A considerable portion of an extensive spinning and weaving mill,
belonging to Messrs. Bowers and Co., at Levenshulme, near Manches- ter, was destroyed by fire on Wednesday morning. William Worth, who was employed in the gas-works belonging to the mill, came in contact with the flame on opening the door of one of the retorts; and his clothes, being saturated with oil, immediately took fire. The com- bustible materials in the retort-house were soon in flames ; which were communicated to a wooden shed, and thence rapidly to the upper part of the main building, five stories high. Worth ran into the open air towards a reservoir of water. Unhappily, instead of plunging into the water, the poor fellow, who was almost blinded, threw himself on the ground, where he lay like a heap of tinder : be survived only a few hours. A girl of sixteen leaped from the top story to the ground, and was almost shattered to pieces : she was taken to the Infirmary, but could not recover. Several other persons were injured less severely. Fire-engines soon arrived : and by great exertions the principal part of the premises was saved. The loss incurred is estimated at about 25,000/! Nearly all the hands were immediately engaged by Messrs. Woolley and Sons, of Manchester, and other manufacturers.
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