The Express.
London, England, 1852-05-06 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 6, 1852.

TILE LOEB OF THE BIRKENHEAD

By Captain Hesdeseds--Attese is were side to get the
beam best wt saw the Me thews was Dot time
to get the Whir on. The poet IMYe be bast was milled
wady fee lewerists be* wee net lowered. The starboard
boat they bad sot Um W mat. The lights altered their
bearings whilst I Wee beard. When I first saw them
they were on the beau; who she struck they were on the
quarter.
By Captain Harris—When I pulled away for the shore
she had gone down. We did not tee any one in distress
Define we pulled away. The light I saw shone very bright,
it looked like two lights.
By Mr. Richards—The cutters were eight oared, but I
cannot say whether the fir.t had seven or eight. Ido not
think it was possible for us to effect a landing thrcugh the
sarf.
By Thomas Dunn—lt was your watch below when
the vessel struck._ .

Yesterday a court-martial was held on board the
Victory, deg-ship, at Portsmouth, upon the surviving Ga-
ms sad mow of the Dirkenhand steam troop ship, fee the
wreck of that veeeel, off Point Danger, in Simen's Hay,
Cape of Good Hope, on the moraine of the 26th of Feb-
ruary last. The court consisted of Rear-Admiral Prescott,
president; Captains Chat% ILM.S. Eli:anent ; Martin,
H.M.& Victory; Scott, H.M.S. Neptune; lleadereon,
H.M.S. Blenheim; Jones, H.M.S. Sampson; mammon,
H.M.S. Arrogant; Lock, H.M.S. Winchester; War-
den, H.M.S. Raributiun ; Symonds, H.M.S. Arethuss ;
Matson, H.M.S. Ilightipar ; Harris, Prince Regent; sad
George Lembniu Grevthant, Esq., Deputy lodge Advocate
of the Fleet.

Jobs Drake—l was colour sergeant of marines on
beard the Birkenhead. I was on the fbreentle when she struck
at about 20 minutes to 2. The captain came on deck at once.
I west to Mr. Brodle's cabin, and found hin up. I then
west eM galled all the officers. On coming on dick
Vthe **plain told me to stand by him to carry orders.
ent ardor given was to back turn the engine.; then
fur the best bower anchor to bo thrown over, the hones to
be throw, overboard, and the women and children to be
removed. By the time this was done the ship parted. The
boats were lowered ; but the port paddle-box boat could nut
be got out on account of a pin jamming. I went on the
poop, where I saw Cornet bolt, of the 12th Lancers, who
,shed me to go to the assistant surgeon's cabin ; Dr. Cul-
hone was there at the time. On going on deck the vessel
heeled over, and I was thrown overboard. I swam on a
piece of wreck, on which was Mr. Itolt. I was efurwarls
picked up. Did nut observe any lights previous to
the ship's striking. Mr. Richards, master's assistant,
picked me up, and we went on beam the Lionise schooner.
I know not of the slightest cause of complaint against Mr.
Richards or the others on trial. In my opinion everything
that could bo done was done, after the wreck, to save the
crew and pasecogen. The second paddle-box lost could
not be got out, as It was filled with water, so that the falls
could not ho got at, consequently neither of the paddle-box
boats were available.
By the President—l was not on the forecastle the whole
of the time. 1 had only bein there two or three minutes.
I was on deck the whole time. Mr. Davis was the only
officer I saw on deck previous to her striking. I remained
on the mast till the schooner came down. When! was on
the forecastle I could see the land, it did not appear nearer
than two or three miles.
By Captain Chads—l)id not hear any soundings called.
After striking it was about 16 or 17 minutes before she
broke down forward. She was full of water forward, it
being up the hatchways before she broke. It was Bor 9
minutia before the water came up. The order to turn the
engines back was given about a minute after she struck. It
was obeyed, but she appeared fast on the rock.
By Captain Wardco—No boats were in sight from the
maintopsail-yard at daylight.
Ily Captain Harris—Captain Salmond, when he came on
deck, had his dressing-gown on. Mr. Brodie had jacket
and trowsen on.
By Mr. Richards—l heard the surf breaking whilst I was
on the wreck. It was not postilde fur a boat to lend in it.
I saw breakers to seaward of the wreck. When you took
mo off the wreck I did not see any spars Aiming between
it and the shore. I believe the two cutters belonging tothe
ship were of the same size.
By Captain Chads—l believe about 40 were taken off the
topsail-yard. Mr. Richards's boat came to the wreck
first; the two conveyed away the whole of those who were
clinging to the yard. The topsail-yard was abort four feet
out of water. The topgallant mast was out of water.
John Archbold, gunner, said he we, on deck when she
struck, and described the state of the vessel in similar
terms to those of other witnesses. The captain asked what
water there was in the chains ; he was told seven fathoms.
He alsossirod what water forward, was told three fathoms,
oast ho sullied the engines to be reversed and all hands on
de pop. I board the chief engineer say the, ater had
some up sal put the fire out. Tho captain then went on
the poop and ordered me to fire some guns of distress, pining
me the keys of the magazine. I went forward and found
the low deck covered with water. I ran aft and
related the circumstance, and told him I had some
blue rockets and lights in the passage leading to his cabin:
he ordered me to fire them away. I heard the captain
giving orders for the horses to be pitched overboard and the
women and children brought up to the gangway. The
boats' crows were then called away, Mr. Richards being
ordered to take charge of the second cutter. I then went
to get out the port paddle-boa boat, when a wave carried
me over the sponson. I was hanging on to a truss of straw
fur two hours. At daylight I saw a piece of wreck, and
found Captain Wright and ten soldiers upon it. We paddled
on shore at two in the afternoon, picking up Mr. Barber,
me of the engineers.
The court adjourned to this day (Thursday).

