The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-07-24 00:00:00

--LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY.

THE LATE FATAL COLLISION IN THE
RIVER.-THE ADJOURNED INQUEST.

The inquest in the late fatal collision case was resumed
at ten o'clock yesterday, in the Nisi Prius Court, St.
George's-hall, before the deputy-coroner, J. S. Statham,
Esq. Mr. Hodgson, harbour-master, was on the bench
assisting the coroner. The several legal gentlemen engaged
were also in attendance.
Thomas Gearing, the helmsman of the Mail, was the first
witness examined. He deposed that, on the occasion in
question, the Mail arrived at the Rock lighthouse about the
middle of the night. Was stationed at the wheel at that
time. The wheel is before the mainmast. Took the helm
at the lightship. When passing the lighthouse, received
order to port ►he helm. Received that order when they
were abreast of the lightship. Continued to port helm all
the time from that. In about ten minutes received an order
to port again, and in five minutes after received an order to
steady the ship. Continual steady about three minutes,
when an order was given, " hard a-port," which he obeyed.
That was the last order he got before the collision took place.
Kent that cou►se until the collision. Heard of a steamer
lying reported about a quarter of an hour before the col-
lision. She was reported to be a little on the port bow; wit-
ness saw the three of her lights before tin collision. The
Mail's head was south at that time. The Excelsior bore for the
Mail about a point on their port bow. Heard the order
given to slow and stop the Mail, all in one breath, by the
captain, about five minutes before the collision. The Mail

was then going, according to the best of his opinion, seven
or close on eight knots an hour. Observed that the Mail
was slowed in consequence of the order. She was entirely
stopped before the collision. She had some steerage way
on. The engines were stopped about three nainutcs before
the collision. Is not very much acquainted with the river.
Has been in the Mail since the middle of January last.
May have made a hundred voyages to this port in steamers.
The vessels were close to the Cheshire shore when the col-
lision took place. They were about four or five ships' length
south of the New Brighton pier, and about half a mile from
the shore, as near as he could guess. It was near upon
high water. William Cowan had charge of the lamps on
hoard the Mail. The lamps were trimmed about an hour
before they came to the north-west lightship. Witness was
not at the wheel then. In his opinion, the river is about
two miles or two miles and a half broad at the point where
the collision took place. The witness stated that he had no
accurate knowledge of the river's width, and the answer
was elicited, at the suggestion of Mr. Aspinall, to test his
idea of distances.

To Mr. Aspinall : The watch on which witness was at
the time, commenced about half-past eleven. It consisted
of two sailors, besides himself. Does not know their names.
They are called Bob and Peter on board the ship. (Laughter.)
Does not know how long Bob and Peter have been on board
the Mail. One has been there as long as witness, and the
other has not, It was the captain's watch. The two men
on the mate's watch were Bill and Peter—another Peter.
(Laughter.) Witness was on the look-out before he took
the wheel.

To Mr. Bremner : Saw a light, but could not 1;e11 whether
it was the pilot-boat's flash light. It was a flash light such
as small vessels generally use. Saw it after they got inside
the lightship. Pilot-boats generally use a green light.
Very seldom sees a flash light used by pilot-boats when they
signal a vessel, but always a green light, They do at times
also use a flash light. Never saw a green light that night.
To Mr. Raffles : They had not slowed at all previous to
getting the order to "slow her—stop her." They were
anxious to get into dock as soon as they could. Witness
did rot give any warning to the passengers before the col-
lision. Could not give any, being at the wheel. Did not
hear any warning given. _ _

To Mr. Blair When the helm was ported she went round
to starboard. She did not pay off to port when he steadied
the helm. Knows the Ripp-rapp buoy. It was after they
had passed that buoy he received the order to port. She
obeyed her helm, and, consequently, came further i❑ to the
Cheshire shore. He could see the shore. It was a fine
night and clear, a little cloudy overhead ; it was clear on
the water. In speaking of time, does not mean to speak
precisely, but only as near as he could guess. Does not
know what became of the Hail's port anchor after the col-
lision took place; looked it it, but could not see it on
board, Doer not think they could have gone nearer to the
Cheshire shore than they did with safety, on account of a
brig. Observed that day was breaking at the time of the
collision.

To a Juror (Mr. Rawle) : It did not take two minutes
to stop the engines. The witnesi again observed that he
could not speak precisely as to the time which each inci-
dent occupied. Several other questions were put by Mr.
Rawle, but no material result was elicited.

