The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-19 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 19, 1853.

THE ACCIDENT AT TILE NEW CRYSTAL

PALACE.

IMPORTANT MEETING AT LLOYD'S.
A numerous meeting of merchants, shipowners,
captains, and others interested in navigation was held yes-
terday, at Lloyd's, to receive from Lieut. Maury, of the
United States Navy, superintendent of the National Obser-
vatory at Washington, explanations of the system adopted
by the government of his own country for collecting and r
disseminating information relative to the direction and
force of winds and ocean currents in all parts of the world,
and meteorological observations.
In the absence of Mr. T. Baring, the chairman of Lloyd's,
who was precluded from attending, the chair was taken by
Mr. J. POOLE.
After a few introductory observations from theCithinst AN,
Lieut. Macitx said he was most happy to have that op-
portunity of addressing such an assemblage, and of explain-
ing to it the objects of his mission to this part of the world
—objects altogether connected with peace. Ile commenced d
following the seas nearly forty years ago. In sailing about
the ocean he was very much struck with the fact that
in voyages to and from many parts of the world the best
routes to be pursued were very much matters of tradition,
and that books written on tracks of navigation did not con.
tams any very clear or succinct account of.the course which
ought to be taken. " llorsburg's Directory " was, indeed,
a most valuable work as regarded the Lest Indies, but it had
nothing to do with the Atlantic Ocean. He could recollect
what pleasure and satisfaction it afforded him, when he
was charged with the navigation of a ship, to find laid down
on the chart the track of a vessel bonndat the same seasonof
the year for the same port to which his own ship was bound.
By observing the distances of that vessel from day to day
be was enabled to judge of the kind of wiads that she had;
in earning out and entering this principle, it occurred
to him to rummage all the old log books he
could obtain, in order to find out something
more with regard to the winds and currents—
the causes and agents which controlled the length of
voyages—and to reduce the whole system to a more practi-
cal shape. He commenced this in the first year with the
log books of the men-of-war of the navy of the United
States. But there were only certain stations which their
men-of-war were in the habit of frequenting, and he found
that the observations of these were very inadequate to his
general purpose. However, they enabled navigators of his
own country to perceive what he was aiming at. Taking a
chart of the North Atlantic Ocean, he collected together all
the men-of-war tracks that he could get hold of, and pro-
jected them on the chart in such a way as to shew the
method, direction, and force of the winds daily encoun-
tered by each vessel. Having done that, he was
very mach surprised to find that there was in the
middle of the Atlantic what might be termed a
blank space—a sort of terra incognita; a space in the ocean
lying between the route of outward-bound vessels going to
the Southern hemisphere, and that of homeward-bound
vessels returning from it. On examining the matter fur
ther, he found it to be the impression of many navigators
that, in order to get to the Equator from America, they
bad first to cross the Atlantic Ocean and get into Cook's
track, then to go to the Cape de Verde Islands, then to
proceed to Cape St. Roque, and then to crop the ocean a
third time before they could reach the Cape of Good Hope,
making a zig-zag, and crossing the Atlantic three times.
Now, by the investigation of the subject of the winds on
the outward and homeward routes, he discovered the space
which he had before mentioned; and he concluded that in
this space the winds were the same in ping out and in
coming home. Accordingly, he recommended vessels to
take the middle or new route. The W. 11. C. Wright, of
Baltimore, Jackson master, was the first vessel that had the
courage to take the new route. The ge passage to the
Equator being then 41 days, Captain Jackson made it in
21. He went to Rio and back in little more than the usual
time occupied in going. This fact called the attention of
American navigators to the subject, and enabled him
(Lieut Maury) to proceed with his investigations. It
enabled him to enlist the voluntary co-operation of ship-
masters, who furnished him with an abstract log of the
daily position of the ship, of the prevailing di-
rection of the wind for each of the three
parts of the twenty-four hours into which sailors were
accustomed to divide the day, the height of the barometer,
the state of the thermometer and any remarks, which it
might have occurred to them to make touching the winds
and the waves, and the general course of navigation. By
these means he soon had a volunteer corps of a thousand
American ships co-operating with him in all parts of the
ocean, and furnishing him with the most valuable statistics.
He then began to co-ordinate the results which so many
gentlemen were kind enough to give him ; his object being
to present them on the chart, so that the experience of all
who bad gone before might be accessible and available to
each of those coming after, and that, in whatever part of
the ocean he might be, every one might be able to see
in each month of the year what was the prevailing
direction and character of the winds, and thus be
enabled to take advantage of regions In which the
winds were favourable and to avoid those in which they
were unfavourable. The gallant gentleman here referred
to a chart presenting the results of his earliest investiga-
tions, pursued in the manner which he had described. By
means of these investigations, he said, the average passage
from the United States to the Equator had been reduced
from a mean of forty-one to a mean of about twenty—even
days. Since the investigations were first commenced, the
passage had been done in as short a time as 17 days and •
' few boon. It was soon found that this chart did not give
information enough. Accordingly, another system of in-
vestigation was commenced, in which the ocean was
divided into spaces of five degrees square, five de-
grees of latitude, and five of longitude. Tak-
ing the log-books, he co-ordinated the results, show-
ing what vessels had reported to be the prevail-
ing direction of the wind for each eight hours of the
twenty-four. In some cases he had a thousand observations
