The Express.
London, England, 1852-08-10 00:00:00

THE FATAL VOYAGE OF THE LADY

MONTAGU.
In justice to Captain Leat'aw, we publish the fol
lowing communication from hint, in vindication of hie eon-
' duct while in command of the Lady Montagu, together
with letters from the carpenter and surgeon of the ship in
corroboration of his statements :
" Sir,—As you have been pleased, in the history you gave
of the ' Fatal Voyage of the Linty Montagu' in your paper
of the 28th of July, 1862, to insert what is stated to be the
evidence of two boys--vie., Manebridge and Milliard, by
which my character—tor 30 years, I fearlesaly amen, has
been one of integrity and uprightness—is grossly calum-
niated, and which is calculated greatly to injure me in the
estimation uf a numerous class of respectable and influen•
tial friends—if true to render me an object of detestation
by my fellow-countrymen, I have to request that
cu will do me the justice to insert this letter of
titicati,n, which not only contains my own observations,
t the impartial testimony of the surgeon, the boatman.,
and the carpenter, all of whom have been paid off, and
therefore have no interest in stating any untruths to serve
MO.

" I commence at that part of your statement which con-
cerns myself. It is stated that' after Smith was superseded
he attempted to take on shore a large box of money, but
was prevented by the new captain (Leshaw),' by which
naked story it appears, or it must be naturally inferred,
that I have dishonestly kept that box of money, and appro-
priated it to my own use. The box was gone from the ship,
but u soon as I was told of it I demanded the box, and res.
cued it from lows, and had it conveyed to the proper owners,
Mews. Morrow, Stephenson. and Co., Hong Kong, and
after counting its contents in their presence, faithfully
handed it over to them, the receipt for which I hold in my
possession.
" With rtepect to me being a ' bad man' and ' a
drunkard,' and did not replenish the ship at Cape and St.
Helena with sufficient stores, 1 will not condescend to reply
except that I took in an abundant supply fur on ordinary
voyage ; but such was the continuance of the wind, in an
adverse quarter, that too many others were in die same
perplexity. The letters, however, which I ern sure, it ne-
awry, will be verified on oath, will speak fur themselves.
" I will only add, that as regards the boys, that 1 be-
haved with the utmeet kindness to them both. Milliard
was very ill wl.en I took charge of the vessel, and fur Mans-
bridge I immediately had mt dice! advice tram the shore, and
the doctor attended the ship while she lay in port. They
also had what nourishment and kind treatment which
the most fastidious could have demanded. As fur Mans.
bridge, he had a new suit of cloth clothes which I had made
for him at Hong Kong, which I know he had only worn a
few times, and which must have been nearly as good as
new when he arrived in London. If, therefore, he was
miserable' as stated, he must have made away with them
before he got home. Ile was in good health and strong
when he left the ship. I also supplied them with mousy
when they required it. Milliard also had what money and
clothes he required, so much so, that I fell under the di,-
pleapure of my employer for advancing them so much
money. When such ingratitude is four.d, little can be said
ier favour of their ' unexaggerated' statement, or tor the in-
tegrit y of their testimony.
" Hoping, sir, that you will do what you can to undo the
injury you have voluntarily inflicted, and which is done
without having had any previous conference with me on the
subject, by giving equal publicity to this, as to the un-
founded aspersions of my character.
" I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
" HENRY LESH•W."
The following are the letters referred to:
"Cork, Aug. 1, 1852.
"Captain Leshaw.—Sir,—l was never more astonished
in my life than when I heard you represented as a bail man
and a drunkard. I believe I was I:5 or 16 months with you,
and I am 12 years at sea, and so good a captain I never
sailed with before, nor a kinder man to his ship's com-
pany, nor one that could get more work done by sailors.
As to your being a drunkard is well known to be a— lie.
But you have your enemies, air, to contend with, and the
liar is worse than the thief. As for being short of provi-
sions, every man shared alike. I heard you tell the second
mato to share all alike many times ; and it was my wish,
and the boatswain's, and the chief part of the crew, that we
should have lets, in case the wind should stand; but if we
made anything of a passage there war a plenty in the ship.
Anything more, sir, as far as the truth gem your carpenter
will speak honestly. On next Sunday I will be in London,
and will call on you, sir, and prove what I say.
" Sir, I remain, your humble servant,
JOHN MURRAY,
Late carpenter of the ship Lady Montagu."
" Wakefield, August 5, 1652.
" Sir,—l am in receipt of your favour, and in answer beg
to state that 1 consider you not to be a man of bad charac-
ter or a drunkard, as stated by Milliard and the other.
With regard to the shortness of provisions, there is no doubt
that we had a proper supply for any ordinary voyage, but
owing to the adverse weather, it was totally impossible to
have had sufficient without running the risk of waste, in
ease of a short or average voyage. With regard to your
seamanship, I think this has never been called in question,
therefore need nut further be adverted to.

