The Express.
London, England, 1868-04-20 00:00:00

ESCAPE OF THE SHIP EARL
DALHOUSIE. .
-- . .

- _
This ship left Gravesend for Sydney in November last.
About 4 p.m. on the 21st Jan. • slight explosion was heard,
as though upon the main deck ; but nothing appeared to
account for the noise, and no particular notice wu taken
of it. About half-pastB o'clock the following morning, how-
ever, smoke wee seen to issue from the store-room adjoining
the upper hold and the second cabin. The ars im-
mediately rushed to the saloon, and all, lulu the
ladies, did their utmost to aid the efforts made to save
the ship. Captain Campbell ordered all the hatches to be
battened down, and had the boats got ready for sea
This was completed by 1 am. Wednesday morning pro-
visions stowed, and everything done to render • put-
10°4 Mafia a loom lOW to the Island of St.
Paul's (should lt be found neesamry to abandon the ship),
as free from mishap as possible. Just at this time the dm
beganto show ileeffupon the main deck, just forward of the
main hatch, port side. Ail bands immediately went to
the pampa. Upon the decks being opened, the lames
rising in • dense main were smothered with wet mile, and
till halt-past 7 a.m. water was continually peered in, and
the burning or burnt cargo thrown overboard. The
movement of some thirty tons showed the fire to be con-
fined to the upper hold, sad to extend over • large surface
of the 'twesn docks, port ode of the ship, extending under
the hones on deck. When all immediate fee: of its
was our, the main hatch was lifted, and some r:LI
burnt cargo thrown overboard, so as to work • passage well
round the Deese of the late burning, and by 4 p.m. on
Wednesday the ship was running her course before • fair
wind, badmen. put. Good unduly winds favoured she
ship till Cape Leuwin was peened 6th February. Next
day It was blowing a gale from the west, a heavy sea
sea running dead aft. About 6 a.m. the windows of the
stern cabin were stove in, and a complete wreck made of
its contents ; but fortunately the breach was repaired
before another sea struck the same plea, or serious damage
mast have been done to the poop or cabin.

SECOND EDITION.

OPENING OF THE FENIAN TRIALs
AT THE OLD BAILEY.
(THIS DAY.)

This morning, at half-past 10 o'clock, the trial
of six prisoners charged with murder, in comae:ion with
the gunpowder explosion at the Clerkenwell House of
Detention, commenced at the special session of the Cep-
trial Criminal Court ; the Lord Chief Justice of England
and Baron Bramwell beiag the presiding judges. The
prosecution is conducted by the Attorney-General, the
Solicitor• General, Mr. Gifford, Q.C., Mr. Poland, and
Mr. Archibald. Mr. Warner Sleigh appeared for
William Desmond, Ile. Keogh for English, hge,
Straight for Timothy Desmond, and Mr. ildeer Greene
for Barrett. The arrangements for accommodation ap
pew
to have been satisfactorily carried oat under the super-
vision of the ander.sheriffs. The approaches to the court
were crowded with policemen and several of them were
placed on duty at different points outside the front prison
wall. Admission to the court was by ticket only, the
result being that no persons except barristers, report's',
witnesses, and a few privileged individuals were allowed to
wiener the proceedings. The names of the prisoners are
—William Desmond, 38, described as a shoemaker;
Timothy Desmond, 46, tailor ; Nicholas English, 46, tailor.
John O'Keefe, 23, bootmaker ; Michael Barrett, sliae
Jackson, 27, no occupation ; and Ann Justices, 22, a mar.
tied woman. There are six separate indictments against
them for wilful murder, the charges imputed to them being
the causing the deatbof Martha Evans,lVnt. Chitton,Saut
Ann Hodgkinam, Humphrey Evans, Minnie Abbott, sal
Martha Thompson,
All the prisoners pleaded not guilty. Anne Justice
adding " I know nothing of it."
Mr. Montagu Williams addressing the court mid las
had only been instructed on Saturday night in the cum of
Anne Justine and O'Keefe, and as he had not made him.
self master of them, he prayed for further time to read
• the depositions. In doing so he was aware he we, asking
their lordships to submit toXcouree which would cause coo.
• siderable inconvenience, but as he bad been called upon
to perform an Herculean teak he trusted he would receice
the indulgence he so much required. It also appeared to
him that the case of Ann Justine was entirely different
1, from that of O'Keefe.
The Lord Chief Justice did not understand upon what
grounds Mr.Williaine based his application—whether it
t on account of an euaential difference between the cues,
i that he had not had time to make himself master of the
case.

Mr. Willi►ms—My lord, I rely upon both grounds, but
more strongly on the ground that I have been instructed
so late.

The Chief Tastice--Months bare elapsed since the
arrest of the prisoners, and I think there wag abtualeit
time to take steps necessary for the defence. The granting
of your application would be an inconvenience to every.
body.