The Press.
London, England, 1858-09-04 00:00:00

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I
THE. PRESS, SEPTEMBER 4,185 S. 861
Mr. Metcalfe • And with regard to the " Rosa Bon.
prosecutor . I (lid it to make a variation in the Jacob Tester : lam a boatman. Yesterday I went
names There is also a cheque fcr 2001., dated the heur," a gentleman in the Times has described it as out with the boat named the Mary Eliza. She be.
.
of June; one for 301., and two for 151. each, a very trashy affair. longed to Mr. Thomas George Wood. He lives at
Wituess (hesitating): Oh, yes. It is a very pretty Worthing. Another boatman went with me. Hie
:Ist of
the 23rd of June ;vend for 1001., dated the 25th
one for Al., dated the Bth of July. picture. name was Edwin Blann. lie and I generally went
of June; and Mr. Metcalfe : And what is the value of' it ? with the boat. We took out nineteen persons in the
The whole of these cheques were given to
501.,Mr. W. T.
Witness : I should not like to say. The value of boat besides ourselves. We left the beach at twenty
Boas, with the exception of the last for which
it is what it will fetch at an auction.
1 recollect nothing about. minutes after two. The weather was very fine at
In the course of cross-examination of the prose. Mr. Metcalfe : But to sell privately what would be that time. Ido not know the tonnage of the boat,
cuter by Mr. Metcalfe the following was elicited :
the value of it ? but it was about two and a half or three tons. She
Mr. Metcalfe : You have stated in your depositions Witness :It might be worth from 251. to :10/. would carry seven or eight tons. I should consider
that the "Rosa Bonheur," the " Turner," and six They were very cheap at the price• her safe with that number of persons. I have gone
others comprised the lot sold to you for 1,000/. Alderman Wire : You mean they were cheap at the out with twenty.eight persons in her, all full-grown
Prosecutor: There were eight pictures on that oc- price they were knocked down at ? people. I was in the fore part of the vessel, tending
Witness : Oh, certainly. the foresheets. Edwin Blann, who is dead, was
casion. Alderman Wire here suggested a further adjourn- steering her. The boat was twenty-two feet long, by
Mr. Metcalfe: Were there not two I.O.U.'s—one
for 150/. and one for 2501.—given on that occasion ? meut, as it did not appear probable that the case eight feet beam. When we started we went to the
Prosecutor: No, there was not. could be completed at that sitting. eastward. We were out some time before anything
Mr. Metcalfe : Remember, now, there are two men Mr. Metcalfe said he should probably feel it his took place. I should think we had gone three-
who
brought the pictures whose mouths are not duty to call a number of witnesses for the defence, quarters of a mile from the shore. Everybody ap- I
closed. What was said about the Rosa Bonheur ? and that it would he necessary to postpone the fur- peered very cheerful, and not any of us apprehended
Proeecuter : Mr. W. T. Barnes said it cost 500/.
ther hearing of the case to a future day. the slightest harm. The weather was very favour-
r. Sleigh having other witnesses to call, the able, and the wind was by no means fresh. I was
I did not my to him that it looked like a "Rosa ,jM
adournment was agreed to, and the defendants were as I before said, in the fore part of the bout, and
Bonheur." Ido not recollect him saying that it was
again required to enter into their recognizances to some songs were being sung. Mrs. Blann sang a
somewhat like but that he did not know by whom it
appear on the remand. song, and her husband begun another; but be had
was painted. I will swear he said it was painted by
It was rumoured in court that the handsome silver. scarcely finished the first verse when all of a sudden,
Rosa Bonheur. gilt cup presented to Mr. Peter was won at Newton I can't say how, I found the boat go down. We were
Mr. Metcalfe : Was not the price of 60/. put on
Races by William Palmer, the poisoner of Rugeley, thrown into the water, and I found myself clinging
that picture ? and afterwards sold with the rest of his effects. to the topmast. My feet rested on the cap of the
Prosecutor : He said it cost 5001., but there was
The further consideration of the ease was postponed topmast, and while there several persons, children
no separate price put upon it. The eight paintings
till next Friday. and adults, caught hold of me. I became nearly
were put into one lot for 1,000/. I did not go down
t) their shop frequently during these transactions, exhausted, and some of the persons were washed
and ask if they had bought anything that would away from me. Several, however, still retained their
suit me. On the contrary, they brought these gtttittnts ad Offeatts. hold on to different parts of my dress. We saw
pictures so fast to me that I was obliged to tell them _ another boat reaching for the shore, and I hailed it.
