The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-10-04 00:00:00

THE GREAT EASTERN.

WEI' MOUTH, September 25.
The repairs necessary for fitting the Great Easstent for
sea are daily going forward with the utmost dilligenee
and rapidity. Mr. Crace's artists are busy redecorating
the grand saloon. Carpenters and fitters are incessantly
at work removing the traces of the late explosion. and
restoring the cabins as they were before it happened.
The new funnel has been put together on deck &lid is
nearly finished, and the injured wrought iron beam" and
bulkheads have been cut out and preparations made for
replacing them with others. Yet, in spite of this
activity and the progress that has undoubtedly been
made, we should he deceiving our readers if we held out
the least hope that the Great Eastern will he ready fur
&es on the Bth of October, or lierliaps even during the '
month of October at all. Much of this delay is of course ,I
due to the destructive effects of the late accident, the
damage occasioned by which, though not auore exteusive
than was at first supposed, is of a peculiar nature, and
will necessitate the removal and refitting of • good deal
of iron work. This work cannot be hurried over. In
Loden, and with the immense facilities offered by the
great shipping yards sin the Tha the whole affair
might be easily managed, but this, of course, is not the
case at Pentland, and restening things to their former
order is therefore likely to occupy much mere time than
wae'•inally anticipated and agreed for in the con-
tract. But these causes only pertly account fur the
delay which is now &truest certain must be incurred
before the vessel starts. The others are due to the fact
that the fittings of the ship and all matters connected
with her sea-going equipment are now entirely in the
hands of the Marine L'epartmeit of the Lteard of Trade.
With a paasenger ship of such gigantic inagnituale. and ,
which when complete will go to sea literally with a
reputation equal to that if many towns, it has been felt
that no powaible precautions which the greatest expe-
rience and Illodt jealous vigilance can suggest should be
neglected. In M.': matter the directors awl Captain
Harrison are en ely agreed, and have, we believe,
asked the Board of • rade to suske any suggestions which
they think can in any way conduce to the safety and
convenience of the vessel. Several 'Legge. :one will,
therefore, doubtless, be offered at once, ass. as a mat-
ter of course, complied with to the letter by the execu-
tive on board. SolllC of the most prominent of these
suggested improvements are already known, one being
that the coal bunkers should all be well ventilated and
fitted with pipes through the centre, as lathe case with
line-of-battle ships, to enable the temperature of the
coale to be testesl and registered at certain in-
tervals throughout the day. 'rho Great Eastern
will always carry the best Welsh coals, which,
even when stowed in largo quantities, hare
seldom if ever been known to heat. 'rise Great
Eastern, however, will carry no less than 10,(E0 tons,
a quantity which, we need twit say, has never yet beets
put into any vessel, and therefore it has been thought
right to guard against even the possibility of nceintit
from this swum. Another matter which will pro-
bably be altered is the means of feeling the boilers
with water. Until the present massive engines were
constructed it has always been the rule to make them
self-feeding, the auxiliaries being used merely as •
stand-by in case of any of the pumps breaking down.
The machinery of the Great Eastern was made entirely
dependent on its feed water being supplied by the
donkey engines—a rather objectionable arrangement.
as in case of the donkeys getting out of order, which
it has been seen they may do, the machinery must
come to a standstill. Feed and bilge ramps will now
most likely be fitted to both screw and paddle engines,
and the donkeys retained only as a precautionary mea-
sure. Two boats, in addition to those already at the
davits, will be carried by the Great Eastern when she
starts for sea. Each of these, in capacity, will he
almost equal to small schooners, as they are to be up-
