The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-04 00:00:00

ARRIVALS AT ASCOT.

C by Don John, out of Moor's dam, Winkfield, Loey,
2 yrs, Tumbler, Icarus, King Chat, Para, Typee, Sailor,
Hospodar, Newbold, Samaritan, Oulston, Fandango,
Habana, Claret, Joshua, Clotilde, Pumicestone, Orson,
Thames Ditton, Cavalier, Star of Surrey, Bribery, Eglan-
tine, Fayaway, Pugnator, Palmerston, Bird-in-Hand,
Tiney, Nicotine, Ida, Besika, Noisette, Epamisiondas,
Bluebeard, Pit-a-pat, 2 yrs, Corcebus, Affghan, Sauce-
box, Shoreham, Quince, Oltenitza.

ALARMING STEAM-BOAT COLLISION IN

THE RIVER.

Yesterday afternoon an accident, of a rather alarming
nature, but which was providentially unattended with
any serious consequences, occurred to one of the
" Citizen " river boats at Putney-bridge. She left
Cadogan pier about half-past three o'clock, with a living
freight of human beings, to the number of between
two hundred and three hundred persons, the
majority of whom were bent upon enjoying the
lovely sunshine in the neighbourhood of Kew and
Richmond ; and ran fairly with the tide, the current of
which was swiftly flowing, without the occurrence of any
untoward incident, until she arrived at the point we
have mentioned. There is, as every one is aware, but
one arch under Putney-bridge, which is commonly used
for steam-boat traffic—indeed it is the only one which
is available, and nearly ahead of it on the other side
a mass of heavy piles has been driven into the river as
a portion of a series of large wooden platforms intended
to be made use of in the erection of a new bridge.
To avoid coming in contact with these, as they are only
a few yards in advance after passing under the arch at
the best of times must, we should imagine, render very
careful and skilful navigation necessary, but when the
tide is running up the difficulty of bringing a boat
round to answer the helm in time to keep clear is obvi-
ously increased. •Just as the Citizen boat was emerging
from the arch, her speed being very swift, it became
evident to some of those on deck that a collision with
the piles was inevitable, and in a few seconds their fears
were verified by a violent crash, the falling of the heap
of piles downwards into the river, and the splintering of
the paddle-box. The consternationwhich prevailed amongst
all on board, particularly the ladies, can be better ima-
gined than described. A general rush was made by all
in different directions, and it was with some difficulty
that the captain succeeded in inducing them to remain
still, and assuring them that there was no danger. The
impression at first was that the boat was sinking, but
happily the extent of the injury she had sustained proved,
upon examination, to be only the smash of her paddle-
box, and the disabling of the paddle. The steam was
shut off by the engineer directly he felt the shock, and
the anchor having been let go the vessel swung round to
the tide and rode safely in the centre of the river until
another boat came up and took them off to their desti-
nation. Considerable delay, however, took place before
it came up, and a number of passengers availed them-
selves in the meanwhile of the opportunity of goingashore afforded to them by the watermen'i wherries,
which flocked round the disabled boat. The escape
of all on board was most providential, as, had
the vessel struck " bows in " the piles, the probability
is that she would have foundered, and had the piles
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