The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-05 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

ADMIRALTY COURT, APRIL 4.
THE SILENCE.-COLLISION.

The brig Blakistone, of the burden of 204 tons, coal
laden, proceeding from Seaham to London, and the
schooner silence, of the burden of 104 tons, ound from
Bangor to London, with slates, came into collision with
each other at 5 p.m. on the 8d of July last, a little below
North Point, off Woolwich. The wind, it was admitted,
was W.S.W. The brig, according to her plea, was
standing towards the north shore, close hauled on the
port tack ; that when near the shore she observed the
schooner under her starboard quarter, going in the same
direction, and signalled her to go about under the brig's
stern, which she accordingly did, and then reached off
on the starboard tack ; that the brig, on reaching the
north shore, also went about, and while the foreyard
was lying aback the schooner, which had gone about
nearly in midchannel to avoid a vessel which was being
towed up across her bows, stood towards her on the
port tack, apparently intending to cross the brig's
hawse ; that, perceiving the schooner persevering in her
attempt, and that a collision thereby became imminent,
the brig's yards were instantly thrown aback and
other measures adopted ; that the schooner was
hailed to back her foreyard and let go her bead sheets,
neither of which she did, but, in attempting to cross
the brig's hawse, fell with her starboard quarter on the
brig's starboard bow, driving one fluke of the brig's an-
chor, which was hanging ready to let go, with the stock
awash in the water, through her own side, and the
other into the brig's bow between four and five feet be-
low the water's edge. She attributed the accident to the
schooner carrying such a press of canvass on a squally
day in a crowded navigation, and, more especially, at-
tempting to cross the hawse of the brig instead of going
to leeward of her, or checking her way, as she had been
hailed to do. On the part of the schooner, it was alleged
that the brig was seen a little ahead and to leeward of
the schooner ; that when the schooner had approached so
near to the north shore that it was necessary to go on
the starboard tack, sloe hailed the brig, which was also
going about on the starboard tack, to keep her yards
aback ; that the schooner being obliged to turn again
to avoid a collision with a steam tug and bark, put
her helm down, but, observing that the brig, which
was now some distance astern and to leeward, had
filled her yards, and was rapidly approaching the
schooner, hailed her to back her sails and to lower
her anchor, the stock of which was two feet above
the water ; that the sails of the brig were not hove aback
until too late to avoid the collision, and while the
schooner was in stays sho ran stem on into her starboard
side. Cress actions were entered by the respective par-
ties.

The Admiralty Advocate and Dr. Spinks were beard
for the brig ; Dr. Haggard and Dr. Deane for the
schooner.

The learned Judge, having conferred with the Elder
Brethren by whom he was assisted, said they were of
opinion that both vessels were to blame—the brig for
not keeping her headyards aback, and for carrying her
anchor in an improper manner.
Decree accordingly.