wards of 50 feet long, and 13 feet wide, quite capable
of taking of at least 100 persons. These with
boats of the same description, which have already
been made, and those now alongside, will be
equal to taking off at least 1,200 crew and passengers.
Among the other alterations which will soon be carried
into effect is fitting a different kind of etern wheel, and
also making a second tiller in the lower deck connected
with, though independent of, the upper one. The pas-
sage round from the Thames showed that the heat in
the stoke holes of one or two of the small auxiliary
engines was too touch for the firemen. Sliding iron
doors, will, therefore, be cut in the bulkheads, in order
to give them the most complete ventilation. To the
auxiliary engines for turning the screw it is intended
to attach pumps for pumping water out of the ship or
on deck in came of fire. There will thus be two power-
ful fire engines in the ship, independent of the donkey
feeds or feed and bilge pumps, capable in all of throw-
ing upwards of 23 tons of water per minute in CASU of
accident. Another suggested alteration is the removal
of the indiarubber packing between the flanges to which
the cast iron mast is bolted and filling in with wedges
of hornbeam. This will, of course, necessitate the
slacking down of the main 'shrouds, a work both of time
and difficulty.
Now that all the wreck has been cleared away from
the lower deck in the immediate vicinity of the scene of
the explosion, the amount of damage which haat been
sustained by the boilers and snore substantial fittings of
the &hip can be readily ascertained. The massive iron
main-deck beams which were so curiously doubled and
torn hy the force of the exidosion have been cut away,
together with the tattered rellllll3lllU of the lower per-
tiei.s of the funnel and jacket which still remained at-
tached to the upper parts of the boilers, and altogether
the space has been cleared so as to allow the work of
resturation to proceed with all due celerity. Upon nii•
nuto examination it was found that the forward bedlam
had not been injured to the extent which was at first
imagined. nor yet escaped entirely without damage. The
copper platea of the-se two butlers' upon which the funnel
and casing rested, are very much dilated in, and many of
the iron stays in the interior are either broken or very
much bent. Soule of the hut air tubes have also been
damaged, but out to a serious extent. The replacing of
the etays and such of the tulic.”, as it will he necesaary to
remove will soon be accomplished, but the restoration of
the two damaged boiler plated must occupy time. A few
days will suffice to rest-n. the injured iron heliports of
thus main and lower decks. Thus it is to be hoped that
the substantial portion, of the ship will last completely
refitted hi the course of a consparatreay few days. Hut
with regard to the erection and equipment of the demo-
I aline on the lower sleek and in Uie saloon
would Ist impaled. to speculate on i.e speedy a wimple-
tiun. Even admit., the cabins nut be touched for six
months to come it will nut in the hart degree prevent
the ship from going to b., as there is ample herth and
cabin accommodation in all the remaining ono. At
the same time there is every reason to believe that this
one department of repairs will be ituniedistely put in
band and completed by the ritli proximo. The 3 men,
Tait, 1....z00. and Sparkes, who were badly injural by the
explueion, are now progressing steadily and favourably,
and no doubt is entertained of their ultimate recovery.
They are now at the Weymouth Infirmary, though under
the surveillance of the doctors of the ship, for a very
short time sufficed to convince the medical officers of
the company that their own attendance was necessary
to Five the pour fellows the attention they so much re-
qtured. Drs. Slater and Watson have been constant in
their attendance since, with Dr. Evans, also of the ship.
To this latter gentleman we must, tliougn late, render a
mired of justice. On the night of the accident and since
then his attention to the sufferers has been unremitting
and his skill and kindnen have elicited the highest