Robert Reynolds, seaman, on board-the Mail, deposed,
that on the occasion of the collision he was on the look-
out. Remember '''rounding the Rock light-house; was
forward at that time. After rounding the light-house, told
the mate, who was standing by, that there was
another steamboat ahead. The mate sang out to
the captain that there was another steamboat
a-head. Thinks the steamer was nearly a mile
a-head when he saw her. Heard the captain call out
" port the helm." The steamer obeyed her helm. The
captain next sang out, " hard a-port," in about a couple of
minutes. The steamer he saw blre rather upon the Mail's
port bow, when he first saw her. She appeared to come
along very steady, on the course in which she was when
he first saw her. Saw her three lights. Heard the
captain of the Mail sing out, " slow her—stop her."
that was only a very short time before the collision. Does
not think the other steamer altered her course. She came
down upon the Mail. Cannot say whether there was any
alteration in his view of the other steamer's light before the
collision. Did not observe her motion. Before the collision
the captain of the Mail sang out to the other steamer to
port her helm. Witness then described the manner in
which the Excelsior struck the Mail when the collision took
place.

The witness stated, in answer to Mr. Aspinall, that he
had no time to give warning of the collision to any of the
passengers. He had to " clear himself out," as he feared
the mast would fall on him.

To Mr. Raffles : Cannot say how long before the colli-
sion took place he knew it was unavoidable. When he
heard an order given to slop her, he knew there
was danger, but he did not warn the passengers
below, because he could not tell in the night time
what passengers were there. Heard no shouting to
warn them. Was pretty sure that some of the passengers
must have been below. Neither he nor the mate, nor Peter
shouted out. He cleared aft as soon as he saw the Excelsior
was certain to come into them.

To Mr. Blair: He ran, and had just got to the aft side
of the foremast, when he was knocked down. There was
not, in his opinion, any time to do anything for the pas-
sengers besides what was done.

Peter Murphy, seaman of the Mail, deposed that he
was also on the look-out when the vessel rounded the
lighthouse, and was walking backwards and forwards.
The evidence of this witness was to the same effect as
that of the preceding, and he also deposed that he did
not see the Excelsior alter her course from the time she
first appeared until she struck the Mail.
Mr. Aspinall: When did you first begin to be frightened ?
Witness : I only got frightened when it was too late.
(Laughter.)
.1 thought we were all going to the bottom,
and I ran as fast as I could aft. I had not much time to
shout down to the passengers, or to shout any way.
(Laughter) The mate had the sharp look-out.
Mr. Aspinall : And I suppose you had the dull look-out.
(Laughter.)
CowanWilli :m sworn and examined : Was a seaman
on board the Mail on the sth July, on her passage from
Dublin to Liverpool. Had charge of the lights. There
was a bright light at the mast-head, a red one on the
port, and a green one on the starboard. The lamps were
lighted that night, just coming on dark. They were in
good order. Looked to them during the voyage when it
was my watch on deck. The regulation was, that if any-
thing went wrong with them he was to be called. When
in good order, they threw out a strong light. On a clear
night the bright light m'ght be seen five miles off at sea,
and the other lights about two miles. Looked at the
lights that night, a little before they came to the north-
west lightship. Cleaned the glasses then. They did not
require oiling. They were burning brightly. Subsequently
looked at them now and again from the forecastle head
before rounding the Rock. Whenever he looked, they
were burning brightly. Is satisfied they were burning
brightly on rounding the Rock. Looked at them about
ten minutes or so before rounding the Rock. The lights
would burn about twelve hours, if first properly supplied
with oil. They had been lighted that night about four or
five hours before the collision took place. Is certain they
had sufficient oil to burn for a much longer time. On
that night they were put in their usual places, and kept
so.

By Mr. Aspinall : Did not put any oil in that night.
The man w‘i ) previously had charge of them had trimmed
them all ready for witness. That man left just as the
Mail was leaving Dublin. The master gave witness orders
to attend to them. The glasses of a lamp would become
dirty a couplo of times during a night.
By Mr. Blair : When the collision took place, was
standing aft on the monkey forecastle. Went aft when
directly abreast of the Rock Light. Did so by order.
Heard the order given to stop. The screw stopped
immediately on the order being given. Fell, on the collision
taking place. Nothing was done with the lights until
they got into the dock, when he took them away alto-
gether.
To a Juror: They were all burning at the pier head,
where they landed the passengers.
To another : If you were at a distance, the stanchion
before the side light would not decrease the light. Does
not know what the effect would be at half a mile.
Patrick Maclntyre, engineer on board the Mail,
examined: There are two engineers, three firemen, and a
coal trimmer, on board. The engineers take watch about
on the passages. Both were on the watch, and had the
charge of the engine when the collision took place. Was
aware of the time when they passed the Rock Light.
About ten minutes after passing the lighthouse, an order
was passed down to "slow—stop her." Stopped the
engine at once. Felt the concussion about a minute after
stopping.
Rock. Formed that opinion by the revolutions of the
engines. Was going about ten knots on rounding the
To Mr. Raffles : Ten knots is the regular speed of the
vessel.
The inquest was then adjourned at half-past three
o'clock to ten o'clock this morning.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, LONDON.-JULY, 22

(BEFORE MR. COMMISSIONER PANE.)

