The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-10 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF

OFFICIAL REPORT.
Cobannt COURT-HOUSE, CORK, May 2.
To the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade
My lords,--In obedience to your commands, I has' held
an official inquiry into the circumstances attending the loss
of the steamship City of New York, which occurred at 2 40
on the morning of 29th March last, on Daunt's Rock, in
the vicinity of Robert's Head, on the coast of County of
Cork, a few miles south-west of this port. In this investi-
gation I have been ably assisted by Captains Harris and
Cow, as nautical assessors, and I have now the honour to
forward my report. The City of New York was an iron
ship, built at Glasgow in 1860, and classed at Lloyd's A 1
for 20 years. She was of the burthen of 2,360 tons gross, a
screw vessel, propelled by two engines of the combined
horse power of 550, and had five water-tight bulkheads.
Her length was 335 5-10 ft ; breadth, 40 3-10 ft ; and depth,
18 7-10Ie ; her extreme depth to the upper deck being 44
7-10 ft, The City of New York was owned by Mr William
Inman, who represents the New York and Philadelphia
Ocean Steamship Company, and appears to have been in all
respects properly and abundantly equipped with boats and
every requisite for the service upon which she was employed.
Thus found and equipped, she sailed from New York on the
19th of March last, bound to Liverpool, touching, as usual,
at the port of Cork, manned by a crew of 105, all told,
a general cargo, and 164 passengers. The City of New York
was commanded by Mr James Kennedy, who holds a certia
ficate of competency as master, dated July 3, 1856, and pos-
sesses the very highest testimonials of his owner and others
to his ability and skill as an able, experienced, and careful
commander. After a rapid and prosperous voyage across
the Atlantic, averaging 300 miles a day, the Fastnet Rock
Light, on the coast of Ireland, was made on the 28th March,
and at 1 35 a.m. of the 20th the ship was abreact of the
Old Head of Kinsale, at about two miles distance from
the light. From this pasition a course was steered to pass
through the inner channel, between Daunt's Rock and
Robert's Head. Upon approaching the latter, Captain
Kennedy had some misgiving as to the distance from the
land, and being misled by its near appearance and the noise
of the surf, unfortunately ordered the ship to bo kept off
half a point. In four or five minutes his vessel (then going
at the rate of 10 or DI knots) struck upon Daunt's Rock.
The buoy which denotes its vicinity was not discovered till
a quarter of an hour after the ship struck. It is almost
needless to say that everything was subsequently done to
save life and property. All efforts failed, however, to save
the ship, and at the expiration of 15 days the vessel broke
up and disappeared. Such is the brief narration of the loss
of this noble ship, the details and circumstances attending
which will be found more fully set forth in the evidence. It
remains for me therefore to comment upon the facts, to see
in what respect Captain Kennedy is to be held responsible
for this disaster In reviewing the evidence, the first ques-
tion that suggests itself to my mind is this—was Captain
Kennedy justified in taking this narrow channel at night,
and at such great speed, when a perfectly safe channel was
open for his adoption to the eastward of the buoy on Daunt's
Rock ? For this purpose I must here introduce a descrip-
tion of the channel as set forth in the Admiralty survey of
the coast of Ireland. It states that the channel between
Daunt's Rock and Robert's Head is three quarters of a mile
in width, with deep water in it, and that Robert's Head is
bold to approach. Daunt's Rock, which lies S.S.E. i E.,
three quarters of a mile from Robert's Head, is marked Ly
a black buoy placed S.S.E. 1 E. from the pinnacles, or
shoalest part of the rock, at a distance of one cable's length.
