The Express.
London, England, 1863-10-22 00:00:00

THE LOSS OF THE OBOROIA STEAMS&

The following le the official report to the Privy
Council tar Trade oo the for of this vowel:

jfionLords,—l have the honour to report, for the lan-
d your lordships, the result of the inquiry which,
in conjunction with Captains Hants and Baker, as nautical
anummors, I have held into the loss of the Georgia, on Sable
Island, on the 4th of August last. The Georgia was an
iron screw steamer, built at Jarrow in 1863. She was of
2,876 grow and 2,414 registered tonnage, originally owned
by Marrs. Faroe Brothers, of Liverpool, and trenderred on
the 3rd August, as it appeared by her certificate of registry,
to certain persons trading under the designation of the
British sad American Southern Steam Navigation
Company. She was commanded by Mr. Benjamin
Gleadell, who held a certificate of oorr Potency
as master, dated 9th August, 1853. The Georgia
made the outward voyage from Liverpool to New York in
perfect safety, and ailed 'gain from New York on the home-
ward voyeLe. in all respects thoroughly equipped, on the
31st July hat, drawing 23 feet 3 inches aft and 2C feet
7 lanes forward. She carried, in addition to her crew of
94 hands, 20 cabin and 27 engage passengers, and a very
large and valuable general eazgo, sod was left in safety
by the pilot off Sandy Hook shortly before 7 p.m. At
aeon on the let Amon • good observation was ob-
Weed, which plied the ship in lat. 40.58 N., and
long. 70.27 W., a position to the northward of the Naa-
tuclut Lightship. The weather had been fair, with
Lseing clouds, up to this period, but at L2O p.m. a dews
t in. A cast of the lead was taken at 1.30 p.m.,
' indicated shoal soundings, but the speed of the Ves-
sel was not slackened to take soundings or subsequently,
and in tea minutes afterwards she struck on some outlying
danger off the Nantucket Shona, the precise spot never
having been ascertained from the density of the prevailing
fog. She continued grounded for from five to six how;
during which time some cargo was thrown overhand to
lighten the ship, and eventually about 7 p.m. she floated.
SSA was then made, the ship standing for the southward,
but after proceeding about a mile the vessel sgeia took the
ground but very shortly went off into 10 fathoms water.
From this the muter proceeded cautiously, steering various
Bourses,until she got into 22 fathoms, and then shaped his
course S.E. and by E. till coon of the following day,
soundings haring bees occasionally taken doing this
time in 30 to 40 fathoms. From noon of the 2nd a more
northerly course was shaped, ant continued until she
struck on the north-west bar of Sable Island about 1 a.m.
on the 4th, no soundings during that time having
taken, a the vessel continuing under all plain and
steaming at a rate of from 9 to 10 knots en ear.
notwithstanding the fog, which continued nosh...fed. At
daylight the fog lifted, and the master then discovered his
position, when the second officer was sent on shore to find
a good landing place, and to seek assistance, but he did Dot
return to the ship till the following day, and the promo-
gers and the greater part of the luggage wen all safely landed
in the course of the morning. Efforts were made daring
the next 48 hours, the weather being moderate, by carry-
ing out both a kedge sod a bower anchor, to heave her off,
but unsuccessfully, and some portion of the cargo was got
upon deck, but on thrown overboard. The crew, at mid-
night of the sth, knocked off work, and early on the fol-
lowing morning went aft to the muter, end insisted upon
their effects being landed, fearing, as they said, a change
in the weather, which might render their position dan-
gerous. This request the master reluctantly complied
with, but, notwithstanding, eventually in the course of
the morning the engineers, fireman, stokers, and all hands,
save the lint officer and four others who volunteered to re-
main with the master, left the ship. The impudence made
on the mind of the court by the evidence on this point cer-
tainly wee, that the master did not possess either the neces-
sary confidence or control of the ship's company. At the
same time, I feel bound to add, that the superintendent of
the island bad slated, in the hearing of some of the men,
that the ship was in • dangerous position, and could Dot be
got off, while if it came on to blow she would probably go
to pieces, and there would be considerable difficulty in
landing. It appears to me only right to state thus much ;
and as the dangers of the position must have been known
to the master, it may amount for his not having opposed
more strenuously, as it would seem to have been his duty
to do, their departure from the ship ; and it may also
be some extenuation for the men being so Nukes to
leave. At 11.30 a.m. on the 6th the vessel floated, and re-
mined in 28 to 30 feet of water till 4.30 p.m., when she
again grounded heavily. the six remaining hand ors board
' being usable, of course, to save the ship in the interval.
When she thus again took the ground, it was supposed she
settled down on her port anchor, as she began to make meter
fast, and finding that nothing could be does, die Friday nUMB•
, ' big, the 7th, the master and remaining hands left the vend
with 10 feet of water in the forehold, six feet to the maid-
hold, and five feet in the afterhold. The ship was visited
subsequently several times, and some of the stores end pro-
visions were saved. In reviewing the circumstances of this
' catastrophe, lam compelled to pronounce the master in
default. This ease adds another loss to the long catalogue
of disasters which have coon Ad through the want rd
common precaution. in not using the lead while running
in a dense fag, end in this instance in an uncertainty as
' to the true course. Notwithstanding the warning num
' this latter point which the muter had received by his
, ' ' first misadventures in grounding upon Nantucket Shoals,
' be took no further soundings after noon of the 2nd t -
' lying upon his nurse being correct and safe. Had be one-
' atonally continued his soundings as he approached the Me,
dian of Sable Island, he would have had timely warning
of the approaching danger. Captain Bayfield, Royal Navy,
speaking of this vicinity, says, is the " Sailing Directions for
North America "—"To the southward (of Sable Island). 011
the cookery, the water deepens gradually eat for so many
miles, that it would seem almost impossible for any vessel
using common precaution to run on shore on that side, either
ci. the Wand or its bars ; yet by far the greater number et
shipwrecks have taken phin there, affording • ma proof et
the culpable neglect of the sourdog lead so edam in
the mercantile marine. Some of these vessels ewe
on shore in fine. although foggy weather after reaming
for many miles in shallow water, when one east of the I
would have shove them their danger, and, in many cans,
eared both life and property." Although, therefore, the
master, to judge by his statement, thought be wen steering
• course that would have taken him a long way to the
southward of Sable Island, yet in the absence of observe-
non to corroborate his assumed position in a deer fog, the
court cannot but condemn the neglect of the lead ; for even
admitting that he was misled by his conipamee, under all
the antendent circumstances, he should have taken warm-
ing and continued his soundings. In the judgment which
I have, with the full coocorresoe of my aassisiors, to pro--
flounce upon the master, I have taken into consideratica
that be was making his lest Atlantic voyage as cow.
mender. But it is my duty to visit his conduct with a
heavy censure, and I acoordiegly suspend the oartificate of
Mr. Benjamin Glenda for 12 onleodar months from the
date of this report.-1 have, Ice.,
T. S. IRLIFTLIA, Polio, Magistrate.
Liverpool, Oat. 17, 1863.
We concur in this report,
BIM" HAMM 1 NalltiCia A MIMI.
B.