The individuals put on trial were Mr. R. B. Richards,
master's migrant; John Bowen, A. 8.; Thomas Dunn,
A. 8.; Abel Stone, ordinary seamen; and Juhn Ashbolt,

Tito first witness called wu—
Thomas CALI, able seaman, who deposed—l had the
middle watch from 12 to 2 cm. I was stationed at the
wheel. I was ordered to steer S.S.E. E. by Haynes, who

wss •t Ow wheel from 10 to 12. I did steer that tonne.

Mr. Davis took the bearings of the lights a few minutes
before she struck, which was a few minutes below 2 o'clock.
The captain came on the poop and salted what the noise was,
and where the ship was. Some one said she was on shore.
The captain milted Mr. Davis what coarse he was steering.
Mr. Davis said H.S.E. half E. The captain said that was
right. Ile then fll.llll an order fee tba horses to be throw"'
overboard, and for the eagles, to give a hack turn. It was
obeyed. Ile then ordered the quarter boats to
be cleared away and lowered down, and the paddle-
box boats to he got out. I, buloaging to the first
cutter, left the wheel at the time, the quarter-
muter' Fleming, taking it from me. I was hardly
in the haul when the captain ordered it to be lowered
down. Two or three soldiers ;tmped in the boat as she
was lowering. Some of the boat's crew went in the boat,
but not all; there was no officer with us; could not pick
up any penes in the cutter. I left the cutter at daylight,
and volunteered into the second gig, to pull alter the
schooner in sight. We pulled for about four boars after
her, and, finding the breeze freshening, and she was gain-
ing on to, it was of no use to Mow her. The land being
nearly out of sight, we thought it hest to make for it imme-
diately ; with the wind freshening, widths boat being a small
ore, we thought it dangerous to remain out at sea. We
accordingly pulled for the lend as quickly as we could ;
reaching it at four in the afternoon. Abel Stone, at the
foretop, had the leads ; I did not heir him give say sound-
ings. Mr. Willard', master's anittant, was below ; it was
not his watch. Saw him afterwards in the cutter. There

