The Express.
London, England, 1850-08-06 00:00:00

WRECK OF A STEAMER.-LOSS OF LIFE.

A fearful clatulty occurred off Southport, on Sun-
day evening, in the total wreck of • steamer laden with
passengers. One of the puteogers furnishes the fdlowMg
particulars :

" Shortly after eight o'clock on Sunday morning the
Prince Arthur, an iron steamer, deur:bed as Leung of 100.
horn power, lett the Qaay at Preston, with about eighty
Largen. for the purpose of malting an excureion to the
n e:
and Tubular bridges. About noon, just alter getting
clear of the nibble Banks, some 12 or 14 miles
from Lytham, it wan discovered that the vessel had sprung
a leak. Her head was immediately turned in the direr.
lion of Liverpool, with the view of getting to land
as soon as possible: and in the meantime ail bands wire
urged to exert themselves to the utmost in baling out the
water, which speedily became a foot deep in the hold.
Their labours, however were atteeded with but very little
ouccon ; the water gradually gained upon them, and by one
o'cleek the engine tires were extinguished. A jib (the only
sail on board) wits then hoisted, and the vessel continued to
snake a little way through the water, though not more than
a knot per hour. The plungers continued in the greatest
snipers. until half-put 6, when the ship struck upon the
sand, between Formby Point and Sluthpsrt, in 2 fathoms of
water. She went to pieces almost immediately. A small boat,
the only one the 'vessel possessed, cocveyed seven of the parser-
gers to the shore ; the rest lashed themselves to portions of
the wreck, and remained in the water a con•iderable time.
'I he two firemen and enefreer made an attempt to lend by
clinging to a plank ; the latter succeeded, but both the
firemen perished. At length, two boats, each manned by
seven or eight brave fellows, put off from Southport; and
fortunately succeeded in evening the whole of the people
remaining on the wreck. Moat of them lost varicusar: icles
of 11/spare!, indeed, one or twa were landed in a state of
nudity ; and several were cut and bruised from being struck
by fl .ating pii ces ol timber. Had the catastrophe happened
in the night, the probability is, that all must have been
lost.

C:py of a letter hem H. C. Chapman, Esq , Lloyd's agent,
to Thomas Ceur, Esq , Underwriters' room., Liverpool :
" Victoria Hotel, Southport, August 4, ISso.—Deer
The visitors and inhabitants of this place were roused this
afternoon, about half-past four, by the report that a steamer
was on shire on Truck-hill brow, apparently full of puerto-
gem 'I he lifebut was unto-midday at Liverpool, for the
purpose of being lengthened; but the Southport boatmen got
two of their large boats on trucks and proceeded along the
'bore to her, a distance of three miles. I procured • con,
vtiance, and, with Mr. Irvine, of Liverpool, proceeded
to render every assistance in our power to the
survivors. On •• g opposite the vessel we honed
that some of the female passengers had been landed
in the steamer's punt, and the remainder were cling-
ing to the paddle-boxes. The tea was nuking over,
the vessel, which lay about half a mile from the shire. The
first boat aeon altewards arrived, and was launched in gal
lint style ; the crew would not allow any volunteers to go
with them, as they stated that the boat was too small to ad-
mit of saving many at one time. The second boat arrived
about halt an tooter afterwards, end after several trips
succeeded in saving the line of nearly sixty persons,
two firemen only being missicg. When the lest boat lets
! the vessel almost instantly disappeared, the masts, tunnel,
and decks having gone previous to the arrival of the first
boat, and so ended this fatal Sunday pleasure trip at last.
I enclose the mast is deposition, which speaks for itself:
" The vessel is so complete a wreck that nothing will be
saved out of 'emelt to reward the gallant boatmen, whose
conduct is deserving of every encouragement, and who were
the means, under God's providence, of saving so many
lives. The Formby life boat nen r came out, and when I
sect a messenger on horseback. to tt e station, the people
knew no:hing of the dtsaster. 1 trust the Humane So-
ciety will assist in noising funds to reward tie bowmen
for their meritorious a reins, and as an encouragement
for the future. Mr. Irving has kindly promised to deliver
these hasty lMes to you, as I thail not be in Liverpool till
the afternoon.—l em. dear sir, yours, faithfully,
" H. C. CHAPMAN, agent for Lloyds'.
"Thomas Court, E-q , Liverpool."
Deposition of Samuel Webster, muter of the steamer
Prince Artbur,but called in the register the Dumbarton.Citetle,
of 82 tons berthas, formerly employed as • passenger
vessel on the Clyde; nine ysera old :—" Sailed from Pres-
ton this atoning at • quarter before nine, on a pleasure
excursion to the Menai-bridge, with about fifty-two
passengers, in addition to the crew, consisting of
nine seamen in al. Proceeded to sea through the New
Channel, wind S.W. by W., blowing hard. About ens,
p.m., the vessel began to snake water, flaying broken one of
her injection pipes ; set the pumps to work, and all bands
turned to bailing the cabin and engine-ro..m. licelicg the
vessel could cot make way sleeked the fires out; set jib,
Ito., and run her on shore. Wanted the Preston pilot
to bear away for Southport Rude, but he slid there were
no buoys to lead him in, therefore be durst not attempt it,
and ran her on shore, stem on. The crew and passengers
wets saved by the Southport boats, and the women by the
steam is punt, the only boat belonging to her, two firemen
alone being missing."
The master stated over and over again his conviction that.
had the channel leading to Southport Roads been buoyed
the vessel would have been saved. This was apparent to all
on shore. It will only require two buoys, cne on the bar
and another on the elb ow of the Horse-hank. The etc amer
only drew three-and-a.ktalf feet of water. During the gale
of yesterday the master counted skteea fishing boats snugly
at anchor in the roads.
It appears most extraordinary that this vessel should hue
a certifiers et seaworthiness to carry pa angers, having only
one punt with two oars in her, her scan:l.ng being evidently
only adapted for river work.
We learn that subsequently the bodies of the two stoken
were found on the shore.
Many of the passengers were almost in a s'ate of insensi-
bility when rescued, but have since recovered. Amongst
them was a son of the late Mayer of Preston.
Much cut prise is expressed that no assistance was rendered
by the Formby life boat. Great credit is deserved by Mr.
Chapman for his ex, rtiona