"Yours very truly,
"Josses BEsittarr' Jun., Surgeon.
"Captain Leshaw, late miter of ship Lady Montagu."
"Devouport, August 8, 18.52.
"Captain Leshaw.—Sir,—l received a letter from you
last evening when I arrived from Portsmouth. It was too
late for the post. In the regard of your character, I can
swear that 1 have never seen you drank from the 3rd of
March, 1851, to the Bth of May, 1852, being the time that I
was with you, in the Lady Montagu ; and 1 knew
you to neglect your duty in any
.respect, unless from sick-
ness. Sir as regards the provisions, there was plenty for
three months' and over, had Mr. Milliard taken proper care
of them ; in the room of his looking after them, he allowed
the men in the forecastle to go and take them. Even when
• cask of meat was open, the men took as much as ten pieces
in the forecastle—this I know. I can swear that I never
sailed with • captain that was more interested in his ship
than Captain Henry Leshaw. If you wish anything fur-
ther, sir, as far as truth goes lam ready to give it. As for
the regard of your being • bad man, I contradict it before
God. I must say this, that you were too kind to every one
on board. As regard; myself, I would sail with you round
the world.

" Sir, I remain your obedient servant,
"1110/dAS BL110188."

AN UNRULY 8111P5 CREW.

On Saturday morning the Emerald screw steam
vessel, belonging to a Dublin company, but bound for
London, with a chartered cargo of palm oil, ivory, and gold
dut, from the coast of Africa, pat into Plymouth, landed
her passengers and supercargo, and took in a supply of
coals. The Emerald is a long and narrow vessel, of ap-
parently considerable capabilities of speed, and was f
those qualities chi:tared—at least so we were told—but in
consequence of adverse circumstances connected with the
crew and the weather, her voyage has been a long one.
According to the statements of several of the men on board,
it would seem that the vessel bad been without pro•
per discipline from the time she left England for the
coast of Africa, the late captain (San field) having
given way to the seductive influences of the bottle to an
extent, and which would appear to have hastened
his Tseil. That sad event took piece about a week before
the arrival of the ship in Plymouth. On the decease of
Captain Sarefield, Mr. Walpole, the chief mate, took the
command; so far as any one had the management of the
ship he had it before that time. In consequence of the
want of discipline and good order on board, or from some
other causer, nearly the whole of her crew (seamen) left
the Emerald while in Africa; so much so, as to render it
necessary on her homeward voyage to take firemen out of
the stoke hole to go aloft to reef topsails and
to perform other work belonging to seamen. While
at Plymouth some of the men contrived to get
on shore and procure drink; and when, on Saturday after-
noon, the writer of this notice went on beard, one of the few
sailors lelt—a fine muscular fellow—was madly drunk, and
some four or five of has comrades were for many minutes
vainly endeavouring to force him into the forecards. This
they at last, with the help of three policemen, accom-
plished, and after the poor maddened wretch had been for
some time battened down, with his limbs tied, he fell
'Weep, and then his bonds were quietly removed, and the
hatchway opened. To add to the disorder of the ship,
there were several monkeys squealing and running about
its deck and amongst its riggings. Mr. Walpole appeared
to be a very respectable, intelligent, and amiable young
mall, but the circumstances in which he and the vessel have
been placed during the voyage are quite sufficient to account
for any appsrcnt want of control over his strange mcdl y
of a crew. Messrs. Luseombe and Driscoll, the agents of
the ship in Plymouth, sent a master mariner of Plymouth
(Mr. Harper), who is well acquainted with the Channel
navigation, to which Mr. Walpole was a comparative
stranger, and a pilot, sad on Saturday afternoon the
Emerald left Millboy Pic, for London. We have given
this rtatement of circumstances connected with the voyage
of this ship from what we heard on board ; as to the dis-
order which was evident while she was at Millboy Pier, we
winterised that for ourselves. The Emeraldileft the coast of
Africa before the Niger, which arrived at Queenstown on
Wednesday, and therefore brings no news.

