The Express.
London, England, 1852-07-02 00:00:00

FRIGHTFUL COLLISION ON THE RIVER.

A STEAMER WITH TRUER HUNDRED PASSEN-
GERS RUN DOWN.
A collision of the most alarming and frightful
'hammer occurred yesterday afternoon in the river Thames,
off Northtteet Point, by which the Duchess of Kent, Mar-
gate and Hansards steamer, the property of the Commercial
Steam Navigation Company, Captain William Humphreys,
commander, was run down by the itavenabourne, Captain
Bacon, the property of the General Steam Navigation Com-
pany, and bound to Antwerp with nearly 200 passengers
and full cargo.
The following particulars of the sudden and awful catas-
trophe, gathered on the spot at the time it took place, may
be relied ou. It appears that the Ravensbourne was steaming
doves the river with full tide in her favour, immediately in
the wake of, and just un the starboard side of the Meteor,
Gravesend steam boat, and arrived nearly opposite North-
fleet Point about two o'clock. On nearing the point the I
Duchess of Kent, Margate steamer, was coming up the river
against tide and hugging the southern shore—the tide run-
sting very strongly. The Eavensbourne was about three
parts over the river on the Kent shore, and, as she ap-
proaehed Nurthfleet Point, appeared to take the starboard
tack, and as she neared the Duchess of Kent coming up,
the latter craned, apparently with the object of passing
between the Itaselphourne and the Meteor, when, in WI
instant, consequent on the heavy way on large and
powerful steamers like the Havenshounie, and on her
having the tide with her, and being it full steam at
the moment, before the Duchess of Kent could cross her
she ran into her boss about 20 feet from her figure-head,
or just before the windlass on the starboard bow. The
crash was frightful, and the Duchess of Kent was found to
have he r starboard bow shove in, sod nearly tut in two.
She immediately began to fill and to commence sinking,
bows foremost. The scene among the passengers, a large
number of whom were ladies with children, is described as
truly frightful. A rush was made en +name to the after
part of the vessel, and women with children were seen
clinging to various parts of the sinking ship. The Captain
or the Ravensbuunie, finding that the Duchess of Kent was
rapidly sinking, backed his vessel, and the rush made by the
passengers of the Duchess of Kent to get on board of her was
dreadhil Women with children in their arms became so
frantic that they absolutely rushed in their fright to the
still sinking part of the ship, and at this moment the
Meteor arrived alongside, and the passengers and crew of the
sinking steamer were literally dragged en board of her,
and the ltavensbourne, with ono exception. This was a
gentleman, named Italy, a brewer of Broadstairs, Isle of
"lhanet, who, being infirm, and remaining on his seat,
went dawn with the vessel, which sank, bans first, almost
perpendicularly, the keel being lifted as she sank 20 or 30
feet out of the water. The captain of the Duchess of Kent
was, with the exception of Mr. Hale, the last to leave his
ill-fated vessel. Mr. hale, although unable to assist him-
self from infirmity, while on board the vessel, the mo-
ment he reached the water struck out and kept
adost until rescued by ono of the boats lowered
from the Meteor. The steno of eunsteroation which
prevailed after the Duchess of Kent had sunk,
both on board the ltavensbourne as well as the Meteor, can
be better imagined than described. Mothers, fathers, hits
bands, and wives, who had become separated, some being
taken on board the Raverabourne, others on hoard the
Topaz, which bad also arrived at the moment the Duchess
of Kent went down, were to be seen running about in the
most frantic manner, making inquiries as to the safety of
their relatives. One lady on board the Meteor was in a
most frightful state of exat.ment, stating that she had left
her two children asleep in the cabin, and was on deck at
the moment the vessel struck, and had not seen or been
able to glean any tidings of them. It is also stated that at
the moment of the collision nearly the whole of the pas-
sengers (about 70 in number) were on deck; but it is be-
lieved there were a few in the fore-cabin; and, as there are
some still missing, it is feared they may have gone down
with the VCISCI.
As soon as the consternation created by the catastrophe
had in some measure subsided, the boats of the various ves-
sels which had arrived at the spot were stationed in the
vicinity of the sunken steamer, with a view to pick up any
bodies which happen to be in and floating out of the
wreck. The Ravensbourne and the Meteor, having the
rescued passengers on board, proceeded on to the Terrace-
pier at Gravesend, where the affrighted passengers were
landed and mus'cred, and, as before stated, it is believed
that some few are missing, but from the confusion which
still prevailed, anything like accurate infurmstion could not
be obtained.
