The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-04 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

WORCESTER AUTUMN STEEPLECHASE

WEDNESDAY.

The inauguration of the steeplechase season has cer-
tainly fallen into the hands of the inhabitants of the
" faithful city," and from the banks of the " fishful
Severn" the opening of the winter campaign dates its
first dispatch. From an incident alluded to in the con-
cluding paragraph we shall be brief in preliminaries,
the less to be regretted, that the ground is the same as
that we have often described, and the fluctuations in the
forenoon at the Hop-pole, Bell, Unicorn, and other
places where betting men most do congregate, presented
nothing startling. The prices, until the disappearance
of Mien, who had been strongly backed in London, wre
as follows :-2 to 1 agst Proceed, offered-3 to 1 agst
Chieftain, offered-4 to 1 agst Rat-trap, offered-8 to 1
agst The Rearer, offered-8 to agst The General, offered
—8 to 1 agst M'lon, offered-10 to 1 agst any other.
The course was, as may be supposed, extremely heavy,
for although the early morn was promising, towards
noon a heavy rain set in, which lasted at intervals
throughout the day.
The Grand Annual Steeplechase Handicap, of 20 sous,
each, with 100 added, h ft, and 5 only if declared-

over about four miles of fair hunting country. 3S subs.
Mr. Land's The General, lOst 71b (Tasker) 1
Mr. Goodman's The Riever, 9st 101 b (C. Boyce) 2
Mr. Evett's Quickstep, 9st 61b (Sadler) 3
Mr. Peters's The Rearer, 9st 6lb (Knott) 4
Mr. Atkinson's Chieftain, lOst 121 b (Archer) 0
Mr. Parkinson's Proceed, lOst 21b...(Mr. Goodman) 0
Mr. T. Mason's Rat•trap, lOst2lb (including 91b over)
(Mr. H. Mason) 0
Mr. Higgins's Maria Monk, 9st 101 b (H. Bell) 0
Mr. R. Jones's M'lon, 9st 101 b, and Mr. Hutchinson's
Half-and-Half, lOst 71b, were drawn.
Betting at Starting-6 to 4 agst Proceed, 7to 2 apt
Chieftain, 4 to 1 agst The General, 8 to 1 agst The
Rearer, 20 to 1 eget Rat-trap offered.
THE RACE—Young Henry Mason, on Rat-trap, cut
out the work at a rattling pace, The General following,
with Proceed, The Rearer, Chieftain, Maria Monk, The
Riever, and Quickstep in the order named. In this way
they passed the Stand the first time, and up the course
round the top turn Rat-trap kept well in front, making
all the running; going out of the course into the meadows,
Rat-trap had shot his bolt, and fell back, and The Gene-
ral came into the foremost place for three or four jumps;
about this time Proceed passed him, and The Rearer,
with The General, were in the first flight. The run
home was well contested, but coming down the course
The General, who was capitally ridden by Tasker, came
away from The Riever, and beat him by three lengths,
Quickstep third, The Bearer fourth—these four6only
passing the post
At three o'clock the second race was started. This

The Selling Steeplechase, a Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each,
with 30/. added. The winner to be sold for 1201.; if
entered for 1001., Mb; 801, 101 b; 601,, 14lb; 401, 201 b;
301., 281 b. About two miles.
Mr. Marsh's Forest, 30/., list (Land) 1
Mr. Golby's Reindeer, 30/., list (Twiddey) 2
Mr. Pearce's Sluggard, 301., lOst 1010 (Butler) 0
Mr. Tustin's Greatheart, 301., Ilst (Boyce) 0
Mr. Synodds's Barmaid, Mr. Smith's Victress, and
Mr. Walker's Fazeley, were drawn.
Betting-2 to 1 each agst Reindeer and Forest, and 3
to 1 each agst Greatheart and Sluggard.
\Von by a head.
The third race on the card was run at four o'clock ;
it was—

The Hurdle Race, a Handicap of 5 sous. each, with 30
added. Two miles, over six flights of hurdles.
Mr. Lester's Tomboy, 9st 101 b (Sadler) 1
Mr. Jones's Fairing, 9st 31b (Smith) 2
Harriott, 9st 71b (Etvrall) 0
Paymaster, 9st 101 b (Tacker) 0
The Lady, 9st 121 b, 91bs over (Ablett) 0
Prodigal, 9st 71b (J. Holman) 0
Spring, 9st 71b (Taylor) 0
Doctor Husband, 9st 71b . (Boyce) 0
Tomboy, Fairing, Spring, and Doctor Husband had
most of the fun to themselves, the two first alternately
leading. A rattling race homo gave Tomboy the adran-
toga by a length.