It was the Fairy lugger. The master of the Fairy
to bring me no more. I may have told Mr. Barns to FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT AT WORTHING. called out to us to keep our spirits up, as he would
write and inform me when he had anything to suit
ON Friday last week Mr. Blagden, the coroner for assist us as soon as possible. In a few minutes she
me, but not to bring it up to me.
Alderman Wire : Even if he had how can it affect the western division of the county of Sussex, and a came alongside, and we were, eight in number,
this charge? I frequently walk into picture galleries jury of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, as- brought ashore.
myself to make similar inquiries. It has nothing sembled at the Spaniard Inn, Chapel-street, for the The evidence of several others was then taken,
purpose of opening the investigation into the circum- and also that of the medical gentlemen who received
acre to do with the case than I have with the Em
peror of China. stances attending the deaths of the unfortunate the bodies as they were brought ashore and applied
Thomas Cooper said :I am porter to the Duke of persons who lost their lives by the sinking of the restoratives. The following verdict was returned :
Newcastle, and have been in the service of the Mary Eliza pleasure-boat, on the previous Thurs- We, the jury, are of opinion that the several deceased
present and the late duke for the last thirty.six years. day afternoon. persons met with their deaths by drowning, arising from
I know pretty well all the members of the duke's The names of the deceased are as follows :—Ada the oversetting of the Mary Eliza a pleasure-boat ; that,
family. Within my knowledge no cousin of the duke Torr, aged three years ; Florence Torr, eight months ; at the time of such oversetting of' such boat, considering
has during the last few years been left a widow with Clementine Jackson, four years ; Elizabeth Torr, the number of passengers on board, the boat was not com-
a large collection of pictures•
I never saw the cup seven years ; Clara Ann Smith, one year ; George patently manned, nor were the sails ao fastened as to guard
such an oversetti. The ur cannot searate
produced before, and I know. pretty well the whole of Smith, three years ; William Thomas Smith, five against ut witho stronsly recommending thatj theyauthorities
the duke's plate. years ; Martha Smith, nine years ; Ann Henns, should take the necessary steps to insure the proper regu-
Alderman Wire :Is the Duke of Newcastle the lord twenty-seven years ; Harriet Humphrey (adult), lation and management of pleasure-boats within the district
of the manor of Newton? Edwin Blann (master of the boat), Ellen •Blann (his of Worthing.
Witness: I think not, sir, I never heard that he wife). Another of Mr. Smith's boys was lost, but
was his body is not yet found.
Mr. Edward Manson said :I am one of the firm The jury having viewed the bodies of the twelve THE COLLISION ON THE OXFORD, WORCESTER,
of Christie and Manson, auctioneers, of King-street, deceased persons, which lay at the Royal Baths, on AND WOLVERHAMPTON RAILWAY.
St. James's. I have seen the picture of " Oxen and the Parade, the following evidence was taken : THE inquest on the bodies of the twelve persons who
Plough," called a " Rosa Bonheur." It was sold by Ellen Redding :lam e servant in the employ of were killed by the collision of two excursion trains
toe by auction on the 12th of June last to Mr. Barns Mr. William Smith, No. 1, Camden-place, Greenwich. on the above line of railway on Monday week was
for 171. Os. Od., including the frame, but I cannot say I came to Worthing a fortnight ago with Mr. and i resumed on Wednesday last, at Brettle-lane, before
if this is the same frame. Mrs. Smith and their family, which consisted of six Mr. Phillips, the district coroner. Another of the
Alderman Wire : How is it described in your cata- children at that time. Mr. Smith is a builder, I be. sufferers named Clarke having died on Wednesday,
lope? lieve. This unfortunate affair occurred yesterday. the inquiry also had reference to his death.
Witness : " Ploughing with Oxen in the South of I did not know where Mr. and Mrs. Smith ware at Mr. Fenton, Chairman ; Mr. Sheriff, manager ;
France—after Rosa Bonbon'," but it is not a Rosa the time. They had left home in the morning. Mr. Mr. Adcock, secretary ; Mr. Wilson, engineer ; and
Bonheur. It is merely a copy. I also sold the one and Mrs. Torr lived in the same house. Ido not Mr. King, of Stourbridge, solicitor, attended on
produced, described in the catalogue as "Flora know where they went to. They were out for the behalf of the railway company. Two attorneys
Crowned by Cupids," by Furini, to Mr. Barns on the day. Mrs. Smith went out by herself. The name attended on behalf of sufferers by the collision.
