Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-16 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN MIES, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 1859

think that the railway companies last year understood that
th7eoolo6o6;,noaood.
it was;asforred'udiesvtdii,tico distinct works. We applied fi,r
x
000. It was distinctly
understood that the £266,000 was for the session alone: I
remember the meeting of the railway companies last year;
and the board. Ido not recollect that specific works were
named upon which the £266,000 was to be expended. Din-
ing the last twelve months, up to the Ist of March this
year, our expenditure at Birkenhead, including thepurchase
of the north reserve, has been ,£408,236, and in addition'
to that we have paid £140,000 far works which had been
constructed by the Liverpool Corporation, making altogether
£548,000, Out of the £408,236 we have paid £127,000 for
the purchase ofthe north reserve. At present we are employ-
ing 1,536 men, and 130 horses at Birkenhead, and we have
contracted for 1,300 men additional, It is not possible for
either you or me to say to what extent the opening of tho•
Great Float at Birkenhead will relieve the Liverpool docks.
I have no doubt it will relieve them to same extent., Mr.
M`lver has said that when the Great Float is opened, he
will take his steam fleet there, but he has at the same time
stated, that he will not give up one inch of the space he now
occupies at Liverpool, as he must come to Liverpool, he states, to
load his vessels, though he may discharge them at Birken-
head. The area of the great float at Birkenhead is 150
acres. I believe the entire area of the Liverpool docks 'is
about 200 acres. Some of the members of the board are
strongly in favour of the Birkenhead side, and others are
against it. Mr. Boult is one of the members of the board
who has expressed himself against Birkenhead, but I do
not agree with him, for I think, when completed, they will
be of considerable advantage.
Mr. Turner's examination had not closed when our parcel
was despatched.

LIVERPOOL STATIONS
JUNCTION RAILWAY BILL.

[PROM OUR OWN REPORTER.]
HOUSE OF COMMONS, TUESDAY.
The committee on this bill sat to-day, Mr. Ridley in the
chair.