praise from all who were present throughout the unfor-
tunate buAtiems.

It is tint improbable that in a few days tha Groat
Eastern will hare her present moorings. and go round
under easy steam to Mouthampton Water. .Nothing on
this point is yet finally deciilNl, but both for the COUTO.
Mance of reeriving materials from Loudon $ll,l in order
to gratify the excursionists a ho, even in this reunite
part of the enuntry, d.ily visit the ship, it is lint unlike-
ly that such A more will be made in response to the in-
vitations received from all the chief towns along the
south coast.

WEYMOCTIL—Tite (:reat E.wdero.—Though the
inhabitants of Weymouth have laarouie :annewhat
familiarise.' with the presence of the " lag fillip,"
and are now able to aettle (WWII to Cahn ashilir.‘tion
of the latest wonder of the world, yet she still eau-
tinues the object of undiminished attraction to the
pnhlic at large, who crime by droves, as fast as the
railways can bring them, to inspect the numuilitst
of British induaery and skill. Consequently the
town wears macti of the holiday appear:lace which
'wrestled it during the first week the Great Eastern
anclawed in Portland 11oaaa, though the soaking
rain of Monday made a vast difference in the arrivals,
I and no doubt a corresponding deficiency in the
receipts on board. The steamers conveying
passengers have made a rich harvest, being
mostly filled at every trip —in fact the
chief portion of the money spent hero by casual
visitors may not buiptiy he designated floating
since it is invcsted in procuring amass to the
"lug Ship." The coaling of the Great Eastern
seems to ho proceeding with much activity, and the
effect of the vast quantities of fuel stewed away in 1
the immense receptacles is already visible on the
trim of the vessel, which is now brought down to a
much lower level in the water ; and the blade of
her screw hitherto protuding above the surface, like
the dorsal fin of some huge shark, is no longer ap-
parent. The traces of the late mehuicholy explo-
sion are fast disappaning under the energetic efforts
of Mr. heott Russell :did his men. The new for-
ward funnel is being as rapidly constructed an the
eiremnatances and the ponderous nature of the work
admit ; and the iliatractii% .lin eta:zsieited by the
process of rividting the plates together, gives one the
idea ..f sane vast ariuoury where giants are fur-
nislie.l forth for battle. It is 33414:e:wry to know
that the "jacket" is, or will be, shortly removed
(ruin the second funnel, so that no rei :ition can be
apprehended of the terrible disaster wfach was occa-
sioned from this cause. A convincing proof of the
Great Eastern's solidity may be deduced from the
fact that two large mirrors in the saloon remained
uninjured by the explosion—one of them within a
few feet of the destroyed funnel. This is due to
their being secured to the longitudinal bulkheads.
Had there been the least vibration these must have
been shattered and shared the general wreck which
held the magnificent apartment We are informed
that au action has been instituted between Mr. Scott
Russell and the Company, with respect to the lia.
bility for the repairs of the late accident, Mr. Edwin
James Q.t., being retained for the Company. The
impression as to the number of visitors to the ship
seems to have been very erroneous, at least to judge
from the following statement which, since it
emanated from an authentic source, must be regarded
as something like an approximation to the real state
of the case:—

September 12th (sa. day) .. ... ... 1408
„ 13th (24. 6d. day) ... ... 2570
It 14th ...17
15th P 04279
II 16th ... ... 457
..
.. 17th P. 962
19th ... ... 1363
P.
.. 20th PO
214 ~724
22nd P.
--
1 8 , 5614

Accintsv.—On Monday week very serious damage
was occasioned to the smack Frisk, Robert Carter.
master. It appears that the meek Lady was lying
at the Quay below the bridge, with the Frisk moored
next to her, and a buniboat outside, all threeattachiid
by the same rope. Some boy is said to have let go
the rope which fastened the vowels to the Quay, and
thrown the end to a man on shore, who instead of
making it fast to the stone mooring post attempted
to hold the disengaged craft back, but his strength
was unequal to their weight and the force of the tide
just then running up strong. Ile was consequently
obliged to abandon his hold of the rope. and the Lady
and the Frisk drifted towards the bridge, running
down and sinking the liumboat in their way. The
Frisk was crushed against the bridge and her bows
were stove in. Being deeply laden with slate, she
was in danger of sinking, from the pressure of her
mast and rigging against the bridge, as well as from
the water she was fast waking. The pump was
worked vigorously by the men on board, awl every
cited made to free the vessel, which, however, cull
only be effected by cutting away her mast, so as to
admit her passing through the bridge. The Lady
was again secured to her moorings with damage, but
the frisk is nmeh injured, and will require some ex-
tensive repairs. The unfortunate owner of the bum-
boat will be the greatest sufferer by the occurrence,
since he has to support a large fiunily by this means.
We understand a subscription will be made on his
behalf. It is certainly a very fitting object for the
sympathy and aria:aim, of the charitably dis-
posed.
litkvisiox op 'Worm.' LIST. John Eastahrooke
the Revising Barrister for this district,
held his annual Registration Court fur this borough
at the Callahan. on Saturday week. The proceed•
hugs did not excite much interest, and consequently
very few beyond the parties immediately concerned
were present at the" Battle of the Constant ," as
Sir Robert Peel once termed it. Mr. R. N. Howard
advocated the Liberal callAIO, and Mr. Steggsll sup-
ported the Conservatives.

