1-. tiiiiii: i: ritli.-r mi,:, r th-in .-iver-esfimated at Cl'i.d'lii. 'J'iic v. !,.,:>• of ;!.,■ buildings destroyed were of lv.-eui e,.nstn:ctio;i, e» pensivelv built and linishe.l. Tile Vaion Hank was next to Mr. Watt's iron buil.lintr. the m<.st. strikinir ' in its architectural apiiearane.- of any w.- p..ss.-ss...l' ' The buildincs were insured as follows : —Tni.ni I'.auk . .tU.nOO, leaving mi estimated deficit of '.'1.(100; X, ustadt's, tobacconist, MOO, d-ticit i'.idn : /»>■,•,•.•,„■,/// ' I Tint's otlice. £1.000, deficit £-3,000 ; T'.xcelsior Hotel. : I Cooo, detieit £1,000; Spcnce and Company, iiniu- ! sure.l, estimated loss i'B.ooo ; Criterion Hotel and j Concert Hall, £o()0, deficit £2,0(10. liesMes (lie \ above, tlie premises and stocks of Messrs. K. IWc | and T. Ott were much injured—the tirst by the on- i deavours whieh were at one time made to raise it, with the view of checking the tire ; the latter by the lvisty removal smd water thrown on them tu .sa\-e them from the fire. I Tlie claims on the Insurance Companies will fall as ! follows:—lmperial. £l,'J00; New Zealand. Cl.: - (M): : l'oyiil, £1,000 ; Colonial Assurance, £IUO ; Xoithorn ' i'l.'liOO: Australasian, £')()0. ! It is ditlicnlt on oeeasions like the pre-f-nt *.o par- \ tioulari.se the persons who wore the mr-s- aetivo in [ their endeavours to combat the tire, or assiduous in i saving property. The police were ewrywh.-iv ,->en —cool, watchful and observant. We p -leoive.l seme '• meiiib-n-s of the force in tKe very mut ,t .if the workers, directing and assisting the effort?, of t].o»e v.ho while willing to the utmost, yet want* -1 the ;e..u : sit.' experience Io make their exertions tell. Tic Tire lSrigade. were early on tlic ground, but th<- ineml-.r, were ii'il ipiite so well ii]i.in discipline as mii-hi li.nr 1 n desired. Indeed, it could not be expected, e.e..-si.l.-riug the short time they have had to 'un;.-t:se tli,evolutions of a; combined lore". We tni'-! ihep-i.-t will .-.timul.ite many to enrol themselves, and em'! -avour, by frequently going through the cm iei-..-s. (•. gain a practical acquaintance with tile primary requisites of an eileetivo lire brigade. Tie l-> -m r.-il public lent their iiid without distinction or r.-,-,ve. Side iiy side, the artisan and the pioless.:,.,-.-,! •„■,„ strovii'tliiMrbest. Tin- occasion, in fine. broi::v!ii .nit I the b.-t qualities of heart and hand among :•!! . ..>ii cerned. i Since til" (ire. we have insp-.cled tlie .-.i:i, and otlier articles wliieii were found near '.hi- l»«.-i■• - ••: '<][■■ SHlfei-.-rs. Tliey cnsist of a copper |..Ken. t-■„ ~, tliree sovereigns', and what, appeared to ',«■ -~ -.1,';!;;.-. I the whole, with the exception of the copper. .-h..v\ ti,,. [ action of tlie fire to have brought them in!., a μ-iim-fused state, in fad one or two of the coins leu.- ~t. tiii-hed tojthein a kind of a nugget, fonm-il. we believe, l. v the coiiipli-tn fusion of other m-'tn!. T«,, jcvv.-llcl carrimrs were near them, the colours oi'he stones dimmed—almost destroyed by the intense !,.■.,(. ; The whole of these sad mementoes are in tlie hnwU of ' the police, and will perh-ips serve as a mournful 1 souvenir of the tirst great fire. The manager of the j Th.-atre Koyal, with a delicacy of feeling of which w.. ' I cannot .sjiea'k too highly, gave public intimation, [he ! j morning of the untoward occurrence, that the house j I would be closed in the evening, io mark the s;us-- t,[ j the calamity whieh hud be.ia.llen a portion of the community. Ti.' , f; rirra! of tiic h:ip!' ss femalys, who porichi-d in j pl.-ri 1 'α-s ,i.iv ~: .oil! (,'.■:,ii-k. p.n:. X.-r(i we . \ M -; ' ..::r v.:. Ii ,-,,„• hop., that ih , ! jniblir, will, iin u 1.,, t vid I (:•!;•.-:•. -.' 1-.«.--iT-'t, f!tn-( l,\ ,vo:i»\: i -»:> tht, 'r:!::t >:: ;t i i ■-• '■-.•! »-i Hit U'M<?-\ii\j fIVTi S-'ilfM!?.!* h'.tW-Jf.i'v- l