Mr. Hope Scott, Q.C., and. Mr. Rodwell, Q.C., appeared
in support of the bill.
Petitions against the bill were presented by the St.
Helen's Railway Company, the Great Northern Company,
and the Toxteth-park Board of Guardians, but none of the
parties were represented by counsel, the petitions having
merely reference to clauses.
Mr. Hope Scott, Q.C., in opening the proceedings, said
this was a bill to enable the London and North-Western
Company to construct a line of. railway, four miles and
fifty-three chains in length, from their own station at
Edge-hill, in Liverpool, to a point on the Warrington and
Garston line, near Garston, at a cost of £150,000. The
bill had also other objects in view, viz., to authorise
arrangements with other companies, but all those provisions
Would at present be struck out of the bill, which would be
confined to the powers for constructing the proposed line of
railway. The formation of a line of railway to fill up the
gap between Garston and Liverpool had been more than
once before Parliament, when the competing companies
between Liverpool and Manchester were before a committee
of the house, and when a line was respectively projected by
the Great Northern and the Sheffield .Companies, and also
by the St. Helen's Company. - This line, had it been
sanctioned, would have terminated at the south end of
Liverpool, going along the coast, and near to the south
docks. Objections were raised to that line on the ground
that it would materially interfere with the space in
immediate contiguity with the existing docks at the
south end; and, further, that it would also interfere
with land which, at some future time, would in all
probability be required for increased dock accommo-
dation in that locality. The line was, on that ground,
rejected. Now, this line would give an entrance to the whole
of the present railway stations in Liverpool ; and, at the same
time, would afford access to the docks, both at the north
and south ends of Liverpool. If the committee would
consult the map [map laid before the committee] they would
see there was a line from. Edge-hill, which went to Park-
lane. In Park-lane there was a goods' station, and that
station was connected with the southern docks by a railway
which was under the control of the Mersey Docks Board.
Referring to the proposed junction at Edge-hill, the
committee would see by the map that there was a middle
line of railway, which went direct to the centre of Liver-
pool, in Lime-street, where there was the principal
passenger station, opposite to St. George's Hall. By again
looking at the map, the committee would see another line
on the north, at Edge-hill, and this line passed under
Liverpool by a tunnel, and terminated at the Waterloo
Dock. This line was also connected with another line
running along the line of docks, and which, like the line at
the south docks, was under the control of the Mersey Docks
Board. This last named line was of some considerable
comequence, inasmuch as the present tendency of the
Liverpool docks was northward. At the south end the
ground rose very much, and any docks which might here-
after be constructed in that locality, would have to project
into the Mersey. If the committee sanctioned the present
bill, the Garston station would, by means of it, be connected
with every one of the existing stations in Liverpool. To
the bill, as it was originally framed, a considerable number
of objections were raised by petitioners; but, he was happy
to inform the committee that, partly by arrangement, and
partly, he hoped, from as more mature consideration of the
scheme, the petitioners had dwindled down to three, and of
those one had been merely filed because, owing to some
delay, the petitioners the ht. Helen's Canal and Railway
Company—,were obliged to appear before the committee
to-day as opponents, which was a character which in reality
they did not bear. •: ,
The Chairman Who are the two petitioners who re-
main ?
Mr. Hope Scott said the remaining petitioners
were the Toxteth Park Commissioners, whose peti..;
tion was merely a question of clause, and the Great.
Northern Railway Company who were not represented
by counsel. Indeed his own opinion was, that the Great
Northern Company were merely before:the committee for
the purpose of not being excluded from making observations
upon the case hereafter if they might wish to do so. He had
no reason whatever to suppose, that they. either had or could
have any valid objections to the bill. The petitions which
had been withdrawn had been withdrawn for the same
reason which rendered the report of the Board of Trade
inapplicable to the bill. The bill had been remodelled so
that there was net at present a single observation in the
report of the Board of Trade which applied' to the bill in its
present form. The ease Of the Toxteth Park Commissioners,
who, as he had said before, were the only real opponents
of the bill, resolved itself purely into a question of
clause. Toxteth • Park was one of the suburban
districts of Liverpool, and it possessed a local board of
health who objected to . a proposal to carry the railway
across ,certain. public roads —among others, across Penny-
lane, where there was a large and increasing traffic: The
company- were perfectly ready to comply with any
reasonable proposition on the part of the commissioners,
and were willin to insert a clause in the bill, requiring
them to carry abridge across the road or to carry the road
over the railway, subject to , the decision of the Board of
Trade. He believed that was really the only substantial
opposition which would be offered to the bill, and he thought
there would be no difficulty in disposing of it.
Mr. Woods examined by Mr. Rodwell: I am a civil
engineer. I have had considerable experience in the con-
struction of railways. lam acquainted with the proposed
line. The total cost is £120,000: £50,000 for the works ;
£60,000 for the land. The smallest curve is one in 13
chains. That curve is approaching Edge-hill station. In
my judgment this is the cheapest route of connecting the
two points. This is the last link in the communication. It
communicates with all the stations at Liverpool. There
are no tunnels. There are no engineering difficulties. .
At the close of Mr. Wood's examination, the committee
passed the preamble of the bill, and the various' clauses
having been settled, the chairman was ordered to report the
bill to the .House. •

f THE CHARGE
' -
I AGAINST THE or TIT
ENGINEERS OF THE BOGOTA-

Yesterday, at oneo'clock, was fixed for the further hearing
of the charge against John Buchanan, the chief engineer,
and Archibald Mitchell, the second engineer, of the Bogota
steamer, for having caused the death of John Landon, on
the high seas. The Police Court was crowded with persons
anxious to hear the details. Mr. J. A. Turner assisted Mr.
Mansfield in the hearing of the case, as he had sat with him
on the first day; the Mayor was also present. Mr. Tyndall
appeared for the Crown, and Mr. Aspivall (deputy Recorder),
instructed 1w Lowndes and Co., appeared for Buchanan, and
Mr.' Deighton, instructed by Mr. Snowball, appeared for
Mitchell. Since the cases of Captains Rogers and Christie,
we have not known any that has caused more public atten-
tion than the present. There were several well •dressed and
sespectable-looking females in Court. It was nearly half-
past one before the case was proceeded with. The first
witness called was