In re W. 0. YOUNG.—This was the examinatior! meeting
in the case of Wm. Ogston Young, ship and insurance
broker, of Sun-court, Cornhill. The failure occurred about
three months ago, and caused some excitement at the time,
from the supposed large amount of the liabilities. The
bankrupt came to this court on his own petition, dated the
15th of April last, in which he described himself as a ship
and insurance broker, of Sun-court, Cornhill ; of Cross-
street, Manchester; and of Dale-street, Liverpool. At the
choice of assignees, on the sth of May, an allowance of £lO
a week was made to the bankrupt. This was the adjourned
examination meeting, but, as Messrs. Harding and Pullein,
the accountants, had not been able to get the balance sheet
prepared, another adjournment was necessary. An estimate
of liabilities and assets Las already appeared. The amounts
may now be more correctly stated as follows :-4.mour t due
to unsecured creditors, £32,943 ; ditto on ship account,
£2,500; ditto creditors secured, £8,873; ditto partially
secured, £2,000 ; liabilities, £58,000. Of this last item
only about £24,354 is expected to be proved against the
estate. In addition, there are liabilities on the underwriting
' account, which, originally very large, are daily in process
of diminution, and may not eventually become a serious
charge on the estate. The essets are returned at : good
debts, £l3 656; doubtful ditto, £10,443 ; property giren
up (about) £13,000; on underwriting and insurance
accounts, £9,000. At the former meetings debts to the
amount of £23,000 were proved against the estate, and
several other large proofs were now admitted. Mr. Green,
for the assignees, consented to an adjounment of the exami.
nation meeting, and also to a continuanee of the bankrupt's
allowance. Mr. Pullein, the accountant, having undertaken
that the accounts should be filed by the 12th of August, an
adjournment was ordered until the 2nd of September. Mr.
Green applied for the leave of the court to defend a s in
equity, which had been instituted against the assignees by
the representatives of a person named Beck with, at Liver-
pool, who had been connected with the bankrupt in the
underwriting business. The question was whether a part-
nership had existed. His Honour said, as the point appeared
to be a very nice one, he would authorise the proceedings.

THE SMOKE NUISANCE

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES,

Sir,—Thank you for your sensible leader on the smoke
nuisance ; hope you will not lose sight of the smoke
(physically, that at present is impossible) until you get
our Liverpool atmosphere cleared of its gross impurities,
and then I hope we will see more clearly, and breathe
more freely. But here, in the south end of the town,
we can never expect to do that, until something is done
to abate the monster smoke nuisance—the smoke of the
Mersey forge; for, without exception, it is the greatest
producer of smoke in the town, and, be it remembered,
smoke of the most offensive and injurious nature, com-
pared to which Dr. Muspratt's nuisance was a mere
nothing. Our town, in the estimation of others, does
not hold an enviable position as regards her sanitary
state. This is an injury to the town ; and anything
calculated to raise our standard in reference to health, is
worthy the notice of our town authorities, who have of
late done much to improve it in this way, but still have
much to do ; and if, according to those who are qualified
to give a sound opinion on this point, Liverpool, from
its position, and with its fine river, ought to be a healthy
town, the fault certainly must lie with ourselves it' it is
not so. It is the wonder of all, and more particularly of
strangers, that such a nuisance as the forge smoke is
tolerated in this town, and the marvel is, how we can live
within range of it. Only imagine, about twenty low-
built chirnnies, day and night sending forth huge volumes
of black choking smoke, polluting, blackening, and
poisoning everything in its immediate course. I have no
unfriendly feeling to manufacturing operations—l have
more or less all.my life been connected with them, and
wish them every extension and success ; but not at the
sacrifice of the property and health of the town. The
near locality of the forge is generally admitted, and, by
some of our own officials.'it is said to be one of the finest
spots in town for marine villas, commanding, as it does,
one of the grandest marine views on the Mersey ; and
this view is completely spoiled and destroyed (Sundays
excepted, when it fortunately for one day rests) by the
smoke. And then it lies comparatively waste ; for no
one in his senses would build with such dense clouds of
smoke blowing in their faces, and those that are built
will soon be deserted, if no improvement is ma 'e. None
but those who suffer can form any true conception of
the destructive and poisonous effects of such a nuisance ;
and in the hope that, by attention being thus directed to
it, our authorities may do something to mitigate the evil ;
and the more so, as they have the law on their side, and
as from your article you justly say, " the consumption of
smoke is a problem which has been practically solved in
this town," and that the smoke nuisance is oae which
" time has shown can be remedied at a comparatively
nominal cost "—I am &c.. A SMOKED TuxTET.EtrAN,
Liverpool, 22nd July, 1856.