As Daunt's Rock is thus between the buoy and Robert's
Head, it would seem to indicate that, in the opinion of the
surveyors, the ordinary track for vessels was outside, and
to the eastward of the buoy, and that, however safe the inner
channel may be by day, when certain marks which are
mentioned may be available, their silence upon any leading
marks by night leads me to the conclusion that it is a too
hazardous passage to be then adopted. In coming to this
conclusion, I may mention that there aro many circum-
stances that Fender this channel undesirable. First and
foremost, in these days of competition by sea, there is no
saving of distance ; secondly, as in this case, there is the
difficulty, however experienced a commander may be, in
estimating the distance from the land from the deck of a
large ship, and the contingency of atmospheric influences
which also occurred in this case, preventing the buoy from
being seen. Did I require any confirmation of this opinion,
it would be found in the recent correspondence between
Mr. Inman, the owner of the City of New York, and the
Board of Trade. Capt. Kennedy, in that correspondence,
expresses his belief that tiro facility of estimating the dis-
tance from Robert's Head renders this channel both easy
and safe, It is a curious coincidence that this able and ex-
prienced commander should be the first victim of his over
confidence, and a convincing proof that this channel ought
not to be navigated at night. It is no justification, to my
mind, that Captain Kennedy or other commanders may
have passed through this contracted channel before with
impunity, and, apparently, for no advantage, as unques-
tionably at night the risk incurred does not compensate
for mere gain iu time. The public safety demands
that no unnecessary risks be run, and that the passage
--la this narrow channel should be discouraged for
throat, .by night, Captain Kennedy having, there-
the present -"sponsibility of navigating this narrow
fore, accepted the ._ -'en and perfectly safe one, with
channel when he had an a,. " three lighthouses for his
t
the advantage of the bearings 0.. a
of his own im-
guidance, must be judged by the rest._ ,hi s distance
prudence. Captain Kennedy under-estimated
his
from the land—an opinion concurred in by
chief officer, although he did not communicate that opinion
to his commander—another convincing proof if any were
required, that when such experienced men are deceived as
to distance, this channel should not be attempted at night
without a pilot or a greater amount of local experience. It
is, therefore, my opinion, in which I am confirmed by my
assessors, that the City of New York was lost by the de-
fault of her master, inasmuch as, having the choice of two
channels, the one clear and open, with three lighthouses to
direct him, the other narrow and contracted, without suffi-
cient marks, and with only the eye to guide him at night,
he preferred the latter, and thereby accepted the responsi-
bility and risk to his ship. Nor was he, in my opinion,
justified in running at such a high rate of speed, without
having seen the buoy, he having at the time a dangerous
sunken rock between him and the buoy. A misconception,
therefore, of his distance from the land, and his proximity
to the rock, resulted in the loss of his ship and imminent
danger to human life. I have taken into consideration the
good antecedents and high character of Captain Kennedy,
and have not been disposed to pass so severe a sentence in
his case as otherwise I might have been inclined to pro-
nounce. I have, therefore, allowed Captair. Kennedy's
hitherto successful career to have its weight in apportion-
ing the sentence. But my duty to the public makes it in-
cumbent on me to mark my sense of Captain Kennedy's
conduct in running an unnecessary risk, where human life
and great property were at stake. I have, therefore, with
the full concurrence of my assessors, stntenead Captain
Kennedy to have his certificate as master suspended for
eight montna, or to the 31st of December, 1864, Captain
Kennedy's certificate is forwarded herewith.--I have, &ea
JOHN Louis CIIONIN, M.P.
We concur in the above report,
HY. HARRIS, } Nautical Assessors.
JoHN Cow,

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TIMES.—The 9th of May, 1864, will ever be re-
marleahle fer the exact but fortuitous concurrence of
two events hailing the most important bearings the
one on the other. While the repteeentatiees of the
belligerents and of the allied Powers were sitting in
Conference with a view to the cessation of bloodshed
on some terms or other, an Austrian and a Danish
squadrdrt v'rere engaged 111 action several hundred
miles off, near the opposite shores of the German
Ocean. Almost at the very hour that Denmark,
declining an armistice which would give a greater
sanction to the past than she chose to allow, was
agreeing ton simple suspension of hostilities, an
Austrian frigate was on the point of destruction, and
its consorts were taking refuge in the British waters
of Heligoland. Such a concurrence was possible at
any time, for we have heard before of simultaneous
victories by sea and by land; but that both events
should not only happen together, but be simultane-
ously known in Downing-street, would have been
impossible and incredible a very few years ago. The
telegraphic wire brought the news of the one event
across the German Ocean as fast as messengers
could bring the other to the office next door.