for a whole year ; in others, he had two thousand in a sin-
gle month. Of wane he then had the means of presenting
a pretty fair average of the prevailing direction of the
wind in that part of the ocean and in that month of the
year to which the returns applied. Among other things
that he learnt was the fact that in a particular part of the
ocean daring winter or spring the wind was found to
blow from the westward or the northward. The gal-
' lent gentleman here explained his meaning by
reference to a chart in which the ocean was
divided into squares of five degree.. Continu-
ing his observations, he said that these investiga-
tions, imperfect as they were, had led to such a knowledge
of the prevailing direction of the winds during any given
month in any given part of the ocean, that the American
navigators who had used them had found them of the
utmost advantage. The distance from the United States to
Rio had been shortened 20 per cent., and the average pas-
sage from the United States to California had been short-
ened a month or more. Now, the United States having
perceived the advantages which they were deriving them-
selves from this system, recognising the principle
that time was money, the Secretary of the
Navy of that country, with a degree of generosity
which he must be permitted to say would do honour to an
statesman of any nation, had authorised him to place British
shipmasters on the same footing as American shipmasters
with regard to these charts. (Loud cheers.) Then charts
were furnished to American shipmasten on the condition
that they should enter into an engagement to keep and fur-
nish to the governmeat an abstract log according to a cer-
tain form, containing the points of observation which he
had already mentioned. In this matter they preferred
having none but volunteers ; proceeding on the principle
that one volunteer was worth a dosen pressed men.
(Hear, hear.) fhe whole system was one of voluntary co-
operation ; and instead of beginning with British shipmasters
as they were obliged to do in the case of American ship-
masters, by taking the matter on trust, he was authorised,
as soon as proper arrangements had been made, to plate
British shipmasters on the same footing with American
shipmasters, not only as to what they (the American go-
vernment) might publish, but also as to what they had pub-
lished. (Cheers.) He had there some of the charts be-
longing to the system. These and others would be pre-
sented to any shipmaster who would pledge himself to the
officer who might be charged with the distribution of them,
to return an abstract log properly kept and at the proper
time. He also held in his hand (exhibiting a volume)
a book of sailing directions designed to accompany
the charts, telling masters how to avail themselves of the
charts and what passages to make at particular seasons of
the year. This book contained, in fact, all the informa-
tion which was requisite for the proper understanding of
the charts. Now, it was peculiarly desirable that naviga-
tors should have more information as to the winds and
—Yesterday Mr. H. L. Taylor, the chairman of the Mar- currents in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The American
bets Improvement Committee of the Corporation, and other government wished particularly to enlist in this service
members of the body, were busily engaged during the the voluntary co-operation of servants and masters who
greater part of the day on the site of the new market in were concerned in the trade round either of the Capes.
Copenhagen-fields. Five hundred workmen were employed He was thoroughly satisfied that the avenge passage hence
on the ground in constructing sewers and raising the wall to Australia might, by means of this system of investi-
by which the whole market is to be surrounded. Mr. Wil- Rations, be materially shortened, and reduced to something
son, of Southwark, the connecter far that department, su- like certainty, even under canvas. (Hear.) It would, he
perintended the labours of the men, who worked energeti- was sure, ultimately be one of the most certain voyages as
tally, for several hours. The ground will be perfectly to duration in any part of the world. He was happy to find
drained, and it is calculated that at the end of eighteen that since his arrival in England, some of the shipowners
months one of the finest markets in the world will be and shipmaster of Great Britain had begun to understand
opened to the public on the admirable elevation of Copen- the importance of this new cut ; he called it new, became
hagen-fields. none of the books of sailing directions, and none of else
OPENING OP THE NEWPORT AND HEREFORD ordinary guides of navigators in this country had been ae-
RAILWAT.—The day for the opening of the Newport, customed to recommend it. Liverpool had taken the lead
Abergavenny, and Hereford Railway has been definitively on this side of the Atlantic. Without knowing what the
fixed for the 4th of October, when a single line of rail will navigators and ship owners of that port had been doing, he
be opened for traffic. The question of a site for the Here- predicted last spring that when the system of investigation
ford station has at length been settled ; and it has been which he had pursued had been carried on in that
decided to place it on the south side of the Above Eign, be- part of the ocean, he would be able to lay down
twain that road and the Barton. Into this station the sailing directions which would bring the average passage of
Shrewsbury and Hereford line will run, and a large and clipper ships, whether from England or the United States,
linnisonte terminus, sufficient to meet the wants of both to Australia, down to 70 or 75 days, and the return voyage
ennapanies, will be erected. A through traffic from the to the same duration. He believed the Marco Polo had
swath of Wales to the Mersey and the north will soon be just made the passage in 75 days, having previously per-
secuted. Great exertions are being made to complete the formed it in 70. This at least afforded reason to hope for
Shrewsbury and Hereford in time for the opening of the shorter passages between this part of the world and Aus-
Newport and Hereford, and at the Barra Court end much tralia. Here was a book of sailing directions (exhibiting a
activity is being displayed. The Dinntore tunnel is the volume) pubhsned by the highest authority known to nevi-
heavy work now to be done. S gatom. It actitally recommended oiling Tenth wanting