Wernocvn Podice, Tuesday.—(Present: The Mayor,
R. Griffin, Eel. E. Bayley, Eel., eotterell
Joe. Ayling, Esq., Jim. Hancock, lir+. and W.
Symonds, Esq.)—John Cullies, of the Burden Hotel tap,
was sunituoned by the Commissioners of the Excise, fur
selling beer without a license. Mr. Weston appeared on
behalf of the Crown, and Mr. H. N. Howard for the
defendant. Mr. Weston stated that since lie arrived
in court, Mr. Howard on behalf of the defendant
lied admitted the charge. He (Mr. W.) vu therefore
prepared to express, on the part of the iown, • hope
that the magietrates would reduce the penalty to tho
lowest possible amount. The penalty for selling spirit.o
wiahout a licenoe was 00, sod that for beer 1.20. Mr.
Howard explained that Mr. Yearaley, the proprietor of
the Burden Hotel, hail premises at the back of his
establishment, where he had opened step, and over the
door had inscribed in large letters "Burden Hotel
Tap," a plain prod there was no intention to perpetrate
a Gaud on the revenue. Mr. Yearsley, had placed the
defendant (his servant) in the tap, thinsing he had right
to sell spirits and beer. Thus it was clear there was no
intention to defraud the Excise.—The Mayor said the
Bench were diapered to impose the lowest possible tine—
£l2 10a. in one ease, and LS in the other, and they were
inclined to recommend the Commissioners of Excise to
exercise further leniency.—.9epAen lags, master of the
Caroline, was sum:tweed by John Pearce, harbour
master, for refusing to remove his vessel when ordered.
Mr. Howard appeared for the defendant. The
magistrates were unanimously of opinion that the
summons should be dismissed, the harbour master
having exercised a proper disertidon, at the same time
the captain of the Caroline and the South Western
Company were doing equally right.
SIIKRIORNIL—We understand that Mr. Charles
Mortimer, late a pupil of Mr. Edward klerbert,
organist of Sherborne Abbey Church, has just been
appointed organist of the church of St. John the
evangelist, Manchester. The position is an im-
portant one, consequently there were a great num-
ber of candidates, It reflects great credit both on
Mr. Herbert ass teacher, and Sir. Mortimer for his
skill and assuiduity, which have enabled him at
the early age of 17 to secure an good an appoint-
ment.

