A fire broke out in the extensive cotton-mills of Mr.
Jowett, at Ashton-under-Lyne, on Saturday night, by which one-half of the A fire broke out in the extensive cotton-mills of Mr. Jowett, at Ashton-under-Lyne, on Saturday night, by which one-half of the building and its machinery was totally destroyed, and nearly four hun-
dred people have been thrown out of employment. The fire, there is too much reason for believing, was the work of an incendiary. Mr. Jowett has rendered himself obnoxious to the Chartists and Physical Force men of this neighbourhood, by his known antipathy to torch- light meetings ; and still further as a Magistrate, by the committal to imprisonment, a few weeks since, of a boy employed in a portion of his mill, rented by Messrs. Higginbottom, for having been found at meal-times amusing himself with lucifer-matches among materials of a very inflammable nature. The boy's cause was espoused before the Magistrates by the Reverend J. R. Stephens and others of the Chartists, who argued that he was too young to know the danger of what he was doing; but other circumstances induced a belief that the lad had been employed to set the mill on fire. The ravages of the fire were evidently looked upon with satisfaction by a large concourse of people assembled ; who refused, with brutal oaths, when asked to assist at the erigities. One poor fellow stepped forward to assist ; hut Iris leg, beeotning entangled in the hose, was dreadfully fractured. Bic cries for help were met with hearty peals of laughter by persons near, wino seemed to look upon the accident as a just judgment upon him for ri,ndering help. The inhabitants of a cottage near the premises refused to give any water to put out the fire.—Correspondeat f the Morning Post.
In the present agitated temper of the times, when torch-light meet- ings are held with impunity—our working classes clubbing their 3d. a week each to purcha-e fire-arms, w Mist others are manufacturing pikes—there is nu great difficulty in accounting for the following ex- traordinary military movement. On 'Wednesday night last, an order. was sent to Stockport Bat-racks to furnish a detachment of the Eighty- sixth for the purpose of watching the proceedings, it is supposed, of certain leaders of the Revolutionary party, who were expected to make their appearance about midnight on the Manchester road ; and for that purpose the soldiers were ordered as far as Heaton Norris toll-bar, their muskets loaded with ball-cartridge, and there to wait. They did so for several hours, but with what effect our informant cannot ascer- tain. 'fire detachment was commanded by an officer, and consisted of a sergeant, corporal, and fourteen men.—Stockport Advertiser.
Extensive cutton•mills, occupied by Mr. R. Hunt, at 13ulivell, near Nottingham, were burnt down on Tuesday. The origin of the fire is not mentioned.
On Saturday evening, about half-past seven o'clock, a barley-stack, the produce of fourteen acres, and also a large clover-stack, on the farm of Mr. John Ablitt, at Lavenham, at sonic distance from any building, were discovered to he on lire, having apparently been ignited at the same time in opposite directions; and the whole of the former, with the greater part of the latter, was consumed. We regret to add, that whilst some of the labouring population exerted themselves most meritoriously, others not only took no part in extinguishing the flames, but even went so fur as to express their gratification.—Suffulk Chronicle.
Monday evening, the residents of that part of Bucklebury situated near the Common were alarmed by the appearance of an extensive conflagration, which broke out about eight o'clock ; it was immediately perceived that the flames were rising from the farm of Mr. Robert Green, situated about half a mile from the church. Every exertion was made by the labourers and neighbours to check the flames; which was not accomplished until a barley-rick, the produce of nine acres, a large oat-rick, and a stack of wouk, were destroyed : a wheat-rick was pulled to pieces in the attempt to preserve it. The shepherd, carter, and boy employed on the farm, have been apprehended on suspicion and taken to Newbury for examination. We are happy to hear that Mt Green was fully insured.—Reading Mercury.
An incendiary fire on the premises of Mr. James French, formes., near Boreham, Essex, was discovered on Monday evening, in time to prevent any serious damage.
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