William McCle Hand, who said : I was a seaman on
board out the Bogota, and remember Landon joining at
Valparaiso. He was a stout able-bodied man. Sailed to
Loto, and coaled there, and pinceeded to Rio. The weather
was hot before we arrived at Rio for fourteen days. The
deceased was a coal-passer, and I heard him complain of the
heat, and say it was too great for him to bear. He offered
one man £lO to take his place, but the man said the first
or second mate would not let him take it. He was a miner,
and was working in Chili for three years. He told me he
was coming to see his family, and to send his eldest son to
school. The weather was favourable when we left Rio. I
saw the second engineer there on the deck. The deceased died
that day. I saw him and the second engineer at the aft
stoke hole, the latter dragging deceased by the legs. ' The
man cried out for mercy, and asked, for God's sake, not to
put him down, as it would kill him. The second engineer
said he would put him down, and chain him, and make him
do his work, as. he had skulked on his comrades already.
The man said he was not able to stand the heat. The
engineer said, " Get up, and go down to your work, or I
will kick you down." "For God's sake," said he, "don't
ask me." He gave the man a push, and the man laid hold
of the ladder, and wed down, and the second engineer
followed. The second mate then called me to my work, and
I did not see any more then. I saw Land.on in half-an-hour
being carried forward from the after stoke-hole on the port
side; he was carried by one, and that was the second
engineer; he was carried by the legs and arms ; they took
him to the foremost stoke-hole, port side ; they laid his
legs over the crossings of the hatch, and forced him down
the stoke-hole on the port side. I saw the chief engineer
standing at the crossings of the hatch at the stoke-hole, and
they stood there for five minutes; to the best of my
knowledge I did not hear anything pass at the time, nor see
them do anything at that time. I looked down the stoke-
hole at the time; they looked down at the same time: I
saw the man after he was tied to the ladder : he was tied by
the waist, and cried out for mercy. The chief and second
engineers were then looking down the stoke-hole.
There were a great number present, and both the, engineers
and the doctor were present. The chief engineer was
looking at the man, who said, " God Almighty have mercy
on me, I am not able to stand the heat—you will kill me."
The next time I saw the man was when being carried up
to the foreastle, starboard side; and I consider it was then
about half-past. five. He was placed on the forecastle deck.
I remained in the forecastle during all the rest of the time.
He was left lying there. I saw the doctor feel his pulse;
the chief mate and first engineer were present. The doctor
gave orders for the man to be rolled, and the chief mate
held the watch; the man did not recover, for to the best of
my knowledge he was dead at the time. I heard Reece, one
of the firemen, ask the first engineer who ordered him to be
tied up ? and the engineer said, " I did, to make him do his
work," or "to keep him to his work." I lifted a hand to
bury nim; hls trowsers was nut taken olr, lie Was burled In
the same state as he was brought from the stoke-hole.
Cross-examined by Mr. Aspinall : I don't remember
that his boots were off; I did not see his feet rubbed,
or mustard plasters put on 'them. The doctor and
first engineer went away together. I saw nothing more
of them until the man was brought up again. There
were a number of people looking down the stoke-hole
—five or six at least. The ship had passengers, but I can't
say if any of them were there or not. The chief engineer
and the surgeon were talking, but I could not tell what
they were saying, as I was paying more attention to the
party below. I swear they were there more than two
minutes. They were looking down the stoke-hole all the
time that I was there—for the five minutes. I could see
,the entrance to the.stoke-hole from the forecastle. door. I
did not think the man was skulking. It was the hottest
day I ever remember. The glass was 130 degrees under
double awnings. I never saw. the captain all the time.