RKEILFZENTATION OF WINDSOIL--001011.1 Richard
Howard Vyse. of &eke Plain, Bucks, sea of the lets Ge-
neral Howard Vyse and • large landed proprietor is the
immediate neighbourhood of Windsor, has @milked his
intention of contesting the forthcoming election, and
although out of respect to the memory of the late much-
respected member. Mr. G. W. Hope, he declines to °abysms
till after the funeral of his eeteeroed friend, Mr. Vyse the
been in oommunicatioe with his meth, Mr. Charles S.
Miles, to make the neceesary amagement& From his pith
th i
ou gad residence n the neighbourhood, where he keeps a
large establishment, it is expected he will be a fee mthable
opponent to Captain Hilts& who is already is the field.
The contest is looked forward to with mach interest, as the
I trial of party straustb, one candidate brag the son of Sir
William Hayter, the late whipper-in of the liberal party,
mid the other the eon-in-law of the late doesertative whip,
Sir William Jolla's.
RIZEZSENTATION Or THZ WICK BITTIOHR.—There
I le ems probability of an election emoted in the northers
bursita Mr. Samuel Laing, who vacated the reprwisatatioa
of they burghs by accepting the post of Fiume, Minister
for ladle in 1860. has recently addressed the following
letter to his old constituents :—••Kensingtoti-serdeathrraca,
Loudon, Oct. 15, 1883. Geotlerees,—Uatirstudiag that
you are asked far your votes at the most swam& election, I
think it right to talons you that I shall artaiely some for-
med on that occasion, so as to give my old constituents ea
opportunity of decidrag whether I or thy other candidate
have the best claim to rthressat you, either ea the ground
of public 'services or of pommel esenexion with the burghs.
—I rentals, seetlemes, yam faithfully, 8. Lama"—Lord
Bury also aanounoss his intention to stand. There is • talk
hotted that if both these cumulates appear, it is not us-
likely that • third may also present himself. It is reported
that Mr. Gthrp Loch may also appear as • thedidate far
the suffmges of the electors, se that they will have not ealyl
two but three airless to their how.—Barg JoarisaL
ChM/US PAULO& —• Orli SHILLING DAT..—
WiGNINDAT.OOr. St —Atisedssiera ee payment, 2.933 ; ditto
by seams Wieltirte, 1,;418; mak 4,3ee.