6th of July for 10/., which also included the frame. of the place where they lived was Augusta-house, Mr. King, on behalf of the railway company, ex-
The other picture, described as a " Satyr carrying Worthing. Mr. Torr was Mrs. Smith's brother. Mr. pressed their sympathy with the sufferers and
Fruit, and a Bacchante in the backg I
round," has the Smith, I believe, was in London or Greenwich. Mr. apologized for the absence of the chairman at the
name of Ruhens against it in the catalogue, and I and Mrs. Torr had four children of their own, and a previous sitting, that gentleman having been in
sold it to Mr. Barns for ten guineas. visitor named Clementine Jackson. All these coil- Scotland when the jury first met.
Alderman Wive : Did you sell it as a Rubens ? dren were living at Augusta-house. I went out with The witnesses were then examined.
Witness : No. the children about two o'clock in the afternoon. My- Eli Newton deposed that at about a quarter past eight
Mr. Metcalfe :Isit a Rubens? self, Matilda Lacy (a nurse), Emma Sharp (a nurse o'clock on Monday evening week he heard an explo-
Witness :I do not think it is. The small picture to Mr. Torr), and Mr. 'Tory's head nurse went with sion, and went down to the railway, where he found
was sold by Mr. Christie for 41. the children. Ann tiering went with us, but she was the trains in collision. Saw Francis Mills lying
Mr. Metcalfe : Then if this picture is not a Rubens, not saved. Ten children went with us, six of Mrs. against the rails with a cut across his forehead. He
why do you p g
lace the nam3 of Rubens aainst it in Smith's, and four of Mr. Tory's, and Miss Jackson was sensible, and asked for some water. Witness re-
the catalogue. was with them. The coachman's wife went with moved him from the line. He appeared in a dying
Witness: To indicate that it is either a Rubens or us, and one child. The child was saved. We all state, and expired in ten minutes or a quarter of an
belongs to the same school. It may be a Rubens, went into a boat. A man named Blann was the hour.
but it is not described as a Rubens in the catalogue. boatman. His wife went with him. One other William J. Humphries, station-master at the joint
Mr. Metcalfe : Have you been treated to a criminal boatman was with us. I do not know his name. station of the Great Western and Oxford, Worcester,
summons iu this matter? There were twenty-one in the boat. I went into the and Wolverhampton Railways at Wolverhampton,
Witness : Not that lam aware of. boat by permission of my mistress, and I took the stated that his duty was to take charge of the station
Mr. Metcalfe : This,then, is what is called meting children also by permission. She knew when she generally, but not to inspect the carriages. Super
out even-handed justice ! was going out that we were going on the sea. The intended the starting of the excursion train from
Witness : These pictures are described in the boatman was sober. I cannot remember how long Wolverhampton on Monday week. It was advertised
catalogue as coming from the " Corci Gallery of we were out before anything happened. We went as an excursion for Sunday-school teachers and
Florence." out for two hours. We had been out for some time. children. Believed there were twenty-four carriages
M. Metcalfe . •
Did
they come from there ? The boat turned over. We were all thrown into the and two break-vans used in the train that started
Witness : I cannot say ; but that was the descriP. water. I was saved by clinging to the sailor, and from Wolverhampton. It was a single train. It
lion I received with them. I never warrant pictures was picked up by another boat. left at 9.18, and was advertised for 9.15. There
as genuine originals unless they are expressly By the Coroner : I have seen the bodies of some was one engine employed, but witness did not know
described as such in the catalogue. The conditions of them—all but Martha Smith—and I recognize what was its power, and an engine-driver and fireman
a°ll:inehariseotwhnat every purchaser must take the pictures them all as the same persons who went out in accompanied it. Ninety-nine persons
judgment. Mr. Barns has been a very the boat.
goad customer for several ea hampton in the train, chiefly children. The engine
By the Jury • The wind had not been blowing very was in front of the train, and as far as he knew
left Wolver-
Mr. Metcalfe :Is not the picture of the 4t Flora" a hard before this took place. We had our dinners everything was in perfect working order. Examined
very good one ?
Witness :it is. before we started. We first went into a small boat the train himself before it left. No complaints were
to get into the large boat. made by the guard or other person as to the chains.
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