----
" Set Ur."—A novelty, in the shape of a ma-
chine fur setting up ten pins, has been introduced in some of
the alleys of this city. The boy stands at the same end of the
alley as the person who is rolling ; when the pins have been
all knocked down, instead of setting them up by hand, one
after another, he merely draws a cord, which passes over
tines (the same as steering rods on board a steam boat)
fastened against the ceiling; the motion raises a lever, at
tached to the foot of which are ten sockets, into these the
necks of the pins are drawn by separate cords, where, being
held for a moment, they are again gently lowered (ready
set for a full frame) upon the plates beneath. When one
or two pins only are struck, they swing with the attached
cord, without touching the other pins that are standing;
when the whole arc down the cord is pulled, and the pins
are re-set for another strike. At the end of the alley there
is a moveable platform, which, upon being raised behind,
returns the balls down the inclined gutter, ready for being
used again. The invention is certainly ingenious as a labour
saving machine.—Nem York Nun.
EAST AND WENT GLOtCESTV.R.— We understand
that a meeting of the leading members of the liberal party
will be held at Gloucester, on Saturday next, in order to
take steps for forming a registration association for the
eastern division of the county, with a view to bring for-
went either one or two liberal candidates for that division
at any future election. In tbo western division there is a
talk of bringing forwatd a son of Admiral Berkeley to till
the wood seat, the results of the late contest having satis-
factorily proved that the liberal party is strong enough to
can, both the members.-041toshone Examiner.

THE ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON AND
NORTH WESTERN LINE, NEAR COVENTRY.

The adjourned inquest on the body of Willis*
Floyd, killed on this line of railway near Coventry lest
Tuesday,et n
thatoo city,k plec
y„eywrdtesea twra ou bet
rytyat the Kong's Head, Park.
gre
W.
u.
mour, Esq., coroner for the district.
Mr. McConnell, Captain Bruyeres, Mr. Barre, solicitor,
of Birmingham, and other gentlemen, appeared es um,'
part of the Loadon and North Wietern Company.
it
Alderman Whitton, of Coventry, again attended 00 the
part of the public.
Alter he jury had Ina n sworn, Mr. Troughten, the Tulsa
Clerk of Coventry, inquired of the coroner what mount he
intended to pursue.
Coroner—lt's clear the train was upset by reason of the
ash-pan separating itself from the engine, and beaming
entangled with the wheels : the carriages were iousequinny
thrown across the rails of the down hue. Now I should
like to know the cause why toe ash-pan separated Irate
the engine.
William Jenkinson, the driver of the engine we, re.
called. He bald," The engine le gan to shake alter 1 lilt
the Hampton station."
Mr. Whitten—So ler as the evidence went the last time
we met the engine was imperfect. Have the company bey
one here to prove the contrary ?
Mr. Barre—We have in attendance, on the part of the
company, three practical engineers, who have examined the
engine since the accident.
Juror—l should like first to hear the evidence of .Me
Mosedale, who was deputed by the jury to examine u..
state of the engine.
Mr. Joseph Mosedale, engineer, was then examined. lie
said—l went to Rugby last Friday, and examined the .n.
gine. The puns of the upper end of the stays of the fire.
guard were decayed, as 1 said before ; one of them was
broken through pr, emus to the accident, by its Lice
covered with sulphur, in the Nam manner us the rut part
of the fire-box, whereas the other stays, that bad been
recently broken, were not covered with sulphur.
By a Juror—There emend he undue presser, on the other
stays by reason of some being broken, eapecially d the
engine oscillated.
Witnesa's examination continued.-1 caused the uppir
ends of the stays of the fire-guard to be brought here. Au
engineer could not have seen thus looking at it casual; ; he
must have gone underneath. There were other part. art the
stays injured; one of them was broken through, and
two on the other side were faulty. [Witness handed in
the stay that lea. broken through, and covered with sulphur;
also another,which he described as " faulty."] The beet was
the front stay on the left hand aide ; another de.ective tee
was the front stay on the right hand side. Of the four
stays there was one sound, two faulty stays, and one brisea
through at the time the engine started train Birmingham.
One of the stays is clacked now. The other has seemly
any iron in it ; it is much too weak.
Mr. Whittem—What is your general opinion as to the
state of the engine ?
Witnem—l didn't see anything else the matter with it.
Juror—l think that Mr. anything
evidence is eo,wie.,iee
as to the cause of the accident; there was no: proper
caution.