THE STEEPLECHASES.
FRIDAY.

Epsom Autumn Steeplechase Handicap of 10 sovs. each,
with 100 soya. added. Twice round and a distance,
about foar miles over the usual Steeplechase Course.
Yrs at lb
&lark' Monk. a 9 10
The Screw a 9 10
Ten and Sixpence a 9 8
Annie Laurie a 9 6
Forest Lad a 9 6
Ringleader . .
not accept.
fe Stakes, of 5 soya. each,
;e round, about two miles.
Yrs at lb
Tomboy 5 10 2
Gala
Perjury 6 10 0
Maria Monk a 910
'irestress
Harriott
Robert do Valli-
bus 4

Yrs st lb
Sir Peter Laurie a 11 8
Peter Simple a 10 121
The General a 10 9
Victress a 10 2
The Reiver
Young Lottery a 910

The rest di
The Free Handicap Hurd!
with 30 soya, added. Twic
Yrs st lbj
Bedford ... 6 11 2
Garrick a 10 12
Willingham
The Reiver
The Old Wells a 10 4
Wee Mickey a 10 4
Victress a 10 4
Maria Bennett 5 10 4
Odeham 4 10 2
The rest did not accept.

9 8

The Scramble Steeplechase of 3 sous. each, with 20
added, if five horses start. Once round and a dia.
Trust-me-not, Natley, Odin, La Choutta, Sam Hood.
The Durdan's Plate of 70/. Three-quarters of a mile.

Windischgratz, 5 yrs
Newport, 6 yrs
Malmesbury, a
The Cutler, 4 yrs "7°
Ravens wing, 3 yrs
Chaplet, 4 yrs
Lorraine, 2 yrs
Theodine, 3 yrs:
Orelis, 3 yrs
May Day, 4 yrs

Ls Malheureuse, 4 yrs
Penelope, 2 yrs
Old Wells, a
Firebolt, 4 yrs
Tails, 6 yrs
Sweetheart, 5 yrs
Sam Hood, 6 yrs
Ventre•a•terre, 4 yrs
Gamester, 4 yra
Ls Coutts, G yrs

.NEWMARKET COURSING MEETING.
TUESDAY.
TUE DERBY.

Mr. Hill's Hurry Scurry beat Mr. Round's Lochinvar.
Lord Stradbroko's Moonlight beat Mr. King's Red
Gauntlet.
Mr. Dobede's Dulcet beat Mr. Hill's Harkaway.
Mr. Buckworth's Byron beat Lord Stradbroke'.
Mopsus.

Mr. Fyson'a Faro-thee-well sgst Mr. Dote:le's Despot
',Despot drawn after an undecided course).
Lord Stradbroke's Moral beat Mr. Buckworth's
Baronet.

Mr. Gillett's Gold Dust beat Mr. Secreton's Scamp.
Mr. Round's Luggalaw beat Mr. King's Richmond.

THE CUP.

Mr. Dobede's Dunkeld beat Mr. Hill's Hollyoake.
Mr. Fysou's Freeman beat Mr. Round's Lalla Rookh
Mr. Buckworth's Bravo beat Mr. Moodys's Royalist
Mr. King's R?gard beat Mr. Secreton's Saveall.
Mr. Dobede's Dot beat Mr. Secreton's Smoker.
Mr. Round's Locksley beat Mr. Gillett's Goldander.
Lord Stradbroke's Midnight beat Mr. Hill's Hopeful.
WEDNESDAY.

THE CUP.
Mr. Gillett's General beat Mr. Fyson's Frank.
THE DERBY-FIRST TIES.

Dulcet beat Moonlight, Byron beat Moral, Gold Dus
beat Fare-ye-well, and Luggalaw beat Hurry Scurry.

TILE AUSTRALIAN MAIL STEAMER
MELBOURNE.

