The National Register.
London, England, 1822-09-22 00:00:00

EFFECTS OF DRUNKENNESS.

—.—
An ingnisition was held on 'Pt idly morning at the watch'
hotted., in Catteett's Head-alley, Newgate-street, on the
body of Joseph Masters, aged 4V, a printer.
John Braithwaite, a watchman, was going his rounds at
one o'clock on Thursday morning, and saw deceit•eil
ling on the ground, resting his head upon the step of Alt.
Bars lev's shop-door, in Nervgatevstreet. Tke deceased's
son stood by hint; he was quite iuseusihle and speechless;
witness, with another watchman and the deceased's 902.
earned the deceased to the wateithonse; ou his arrival
Mete he was laid ul his bark on the ibsOr. MA his
steekkerchief was untied; the deceased was Irfi in that
situation, his son said be hail work to do, and must go
to it.

Thomas Masters, No. 3, MtiWu's-rents, Shoe-lane, son
of the deceased.-1 am a printer; my father was of toe
same lonsiness, and worked at Mr. George-yard,
Lombard street. On Wednesday, deceased was very
cheerful all the day with his shop mates. At night the de-
ceased, witness, and twelve other shipmates had a sapper
at the Cross Keys, Gracechurch-street. The deceased
drank freely; the last liquor he took was sonic brandy
and water, and the last glass (a goblet) was nearly neat
brandy.
Coroner.—How mush liquor did he drink altogether?
Witness.—l cannot say exactly. I saw him drink live
glasses of brandy and water very strong, besides which
lie drank neat brandy out of a goblet many times. I as-
sisted me father towards home, and got as fat as Newgate-
street. Ile never spoke attcr he readmit the 3lausion-
house. I carried him the remainder of the way top my
hack ; lie loosed his hold round toy neck and slipped to
the ground. The watchman came up, and assisted in
carrying hint to the watchltoose.
Jitruir.—You say your father and his companions drank
neat brazidv ; was it placed on the table in decanters,
and twined into goblets? Wutness.—Yes, the neat brandy
was placed on the table in bottles, and it was drunk neat
out cf goblets. I cannot say how many goblets of neat
brandy my father drank that night. He sung several
songs during the night, and when lie left tit? Cross Keys
appeared very well, Ile had been many limes lief dre
apparently as
and when I left him, I supposed I.e would he well main
after a little sleep, I was quote solt r, and diank very little
at the pnulic house.
Mr. Shaw, keeper of the watch-1 ttttt se: staled that the
last witness, with several watchmen, brought the de-
ceased into the watchhouse on Thursday mot nine, be-
tween one and two o'clock, Ills son said—'' Aly father
has been to stepper in Gracechitich-street, be is 'smelt
intoxicated, will you permit him in 'patella lucre for a 11'0%
(lows, Abell he will be well again.' 111htrss "Or " C•""
tainly ;" and the deceased was 11140. 'll ill the lock-op
room on his back. Wiirn witness clout oust of the hos-
up room he found the deceased's sots and the watchmen
gone; and some time rates wal4IN 101• c• of the watchmen
informed the willtuss that lesson w unuld i churn at hislfitast
roar o'clock (as the vt atelniun.e shot nit :it list) 10 fetch
his lather oway• efiei wail, heatd the deeaseil
.noting very load, and went to him, amt hoappealed
dying or dead. Ile sent fur a PHI zt I'd:Hellish I, ; 111.
tin) came in a few minute:, Ht, I :le pro ttttt nicer! the man
a col I's,. The sou di I not
Mr. Berridge, surgeon, Neusg lie-•treet, had Plo4lllollo°ll
the hotly—no esternal k, of a 10:eoce *et e priti ph Brie.
lie opened the lardy MI T 11111,114% morning; the liver was
much ClOlOllO4l aid in a ashirt NJ slate, in.alacaol by hard

cam,.)

drinking. He believed the from grlnkit4
eiteevvivelv of orrice)! ',knits. Verdict—Dud from
sitm drinking.

MELANCHOLY LOSq OF LIVES ON THE colsr
OF CAITHNESS.

I,vßset:it N !AGE, Seet. 11, 1022.—This morning a
most unexampled scene of distress took place on our coast.--
The early part of the night of Tuesday being uncommonly calm
and serene, almost all the herring bunts from the Ord to Wick,
put to sea. About midnight the wind veering to the south,
blew a tremendous gale ; during the remaining part of the night
the most intense anxiety prevailed amongst the relatives and
Iciends of the poor fishermen, nor did the appearance of the
morning tend to diminish the general distress—hardly any of
the boats bad been able to find shelter during the night, and
hut few of them, even so late as seven o'clock this morning,
had succeeded in gaining the harbour of Wick, or any of the
creeks to the south of it. Soon after this hour • boat from
Forge, with four into on hoard, was swamped within 200 yawls
of the mouth of this creek, situated nearly three miles from
C:ythness ; notwithstanding the most earnest ties to, in-
duce the fishermen of tbs: place to put off from the Awe to the
assistance of their fellow creatures, not one of them had the
courage to stretch out a saving hand for these unhappy men,
perishing before their eyes. Is a moment, however, the sink-
ing boat was dashed on the face or the rock, and the unfortunate
wretches were for an instant seen (ninny straggling for their
lives in the waves, within tweuty yards of nnnserous seafaring
men, looking on with the coldest apathy and indifference.
t• A boat from Clyth perished near Ulbster, with all on board,
including a father and two sons. At this very moment, four
o'clock, the wind blows most tremendourly from the S.W. and
some boats have been seen oat at holding on by their nets,
which it is to he feared may he overwhelmed by the ointinu.
anee and iucreasiug severity of the pie."

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