IMPROVED OCEAN NAVIGATION.

THE VERDICT.

It will be remembered that upon the occasion of
the late sad accident at the New Crystal Palace on Mon-
day last those of the sufferers who were not killed upon
the spot were removed to Guy's Hospital, in which institu-
tion two poor fellows died within a short period after their
admission. Yesterday forenoon Mr. W. Payne, coroner for
the borough of Southwark, assembled a jury of highly re-
spectable inhabitants of St. Saviour's parish (of whom Mr.
Burrell, proprietor of the Bridge House Hotel, was fore.
man), for the purpose of investigating the circumstances
under which these two poor men met their deaths.
The jury met at 11 o'clock at the Town Hall.
Sir Charles Fox and Mr. John Henderson, the contractors
for the erection of the building, and Mr. Francis Fuller,
the managing director of the Crystal Palace Company,
were present.

Mr. aillantine again attended to watch the case.

The deceased persons having been identified as William
Harris, carpenter, aged 27 years, and Henry Reading, car-
penter also, aged 27, the jury proceeded to the hospital
for the formal purpose of viewing the remains.

On their return several witnesses were examined.
The Coroner having addressed the jury at considerable
length,
After a few momenta' consultation, the jury.expressed a
desire to visit the scene of the calamity, and the court ad-
journed until 8 o'clock, to afford them an opportunity of
doing to.

The jury then proceeded by railway to Sydenham, and
viewed the locality. Upon their return,
The Foreman said the jury desired to know whether any
person unconnected with the building had examined the
materials of which the trusses were formed.

Another juror hereupon observed that two of their own
body, both of them very competent men, had examined the
materials. One of them was a builder, and would, of
course, be competent to speak as to the character of the
wood, and the other was well acquainted with the qualities
of iron.

The Coroner said as that was the case it would, perhaps,
be advisable to examine them on both points.
A third juror remarked that while awaiting the retur
train on the platform at the Sydenham station they had
met a person who had told them that evidence would be
adduced at the adjourned inquiry before Mr. Carter to-
morrow (this day) of a very different nature to that which
had been brought forward to-day, and which had been kept
back hitherto. The person who had said all this was
Downer—the witness who proved the identity of the
deceased man Henry Reading. .

Downer was then recalled, and on being questioned by
the Coroner, he declared himself unable to give any evil
deuce of his own knowledge. He had only heard a floating
rumour, and was rot in a position to state anything until
ho had put himself into communication with some other
persons.