OSBORNE. —A few days since the vicar, the Rev.
W. 11. Lyon, brought home his bride to the newly
erected parsonage house. On their arrival at the
gateway leading to Um lawn, they were met by the
sehoohnistress and children, who formed themselves
in a line on each side of the drive. Here with every
expression of delight they strewed arinsfull of flowers
in the path. With the aid of Nliss Weston they hatl
constructed and placed over the doorway a semicircle
of evergreens, bearing the word Welcome' in ivy
leaves. At a subsequent period the whole parish
were invited to a tea party at the parsonage. Messrs.
Ilighmore, Dmiford, Strange, Sealy and Foot all
seemed to vie with each ether to reeler the meeting
a happy and joyous one, not only to Mr. and Mrs.
Lyon, but to themselves, and their own workmen
with their wives and Luuilies. The worthy host
himself spared no pains to make the eveniug a re-
nitntbersal one of joyous hearts and happy faces.
The whole party partook of a liberal tea, during
it filch the fair bride banded round the bridal cake.
After sonic rounds of merry chat over the good
thiugs of the Mlle, a beautiful time.picee, which had
been perch:seal by the pansLiourau, was now, on
their behalf, presented to the vicar, by the. Rev.
E. N. Henning, who made
.suinct happy allusions to
31r. Lyon, and to hut amiable and amomplished
bride. 3lr. Lyon thanked them all fur the kind
and affectionate manner in which they had received
both himself and Mrs. Lyon. This little ceremony
being over, old and young, master and servant, all
junked heartily in a mane of rural spurts and games,
after which the National Anthem was sung, and
three times three were given, again and again, for
Mr. anti Mrs. Lyon, and Mr. and Mrs. Dig Ly. All
appeared much pleased at the nice Runnier in which
the selearbinistress, Misa Weston, had arranged and
decorated the tables wills Bowers, and at the general
interest she took in every part of the pmeeetlinge.
Amongst non-parialnouers present were Mrs. Ball
awl family, Mi. T. 0. Stevens and family, the Rev.
Ralph Lyon, Rev. Waahingtou,
UNION CON TH ACM. —Tandem for the quarter were
opensaL Fur meat there were three offers—Mr.
Read. at 6t1., joints, 74.; Mr. Parsons, tid., joints,
s,l, ; Mr. T. Watts, 61d., joints, 91. First tender
accepted. Coal, Messrs. Bradford, 191. I HI. (hest
Itadatock) ; Mr. Willis, Ite. 4d.; Menus. Bagebot,
I as. 3d. —Accepted. Clothing, only we tender;
ldr. A. Coste's—Aocepted. Grocery, one tender
only—Mr. Sarell—Aceepted. Butter, 134. ; mit
ditto, 1044. ; dips, 64. 9a. per dos.; household
cheese, 325. per cwt.; rice, 15.; soap, 325.; peas,
6s. 6d. per bushel ; tea, 34d. ; treacle, 16s. per cwt;
sugar, od. ; soda, ; salt, 2a. 3d. per cwt. ; pep-
per, Is. 6d. per lb.; mustard, 0,j,1 arrowroot,
10d. ; osat4 140. per cat

SHAFTESBURY PETTY SEASIONS.--September 27th.—
(Before R. Graves, Esq., J. Hussey, Eau., J. Du Boulay,
Esq., J B. Hussey, Es+, and the Rev. A. Hustable.
George Ai/ was brought up in custody charged with
an aggravated assault on W. R. Bell, Esq., of Knapp
/louse, Gillingham. Mr. Preame, of Gillingham,
appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Dyne, of Bruton,
for tlw i:efenoe.

1
Mr. Bell I live at Gillingham, and occupy two
farms, one at Bagley and the other at Lollies'', about
r one mile mail half apart. I web at Bugley on Monday,
1 September 10th. at • quarter past four o'clock. I went
1 from field to field until I arrived at l‘ingh.on, which
would be about h o'clock. I inquired of my boy (who
was there) for the shepherd, lie informed me that souie
limn had gone into the wood. I gave him iny pony to
1,..1,1, and tine:ceded to examine the wood. I encoun-
tered four 111C11 ; one of them, the prisoner, had a on in
the position of a pers,m looking for game, another had a,
stick in his hand, two others who were there appeared
to be assisting them. I told them they had 1111 blblillelld
there. The prisoner then immediately pointed his gun
at we and said °L'— your eyes, you bl— b—r, I will
shoot you." They then appeared to be withdrawing. I
followed them, and they turned upon me; this man
(the prisoner) pushed me with the muzzle of the gun ;
if it had been cooked, from the violence he used it must
have blown my brains out. I was punched with the 1
gun on my shoulder; the others were beating me all the
time. I have no hesitation in swearing the prisoner is
the man who had the guii. I believe lie was intoshaded.
I have reason to believe that it was full cocked when
prestnted to inc. and I believe he uncocked it after he
punched lay shoulder. I know the man principally by
the little tuft of hair on his chin. Ili/ face is now
placid, then it waA ferocious.
~ . .. . .-. .