THE TIPPERARY BANK

Richard 0' Flaherty and others v. the Official Manager of
the Tipperary Bank and James Sadleir.

ROLLS COURT, DUBLIN, SATURDAY.—This was an appli,
cation to have a receiver appointed to collect and receive
the outstanding assets and property of the Tipperary
Bank, and over the real and personal estate of James
Sadleir. It was proposed on the part of the petitioners
to have Mr. M'Dowell, the official manager, appointed
receiver, if he were willing to act, and that if he were
not, some other person should be named. When the ease
was before the court some days since, the Master of the
Rolls intimated that he would take time to consider his
judgment, and as he was then about to rise till next term
would send the order to the register. The following is
the order which he has made in the matter :—" The
court doth decline to make any order on this motion, the
question which arises being of so much difficulty and
doubt that it ought not to be decided upon motion ; and
let the costs of the motion be costs in the cause."

ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE.—The Lord Bishlp of
Manchester, yesterday, at the Diocesan Registry, St. James's-
square, licensed Rev. Constantine Adolphus I.4usignan, 8.A.,
to the stipendiary curacy of the church of Wyersdale,
near Lancaster.

CRYSTAL PALACE. —A charming addition has been
lately made to the attraction of the tropical end of the
Crystal Palace, in a collection of 1,000 living birds,
which have just arrived from South Australia. They
consist mostly of the smallest Australian variegated
(Melopsittacus undulatus), and are in a very hardy and
healthy state.
ROYAL COLLEGE OE SURGEONS.—The following gentlemen
hqve undergone the neces'ary examinations for the diploma
were admitted members of the College at the meeting of the
Court of Examiners on the 18th instant :—Messrs. Charles
Henry Browne, Bath ; George Thomas Bingey, Nova Scotia,
Robert Rathevan Stilwell. Epsom ; Cornelius Inglis,
Norfolk road, St. John's Wood; Wlliam Simpson, Ely;
George Comely, Winchester : Francis Benjamin Woods,
Northampton ; William John Newmou, Beccles ; Harnerton
Crnmpe, Wallasey, Cheshire ; Thomas Miles Beale, New
road, Hammersmith; Frederick Newcome, Grantham ;
Miles Monk Magrath, Royal Navy. At the same coPrt Mr.
George Bartlet Moore, a member of the Edinburgh College,
-passed for his diploma as a naval surgeon,
QUEER, QUESTIONABLE QUERIES ?--Are Brewers' horses
principally brood mares ?—What becomes of all the "bits "
of a woman's mind ?—ls " Death's Door" opened with a
skeleton key ?—How is it that so many men, who are
extremely amiable in private, make themselves, the moment
they emerge into public life, so supremely ridiculous ?
When a lawyer composes his mind, does he do it in 6-8
time?—Would you say that a lady is " dressed loud " who
was covered all over with bugles ?—Shouldn't the Lord
Chancellor marry well, since he has the pick of all the wards
in Chancery ?—ls there any truth in the report that the
Arabs who live in the Desert have sandy hair ? and is it also
true that those who live in the Red Sea have carrots ? —ln
selling a Newfoundland dog, do you hnow whether it is
valued according to what it will fetch, or what it will bring ?
—Punch.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS TO THE IMPERIAL CORONA-
TION.—A rather curious experiment is about to be made by
the London Journals, and that is, to send special correspon-
dents to Moscow, to attend the coronation of the Emperor
of Russia. Mr. William Russell goes _Erect from the
Crimea for the Times, and the Daily News also sends a
correspondent, who starts early next week. There seems to
be some confidence among the newspaper managers that the.
Russian authorities will sanction the proceeding, which will
be rather a step in advance of their customs. One thing
is certain, that the correspondents will either be stopped in
limine, or else they will have facilities afforded them such
as no newspaper agents ever had before. A person recog_
nised by the Russian authorities 8 ids all the roads royal
there, even that which leads to Siberia, a place which, it is
to be hoped, the gentlemen in question will not visit.
THE SPONDON M LIDDELL—On Monday last, the inquest
touching the death of Enoch Stone, who was so brutally
murdered on the night of the 2ard ult. near Spondon,
.
was resumed before LT. moziey, Esq
coroner expressed his regret that all the coroner. The
efforts made to
bring. the charge home to the guilty party had been
unavailing, and observed that it was not advisable longer
to postpone the enquiry, there being, in his opinion,
no
evidence to criminate the parties hitherto apprehended
on suspicion, and no new circumstances likely to lead to
the apprehension of the right man. The reward offered by
government, an incentive to exertion, would be, however,
still in existence, end Sir H. Wilmot, Bart., who had
taken great interest in the elucidation of the various facts
Connected with the case, would, in his magisterial capacity,
be able to render assistance should any new evidence render
a further examination necessary. The jury returned a
verdict of " Wilful murder against some pawn or persons
unknown,"