The Coroner considered it would be a waste of time to
listen to hearsay testimony of this character. He thought
it would be better they should hear what two of their own
body would say on the subject.
Mr. John Doyle, one of the jurors, was then sworn. He
said be was a scalemaker, and acquainted generally with
the qualities of iron. Ho knew good iron from bad, and
what he had seen at the palace that day appeared to him to
be of the bast quality. He had examined portions of the
cast iron forming the shoes of the struts which bad been
broken, and of the wrought iron which was bent and dom.
bled up, but not broken. Every part of it appeared to him
to be of the best quality, and to have been put together in
a workmanlike manner. He should judge what be saw to
be good strong iron, not toe hard nor too soft, but between
the two. He saw ne fracture or Raw in any part of it.
Mr. Ambrose Drewitt, another juror, was next examined.
He stated that he was a carpenter and builder. He had
looked over the works generally at the Crystal Palace, and
found everything, as far he saw, well put together and well
executed. The struts and braces appeared to be particu-
larly well put together. The wood was of the best quality,
and all tho materials were certainly quite new. The
trusses appeared to him calculated to carry ten times the
weight that was likely to be upon them.
A juror said the man Downer had else stated on the
platform at Sydenham, that a similar accident had occurred
at the same plate about two months ago.
Downer was again recalled, and again it appeared that
his communication on this point was equally groundless.

He had been " given to understand" that the same
scaffolding had fallen, but he knew nothing of his own
knowledge, for be bad worked at the Palace.
Mr. Henderson felt it right to explain that an accident
had occurred a few weeks ago, and special care had been
taken by strengthening the struts and all the parts of the
scaffold to prevent the occurrence of a similar disaster. The
former accident had arisen from a high wind, and plenty
of warning was given for all the men to get out of danger.
The present accident was a totally different matter.
The Coroner asked the jury if they desired to know any-
thing more. There could be no doubt the contractors were
interested in doing the work in the best manner, and it had
been shown that when the struts formerly gave way they
were afterwards made much stronger, in order to prevent a
similar accident. Even if the contractors were wrong, it
could only amount to an error of judgment, for after the
evidence they bad heard, it would be impossible to affix
criminal responsibility to any party.
The jury here expressed a wish to retire, and after an ab-
sence of about 10 minutes, they returned into court,
and unanimously pronounced a verdict of " Accidental
Death."

The funeral of a portion of the sufferers took place yes-
terday afternoon in the churchyard of New Sydenhem
Church, an elegant modern structure, emboaomed in luau.
Tient foliage, and situated in a most romantic spot. The
friends of eight of the 10 deceased persons lying at Syden-
ham had selected this locality as the last resting place for
their remains, and a grave of 16 feet deep had been dug for
their reception. The day was observed as a solemn holiday
in the district, and there was a total cessation of all work
within the palace. The mournful procession formed in the
central nave, and as the clock chimed three it slowly
emerged from the building, heeded by the foremen of the
various departments of the works, and wended its way
along the beautiful road which conducts to the church.
Each coffin was followed by its own particular mourners,
and at the rear of the last came the whole body of the
workmen, numbering some thousand persons, clad in re-
spectable mourning, and headed by Sir Charles Fox, Mr.
Henderson, and Mr. Cochrane. In its course the proses.
lion was swelled by fresh additions until when it reached
the church there must have been between two and three
thousand persons following. The funeral service was per.
formed is a very impressive manner by the vicar, who be-
fore the removal of the bodies from the church delivered
an affecting address to the mourners, exhorting them to
apply practically to themselves the awful warn-
ing conveyed by the distressing affliction which had
fallen upon them. A great number of people were attracted
to the spot from the surrounding districts, and every point
along the road was occupied by sympathising spectators.
The bodies of the other two deceased persons had been, at
the instance of their relatives, removed to more distant and
more cherished localities.

It may not be out of place here to mention that the con-
tractors, Messrs. Fox and Henderson, invariably make a
provision for the widows of workmen who lose their lives
in their service by a weekly allowance of from 10s. to 125.,
continued over periods of not less than twelve months ;
and, what is perhaps really more important aid beneficial
to them, the firm invariably take charge of the orphan
children and introduce them to habits of industry in their
own service.