Fatal Accident on the Ice.

 While a number of persons were amusing themselves on the ice of the ornamental water in St. James's Park, at about half-past 3 p.m., the ice suddenly broke, and four lads fell into the water. The bystanders immediately threw hurdles and poles towards the sufferers, one of whom made his escape by means of a drag-pole. Unfortunately, in consequence of the rush towards the scene of danger, several other persons became immersed. One of these, a lad, aged 16, became entangled in the embraces of the three original sufferers, and perished with them.

It was complained that the men of the Royal Humane Society were not on duty. It appeared, however, that this being the first day on which the ice was sufficiently frozen to bear, though imperfectly, the arrangements for the icemen had not been completed; and that, on the following day, 11 men and a boy would have been placed on duty in the Park. The three men who were on duty on Saturday had been repeatedly in the water; and two of them had just gone to the office of the Society when the accident occurred. The third man had been in the water seven times that morning, and his clothes were frozen upon him. The thermometer was at 21°. The Society complained that the insufficiency of their funds compelled them to make an arrangement far less efficient than they desired.