When the Conference had agreed to a suspension of
arms, they heard within an hour that they had been
too late to atop a battle in which Denmark had re-
trieved, at the cost of one of her assailants, the re•
v. erses she had suffered at the hands of the other. It
scarcely possible for the most impartial or the
mostindifferent bystander not to rejoice at this
opportune change in the hitherto sad tenour of her
fortunes. It has come not only as a substantial
proof of her prowess, but also as if to reward the
moderation with which he has agreed to endure for
a time the hostile occupation of her soil. There never
was a time or an occasion in whieh the British people
were not disposed to give their sympathy to the weak.
On that, if on no other ground, they would delight
to see Denmark making up on her own element for
indefensible earthworks and overwhelming foes. But
it was something more than this British instinct that
prompted the enthusiastic cheers of the House of
Commons when they heard the result of the action
off Heligoland. Whutever may be the rights of this
inscrutable question, they regard Austria and Prussia
as aggressors, who without a legal footing in Den-
mark use their overwhelming numbers for evidently
selfish purposes. The allied German Powers had
agreed to recommend an armistice, involving, among
other things, that Denmark should suspend her
blockade of the Baltic ports and should surrender
to her invaders the island of Alsen, while they were
also to withdraw their armies from Jutland. It was
supposed that Denmark would readily give up a
small island lying at the mercy of the foe, in order
to save the Danish inhabitants of her mainland from
their present humiliation and misusage. The Danes,
however, preferred a mere suspension of arms, as
being the simple continuance of a state of things in
which it could not be pretended that they for a
moment acquiesce. Being purely negative, it com-
mits them to nothing, and is not even a step to any
consummation. That Prussian and Austrian armies
occupy all Jutland is a deplorable fact, which the
Danes have only recognised in the language of in-
dignant remonstrance. The abandonment of Alsen
a day earlier than was expected by the exigencies
of war would have looked like the abandonment of
a just claim. That the Danes would agree to any
species of armistice, and especially that they would
suspend their blockade, was what the Conference
rather hoped than expected. They knew that they
had to confer, not with men before them, but with
the telegraph wire, and the men at the other end
of that wire, and they knew that in the case of Den-
mark the men at the other end of the wire were un-
der the influence of a turbulent and irrational de-
mocracy. Copenhagen, safe in an island, and with
Sweden to flatter its vanity and foster its hopes,
gives laws to the mainland, not se secure or so irre-
sponsible for its deeds. Would the Danish, re-
presentatives even:make the smallest app not
roxima
tion towards a settlement? It was feared .
However, reason has at last prevailed, and we have
now the happiness of seeing a Conference for Peace
which is not carried on paripassu with a sanguinary
war. We trust the Danes will not be too much
elated with their naval victory to take that part in
the further proceedings of the Conference which
facts may require. That victory we have no wish
to disparage. It seems to have been fought against
odds, and the Austrians could hardly be worse
armed than the Danes themselves. It is probable
that both sides had the old style of armament, but
even were it otherwise, on the open sea the advan-
tages of the new ordnance might be counteracted
by better manoeuvring and by close quarters. No
such victory, however, would enable the Danes to
make their blockade of the German ports effective.
As the camel is the " ship of the desert," so the rail-
way is the ship of the Continent in these days, ana
is fully competent to do all that ship has ever
done. We trust, then, the Danes will bear their
new honours meekly, and remember not only that
they are but men, but that they are aiso not
many, not rich, and somewhat behindhand in
military affairs. if they keep that in mind, it may
lead to a peaceful and even to au equitable settle-
ment of this long and disastrous controversy. The
result of the suspension of arms is most pro-
pitious for our own affairs. It has reinstated
Grovernment which every rumour threatened to
shake from its se
,et. So long as England was corn•
pelted to stand by
b:nd witness a s.laughter which
she utterly abominated, but had neither
.the autho-
no noMint.stry could
gn,(ttion which, justly
rity to stop nor the wit to avert,
or other. . Had
hold itself safe from the indi
or unjustly, must find some object
the Conference broken up without an armistice,
though by no fault of the Government, the Con-
servatives would have had a majority to back them
in censuring .
the impotent friends of Denmaek and
the successful champions of public ustice. "Notlants,
succeeds like success." All the labour and anxiety
which have been expended in conciliating Danes
and Germans, in smoothing difficulties and calming
susceptibilities, however unreasonable, would have
won for those who endured it no consideration in
the House of Commons or in the country if it had
failed to vanquish the obstinacy of one side or the
rapacity of the other. It is the injustice which all
public men are taught by experience to expect.