was Dr. Cuthane in the gig.
The President—When the witness says we did so and se,
does he mean that it won • joint determination,' or acting
under the opinion of the officer?
Witness—Dr. Culhane directed us.
The President—Did Abel Stone, who had the leads, at-
tend properly to do his duty ?
Witness—Being dark at the time I cannot say. I did
net we him at all. Did not hear him report any soundings.
The President—Have you any evidence to give respecting
the prisoners on trial ?
Winters—No.
Captain Chula—Where was the wheel placed in the Bir-
kenhead?
Witness—On the poop. She was under steam only.
Theme was no more wind than the ship made going through
the Water. It was a starlight night. I saw the land, sap-
=myself to be between two and three miles off.
was a swell. I did not hear the surf from
the eons till I was in the boat. There was no
•• shore at the time the ship struck.
APIS tae ship struck Mr. Salmond was on deck in about a
mingles time : he was not dressed. The ship was going,
Ass she struck, seven knots and a half an hour. There
IMO 10 juuior officer to Mr. Davis in the watch. The effect
IS Om ship when she struck was to cause her to roll, and
ten! • rolling noise below. The ship, when tho cutter
wen lowered, was in • sinking state, the fore part being
nearly under water. The foremast was standing. John
Lewis, A. 8., was coxswain of the cutter. She was a 10.
oared boat. We had 30 odd in the cutter after the wreck.
The boats stayed by the wreck till nearly daylight. When
the cutter left she followed Mr. Richards In tho second
cutter along the coast, to try to get • landing place. The
coxswain took the charge of the boat in his command. The
followed Mr. Richards from his own ideas. We did net ,
attempt to make • landing, owing to the surf making It'
dangerous to do so. We remained at the back of the enolf
till it was open daylight, and then seeing the schooner we
thought it would be safer to pull for her. We were abseil
five miles from the wreck when we were at the back of the
surf.
Could not the cutter have held more men, considering it
was a calm ?—Not with safety. There were nine of us in
the gig ; there were some removed from the cutter into the
gag, and from the gig to the cutter to make a strong crew.
About two more went from the gig to the cutter than from
the cutter to the gig. After the boat was lowered we kept
within a few yards of the port quarter. We remained
there close on an hour.
During that time could you not have picked up • few
more people f —Yee ; but we considered it unsafe to do so.
Byd apt. Martin.—We fell in with the gig about half an
hour after we began to pull for the schooner. Dr. Culhaae
was in the gig.
By Capt. Scott.—l volunteered to the gig incense I was
stronger than any one in it at the time.
By Capt. Denderson.—Was Mr. Salmond on deck any
part of the time you were at the wheel I—No.
Bat his cabin being in the poop, and you being on it,
might ho not have been on deck without your seeing %
If he came clean out of the poop I could not have been off
seeing bins, lie could net have gone to the bridge with-
out my seeing him. I did not see Mr. Brodie on deck
during the time I was at the wheel ; after the ship struck
I beard his voice forward giving orders.
Captain Jones—Thomas Daly on one bow, and John
Butcher on the other, were the look-out men. The party
in the cutter comprised part of the crew (the remaining
part of them being engaged in getting out the other boats)
and some soldiers. There were no women or children.
By Captain Robinson—Did the Birkenhead steer easily ?
—The wheel was heavy,. but she steered easily. Thesom-
were slow in moving. There was a good light in the
s binnacle. The officer of the watch looked at the compasses
several times.
Captain Lock—There was a heavy swell alongside the
shore, nearly ahead. With the helm amidships, and in •
calm, the ship steered with a list. We did not see the surf
en the shore before we struck. The port paddle-box boat
swamped shortly after reaching the water. The star-
board paddle-box boat we had not time to get out, on se-
fount of the ship sinking so quickly. The boats were
always kept ready, excepting the falls being across the
deck.
By Captain Warden—The leadsman was aft the pert
peddle-box. Had Abel Stone taken the soundings I men
eleard it had I been listening, but my attention was
kept to the wheel. At the rate the ship was going it Uwe
have been& very quick hand to get assents souadieMle
12 Jr 13 fathoms. I could not at an times have sea Om
myself. The change of crews between the Miler sad g#g
was madeattraffir. Richards's onion.
By C Matson—The amanuenses was shaft Bee
wheel. not know whether the Wogs& differed lea
the standing eompug. It was NMI the the aka of ihn
watch to compare the two. The dals wee set swung et the
Cape of Good Hope. as she was toe heavy.
By Captain Harns—We could UN me the outline of the
shore before she struck. Dr nes law the name of the
light Mr. Davis took the busby oL Wel" 0014 it a
very few minute. before *eggs*. Weill net mhos to
admit eay one tan the adlit. We teak op ell Maims new
By
By the President—Do believe lie. Rishards did all
he could to save the the week I—Yes, he did.
I hags no Salaam le Awe @gang either of
the
J4Ll=ren asked if be was ea desk at the time she
ego& ; mitoses replied he was not, Thelma Dunn was net
also.
The President told the witness he had given very latis-
h/on evisnace.
Theses Daley, able seaman—l was in the middle watch
es the naming in question. I was on the look-out at this
Ihwoonlitle. I could see the land and lights when I was on
the leek-oat, and when I went on the watch observed them
until she struck, which was at 10 minutes to tel o'clock. I
felt her strike three times. I belonged to the snood getter,
end on being ordered by the captain went into ler. Mr.
Richards was ordered by the captain to take charge of this
Mgr, sad take the wawa. West about 10 yards from
the ship, sad remained there about as minutes, after
wWh we soiled tw the Wei by Mr. Richards's orders. We
mad =abodes moms of the awl, but remained about
two wan bow it, till we saw the whoa's. We thee
eiclew IMIt ter about six hours, but could not catch
re aherwards laid en oar oars, and the schooner ran
I. Ppted *bd veep.
he Pteeidest—l bane then were M wen is the
nine with 7 wow" sod sews& Whims. The boat
mat set have Mid moo with will& am were
sow
admiedes. I did net hear my seestdiese abed beam the
chip Rawl or after ; going Moot ihoses. Al • leadlesual
amid met aspect to strike meodiest Ihe skip gag at deal
vete. I thought I saw tw• liable he ow plow the whole if
the time 1 was on the look eat. The an 1 mimed
pelMed the light out to me, mil I saw it the whole of tbe
doe skiIMMI. I only saw 11r. Davis, who was Slicer of
the Valk on deck during the time I was on duty ; had
lbws bees gay other on the poop or deck:l should have seen
kin.]shier Mr. Richards did everything in his poser
*NM die people from the wreck. I have no instance of
mbeemiset on the part of either of the prisoner' to state to
Ike mart.
het Chadew—l e
were
ed nots steering
wwee were
snioariouirt f the
ogle the lend when we struck. Mr. Davis did not
ebb a to see we were keeping a good look out. Ire
mind six minutes at my post after the ship struck; the
=then celled out to let go the beet bower anchor, and
heats away ; the water was then coming in very fast.
The Op brae down forward before the paddle-box, about
25 emardoe after she struck. Ihe boats were lowered before
thk hopplesed. I think she afterwards broke in two abaft.
The Watt was too full to attempt taking any more in her.
Geseepi Till was coxswain of my boat.
By Captain Martin—When the schooner picked op the
cutters she was about 20 miles from the wreck.
By Captain Scott—When the people were put on Wald
the schooner went to the wreck with them.