An inquest was opened on Wednesday, on the bodies of the two females, but iu consequence of thb inability of the principle witness (ilr Hall) to attend; thn enquiry was adjourned. Mr. Hall, who, as stated above, was very severely burned in escaping from tho fire, is progressing very favourably. The mental distress by which he was agitated iin his first admission is subsiding, ami tin: injuries In. , received prove to be of a superfieiiii nature. It is expected, he will very shortly bo sufiij ciently recovered to p,ive evidence, with reference to the unfortunate occurrence. Mr Hall, the landlord of tho Excelsior, whore tho lire originated, hastily cse.iped (in tho first alarm, leaving his poor younp I wi Ic and barmaid behind Mm. Thn latter had ronsed ' him from sloop, find had thus been tho means of i saving his life. The two women beinir left in thn I burninir house without a man to lielp thorn, this poor I younu:'creature apparently sacrificed her own life in i the attempt to save her mistress, whose room she 1 must have entered, and about whoso body her arms ! were found entwined when the charred remains , f the imfortmisitc3 were rescued from the ruins. H was an act of devotion and heroism that should f.ocure some tributo to the memory of girl, in whose mind the thought of her mistress's preservation was superior to'that of her own safety. The remains of the ill-starred females who lost their lives by the late fh'o were, on Thursday afternoon conveyod to the Cemetery on the Eastern Road. At the appointed hour CI p.m.) a largo assemblage was in waiting at thn Police Station, Tay Street, and in a few moments tho mournful procession was forrm-d and wended its way to tho English Church. The usual prayers havintrbeen delivered, the nrtrne proceeded to the burial frrotmd, whore the Hov. M,-. Tanner performed the last imprr-ssivo rites of ;!u, churoli. Those present were evidently affected by the solemnity of the occasion which had c.-nled them (nercther, nnil the awful sudden nature of the event. The names of the deceased were simply engraved on a white metal plate—Catherine Hall, a'scd 21. Bessin .lamieson nged 10—and the coffins were deposited side hy sirlo in their last, resting place. The Koci-ty of Oddfellows—of which the husband of the late Mrs Hall is a. member — attended to the number of seventy, wearing the msi<nria of tiic Order, with blade 'crape scarf and black gloves. There were altogether foito hundreds of persons present, nnJ .•iinonpr Ilicm mam- personal friends of tin; deoeami females, who were much respected. Wo may also I mention that .sr-vrral rNir-nars joined the prorrwion. i At tin- clos- of t!i- <vi oniony the Society of <V(1- : f-Ilo\v> f.iiiu.--.! two deep, and r-ttiriiod in <.rJ..r ;., j the 1.0.i--. The lia:iks w-r-<-1ny,..l <u: the ..ccmk.-ii. 1 andth- sivaier numh. r <if the -hops in T:,y sir.-..1 j w-re i-itiu-r wholly or partially ilo-ei;. '' TIIK INOJ'Iv-.T. ; niV-lVoliee Station. Tiiy-r-ireoi. before V:: M-Clun-. ' I 'oiMM-r. on viewof Ihe IWicsof Catherine Jhill and ; Hosmc Jam icon, whi.