The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-19 00:00:00

THE FATAL COLLISION ON THE THAMES.

Yesterday, after our report loft,

Benjamin Allen, licensed pilot, having been cautioned
by the coroner, was examined. He said—l am licensed to
take charge of vessels between Trinity-house and Graves-
end. I was in charge of the Wentworth on the 6th of
September. I went on board just above the Surrey Canal,
and was on the bridge with the captain. Up to North
Woolwich we kept sometimes at one side of the river and
sometimes the other. At North Woolwich we were on
the north shore. The foretop sail, main sail, and jib were
set. We crossed over to Warren Bite towards the
arsenal. We kept the south shore to Margaretnese Point,
which we rounded within 100 feet of the land. We keep
close to the point going up and coming down. The tide
wu nearly at high water, and bad not ebbed at the shore.
There was a tide drifting up in mid-channel. I raw the
Metis across the land just as we were above the point. I
could not judge her position in the river. She opened to
us after we had rounded the point, and she was then
coming up in the middle of the river. We were going
close down the south shore at eight to nine miles an hour.
I could not say exactly at what speed the Metis was going,
but I should think it was shout 12 miles an hour. The
Metis was over a quarter of a mile from the south shore.
We did not alter our anus,. The Metis star-
boarded her helm when about 100 yards, or perhaps
VOLI yards, from us. The captain of the Wentworth was
perfectly sober. There was nothing to drink on board
except tea and coffee, the Wentworth being a temperance
ship. I was sober. When the Meth; starboarded her
helm she was about three or four points on our port bow.
Our captain said to me, "That man has starboarded his
helm." The effect of his having starboarded his helm was
to bring him to our port bow. I told the captain it was
impoasible for the steamer to cross us to get inside, and
that it would straighten his vessel up directly. I gave
orders to have the engines stopped and the captain imme-
diately put the telegraph to Full speed astern." The
effect of that was to check our speed. I held up my hand
to the man at the wheel to steady the helm, which was
then rather to port. She answered the helm well. Up to
the time of the collision there bad been no alteration in
our helm—we kept towards the shore. The collision
occurred in consequence of the steamer passing the Went-
worth's bows.

The Coroner—When the steamer starboarded her helm,
what did you do to avoid the collision?
The witness—l saw no other way than stopping the en-
gine!.

" The Coroner—What would have been the effect if you
had starboanled your helm'
The witness—l can't say.
The Coroner—Did you see whether the steamer slack.
ened her speed ?
Witness—She did not.
The Coroner—What would have been the result if she
ported instead of starboarding?
Witness—She would have gone clear of us, and there
would have been no collision.

The Coroner—After you had rounded the point, and
were fairly in the Reach, was the steamer ever on your
starboard bow ?

The witness—No, sir.
By Mr. Wilson—All hands were on deck except the mate.
There was a wan on the look out on the forecastle—about
seven feet from the stem. He could have been seen if any-
body looked for him.
Mr. Wilson—Did you notice any sign from the Metis to
alter you course?
. _

The'witneas—Not at all ; nor did we hear any one call-
ing out.
Dlr. Wilson—What are the rules of navigation in the
river!

The witness—To keep to the starboard aide as near as
practicable. So far as I understand the rules of the Mer-
chant Shipping Act are in force on the river. The Thames
Conservancy rules are given us. Aocording to my expe-
rience, the rule which seta forth that when there is a risk of
collision the helms of both shall be put to port, is acted
upon on the Thames by every mariner. There is no
variation in the law. At night we invariably pass each
other so as to show our port lights. It is usual to stop
and reverse the engines when two steamers are " end
on," and there is danger of a collision.
Mr. Wilson—What would have been the result if you
had starboarded

The witness—lf we had starboarded, and a collision oc-
curred, we should hare been to blame.

By Mr. Fry We did not go a length below the Metis
after the 'collision. The Metis cut herself by running
across her bows. After we had reversed the engines, it
would have been useless to have starhoarded the helm, as
the rudder would not have worked. If we had starboerded
our helm without stopping, every soul on beard the
steamer would have been drowned. The spirit of the
Merchant Shipping Act of 1862 is acted upon up to the
preifea.
David flood examined—l was on the forecastle of the
screw on the evening of the collision. I first saw the
steamer about two points on our port bow. We were then
getting round Margaretness Point. The steamer was on
the north side of us. We were about 120 feet from the
point, and the Meths was about 350 feet from us. I
thought the Metis would pass us on our port side, which
she could have done easily. Instead of doing that she
starboanled her helm. She would have gone clear of us
if she had continued on her course. The collision occurred
in consequence of her having starbairded her helm. I
.lid not hear anyone hail me from the Metis. When the
steamer altered her course, I saw a collision was inevitable,
and there would have been no use in starboarding our
helm.