BRITISH ANTI-STATE•CHURCIH
ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting of the Rritioh Anti-
State-Church Association was held last night in Finsbury
Chapel. LAWRENCE HEYWORTII, Esq., M.P., in the chair.
The body of the chapel was crowded with the friends of the
principles of the association, and there was a largo number
of delegates from the country. Letters of apology for non-
attendance were received from the Rev. Hugh Stowel
Drown, Mr. Scholetield, M.l'., and Mr. S. Crawford, M.P.
The CHAIRMAN said that the meeting was aware that
the object fur which they were met was to promote a sever-
ance of the Christian church from its alliance with the
state. (Hear.) Ac.anding to his reading of history, the
connexion between the church and state tended to corrupt
and to injure both. (Hear.) As the meeting would bo ail-
droved by gentlemen • horn he knew they were anxious to
heir, he would merely call on the secretary to read the re-
port.
The SzcarrAur read the report, of which the following
contains the principal points It stated that they had,
during the year, sent deputations to nearly one hundred
towns, from Aberdeen in the north to the other extremity of
the kingdom. The public meetings bad been large and
animated, and though discussion had sometimes taken place,
in no case had they failed to adopt the society's principle.
A monthly meeting had also been held during the winter
in London, at which addresses on given topics had been de-
livered in the hearing of a considerable number who bad
not attended previous meetings. The committee had issued
several new popular tracts, and bad commenced a series in-
' tended to give a complete exposition of the state-church
system. The literary scheme for inculcating the society's
principles by means of general literature had been success-
fully launched; several thousand volumes of the "Library
for the Times" having been circulated. The agitation for
the repeal of the Maynooth End,wment Act had led the
committee to give their support to the movement against
sill state patronage of religion. The agitation, it was pre-
dicted, would greatly accelerate the solution of a wider
question, as it would be increasingly felt that grants to
Roman esthetes iu Ireland could not justly be withdrawn,
and at :the same time the Irish church and the presby-
teriso regium donwo maintained.
The Rev. Wm. \Vatting moved that the meeting viewed
with satisfaction the valuable exertions put forth by the
Anti. State Church Association for the diffusion and advocacy
of its principles throughout the kingdom, and rejoiced at
the tendency of events to deepen the impression they were
calculated to produce.
Mr. E. P. HOOD seconded the resolution. Ile felt a sin-
cere and ardent attachment for the 'principles of their
association, became he believed that they alone were ca-
pable of resisting the encrosehnsent of infidelity. (Hear,
They know that the New Testament wasfrequently