Incidents of the most exciting and interesting character
took place. As the Duchess of Kent was rapidly sinking,
a gentleman was observed rushing up owe of the paddle-
boxes with a little girl in his arms. The Meteor was then
approaching to render aid, and so great was his desire to
save the child that, before the Meteor had reached within
10 or 12 yards of the sinking ship, he raised her up with
the view of throwing her on board the Meteor, hut at the
moment the shrieks of the passengers on board the ap-
proaching vessel restrained him, and thus the child was
lewd teem inevitable destruction.
11l saaversation hail by our reporter with several of the
=go timid the Luther of Kent, it is admitted ma
bra the conduct of the captains of the Meteor end
the ilesombrourne, as well as the crews of both vessels, was
MOSS pninerorthy. Captain Humphreys was below at din-
ning* der neetnent of the collision, and the vessel was in
imps a the mate at the time, who is stated to he fully
:Ctt, also a river pilot. The Raveusbourne was also
. of the collision in charge of a river pilot, sod
been examined and found to have sustained but
Hflie try, after landing the passengers at Gravesend,
=k,
on her voyage.
The arm of the sad calamity spread with fearful rapidity
An obile the town of Gravesend, and hundreds of people
Inge ONO wending their way to the spot where the sad
nanflgiplie had happened, and which was indicated by a
hese aresed over it with a flag, and the greatest excitement
prevailed. The place where the Duchess of Kent lies •
wreck, under water, though technically called Northfleet
past, is midway between the Rosherville pier and the
Meld point, and immediately opposite Northfleet church,
int about one-fourth of the width of the river out from the
Zest elm at high tide. Last evening, at S o'clock, when
dr dile was emu ady about two yards, one of the masts
dire Itodsee ef Kant could be seen above water, which
WWI Ms dr fret that at the spot where she sunk
An alliPlt a the river is eatimated at four fathoms
NA a half at low water mark, sad 10 fathoms at
biligb water the time she went down. Soon after the
resonance, a telegraph was sent up to town apprising the
notheritirs of the Commercial Steam Navigation Company
a A. occurrence, and the manager and several of the
Ana= arrived speedily at Gravesend to investigate into
the edesity.
Although it is stated that there was not any great amount
efingpge on board the Duchess of Kent, we were Informed
thee nosh of it was of a very ealua4le description, and INN
stated that be had all the property he held in
rteoTon board, among which was a large anarrnat of
valuable jewellery. It is understood that some stays will
be taken as sees as the tide is out to endeavour to get oat
Se bocci:ad essertain if there are any bodies in taw
the Met that the Duchess of Kent is a very
relleemier, and the extraordinary depth of the water,
sensiderdis hen an entertained whether it will be
te weever her.
Oae gentleman informed the reporter that but for the
yeehewcatity ensile= of some of the passengers on board
the Maser. Me Mb sod that of his wife would have been
semiffend, lihe was lathe after cabin, and when the col-
lides leek place he rushed down and succeeded, with
pest &acuity, in ding the deck, which the water
bed abaft covered. NA 11111111101 with her in his arms to the
enstertal ride, sad they even beastly
_draped ea board
the Mem, bat by whet Grew he weld at MIL
Pala that Nada Renspbreye. the semereades sf the
Dadra ef Meat, was In Gravessed, war repsehr wed w-
eed= le tease kin oat, and attereemeddiselityseesseied.
Eh metes alibi essarrenes preemle sr AMen of slider-
eale hem She fregoing statesneet Me heti emblem that
all dr preingers were saved, estwitheleedleg the short
Yoe that elapsed between the eselhiset sad the listing of
the vowel. It is speed by then ea bleed Set the fore
=L e
menaken venal met have bras wt NI The
reedeed aesseeriel injury.sail @her leading
the eilbighted pener et Gravesend yremeded ea her
peerage tewere the Beigia ales.
Mr. John
gives ank • sa bend the Metes,
the deseripds• ef the sadism mad
terrify sesfaa=W was shiaileg
_on the dna efthe Meteor
admiring the sleety" old the deresso sir seared
sod %median the Deans efEent adverts Nowa Manna
the deamesed beat amt the ltsvarberitae, tr in a nor
need he boa • melee tae • peat of drarMa end sr the
stern of the vend mind almost peepsylwandy in the air.