SOUTHAMPTON, Nov. 3.
By the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-
ship Madrid, Captain John Weeks, we have received
intelligence of the arrival at Lisbon, on the 24. th ult.,
of the Australian Royal mail screw steam-ship Mel-
bourne, dismasted and looking badly. Several of the
passengers of this ill-starred ship, who could afford to
risk the loss of their passage money, have come home
in the Madrid.
The Melbourne, after being once:dismasted during
her passage from the Thames to Plymouth, which
caused a considerable delay at that port for the pur-
pose of refitting, and after having sustained some
damage in endeavouring to leave Hamoaze by a col-
lision with two of her Majesty's vessels in that har-
bour, which necessitated a second detention for re-
pairs, finally started from Plymouth on the 15th ult.,
with the Australian mails, a large number of passen-
gers, a valuable cargo, and specie to the value of
nearly 200,0001. sterling. What befell her shortly
after this inauspicious commencement of her employ-
ment in the Australian mail service will be gathered
from the subjoined account, with which we have
been furnished by one of the passengers :
" We left Plymouth on the afternoon of the 15th of
October, and, with a fine fair wind, ran at the rate of
230 miles per day up to the Itth; on that day we had a
rather high sea on the side, which caused the ship to roll
much. About 11 o'clock Captain Cox retired to his
cabin, having written his night orders and sent them to
the officer in charge of the watch. The night was fine,
and a fresh breeze blowing. A little after 12 I felt the
ship give a sudden roll or jerk, and soon heard a cry
that all the topmasts were gone; luckily, few of the pas-
sengers were on deck, or some dreadful accident must
have occurred.

" flurrying on deck, a sad scene presented itself; the
whole of the topmasts were overboard except the mizen
one, which was lying on the quarter-deck; the jibboom
was gone, and, in tact, nothing standing but the three
lower masts and yards.
" The ship was rolling heavily and very mueh over on
the right side, owing, I suppose, to the wreck hanging
there, and which was thumping against the sides sadly.
As the day broke we discovered a sail, and our captain
ordered a signal to be made, and soon after two small
vessels bore towards us, and the captain asked them to
stand by us, which they did. Everybody was now em-
ployed cutting and clearing away the wreck, and about
the middle of the day, the 20th, it was got clear; but,
unluckily. the whole mass became entangled round the
screw. The engines, which up to now had been going,
then suddenly stopped, and then, indeed our situation
was very bad, as all the wreck being fast on to the stern,
and at times beating against the rudder, made it almost
impossible to steer the ship.
" An attempt was now made to raise the screw, but
failed, and men were then sent with long knives and
hatchets lashed on poles to try and cut the wreck from
the screw. Some of the stuff was detached, but still a
considerable quantity was wound firmly round the screw.
" The captain now determined at every risk to try and
raise the screw, and alter about 12 hours' excessive la-
bour, and with the assistance of a large number of the
passengers, it was got up high enough to cut away the
ropes from it, and about midnight of the 20th it was
clear.

" The engines were now set on, and as the ship did not
leak we continued our voyage—the ship in a sad plight.
Our misfortunes were not yet over, as you will see, for
on the following day a leak was discovered in the mail
room. The bags were brought on deck, and many of
them were found to be soaked, and some of the parcels
also wet through.
" The officer in charge of the mails now sent for the
captain, and after some conversation we found the ship
turning round, and were soon informed that Commander
Phillimore had requested Captain Cox to return to
Lisbon to stop the leak.
" Wo at last got into the Tagus on the 24th, and glad
enongh were we to find ourselves once more at anchor.
What is to be our fate we hardly know, but we hear
that notwithstanding our captain was requested to come
here to stop the leak we are not to go into dock. So
says the commander of the lalexible, who, it appears,
has some power over our captain, in consequence of the
mails being on board. Be this as it may, we hope Cap-
tain Cox will not leave this port without seeing hie un-
fortunate ship put into proper order, considering the
number of souls, about 253 besides the valuable cargo he
has under his charge.
" And now to another point. The state of the lower,
or passengers deok of this ship has been truly awful.
There has not been a dry bed from one end to the other;
there aro a great many of the passengers very ill. A re-
presentation has been made to the captain on the sanitary
condition of the ship, but in her present crowded state
it is almost impossible to say how any improvement can
be made, unless the captain has the power to send one
fourth of the number back to their friends.
" Messrs. Charles Walton and Sons, of Gracechurch-
street, are the agents for the company, and this ship of
unfortunate celebrity."
In reference to the disasters which have fallen upon
the Melbourne, our Lisbon correspondent writes as fol-
lows :