.mr •
called " the priest's book," end the only way of rearming
that reproach was to sever the mane:ion between church
sad state. They should restore the brazen clasps of priest-
craft and give full and compisto freedom to the church.
The resolution was put and carried unanimously.
The Rev. H. SULLY proposed the next resolution:—
, "That the recent gratuitous decimation of the Earl of
Deal, that it would be a principal object of his govern-
ment to uphold and extend the influence of the established
church, was regarded by the meeting as an encouragement
to increased activity on the part of the friends of the asso-
ciation, as betraying a consciousness that public opinion wee
fist ripening to a successful assault on so anomalous an in-
stitution." He liked the spirit of the resolution, for it
showed that they had confidence in the success of their
efforts. They had no feeling of hostility to the members of
the established church. They believed that that church
contained a great deal of what was good, and they only
wished to withdraw it from the corrupting connexion of the
state. (Haar, hear.)
The Rev. W. FOSTER regarded the declaration of Lord
Derby as a new cry of "the church in danger." It was
the war-whoop of the minister in defense of his favourite
establishment; it was bold end madid, and there-
fore he much preferred it to the alsea countenance and
friendship of the whir.
The resolution was then pat and easded unanimously.
Mr. biIALL prepessi the next resolution: That in the
prospect of a general eleetien. the meeting earnestly ex-
horted the emus* et state wannenies with religion to
avail themeibm of the WM= it alleedad fee the further-
once of their views by sapperting antletate church candi-
detes." He could not be atoned of haying ever wavered
in his advocacy of this cause. (Hear, hear.) But in the
present Mate dparties he did not think it would be wise
to tie the Wads et w Rea is veva le sisal liberty. They
should say to their Winds, " help Steward the suffrage as
far as yea ens, help forward the awed= of church and
state as far as you can ; but if yea emir* do bath, 1110 the
first, and the mooed will spee_dlly Mow." Whim the
principles ofthisameelaties wiseleill down some 11 years ago,
it world lave beent madness to make those prin-
ciples a poem in a general election. But that
time had pond by. (Been tem.) They had already
secured mane badges who understood and deeply
felt their poi s, sad se they had, by mesas of tracts sad
public menage. familiarised the public mind with their
principles, he ad r. confident expectation that they would
greatly strengthen their cause at the next election. (Ika,
hear.) It was formerly said that the separation of church
and state was an abstraction. So was free trade at one
time culLd an abstraction, but it was no abstraction now,
it was something very palpable and tangible. (Hear,
henr.) The fact was that the term only was an abstraction ;
the policy for which it stood was plain enough. (Ileta.)
Isle. J. Ones seconded the resolution, which was carried.
After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting sepa-
rated.

LONDONDERRY AND ENNISKILLEN RAILWAY.—
Itattic receipta for the week ending May 1, 1552:—Paa-
acugers, 132/. ls. Od.; Goods and mails, lbOt. 12s. Od. Total,
lba 241 mike open. Corresponding Week, Issl,
1811. be. 11., 16 wiles open.