Witneu—l think the ash-pan fell in the aide by tenon
of the stays being defective.
Juror—The inspectors ought to inspect tLease puts du
engine every morning ?
Witness—They could not do so without a candle ; if
there war a tire in they could not get near three parts;
there isoo doubt the faults were visible if a candle had
been taken to examine them. It was on the tight-hand
side that the fire-guard was let down, on that tide the stays
were defective. (here are marks on the fire guard which
seem to me to have resulted from the pressure of a wheel.
By the fire-guard I mean the ash-pan; the mark to which
I allude was immediately in the front?
By Mr. Barn—l am unable to may whether the wheel
would produce the indentation in front.
Mr. Troughton (the town clerk.)—The question is in
nutshell, was the engine in a proper state.
Mr. Thomas Fairbairn, engineer and locomotive builder,
of Manchester, was then called on the pert of the com-
pany. Ile read a report as the result of his examination,
of which the following are the most important passages:—
" I have made an independent and very careful marry not
only of the nice of the accident, but of the
wreck of the train and the damaged engine, No. IA
now lying at the Rugby station. It being perfectly
obvious and certain that the sole cause of the accident was
the detachment by tome means or other of the ash-pan from
the engine. My attention has been principally directed to
the construction, quality, and mode of fastening of this
piece. The ash-pan has been constructed of wrought-iron
plates about 3.16 th of an inch thick, and riveted to a sub-
stantial angle iron frame, the point or " nose " of it being
further strengthened by the attachment of a by of three-
quarter iron along its lower edge and turned up a few
inches on either sine. I consider the materials of which it
is composed of adequate strength and of Mir average qua.
lily. The attachments to the fire box, which require the
greatest consideration, were of the form usually adopted;
namely, four straps of wrought iron, fastened with bolts at
one end to the fire-box, and at the other to the pan. • •
The dimensions and proportions of the fastenings enable
me positively to assert that ins sound state they were abun-
dantly sufficient for the duty they had to perform. • •
It would require 67 tons as the load n misery in this
instance to sever by its own dead weight the ash-pan
from the engine. The ash-pan as now seen in its
distorted form weighs 1 cwt. 3 qrs. 2:2 lbs. ; and it wilpe be
within bounds to assume that, with the additional weight
of the detached fragments slime found, and the falling ashes
which it had to hold, the suspended load would rarely,
under ordinary circumstances, exceed four to five hundred-
weight. No oscillation or movement of the pan due to the
speed of the train, or the inequality of the road, could have
produced rupture ; and that the original fastenings were
neither weak nor inappropriate. • • • As to thestate
of the stays, " the torn and ragged fractures of both right
hand supports are conclusive as to their recent separation;
and the broken bolt of the left hand backstay had no ap-
pearance, at the time I ant examined it, of haring la,o
long exposed to the influence of oaydation. The remince
ing support (the left hand front one), judging tram the
fracture, appears to have been
partially cracked ; there are
two distinct and different appearances in the fibre, but still
the larger portion of it was holding and sound. These ate
pearances are at once suggestive of the necessary use
of some great force to tear away the ash-pan ;
and, had there been no other guide to an opinion
than a close examination of the fibre of the broken supports
left on the engine the conclusion I should have arrived at
would have been in no way doubtful ; but an inepectioa of