Samuel Mead said :—I an, Mr. Itell's shepherd. I was
at Langliam on the 10th ; about half-past four o'clock 1
saw • man fall back in the hedge; I beard others in the
plantation. I then went to get another man, and on
returning heard Mr. Dell cry • Murder." I then saw
four Well leave the plantation. The prisoner was one
of them. He was about 30 yards from me. He had •
gun, the others had sticks. thanks Si:unmet' MU with
me, be was attacked by 110410 of the party. I never saw
the prisoner before. Scsuntuell is not here. Ido not
know why he is not here. I have hail no conversation
with Scannuell about it. Scaunuell was not taken
before the Magistrates.
For the slefemss Sophia Keen was called, who said :-
1 son the wife of Thomas Keen. I live in the brick-
yard at the tunnel in Bockhorn Weston. I was at home
on the 1911, at two o'clock, and all the afternoon except
when I went into Mn. Parrett's, nest door. The pri-
wiser Caine to we in usy house at two o'clock and asked
nie to go and see Mrs. Parrett, for there was uo one
with her. 1 wut in and left the prisoner, and when I
returned lie was laid on my lodger's bed asleep. He
was a little in liquor about 20 minutes past 3. He left
about four. I saw him afterwards' about live nsii,u tea
after four. He passed my lonese, and I maw him talking
to Mr. Miles, the surgeon. I never saw him with •
gun. I have known him for two years, and never knew
any harm of him.
John Perrett : I Jun a bricktnaker. I was at home
Monday afternoon. I saw George Phuff about 4
o'clock, and called him in, and he stopped there till 6,
he then went out. I know the time; the men, the
lodgers, were just coming home from their work ; the
bell had rung, and Shuff had left a few minutes before
the bell rung, which is at 6 o'clock. I know it was
Monday because it was just after the pay day.
Mr. E. J. Miles : I am • surgeon, of Gillingham.
On Monday the 19th I was called to the tunnel. I left
home about half-past two. I went to Bockhorn
Weston to see • patient. The house is about five miles
from my home. I hail called on Home patients on the
road. I then went to the tunnel. I had the horse
put in the stable and went to Nee Parrett. I saw the
prisoner about 4 o'clock, he asked sue a question such
as none but • drunken man would. Ile had no gun. I
had attended lihn before; I think his name was Jenkins
on my book, but am not lure; when I saw hitu it was
not half-past four.
Alice Perrett : lam wife of John Perrett. I saw the
prisoner on Monday, lie came to my house about 4
o'clock and remained there nearly two hours; it was
until 6 o'clock within a few minutes. He was there
till after 5. He sat down and talked to a man off the
road. I know it was about 4 when he came in from
the children coining from school, and that it was about
6 he left from the bell ringing for the men to leave off
work. When I heard of the assault on Mr. Bell I said
Shoff was in our house. I had no tea while the man
MILL there. I stood at the door of the hut with my
Why,

John Gardiner: I am a sub-contractor. I pay the
men. I heard of the police searching a hut on Tuesday;
three men sent for their money, I paid it, and they left.
I paid the wife of Davis on K ednesday ; Davis ia some-
what like the prisoner, another man has left. I have
seen the prisoner on the works for six months, I never
heard anything itgain.t him. Strangers might make a
mistake between Davis and this man.

Mr. Dyne made an eamest appeal in behalf of the
prisoner, arguing that it was a case of mistaken identity,
thsit the witnesses (who were out of e.,urt during the
giving of the evidence of the others) for the defence
had mutually confirmed each other, and he dwelt on the
ale.euce of 'coiuuirll, who was present with the sliep•
herd, and who could also speak to the identity of the
person who committed the outrage.
The bench having camsultesl together for some short
time, decid4.4 by a majority on sending the prisoner fur