The seen that semi was terra& The psnwtglre, to the
number of about Ilk washed to eat fre. end W aim of
the women and sedans were sent besetagaisi. Every
effort was at caws merle M mean the sedsarse aresseary.
Mr. J reline MA* Diseased Oelelele7,
was ea bed Ay shoal ef the Ranneheasee ; the
latter vessel pawed, when ad Ira, at a geed need, but
being in thimiddle of Use Thames, had the tide against
her. She posed at ffeith mad New Northaset, having
made such wairbt:mit saw as ismakiewably ahead. At this
point Captain ti ef the Tepee pensieed the Duchess
of Kent is collides the Illoremaliertunri, and the funnel '
of the former Mimi dimffiteased almost imdantaneously.
The Sapphire, beigaibi te the sere worpeny, basing her
steam up, advised to redo any mciatanee that might be
required. The lens will amount to many thousands of
pounds.

ZOOLoGiCAL SOCIETY or LONDON.—At the monthly
pneral meeting held yesterday, at the society's house, in
Hanover-square, Mr. J. E. Gray, viaopresident, in the
chair, Charles Leslie, Esq., M.P., J. Crow, Esq., W. Heath-
cute, Eat , and T. Marshall, Esq., were elected fellows ;
and the Rev. J. Harris, DD., and Messrs. W. H. Gregory,
William M'Cormick, J. E. Coleman, and J. Board, were
proposed as candidates for the fellowship. The report of
the council stated that several interesting additions had
been acquired fur the menagerie, and among them the first
living specimen of the Snowy Keathbill (C'Monis Alba)
which had ever been seen in Europe.
TIIE CRYPT AT OERARIN-llALL.—Yesterday, in
the Court of Common Council, Mr. Barnard brought up
the report of the City Land's Committee, on the reference
respecting the Gerard-hall Cry ft. The cemmittee recom-
mended that in consequence of the enormous expense (be-
tween 4,0001. and 6,000 i.) which would attend the removal
of the crypt to the Gaildball, the court would not sanction
the proposition to remote it. The court agreed with the
moot, after a few words from Mr. Deputy Lott, who said
the whole expense would not, upon a fair computation, ex
end the sum of 2,0001., and condemned the narrow minded
I view taken by the court, in matters connected with taste.

ME EXPRESS, FRID Or EVENING, JULY 2

THE RIOT AT STOCKPORT.

The proceedings in the Court-house on Wednesday,
of which we gave a report yesterday, eimeludid with the
remand of the only portion of We prisoners who could be
identified as rioters. The body of the man who had been
killed was eabsequently recognised as that of Michael
Moran (not Darby Searle), and it was Voted that he was a
young Irishman who had come over from his own country
about ten days ago.
The town was in a very unsettled state all day, and the
streets were crowded with people. A rumour gained ere-
deuce that bodies of Irish Roman catholic+ from the neigh-
bouring towns of Manchester, Ashton, Hyde, and Droyls.
den, were coming ever in the evening to take ven-
geance of the protestant. for despoiling the chapels and
houses of their friends and countrymen in Stockport
on the previous night, and the authorities evidently
had thought it desirable to be prepared. They
had summoned great numbers of townsmen to set
as special constables, and had sent for a rein-
forcement of military. A troop of the 2nd Dragoon
Guards, or Queen's Buy., under the command of Captain
Keene, at the Manchester Cavalry Barrack'', received the
route at a quarter to five o'clock on Wednesday evening,
and arrived at Stockport about ten minutes before six. The
two companies of the 4th Regiment, who aided the civil
power on the previous night, were quartered at the Na-
tional School, Wellington-road, on the western side the
tows ; and the Dragoons were billeted in three divisions at
the Peck Rom, Red Bull, and Oommercial Inn, in the
centre and eastern part of the borough. 'I he magistrates
proceeded to swear iu special constables, and were engaged
in doing so until near midnight. Altogether nearly 600
special constables were sworn, and despatched into the
streets, in patrols of twenty men each. The magistrates
alsoubliehed the following notices during the day .
p " R.—Whereas, a disgraceful rout and tumult occurred
in this borough yesterday evening, and various buildings
and property of the inhabitants were feloniously destroyed.
