The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-09-30 00:00:00

FRIGHTFUL COLLISION ON THE RIFER'

SINKING OF THE BIRKENHEAD FERRY

STEAMER FANNY.

One of the most frightful collisions it'has been our dot,'
to record, took place on the Mersey last night, between
the Isle of Man steamer Manx Fairy, and the Birkenhead
steamer Fanny. It appears that the latter vessel left the
Landing Stage at half-past eight o'clock for Birkenhead'
having on board a large number of passengers, arid lit
about the same time the Manx Fairy, which had Just
landed her passengers, was proceeding to her moorings
the river, and when a short distance the stage, the
Manx Fairy came in collision with the Fanny, strikln
her on the starboard bow, cutting her (1°:11
to the water's edge. As soon as the °
~
vessels had got disentangled, the Fanny proceeded en hert
passage across the river, and it was at once evident thal
she had received such damage as rendered it doubtful
she could float, and make the passage to the Cheshire
shore. Fortunately, however, she reached a point nff,,tl3:
Birkenhead docks, where a ship had just come to anchor,
and here a most frightful scene of confusion and 313„r,in
was witnessed. The passengers, we understand' e"--
ceeded in getting on board this vessel. Immediately
afterwards the crippled vessel Fanny was taken in t°;
by the Britannia steamer, belonging to the Birkenhee,
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made ,for Birkenhead Ferry, but had not proctow,' eethcleen4
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far, when she went down head foremost, hetwee
Woodside and Monk's Ferries. It is said that the
diate cause of her sinking was the snapping of the ".r,
rope. As yet, we have not been able to ascertain whettioe
any passengers have been either lost or injured; 11t
~,
have we been able to learn what became of the crew
of the Fanny. It is said that the Birkenhead stelnie'
had on board a number of horses, and if so, no dellarbt
exists but that they went down with the ill-fated stearn—.

LATEST PARTICULARS.
that
From enquiries which we have instituted, we find
the horses which were on board had been landed at LaY
er
pool prior to the sailing of the steamer for the Cheshire
side of the river. There were two carts on board, which
went down with the Fanny when she sunk. No lives were
lost. It i 3 said that the steamers were not covered by
any assurance.

THEATRE ROYAL,

THE ORCHESTRAL UNION.

The instrumental troupe, formed under the direction of
Alfred Mellon (who is now being regarded as the first Engll',
conductor), with the title of the " Orchestral Unioe,"l%
junction of the elite in instrumentation, and has been deed,
the most perfect combination of the kind attempted in Engia.%
A peculiar modesty has, however, attended the enterPrisi;
which seems to have confined its fame and success to the ciret,,
of appreciating artists, or the limited number of specially srte
loving people. It is time, now, that the "popular clonal?:
°lO
infused into the audiences of the "Union,' and that the vi",!,
body of the people should sympathise with a movement scbids
gives them the best music, Iruthfully performed, at prices 3161d-
nominal. The first of a series of six concerts (eicii 0
evening of the present week at eight o'clock) :
given last night, embracing a selection from the greats
works of Beethoven, Alendelsshon, Weber, and Itesa-tie
with the sparkling addition of some lighter °Para,
and dance music, relieved by the delightful veal' '
i,
of Madame and Mr. Weiss—the latter is now the first bass ,
England, and Liverpool should feel honoured to claim hi6l
a townsman. He sang with Madame, " Crudel Per chef
Benedict's " Rage thou Angry Storm," and Shield's old Isr
of " The Wolf" with great effect ; but we would ask
Mellon to spare him a little in the accompanvments ‘l3;fr.
were really too loud, and anything less stentorian than for.
Weiss' powerful organ would have been swamped. The Peroe,
mances of this little band were almost invariably mixcePti°.sol,
The overture to" Der Freischutz" was taken crisply, tie/riviatt
i
and forcibly. The Adante, from Mendeleshou's raged i
symphony, was a perfect gem of integrity ; and the Adagio d
Scherzo, from Beethoven's Italian symphony, were Pillthe
with melodious precision, which developed broadly all
richness of the composition. A selection from the " Tracarte°lir tt)
embracing the best pieces (the arrangement of Mr. 1/I.t;ect
gave general satisfaction. A novel and pleasant e the.
was produced here by the performers aingitl rAtP
distant sniserere, while the sweet air be'
la snorle Ognora flowed on from the cornet. We wool", rise
be repeating lauditory expressions were we to partienbleco
each piece, suffice it, that no such treat has ever 0/
obtainable at the price here. But we notice one nlr of
namely, the exquisite singing of Mr. Pratten on the 1111-606
airs from " Marie Stewart," whose tone and exPresslrho
admirable. We regret that a thin audience reviard';- oot
efforts of the " Union," but we feel assured that it Will
be thus all week.