-h had been removed from tho ! ruins to Hie Police Station. ; Tlie. eomner, jnn" iin.i wiisu-'-os, liautii; \ii-.ved the ; bodies, wUii-h presi-nied a shm-kin-; s]ji_-i.-j»i-I<-. ; The Coroner said the. most important witnoss va« i :iu inmato of tin- Hospital, and v..mld not b- al.lo i.. attend for sum.' time. Jle (the l.'uitmei , ) prupu-.od t.take the di-pos-ili.m.- i>f tiif v ilu-sson who were ill attendance, and then u> adiourn the iuijuosl unlil the . witness he had m-ntiniictl -.va- :•.!..':- to intend. ! William Qi;>ntni!(.!,'po>od —1 a::: stOi-civ.anat Mcss.-s. : Ma!>i:i« .•!r.d'V."jiiiti><r'-..:«ii(! ;■■•«,],• \v. K^-stive! . O-. ; the fv.-i.ijii; lit' the -'.)i':i l''.'!ivuiiry 1 w:,h in the Exc,-!-j m'oi- Hot.'!. Mia! wii.s r-icin-r t:p Miiiil li.-ree t.'.lock in '■ Iheniormu!;. AVe were playini; i-itrcU up to that time. I viz.. nivseli'. 'Mr. 1 lull, imd four mlier-*. ulioseuuiiies 1 I do not'l,now. The four men lei't riliom ll.ree u'tlook ito l;o home. Mr. H:dl and m> -elf remained. T then J «-i-iii n> .-leej,. ..i, i 1... -~(:, in ihe IV.isit. In the morn- ! in" 1 «a- ;i\vt.ke !>v >onu'lliiim coming through the j window wilh a stiliii:L"-"]i.»;iti<iii ;in.'i muni .-inula , . )'. I was broad dnyliirht :it Ih-time. I went and opencil i the door J.M.iii!.,' int.. ?.!iv KailV l».ii(...ii;. 1 tbttiid ! that 1 could not -.1 down tint w.-sv. am! so I enine Ito th- win(l..w. 'I 1,.. Mi,,.!,,- i.ii.l liinu.-s were eominup in v-lmi.-s. I l.i-ok.. th- window and sot down by a ladder that v:;s »iv.n f> lit- U<-a\ b-low. Ido ■ not knowih:;! 1 b:,v- :l iiv iinthiT .•videnc- to-iv.-. i 1 ilo not km.w wl-.f-Jp.-i-the lir.i,t.s were put out In-low ! win-it f w.-n; i-, ).,,]. 1 w.->- hi ll.c licwlinar saloon ! that -niirhi n!t-r - l-ven oYUk. Tlie !i-l:ts were ■ then ::i.(i ;.i-i-c:t-< '.v.'iv playinir. i r,v tlu-.lury—T >e(.iil.i h::vr h::d' to I'ave opened : tw..' d<v,r.s W-fniv -.t;!,w i ; .|., ;\f :v . ifail's 1..-.i- ---■ room. 1 only op-m .1 .--n.-. Mr. 1I = .'il w:-s <id l.efore ! mi- wii.-.- t : n;.-"-. Mr:.. !':,!! v'..-i.r:-. th- l.:i. k i.w.m. | ]U- the i"i>rmii-r -Th.'r- w-i - -nioliivr uoin-r on I whiU w-w,.|v pltiviiiir e-irils. Whm ! L-.t down, i tin- hnwliiif.sfU.ti w-i.-. lunnl .]i.v.-n. and th- lire had ! tiken hold ofih" h:!rl ~,r: ..;' ;:e ia.i-e. W- werMlt 501,,r when we v ,:,!;.. i-d. ! was ..nly a oanial inmate of th-hot. 1. I'.v the .lury—lt was in.! o /.I.'" in save the la.'.ies ! iit th- time 1 went to tlie d-.r. I 'h.m-ht thi-v w-re I out then, but wlt.-n 1 -i.t to Ihe v.in.'.mv I h, a'rd Mr. j Han rryiniront to «iv- ]iis wif-, Imt ] ...eh] not 50 ■ iia-k then 011 ii-n.mit of the 11;.i.»5. -.>!:!. ], . :l n, u on! ; of thf «-iiid..vvsjilin.,st at tl;- >anic tini- ll at 1 .). ; .i :i.vself. Two Icrro.-inc l:mip< wrre burnirar in •' ■' j <i(liii!i room but wen-]iut out l<-fnre I went to !•-.!. I 1 did not observe whelh-rthc four men were smoking I when they left tlie room. J IV. Murray d-p-s-d- T have i-xamin-.i the remains J -if the f.-mid.-i now lvhiir in th- l'olic- Station. The I limbs were imnit <">IV, .md Ilie l.oilies «-i re leducerl to i a shapeless mass. The cause of death was immediate I c-mbiisten. Th.- C.if.i;.-r said. th:it thi- most important witness .at the ie.,|u--t was Mr !i : ill. an.'. !■.- was in theh-svi- . tal s-verelv oiirmtl. and in a slat- of <rrc.-at mental -xrit.-n-T-.t on a.-ei-ui:t of ill- loss ~(' hi s w ifo. It is iiujKis.,'!,;,. (~ «;,,- v h, „ ]~. wmu],| l,f i,, :1 (it s t:iti- to 1 ■on:- down. Init liu- .■.••T : .. won-.l 1 ■>• ■.•iv.n to the jurv w).e:i tho.