the pan itself and the recovery of the support render the
evidence conclusive that the materials were not decayed,
and that at least three out of the supports must have been
perfectly secure. The right-hand front stay war found with
a long strip of plate attached to it. The nett-hand back
stay aloe must have been subjected to very severe strain be-
fore it yielded, for the one-sided nut which was strewed on
to the bolt in the inside of the pan has been literally dragged
through the solid plate, making a jagged aperture, which
clearly masks the shape of the nut that has occasioned it.
The left-hand back stay was also firm ; and the left-hand
front stay, whether cracked or not, thomvered attached to
the pan, wltizli it would have been hod it been previously
broken. lam not of opinion that the crack in the Ilium
stay seriously injured its efficiency, although it would on.
doubtedly have influenced its ultimate power of Treats
ance ; and it may be well, therefore. to re-
mark that, with a rigid structure like the ash•
pan, any one of the four supports might be entirely
dispensed with, and the remaining three would keep it
securely in place. lam of opinion that the supports were
efficient at the time of the accident, that the pan did not
fall from the insufficiency or decay of its fastenings. and
that so far from this being the case, some great force must
have been requisite to produce the effects I have noticed.
Being of opinion that the engine had met some serious ob.
struction to its progress, I examined those parts of the pan
which would neeesaarily first come in contact, to ascertain
whether there was any indentation ; there is near to stn
centre a smooth curved indentation of such depth that no
small force can have produced it; the mark dues not in the
least resemble a hammer blow such as might have been
given in the progress of construction. Any obstruction in
the road coming in contact with the ash pan at this
point would account to me for all the e tfects
which I have attempted to describe ; and I could eerhetly
reconcile such an occurrence with the statement of the
driver, that he felt no sudden or severe shock. • • •
The present mangled and distorted state of the ',Meals
must nut, I think, be attributed to the direct a fleet of the
blow, but as the consequence of the subsequent entangle-
ment of the wheels and axle of the van which was not
thrown off the line. In conclusion, 1 must repent my
opinion, that the mode and substance of the original f.iten-
ings were proper and sufficient; that there is nothing in the
appearance of the parts that would hear out a supposition of
rottenness or decay, and that a violent collision bagmen
I the front of the ash-pan and some obstruction on the reel
way at the time of the accident can alone have produced
the utter destruction of the fastenn go which have been
described, and the melancholy event which we hart to
deplore.
Mr. Fairbairn underwent a long cross-examination, with
the view to teat his evidence as to the cause of the shock.
by Mr. Tonighton (who attended on the part of the relk
tives of the deceased). Ile admitted that much of the opi-
nion he had formed was on supposititious grounds. 11,
thought that there must have been some obstruction on the
road to have caused the accident. It must have been some
weighty substance. Ile could account for no remnants of
this having been found. It might have been an upright
rail. Did nut think it could have been a Moue ; but ere
surprised that such an obstruction as it must have less
should not have been seen by the engine-driver. Wittl,"
admitted that it was wrong for the engine to have been
sent out with one etay defective.
Mr. Troughton—% a have it in evidence now that all the
stays were defective.
Witness—ln that I do not concur.