" Nothing can be more distressing than the position of
the unfortunate passengers of the Melbourne, or more
difficult than that of Captain Cox, who, having put into
this port in consequence of a leak, is now required by
the officer in charge of the mails to proceed upon his
voyage to Australia without docking his vessel to
examine the leak, which, being of so much consequence
when the vessel was rolling about in the ocean, is now
declared by Captain Wolrige, of her Majesty's steamer
Inflexible, to be nothing at all, because the Melbourne
makes little water while at anchor, or even under
steam, in the placid waters of the Tague. In
short, the officer in charge of the mails, who required
the Melbourne to put into Lisbon in consequence of the
leak, which soaked his mail bags, now orders her to sea
again as soon as his cabin is dry; but in the face of the
official survey made by the officers of this Arsenal, in
the presence of Lloyd's agent, declaring that the Mel-
bourne must be unloaded or docked, it is fortunate for
the 253 passengers and crow that the probable forfeiture
of the insurance upon above 200,000/. of specie on board
(were the orders of Captain Wolrige and the officer in
charge of the mails to be followed) will prevent the
vessel again attempting her unlucky voyage until some-
thing has been done to remedy her more dangerous
defects.
" I am told this Government has most handsomely
offered Captain Cox the use of the Arsenal-dock, and
that the deposit of mud is now being cleared away from
its entrance to admit the Melbourne's draught of water,
so that she will be docked in the course of a few days,
and probably before her masts and rigging can be put in
proper repair. Thus no time will be lost with her
Majesty's mails, while some little care is taken of the
lives of her subjects.
" It seems incredible that this vessel should have been
sent out from England upon such a voyage, and with a
number of passengers so far exceeding all means of ac-
commodation prepared for them. Many return home
by the present packet, and others would be glad to do
so if they could afford to run the risk of forfeiting their
passage money, which steam companies aro seldom in-
clined to refund; they have held almost daily meetings,
and split into nuntereus factions, to the increased per-
plexity of Captain Cox, who appearshave no power
to
to do more thanf
get his vessel readyor sea as well as
he can, and proceed upon his voyage with such passen-
gers as remain by him.
"I on that the rolling of the
Melbourne, a slightly agitated sea, is some-
thing awful, and that, it being impossible to have any of
e
her lower ports open for ventilation, she is much
am
assured
en
with
worse packet-ship than she was a man-of-war, although
naval officers would still appear to consider her fit for
ser vice."

THE "MELBOURNE.'
TO THE EDITOR OF THE 817 N.

SIR,— Having just received a letter from a friend on
board the Melbourne steamer, bound for Sydney, I for-
ward you a short extract :
" Oct. 18," says my friend, " I went to bed about 10
o'clock, but did not sleep so well as usual, in consequence
of the rolling of the ship, which was very considerable.
Between the hours of 12 and 1 of the 19th, I heard a
most terrific noice on deck, accompanied by a tremend-
ous crash in the steward's pantry—the whole together
and
all the sailors,
being quite startling. A number of the passengers,
were instantly on deck, and great confu-
sion ensued, overhead was stamping and hallooing, and
running to and fro, giving unmistakable indications of
something serious having taken place. I thought I
could be of but little use, and probably in the way, con-
sequently I lay still. About 4 o clock the captain was
in the and I heard him passage opp osite
' For mercies' sake bring a light, which caused
ramay,
berth,
arrive at no very soothing conclusion. I turned ouet is
e
the engine had just stopped, and I found we
the dark, and found my boots full of water. I was soon
deck,our fore main and wizen top-masts;'
The screws had
entangled in part of the wrecltthibast. went overboard,
gno
ona
td l
o s t
was covered with ropes, sails, and spars, the deck
on the water• ere
wo
lay
and
coon descried
d' like a log
the engine woald not work, and
the captain wished to
rolling and tossing
aylight came wo hoisted
God it were daylight.
a flag of distress,
board, which bore down a sail on our lar-
board, .
with his trumpet; I was n.. The captain spoke her
name, which was the ,
Reaper
by, and looked for her
feelings when I discoveredeaper of Dundee.' Judge my
at the thought of 'this' and how my heart best
Bonny
Atlantic in disabled Dundee.' I was in the
a ship,
calculated to awaken fee
and so homely a sight was
native land.
welings of sympathy with one's
soon had another, 'the Alexander of
Exeter;' they both stayed near us for two days, until we
got our screw put right.
" On Thursday, 21st, the captain told us they had dis-
covered a leak in the after ccmpartment, and thought it
necessary to steer for Lisbon, where we arrived on Sun-
day morning, and where we are likely to remain another
fortnight."
Should the information I have sent be of use, I shall
be glad.---I am, Sir, yours very truly,
72, St. Paul's, Nov. 3, 1852.

G. T.

EXTRAORDINARY DILICOYERY AT TELE WATERLOO.
STATION.— Yesterday, while some carpenters were employed
in the removal of some cupboards in the apartment formerly
used as a cloakroom for the deposit of luggage and travelling
gear, at the principal station of the South-Western Reilway,
in the Waterloo-road, they discovered in one of them a paper
box of the dimensions of an ordinary hat-box. On discover-
ing that it emitted a most offensive stench it was resolved
to examine its contents. The box was. accordingly opened,
a
and was found to entain the body of full-grown female
laud.