The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-11-11 00:00:00

TIIE LOSS OF THE TAY

On Saturday, at the Greenwich police court, an investigation
under the Merchants' Shipping Act, was commenced before
Mr. Trail], the magistrate, respecting the loss of the royal mail
steam-ship Tay, which went ashore in the Gulf of Mexico,
near Cape Roxo, on the morning of the 30;.11 of August last.
Mr. Trail was assisted by Captain Robertson, It.N. Sarveyor
General of the Marine Department of the Board 'of Trade.
Mr. Cumberland, from tho office of the solicitor to the Cus-
toms, and Mr. Neale attended to arrange the evidence. Mr.
Bird, of Cardiff, appeared on behalf of his relative, Captain
Strutt, the commander of the Tay, and Mr. Crowder for the
company. There were also several of the officials of the company
present. Mr. Cumberland having briefly stated the nature of
the proceedings, Captain William Strutt entered upon a state-
ment respecting his nautical services under the company for a
period of eighteen years, from July, 1844, as midshipman,
thitd officer, second officer, and commander. During the whole
of his service at sea he had never met with any mishap until
the loss of the Tay, to the command of which he was appointed
in May last. He then stated that they left Havaunah on the
25th of August, and then described the course pursued thence
till the morning when the vessel stranded. He also put in the
night order book, in which the order of course was entered.
Ho left the deck at about eleven o'clock the night before the
ship struck, leaving directions how the vessel was to be steered ;
returned at a quarter to two, and remained till the ship struck
at ten minutes past five. After the chief officer came on deck
at four o'clock, witness dozed off on one of the seats, and
dreamed that the vessel had struck just as it occurred after-
wards, He started up. Ic was then a quarter past five. Went
forward to the forecastle, where the chief officer was. The
first glimpse of daylight was then showing. Witness noticed
something on the horizon, and ran to get his glass. The vessel
struck almost immediately. The witness described the various
steps taken after the vessel had stranded, the despatch of the
mails to Tampico, &c. Witness attributed the disaster to the
influence of au extraordinary current running southward, the
said current having been caused by a heavy hurricane which it
was subsequently learned had blown on the 27,11 and 28th of
August, on the north side of Cuba. Such a hurricane passing
from S.E. or E S.E. would produce what is known as a
" storm wave," which latter, preceded by a large body of water,
would continue its course until it broke upon some shore, how.
ever distant, The Tay, passing a dangerous part of the coast
exactly at the time the " storm wave" was approaching, felt
the effects of its current without warning, and just struck in
time to experience the disastrous effects of the wave itself.
Mr. W. T. Rawes, third officer, Mr. Herbert, second
officer, and other witnesses, also Lieutenant Stewart, R.N.,
Admiralty officer in charge of the mails on board the
Fay, having been examined, and expressed a similar opinion
as to the cause of the vessel's stranding, the enquiry was
adjourned.

ST. ANNE'S r DPENSARY AND EYE AND EAR INSTITUTION,
9, Rose Hill.—New patients entered on the books last week,
November 8 :—Relieved at the institution. 163 ; relieved
at their own d wellinaq, 77 ; total, 240. Visitors, Mr. E.
Watts and Mr. T. Kirk. Hon. secretary and treasurer,
Joseph Kitchen, Esq.

AS MANTLES and JACKETS are so
very generally worn this Season,
J. MAC LENNAN, 36, CHURCH-STREET,
(OpposiTE PARKER-STREET),
Has mtvie arra,gements to have a Case of Paris MANTLES."
and JACKETS, in Velvets, Reversible CLiths, and all the
other Fashionable Afateria!s, delivered Every Week tor the
next Two Months; therefore, those Ladies desirous of
having the Fashions as soon as they make their appearance
in Paris, combined with moderation to prices, are respect-
fully solicited to inspect the Stock.
JUST RECEIVED, from London, Two Cases contai
Ing about 700 MANTLES, commencing at the extraord:::
arily Low Price of 4s. Ild. each.
SHAWL AND MANTLE WARETTOITSE
OPPOSITE PARKER STREET.

A. MACDIA_-
TEACHER OP
NAVIGATION AND NAUTICAL ASTRONOMY,
ABLY ASSISTED, PRACTICALLY, BY
CAPTAIN A. MACNAUGHTAN,
ACA D E M Y,
and the
LIVERPOOL MASTER MARINERS' ASSOCIATION'S ROOMS,
24, GREAT GEORGE-SQUARE, LIYRIIYOOL,