Now we, the undersigned justices of the peace acting in and
(or the beret:oh of Stockport, do hereby express our firm
deterteduatien to maintain the public peace and property
againet the recurrence of such disgracelul sets ; for which
purpose we have provided a sufficient force to protect the
persons and prom rty of the inhabitants ; and we call upon
all peaceably disposed persons to assist us in our endeavour;
and we earnestly felling all persons to confine themselves
during the evening and night to their own homes, and to
refrain from assembling or appearing in the public streets,
hereby cuutioning them es to the consequences, the Riot
Act having been read.—James Boot'oroyd, Mayor ; l's ter
Edward Mundane', Riney Moreland, Ralph l'endlebury,
Knight ; James Newton, Cephas Howard, Samuel Coving-
ton, Thomas Eskrigge, F.dwarl Moreland, George Turner,
Justices of the Peace of the Borough of titockport.—Cour-
house, Stockport, June 30, 1862."
" The magistrates, in pursuance of the statutes in that
case made and provided, direct that all public-houses and
beer-houses, in the borough of Stockport, be closed at the
hour of S o'clock each evening, unlit the termination of the
present disturbances, of which due notice will be given.—
Court-houw, Stockport, June 30th, 1&72."
The notice regarding public-houses and beer-shops was,
to a great extent, attended to, and they had all of them
their window. closed ; but the notice to the public was by
DO means obeyed. 'Thousands of people crowded every
street, and from six until eleven o'clock vast crowds of
people assembled in the streets which were the most remark-
able for the riots of the previous evening. Most of these
people evidently came out of curiosity ; but there ap-
peared to be others only seeking an excuse and a cover
amongst these idlers should an opportunity to riot occur.
So tar as these parts of the town were concerned, however,
no such opportunity appeared to offer, and before twelve
o'clock these places were to a great extent deserted. There
were several smart collisions of Irish and English in the
streets, but they lasted only a few minutes.
It is to be regretted, however, that a number of lawless
outrages occurred in other parts of the tuwn of which
there was nu expectation, and with which the regular ',elite
of the borough were utterly unable to cope. These were
effected apparently by organised bands of men, and whether
2orangemen or protestants at all, were all directed against
e lrish Roman catholic. About half-past eight o'clock
a mob of young men and boys went to the hewn, oi
William Goodier, an Irish pensioner, No. 8, Lees-street,
Iffillgate, and without any previous provocation or Bairns,
tics of their intention, broke open his door, destroyed his
windows, and then entered the house and destroyed the
whole of hie furniture. (haodier escaped them, but they beat
his wife and left her weeping from pain after a heavy
blow on one of her loins. An Irish family had resided mot
door, at No. 6, but, fearing en attack, Lad left the house.
The mob broke into the house, however, and destroyed
everything. These men were armed with axes and heavy
hemmers. About 25 minutes to 10 o'clock a body of men
and boys, similarly armed, went into Watson'asquare, oar
the other side the Hillgate, and attacked the house of an
Irishman, but before they had effected an entrance a gentle-
man went up and asked, " What they were doing it for ?"
The answer was, " They are b—y reel necks (papiste)."
He tried to dissuade them, and one of the me n asked him
if he was " a b—y red neck," because, if he was, they
would " settle his hash." Another person asked some of
thew men what was their object, and they replied " To kill
the bugs." In answer to the question who the men
were who were committing these outrages, a youth of
about 18 replied " they are woodcutters, and are doing •
bit of science," accompanying the answer with a
brutal laugh. These questions appeared to shame the
dealers of the mob, however, and they left the house, whilst
Illegentleman who had put the rpiestions despatched a
melmmiger fur the police. The mob then went further down
Weition's-square, and, striking the door of an Irishman
NEW Calloway, No. 17, broke out four of the panels from
Ids/runt dour. Calloway and two of his lodgers were just
sitting down to their suppers, and had given no provoca-
tion. No one was at the door, which, together with the
window-shutters, had been closed. Calloway and one of his
lodgers, John Fallen, said they were Roman catholics ;
they knew of no other provocation. From here this mob
went to 63, Lavender's-brow, Orchard-street. The occu
pant, an Irish hawker, had feared the visit and fled. The
slab, however, broke open his door, destroyed the window,
nod Hen, entering the dwelling, broke all the furniture.