-di. wiiml i,i-|!:-,t v»s in I- 1,..'d. In tW ! nieantiiiie. th-inipi-:t «:is ai!;oun:-d. and an impiiiv : int.l til- nri-'in of the fii- wmtid l,e held <11 I Monday. ; —<> - j To CoKiTi.r.NT (xKSTt.wir.N-.—A philuntlmpisl : has lately laid his hi.-tory before the public, anc alI thoiis'i the record may provoke a passing smile.; et J no one wlio reads it can doubt the earnestness of tic I writer, or his hearty desire to bent-tit his felloei eiMatnivs. It is simply the narrative of a man wl o was tivim-mloiislv fai.'who tried hard for year* to thin himself, and who has at last sueeeed'ed. Hwislies to lot tho woui-ld know how h,- vaiiquisliod 11s ! terrilde enemy, and how at last the Demon of Corpulence tied from him. This is really a crrat i kindiiL-ss, and a man who, without fear'of ridicule i and simply from bcicvolent motives, comes forward ; to reveal an experience of (hit kind, is doing a mttu-c i for which his fellow-creatures ouu'nt to recogr.i*c. : .Mr. Biuitim;. the Roiulenia'i who lias had the courage and fi-oliup .to write and publish this iiarrjtive, : not long ajo n;easured five feet live, inches, smd wei-JK-i iil-out fo-.irteen stone and a i-juarter. He owns that he had a crreat deal to boar from his unfortuiiiit,- make. In t!ie first plac-.- tiio. little boys ill th ■ streets huiffhlod at him: in the next place, he eouiii not lie 111-own shoes; and lastly, hehad.it air.oars. to come down slairs backwards. Hut lie eas a mmi who strus;»led nalhuulv. and w halever iie was iv.-oiii,,.ended to ,io he hoiiVstlv trii-d lo .-i.rrv <""• He 0.-ai.lc uiin.-i-iil ivator*. and consulted phvs-i.-ia.i--. and look >wcei r...,,.5,.| uiil, innwmerabl.-Iri.-iids. all «as in viiin. 11,. lived upon sixpence a' .':n mid .■;'i-i!-d il. so that the i'ouripe of Abernetliy fail' -d in hi. ease. I!;- u.-nt into all s.>rt< of vapour 1..-"tl,s :„„! .hainoooh,.- 1,a1!,5. He I( ,, >k no !„,., ,],.,,, ni1.,,-. Ti,-r!.i-h Iwths. J.iit nothing' did liiin any cood: h- -aas as |'a 1 as ,-ver. A kind friend re. rn'Uipi.-iid-d in,■γ-msci! podily ex-riioii i-vt-rv nioniitii:, -rid nolainu' sei-nu-d nmiv liki-lv eilcclual than rowing. S,. this sloul warrior will! fat ..,.1 daily into :1 '- I. -■'!-■ !io:i.ey heal, an.! r.mcd";, couple of lio'ir-. Hut !i,- was only oniii-iiisi wator into tli« fiii-b! oil 1 ,- DanaMes. V.'lial lie -aiiied in one way he !"si hi another. His muscular vigour in-civ:.-eil, I,ui ill,-., with this there -inn- a prodipion? :i|«-,..-ii:.-. -.-. :,u-5, he felt, ciuil-ii-d to iudidso." and .•nii.-o.| ti cn|iv !,,. .-,,t even laiii'i- I ban h- hud been. At la-l !„- !:,| ~,,,,„ 111,- rialit adviser, who 101.1 him what in ,in. and »l,ose iid\i.i< lia- been so suece?sfnl ili.ii .Mr. Karliii-jcm now w.ilk down fowanl.s ' )>m his ~l,| c'oth-s quite over the suit that now tits Him, iiiii!. !'n- i'i'ii-,11 Ik in lt made tho viotom of unkind oi- ill-jiui-ci (half, is universally conyriitnlated on I I'is pl.-,,sa:>t and h.-oon,iii S ' appearance. The I m.-,.-liiiiery \,y which thi.-- chauuo was elleeled was of j a very t-iinpii- kind, tic was simply lo leiivc otV ! i-aliiii; a:iyt;-.ii!;r In-t mr-.a. It ;ipp;-ars' that none oi' his mmier.'is friendly mlvisors. and none of the i)!i\>ieiaiis he ooiiMilt.-d, penetrated so fur into tlio j seercsv oflos M.-.iu.-lic luiMu us to have discovered ■ '!.■■>, 'i»-:,v •■, .1,....- ii,. ~u,.,1 formerly to iiululge in •;' mi.. ~.' |.rv,,;i ;. !K ! T i»i!l-. T!u< f-'olonioii t«»vid ! Ijimi-ilt OT 1!j, U -,v..i. ii-rdi'l- -Till!, ~V . <l |.il|.r t , ' , '"