The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-02 00:00:00

COURT-MARTIAL.

A court-martial assembled at Plymouth on Monday
morning, on board the flag-ship Impregnable, 104, to in-
quite into the circumstances connected with the ground.
ing of the paddle-wheel steam-sloop Hecla, 6, on the
morning of the 23d of January last, at the back 'of the
rock of Gibraltar ; and to try her commanding officer,
Henry Samuel Hawker, and her master, E. J. H.
Tucker, for their conduct on that occasion. The Court
consisted of Heat-Admiral J. H. Plumridge, Superin-
tendent of the Devonport Dockyard, president; Captain
John Kingcbine, Royal William ; Captain Lord Edward
Russell, Vengeance ,; Captain Charles Wise, Impreg-
nable ; and Captain Woodward J. Williams; Sanspareil.
Mr. William Eastlake officiated as Judge-Advocate.
Mr. John Beer, solicitor, of Devonport, attended as
Commander Hawker's friend ; and Mr. J. E. Elworthy,
solicitor, of Plymouth, watched the case on behalf of
Mr. Tucker. On the part of the prosecution, it was
shown that on the moruing of the 231 of January the
Hecla was proceeding to Malaga under charge of Com-
mander Hawker, who retired to bed about half-past 10
o'clock, but previously to doing so entered in the
order-book that• a good look-out should be kept for
vessels, so as to haul clear of them, and a request to
be called when the vessel had run 35 miles after 8
o'clock. It appeared that the second part of this order
was not obeyed. The vessel proceeded under steam
about 5 miles an hour. The weather was described as
very dark and "nasty ;" the wind was rather fresh from
S.S.E., variable, with a force of about five. The patent
log was put over at seven in the evening, and hauled in
about midnight, and showed that 21} knots had been
run during that time. At 10 minutes after 4 on the
morning iu question the course given by the relieving
officer on watch was W.N.W. Mr. Tucker, the mater,
was on the bridge at the tune the course was given, and
a few minutes afterwards he went below. At 4.30 the
officer of the watch, named Allen, observed three lights,
two of which appeared to be from ships, and the other
a standing one from the shore. Allen then gave direc-
tions for e helm to be put two points aporc. Mr.
Tucker, on hearing the order, inquired the reason, and
ordered the vessel to be steered as before, W.N.W.
About 5.40 some breakers were observed on the port
bow, and Mr. Tucker, who was then on the quarter-
deck, gave directions for the ship to be stopped, the engines
reversed, and the helm to be put hard aport. At 5.50
she struck forward on a reef of rocks at the back of the
rock of Gibraltar. Immediately on breakers being
observed, Commander Hawker was called, but before
he could arrive on deck the ship had struck. Directions
were then given to launch the starboard paddlebox boat,
a hawser attached to a line was thrown on shore, minute
guns were fired, and subsequently, on finding that she
could not be got off, her fore and mainmasts were cut
away, and the ship abandoned. On the night following
the occurrence the Hecla filled from holes made in her
bottom by the floating spars. Abc ut 10 minutes before
she struck the master ordered the man in the chains to
heave the lead, and it was found that she was in three
and a half fathoms, the ship drawing 14 feet. Upwards
of a dozen witnesses were called for the prosecution, at
the conclusion of which the Court adjourned till the
following day (Tuesday).
On the opening of the court, yesterday, Commander
Hawker entered upon his defence, and alleged that the
master, Mr. Tucker, had deviated from his instructions
relative to steering the ship. He read numerous teoti-
menials, and called several witnesses in his behalf.

Mr. Tucker could not account, in his defence, for'the
stranding of the Hee!a, but called several witnesses to
prove his attention to his duties on the night in ques
tion, and also read several testimonials.

The Court considered the commander to blame, and
adjudged him to be severely reprimanded. The master
was sentenced to be dismissed from the Freda, and to
lose two years' service.

THE TRANSPORT SERVICE.
The screw steam-transport Victoria, No. 72, belonging
to the Australian Royal Mail Company, which arrived
at Southampton on Saturday evening, with invalided
troops from the garrison at Gibraltar, still remains in the
river. She bas, however, at last disposed of her inva-
lids, for they were sent ashore from the ship yesterday
morning in a steam-tug, a period of only two days and
a-balf having elapsed since her arrival ! The poor fel-
lows seemed delighted when they landed, but complained
of the unnecessary confinement to which they had been
subjected. The delay with regard to this ship is another
of the many flagrant cases which have at various_ times
been recorded. In this, as in other instances, no blame
can be attached to the Admiralty officials at Southamp-
ton, for no sooner had the vessel arrived than intelli-
gence of the fact-was forwarded by telegraph to London.
After waiting for several hours no rept./ was received,
and it was not until too late on Monday night to send
the passengers ashore that-any knowledge existed of the
wishes at head-quarters. Early yesterday morning,
however, they were speedily got out of the ship and des-
patched to Chatham. The Victoria will be docked and.,
repaired previously to her leaving Southampton. '
The General Screw Company's screw steam-ship In-
diana, No. 147, left Southampton for Woolwich yester-
day morning, icr the purpose of embarking horses for
conveyance to the Crimea. She is fitted to accommo-
date 225, and will also berth a large number of troops.
The capacity of her decks renders her admirably suited
for the purposes of the horse transport service ; and the
good sailing qualities of this fine vessel will insure a
speedy transit to the place of her destination.

Yesterday a detachment:of the Royal Artillery, con-
sisting of 200 men, arrived at Liverpool from Woolwich,
and proceeded the same evening to Dublin by steamer.•