John Maguire, the second mate of the Meth, confirmed
the evidence of the last witness.

John Robb. the second engineer of the *crew, gave
evidence as to the orders be received from the captain as
to stopping and reversing the engines. The engine he said
made about 20 revolutions astern.

The evidence having then concluded,
The Coroner summed up. He analysed the evidence at
great length, and said that it having appeared that the
duty of both vessels when the collision appeared to be
inevitable, was to port the helm, the jury should decide
whether the facts were such as to justify the captain of
the Metis in departing from the rule. They should espe-
cially consider that part of the evidence which showed
that there were no established rules for the guidance of
vessels sailing on the Thames, and for the protection of
life and property.
The room was then cleared, and after 20 minutes' delibe-
ration the jury returned the following verdict, "That
deceased died from the effects of a shock to the system,
caused by immersion at the collision between the Went-
worth and the Meths ; and the jury further say that the
fault is due to both vessels."

The Coroner said the jury had also agreed to sak him to
convey to the Thames Conservancy Board, in writing, a
request to prepare some regulations for the guilume of
the navigation of the river.
The inquiry then terminated, the proceedings having
lasted up to nearly 7 o'clock.

THE REFORM BILL or 1867.—0 n Tuesday even-
ing • numerously attended meeting was held in the lee-
tare-ball, Norwich, to protest against the ratepaying
clauses of the new reform bill. Mr. Minns presided. Re-
window; were adopted to the effect that the meeting con-
sidered that the ratepaying clauses in the recent Reform
Act, which abolished compounding, and required from
every tenant personal payment of rates, were unjust in
principle and would prove intolerably oppressive in ope-
ration. The meeting, therefore, called upon all friends of
the working classes to unite for the purpose of getting rid
of these obnoxious and irritating provisions. The meet-
ing further thanked Mr. Gladstone and those member.
who supported him in his endeavours to prevent an "act
of injustice and oppression," and earnestly requested
them to continue their exertions to secure the repeal of
the clauses in question immediately on the re.aseetubling
of parliament. The meeting was addressed by Mr. J.
H. Tillett, Mr. J. J. Colman, Mr. J. Copernan, Mr. J. D.
Smith, Mr. A. M. J. Morgan, and several working men.
One of the latter said he regarded • vote as • means to an
end, and he wanted to be placed in as good a position
by his work as the man who lived without work.
SUNDAY SCHOOL CONFERENCE IN BIRMINGHAM.
An interesting series of meetings is about to take place
in Birmingham under the auspices of the Birmingham
Sunday School! Union—namely, a conrention of represen-
tatives of Sunday School Unions throughout the king-
dom. Meetings of this kind were held with great
advantage in Manchester in 1863, and in Liverpool in
1965 ; and it is felt that the time Las coins for Birming-
ham to take its share in the work. The meetings will
commence on Sunday, September 29, when special
addresses to Sunday scholars will be delivered in several
of the larger nonconformist chapels. On the fol-
lowing Monday there will be a gathering of children in
the Town Hall, and • selection of music will be per-
formed by the Festival Choral Society. Tuesday morning
will be devoted to • general conference, to consider the
following question :—" How can Sunday !schools more
effectively promote the religious education, and improve
the social, moral, and spiritual condition of the working
classes"' In the afternoon "sectional conferences" will
debate the questions of " Teachers and Training," "Senior
and Adult Classes," and " Sunday School Auxiliaries."
In the evening there will be • conrereazione of the delegates
and their friends. Wednesday will commence with •
breakfast meeting, after which the conference will re.
assemble to discuss the question of " the best meatui of
rendering Sunday School Unions more effective." The
proceedings will close with a public meeting in the even-
mg in the Town Hall, under the presidency of the Mayor,
Mr. T. Avery. Mr. Dale, Mr. Vince, and other gentlemen
will also address the meeting. Information as to the
arrangements of the conference may be obtained from
Mr. J. A. Cooper, 193, Aston-road.

TUE METROPOLITAN MOUBELESB PooE.—On the
:nth inst., by the New Metropolitan Poor Act, the provi.
lion in the Metropolitan Board of Works to reimburse the
perishes for the houseless poor is to be repealed, and a
common fund to be provided by the parishes and unions
for several purposes, including the relief to the bowels's.

PRIVILIIO TO Jaws.—ln the New Factory Act
just issued, a Jew who closes his factory till sunset on a
Saturday, is to be allowed to keep it open after sunset till
nine o'clock for females and young persons to work till that
hour.