The following account is given in the Times, of the
way in which the wife and children of a man named Robinson, inmates of the house in Monmouth Street, occupied by Joseph the clothesman, and destroyed by fire on Thursday week, effected their escape.
" Robinson's eldest daughter, through some misconduct, was forbidden her father's dwelling ; but, taking advantage of his absence from home on Thurs- day night, went to see her mother ; and just as she was about to depart, the house was discovered to be on fire, and the flames had gained such an ascend- ancy on the staircase, as to prevent any person descending from any of the upper apartments. The daughter, seeing the perilous situation in which her mother and sisters and herself were placed, seized a poker, and, jumping on the table,
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anteceded in making a hole in the ceiling and roof sufficient to admit a person creeping through. The mother then first ascended, and drew the children up, one by one, after her. On reaching the fourth child, she became exhausted, and let it ?all. At this time, the flames were bursting through the floor in several places, and the child's clothes instantly caught fire. Still the young woman's cou- rage and presence of mind did not forsake her ; and although her own dress was then blazing around her, she seized her sister in her arms, and succeeded in clambering through the hole on to the roof; and the whole party then took re- fuge in the adjoining house; and scarcely had they entered it, when the flooring, an which they had been standing but a few seconds previously, gave way. Mrs. Robinson and the four children were conveyed to St. Giles's Workhouse, and the eldest daughter to Middlesex Hospital, having been severely burnt about the arms and legs. We are happy to state, however, that she is not considered in any immediate danger."
Fifty-three persons lived in the house ; which yielded a rent of be- tween 901. and 1001. per annum. An inquest on the dead bodies, four in number, was held on Monday last ; when a verdict of " Accidental Death " was returned. It has not been ascertained how the fire origi- nated., An attempt was made to throw some blame on the Joseph.. but it seems to have failed.
The Captain and crew of the Ann, a collier of Sunderland, bound to Harwich with a cargo of coals, which was wrecked on Saturday night off the coast of Suffolk, applied' on Tuesday at the Thames Police office, for relief. They were without money or friends, and in a state
of perfect destitution. Mr. Ballantine inquired if there was no charitable society in the Metropolis for the relief of persons in the', situation ? and was surprised to find that there was not one. lie the directed the Police Surveyor to go with them to Limehouse, in which parish they landed, and apply for temporary relief. The Captain side that he had been partly clothed and fed by Mr. James Ballantine, the landlord of the Golden Anchor in Wapping ; whose name has "bete more than once mentioned in connexion with some charitable thee, Mr. J. Brown, a shipowner, promised to get the men employ, if he con], On Tuesday morning, a young man, stoker to one of the machinCS .1; Greenwich College, was ordered by the superintendent of the works to clean out the boiler. He had not been in more than a quarter of a. hour, before the most piteous groans were heard. Mr. Harley, the engineer, soon discovered that the poor man had got both legs fixed it the machinery attached to the boiler ; and be remained in that pot t io! from nine in the morning till seven in the evening; when he was exn.i cated, and conveyed to the surgeon ; but, from the swollen state of tilt body, it was not discovered whether or not the legs were broken. It was not till a greater portion of the boiler had been cut away, that lie could be got out.
Mr. Ruthervan, Surveyor of Pavements of the parish of Clerken- welbwhile in a state of 'intoxication on Saturday night, fell over the railings in front of his residence into the area, and fractured his skull. He died on Thursday, in a state of great suffering.
A fire broke out on Monday morning at the back of the house of Mr. Haines, a cornchandler, in the Whitechapel Road. Two of the engines of the London Fire Police Establishment were soon on the spot; and by the promptitude with which the men exerted themselvt s the premises were saved from entire destruction, though considerable damage was done to the back part of the house. The fire commenced in the cellar; Which contained hay and straw.
John J. Schmid, a native of Germany, and a surgical instrument- maker in Grafton Street, Soho, cut his throat on Friday last. A Co- roner's Jury on Monday found a verdict, that "he committed the act by his own hand, his mind being affected by excessive drinking." Then was a story got up about his having killed himself for love; but the Jury have given the more probable cause of his crime.
John Turner, a resident in Wych Street, Strand, was returning home on Monday at noon, with two of his friends, when, on crossing Black- friars Bridge, he suddenly sprung from them, and before they could pre vent him, he jumped over the ballustrades into the Thames. An alare was given, and several boats put off, but the body could not be found.
A rowing-match between two sets of women came off on Monday. It was said the contest was for a purse of sovereigns, given by tin ladies and gentlemen of Lambeth ; but it is believed the proprietor in a public-house near Lambeth Palace was the donor. The females were the wives and daughters of fishermen.
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