About eight o'clock on the same evening a similar mob,
bat amid with staves, went to the house of Andrew Caton,
No. 4, liarrieon's-yard, Newbridge-lane. This man is an
Irish Roman Catholic. He was sitting down to his sup,
per, amidst his family and several lodgers, when the mob
opened the door and entered without ceremony, asking for
one of his lodgers named Patrick hPlalanus. Caton told
them M.Manse was not in, but they were incredulous.
They then searched the house, but could not find the man.
On returning from the upper rooms one of the mob took
hold of Caton by the collar and dragged him into the yard,
where more than a score of cowardly assailants beat him
unmercifully with their staves. With his head cut and
bleeding he escaped, and sought refuge in the house of
John Williamson, private watchman to the cotton factory
of Mr. Thorniley. The mob followed him into this
has., and bag him till the floor and furniture of the
hare were sprinkled and dyed with his blood. They then
drama lire oat into the street, and would probably have
meedestal h'is, but that Williamson, who had used persua.
soon la vats, threw himself over the poor man's body.
When the reams had departed, Caton, who is described
as • very inoffensive quiet man, was carried to his own
house, and his wounds were washed and dressed by his
neighbours. A cut on hit hoed was three inches I. length,
sad he had many other serfoos beelises—her clothes being
literally naked in blood. He was lying in bed yasterday in
a ram signet prostration, no surgeon hay*, been called
in, bemuse, as his wife rid, they had as wing to pay a
desist. A great many Irish movie had sated to return to
their hums (some of them desolate swag h *ear but little
tomplatins),, end were said to have encamped is Crookley
Weed, Drimullaiton, all night.
Me doubt luny eases of similar outrages might be disco-
med, vies tame des. The toasts of several houses
seemed M bas led, er to have talus refuge In those of
their The windows and furniture hail been
awl there was no one left from whom to make
inquiry at eireunsatantes. Whilst obtaining these par-
' titulars, our correspondent saw the house of a man armed
Charles Dowd, an Irish Roman catholic, in John-street,
which was broken into between 8 and 9 o'clock on Tuesday
night. His windows and all his furniture were completely
demolished, and the fragments of the tables and chairs
were carried away by the mob for weapons. This man's
wife says they bad given *Reno* In this case by giving ad
mission to a man who sought refuge from the mob, who were
' beating him. According to some accounts, these outrages were
not entirely on religious grounds. At the house of Caton,
while some of his English neighbours were interceding for
him with his assailants, they were told that the Irish must
be turned out—they were working at lees wages than the
English, and were ruining trade. His sesailsats were col-
liers and factory workers, but he worked in a gravel pit,
and the charge could not, we were informed, be applicable
to him.
We inquired yesterday as to the wounds of the men in
custody, and who stand remanded to this day, but were in-
formed that with the care taken of them by the surgeons,
none of these persons are likely to be lung confined, though
many of them have very severe eats of the head. A man
residing in Rook-row was said to have had his back broken,
but on inquiry at the house we found the report unfounded.
lie was badly beaten, but was recovering.
The inquest on the busty of Michael Moran was to be
opened last night, at the Court House, Stockport.
The town was quiet yesterday.

ELVTIONS WITHOUT HUSTINOB.--Bir William
Clay UM put on the paper of the House of Commons tor
next session a notice of motion for a select committee, " to
ennsidcr whether it be not expedient that frovision should
be made for taking the votes of payliamentnry electors as
the votes ere now by law taken in the elections of pour-law
guardians, namely, at the residence of .•ho electors
PARLIAMENTS.—Tho following in a lint of the
duration of the 1.3 Parliaments that have existed for the
Met 80 years :
Assembled. Dissolved.
1. June 29, 1802.
2. November 16, 1802 OctulN r 24, 1806
3. HveetiOm r, 13, 1806 April 29, 1807
4. Juno 22, 1607 .. September 29,1812
6. November 2!, 1812 .. June 10,1818
6. January 14, 1819 .. February 214, 1820
7. April 21, 1820 .. June 2, 1826
8. November 14, 1826 July 21, 1830
9. October 20, 1830 .. April 23, 1831
10. June 14, 1831 .. December 3, 1832
11. January 19,1833 .. December 30, 1834
12. February 19 1835 July 17,1837
13. November 16, 1837 June 23, 1841
14. August 11, 1841 July 23, 1847
16. November 18, 1847 July 1,1852