The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-12 00:00:00

ranked among the signs and tokens that herald the
advent of coming changes.

It is a melancholy fact tnat both the Admiralty
and Board of Trade have failed to enact regulations
to prevent collisions between vessels. Stringent
laws have been passed regarding the lights to be
carried by steamers, sailing vessels, and ships at
anchor. The rules for the steering of ships meet-
ing, or in proximity, are strict; but, notwith-
standing all this, a sort of secret magnetic influence
seems to prevail—we should call it the attraction
of collision, which in an unaccountable manner
causes vessels to come in contact, although
they may have sighted each other a mile
apart. A fatal accident occurred last Friday
in Southampton Water, by which three lives were
sacrificed and other individuals injured. It would
be unfair while the inquest is unconcluded to make
any comments on the conduct of those concerned.
The probability is that nobody was to blame, but
that the accident was brought about by some mis-
conception of the course taken by one of the vessels,
or some deviation from the course laid down to be
followedris
s, are the bythereective ships. The question then
aris7s, regulations as clearly defined as is
necessary for the safety of human life and valuable
property. The pilots of all our ports have to pass
a strict examination to test their competency before
they can obtain a certificate, and it is but natural
to suppose that they understand their duty. But the
question may be asked—dothey not stand too much
upon punctilio, as to the rights of the vessel they are
for the time being in charge of. We do not suggest
that in the above accident such was the case. Two
of the unfortunate pilots lost their lives in the dis-
charge of their duty; but how should the collision
have come about in fine weather on a clear morning,
or more properly, perhaps, night, for the collision
took place at 20 minutes to seven, and the dawn is
reported to have been a beautiful bright one. The
facts are simple. The Peninsular and Oriental
Company's steamship Ceylon, which had just ar-
rived from Alexandria, ran into and cut down the
brig Ridesdale, which was being towed out of the
river on her way to the West Indies. The
Ceylon sustained but little damage; the brig
foundered in a few minutes. How was it
that this collision could not hive been
prevented. Perhaps some light may be thrown on
the matter before the Coroner. In the mentime
can no plan be thought of and applied to enable
steam-ships to speak to each other, or give warning
of their proximity in the dark, and thus call atten-
tion to their lights, as a locomotive railway
engine can I' Surely their lungs are as powerful,
and all Europe, and in fact all the world,
is by this time acquainted with the
might be laid down, for
whistle of a steam engine. Why could not signals
be arranged to signal the whereabouts of a ship the
same as of a train ? Rules
instance, at Southampton, for all steamers rounding
Calshot Castle to give a particular whistle, and
although perhaps
incomprehensible to lands-
men, a " boatswain's pipe" would be under-
stood by pilots and seafaring men. A fog bell
is a nautical institution, yet we doubt if it can be
heard nearly so far off as the whistle of a railway
engine. Some alteration, and that speedily, is re-
quired in the system which enables vessels in clear
weather to try conclusions as to their powers as
rams, as it would seer, without the authority of
their commanders or crews.