AMOUNT OP MONEY RAISED BY RAILWAY COM-
PANIZB.—The amount raised by railway companies in this
country at the end of 1848 by shares and loans amounted to
33,234,817/.,iind the aggregate expenditure was 200,173,0581.,
of which 43,661,4801. was raised by loans bearing an average
rate of interest of 41 per cent., being, therefore, an annual
charge upon the permanently invested property of 2,020,3341.
The amount raised in 1849 is believed to be considerably lies
than in 1848, and probably not far exceeding 20,000,0001.
Therefore the total amount expended upon railways at the
end of 1849 did not exceed say 220,000,000!. At the end of
1849 the 6,996 miles in operation represented a capital of
about 197,600,0001.. showing for works, stations, plant, As.,
an expenditure of about 33,0001. per mile in the construction
of the line and the provision of the necessary plant and
material for working.

EDt7CATION (IRELAND).—According to • return
recently made, the amount of local aid received by the
teachers of national schools in Ireland during the year 1844
wee 25,6071. 10s. 9d., being sn average of 71. 16s. 11d. per
teacher. In 1848, the amount of local aid received was
2.5,2991. Is , being an average of 51. 17s. 31. per teacher.
The local contributions towards the payment of the salaries
to teachers of national schools consist prineipstly of the
weekly tees from the children, of voluntary donations and
subeeriptions, and in a few oases of permanent funds pro-
vided for the maintenance of the sohooL The Commissioners
of National Education in Ireland state that they do not re-
quire proof that such permanent funds exist, nor a guarantee
for their continuance, as indispensable conditions previous
to making a grant of salary to any school.
ASCENDING A VOLCANO.—According to Humboldt
the volcanic mountain of Popocateptl had never et the perica
of his visit to Mexico been ascended since the time of Cortez.
We have been favoured with an extract of a letter from
Mexico, dated June 10, 1850, which announces that this
feat has now been accomplished. The names of the parties
making the assent have been communicated to us, and It is
possible that the public will hereafter hear more of the
matter. The extract is as follows : " Three English gen-
tlemen have just returned from a trip to the Grater
of Popooateptl, cf which one of them sends me
as intimating account. I did net know of their
Intention until too late, or it would have been en
excellent opportunity to have tried the Aneroid at
a great elevation. They were five hours ascend-
ing, and only one hear and a quarter returning; having re-
stained four hours and a half on the summit,—where they
found no difficulty in breathing, smoking, or drinking, or
even walking fast on the level edge of the crater. The crater
was a grand sight, like a very deep barrettes, with sides
nearly perpendicular, about 1,000 feet deep and a league in
einuraference. At the bottom was a pond of sulphur, which
was bubbling away in fine style, of • bright yellow colour.
and emitting • great volume of smoke, the greater part of
which wasecadenaed in the crater before reaching its top.
At the Grater the barometer stood at 18.015 inches, CenN.
grade thermometer 2 deg. ; water boiled at 184 deg. Fehr.,
--oonapostdiag to about 17,000 foot of alUtudo."