Happily, on this occasion reason, and perhaps a
better feeling on both sides, possibly, too, a fear of
ulterior consequences, have come to the aid of the
peacemakers ; the fighting is over for the present ;
the Austrians and Prussians will retire to their
quarters, and the Conservatives, who but yesterday
were ready to stoem the Treasury Bench, may
make up their minds to an uneventful Session,
and return as soon as they please to the pleasures
of country life.
PosT.—The present condition of the cotton opera,
fives in England is described and discussed very
minutely in the last report of Mr. Redgrave, the
I;.:tory inspector in whose district the chief seats of
the eet:on manufacture are situated. It appears
that from the beginning of the crisis to the end of
marls three millions sterling were
expended
vbeyr
ythe Guarci;ans, the Central Relief Com-
mittee, and the Mansion House Committee, in
maintaining those who suffered from the distress.
To this must be added that of which an estimaterate
cannot easily he made—the sums given by p
charity unconnected with the public bodies, an This
the
stores of clothing that have been distributed.
large amount of relief has been distributed at two
smallest per-tentage of cost, but at the expenditure
of time and labour by the several committees and
their officers, with an earnest devotedness which
none can appreciate fully except those who have wit-
nessed their operations, and have a personal know-
ledge of the difficulties of their task. We are glad
to learn that the reduction it' the number of per-
sons in the receipt of relief, with which 18the yearn
continued throughout the greater part of
and, in spite of a relapse during the autumn the re-
turns for the last week of December contrasted very
with ose of the first week of the pre-
f
T. Not only have the numbers of the
cedin avourabii those
g Januar
-time . and in halftime employ-
operatives in futt•
rposition regard to the
went increased, but tn.: 1 ps im
amount of their earnings hb..proved. Notwith-
standing this change for the beta:r, the average rate
what it was
of their wages is still very much bea
al causes
v 1
before the war in North America. Save.
„ C 8
co-operated in reducing their earnings, besin the.
dirty condition and the shorter staple of
the Surat cotton, which the mill-owners
have had to use so largely. It is now the
practice to use cotton " waste" largely with
Surat, and this increases the difficulties of the
spinners and minders. The threads, from their
shortness of fibre, are more liable to break in the
drawing out of the mule and in the twisting of the
yarn, and the mule cannot be kept so continuously
in motion. Then, from the greater attention re-
quired in watching the threads in weaving, many
weavers can mind only one loom, and very few can
mind more than two. In theme and in other ways
the efficiency of their labour, and with it the
amount of their eat flings, is diminished. But sOTe
improvements have been made or are making in the
machinery employed ; the new materials are better
understood, and the operatives are learning to
handle them more easily, and are becoming better
able to overcome the difficulties they have to con-
tend against. In estimating the real worth of their
wages it is to be remembered that this depends
chiefly on the price of the main articles of food and
on the nature and quantity of the food they re-
quire. Factory labour, it is ackowledged, requires
a more generous diet than employments of a less
skilled description, carried on in the open air or
under cover in a moderate temperature. The
comparatively high wages of the cotton opera-
tive in good times serve to pey for the food
which is necessary to supply tho great waste of
the system that be has to sustain ; and it is

COLCHESTER—MAT 7.
We had a limited show of wheat on offer at this maiket
to-day, and late rates were in manyinsmnces Is higher,
with a firm business. Spring corn inactive, for want or
supplies.
Wheat, white ..428 46s Beans,Mazag,an..2Bs 328
red 38s 42s middle & small.32s 368
Barley
Oats

NORTHAMPTON-TIAT 7.
White wheat, new, 38s to 42s ; new red, 36s to 40s ;
old, 38s to 42s per qr. Barley, new malting, 33s to 353
grinding,-. 25s to 30s per qr. Oats, 18s to 32s per 24 stone.
Beans, 30s to 41s. Peas, 30s to 375 per qr.