Mi:4Boufiliton...2l'erilapGlt;i;litit it is et fart.
Mr. William l'rince Marshall, C.E., of Birmingham. s
next sworn—lle read a report very nearly similar in rlcr,
to that of the last witness. In conclusion it said—" dT
opinion is that the accident was caused by the mh•pan hcloi
struck by some obstacle between the rails whilst temsoung
in its proper position, the obstacle being six inches or more
high above the rails."
By Mr. Troughton—lt must have been something fastened
to the rails, ur a very large substance. It was nut lite the
blow of a stone.
Captain Latin, of the Royal Engineers, sworn-1 bast
examined the engine and the scene of the accident. an.l
am
of opinion that the ash-pan fell in consequence of the tuner
of the supports, as l believe. With reh r, flee to
Fair bairn and Mr. Marshall have said, I must state that
no appearance of any obstacle having been in the way ; I
contrary,l have every reason to believe there was not 3°Y-

I think there was net any blow to canes the ash-pan to
tan The fastenings so doubt gave way, one alter the
'thee sad the ash pan fell to the ground. Thin must
est, bon tome deft et in the engine at she time of starting.
captein lettlan here suggested to the coroner that he
should titanium any pegengers who were present, the
eueine•driver, and other persons, as to whether
say •
keine-bon was wee on the line at the time of the
aaa,,i,ut, The evidence of those persons would close
up
en 'important gout at 14441 in 0011S111104 with the
Nayari
t edeoner artnted, and expreesed his satiety that
Captain Latftn, whose pretence he had, he said, requested,
:eget lama. t onducting the inquiry.
Mr Ere-uau. tialtan, a gentleman now residing at Lea-
aa„,e, a raa•vnger by the train from that town to Bit-
sainal.rai, on the alurilta.l the accident occurred, was next
• Ile r the accoleot had occurred, l
▪ the tweet the paint where the Birmingham train had
kit tl.e hoe, my obi. et being to wee whether there was any
ottani:two • a the line; and, in fact, to And out the cause of
the reel. at. *f he .pot where the train ran serf was flay
yard. from the plat, where the line was covered with
vibe,- I did not see an obstruetwn or obstacle of any
keel. I could tee foe nearly a mile along the rails. It had
ttr.o raining, and the rails were quite bright Done of the
el.:• appear...l displaced. I stooped Jaws and looked along
the hire. n,d the impression on my mind is that there was
au in.-tack on the lore. In consequence of the remark of
a pe...eoger that there was a wheel fractured, or an axle
I went beets and examined the carriages, and html.i
int ',tige sem; then. I went hack stein along the line
to the place eh, re the carriages ran of, and dO yards he-
toad, sea tht Birmingham side ; there was nothing displaced,
sot ar.o. 141.1 t. a mark of any kind. Everything appeared
to toe to hem perfect order. I looked along the line retain
veil carefully. I think that nevi'. rof the two persons
istkred the eli4leest ; and I think it a duty I owe to
tb. ionipany'e servants to way that they paid every possible
&MUMSa to the gratuities.
Gt Me Barr-- At the time the accident occurred I did
sot ioiow that the ash pan hail been the emus of it. I at-
tet.ei. this 1.1 the fact that it wax thrown into a ditch.
Mr Jana. Lew., a miller, nettling at Leamington,
another pit...eager by the train, swore that he saw (rag.
semi. rat :rem shout the line after the accident. There was
ma pieta having the end beat up abut three feet in length,
sad three myna, 41.1 e. it was brut 14 the ground, and he
(wine ss• bete-veil that it was that piece of iron that caused
the It was found about oeventy or eighty yard,
behutd the place where the accident occurred. There were
several inert.* of this iron. It appeared like new bar iron.
lb. puts to which he referred was in the centre between
the
It, Capt. Latfan—l looked beck a quarter of a mile, and
could see oohing between the rails. There was a little
rt,ttztitntt in the Craln• of the road near the place where I
up the iron. It began shallow, but gradually he-
tet, de. per, until it lea. three or four inches deep.
Mr Whittem—Did you toll the attention of parties to
this pit.e of iron ?
Wouesa—l did not call the particular attention of the
miens to this piece of iron. I did mention it to several
Mr Balton reexamined—l agree .hat there was iron lying
'beta aver the train had run ulf, and there was a furrow.
I inaie.niil that this sae a part of the ash-sae; but the
wholi et it was far front the spot where the carriages left the

Mr. Jam, Kennedy, CIL, of Liverpool, examined.—l
hat. essmiued the engine on the part of the London and
icota.Western Railway with the view to ascertain the
taut 01 the accident. 1 have been au engineer for forty
'tar., and have been '27 years building and repairing lueo.
multi e engines. Examined the bottom of the boiler sag
thi part of it where the stay* which supported the
as h.' m were attached. Front the strength of the material
1 coire.ve ,t was fully sufficient to support the ash-pea,
and gaud the gi.neral vibration to which it might be sub-
ji tied.
The iniuirs was prceerding at the time oar report was
-ball-pant eight at night.