He did not interfere in anything, as he was very quiet, and
did not interfere except a report was made to him. Reece,
one of the firemen, reported it to the captain. I told the
third officer, and he saw it as well as I did. I have not
seen him since we came into dock. He was not looking
down. I told him it was very cruel to treat the man sn,
and he said it was very. There was nothing to prevent the
third officer going to the captain that I know of.
Examined by Mr. Deighton : I saw the man after he was
tied; he was tied by the waist to the lower ladder, with his
left side and back to the fire. I heard the crying out for
one minute, but I can't say for more ; but the cries were
heard before I noticed them. He was tied on the port side
of the ladder ; part of his face would be towards the hatch-
way. The doctor was present when the crying out was
going on ; it was heard in the4orecastle. I can't say
where the captain was, for I had not seen him for an hour
before that. I did not see who tied him; the doctor was
present then ;_ he was down, I consider, better than five
minutes. I did not see the length of the, rope, but I heard
it. I have been down there' to have a look round the place
once ; I stayed about five minutes, fore and aft, and by the
boilers ; it was cool weather then. The only man I saw
down with the man when tied was the second engineer.
Re-examined by Mr. Tyndall: From the time he was
carried to the fore-stoke hole, until 'he was carried to the
forecastle, was about eight minutes ; and I think lie was
tied to the ladder five minutes at least—l think that, but I
am not sure:
Robert Grainger examined: I am a seaman on board the
Bogota ;, I joined on the 27th December. I knew the
deceased, and he told me he was from Cornwall. He was a
.coal passer on board. He made complaints of the weather,
as it was pretty hot; I never heard him complain
in cold weather. lie complained to me several times, and
said he would not be able to stand the passage home; I
told him I would change with him if the officers allowed it.
He said he could not go aloft. I recollect the day we left
Rio, it was a very hot day indeed: The boatswain of the
vessel had. to knock off with the heat, and a man, named
Bill Senter, had to knock off also from it. I,came on deck
about four o'clock, and saw deceased lying on the port side
of the deck, behind the shaft ; it was near the stoke-hole
(pointed out on a plan of the deck) where the deceased lay.
He was crying out, "Oh dear, what am Itodo ?" I spoke
to him, and asked him what was the matter He said,
" I am not. fit to stand the heat any longer,
and they will face me down to work." It was
raining a little before that, and I went into
the forecastle to shift myself. He was there from ten
minutes to a quarter of an hour, but I did not see anyone
speak to him, nor orders given. I heard the noise of their
bringing him along after that. I heard the second engineer
order him below ; that was after I saw him on the deck. I
saw him carried to the fore stoke-hole, and the second
engineer pushing him along. They forced him down the
stoke-hole. He seemed unwilling,to go, and held the rail
not 'to go. The second engineer loosed his hands, and
pushed him down. I was called away then. I heard
deceased crying out after that for God to have mercy on
him, and asking would no one save him. I saw the head
engineer on the deck, walking backward and forward. He
was nearer the stoke-hole than I. was, and he passed it
frequently. The deceased was not crying then, as he had
not been long down at the time.. I saw the deceased
brought into the forecastle ; the doctor and head en-
gineer came with him. he doctor spoke to him,
saying, " Tell us what's the matter ?" when one of
the men said, " Oh! he won't tell you - he's schem-
ing," but he , was , not able to speak then. The
doctor spoke to the head engineer, and I saw him come
with a bottle of mustard. I think the doctor and engineer
went away, and so did I. I was away a quarter of an
hour ; they lifted him on to some chests. Some one red
ported
that the man was dead, and the doctor came, fp
they put him into a blanket, and he was rolled' back
ward by the head engineer and doc.tor.
and he was dead. I assisted +-
chief engineer was the.-
was a fine ste-4
boifi