The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-04 00:00:00

stmassmiumwreara, - ---
TIDE SUN, LONDON,- FRIDAY EVENING, IN OVE,MBER 4, 1864.

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Stranding of her Majesty's Shipßingdove.

COURT MARTIAL ON THE OFFICERS AND
CREW.

Yesterday morning a court martial assembled on
board the flag-ship Victory, at Portsmouth, to in-
quire into the causes that led to the stranding of the
Ringdove, sloop of war, on Bombay shoal, off the
Island of Palawan, on the 19th of last May, and to
try Commander Ralph A. 0. Brown, the officers,
and crew of the said ship.
The Court comprised—Capt. Scott, C. 8., Victory,
president; Capt. Hornby, Edgar; Capt. Caldwell,
Steam Reserve; Capt. A. Cochrane, Warrior; Sir
L. M‘Ctintock,q Aurora ; Capt. Preedy, Hector ;
Capt. Seacombe, Duke of Wellington ; Capt. Hamil-
ton, Vesuvius ; C apt. Lac y, Himalaya. E. Hoskins,
Eeq., sat as officiating judge advocate; and Mr R.
W. Ford appeared to watch the case for Comman-
der Brown and officers.
The proceedings commenced by the usual clues-,
tion being put to the crew of the Ringdove as to
whether they had any complaint to make against
the officers for any circumstances relating to the
stranding of the ship. No complaint having been
made the ship's books were put in, also the charts.
The following letter, signed by Commander
Brown, and directed to Vice-Admiral Kuper,
K.C.8., commander-in-chief, was then read :
" Sir,—l have the honour to report that her
Majesty's ship under my command took the ground
on the Bombay shoal at 3.53 a.m., on the 19th, go.
ing at the rate of 61 knots.
" She remained on shore 28 hours, on ground
which consisted of coral, very uneven and rough.
A surge kedge was laid about 100 yards astern, in
20 fathoms of water, with the stream chain
attached, which was brought to the capstan, and
hove taut. A small kedge was also laid out with a

hawser.
"Finding the ship would not come off I began
to lighten her by getting all the provisions,
cables, shot, Bails, and everything in the fore pad
of the ship, aft. Finding she began to strike
heavily I threw overboard 26 tons of coals, three
tens of provisions, and started the water. I then
unbent all sails and sent the yards and topmasts
down, which I put overboard with all the spare
spars, and intended to make a raft with them to
carry out one of the bower anchors. Finding that
nothing could be done until high water, which was
at 8.30 on the evening of the 19th, I let the water
out of the boilers. At high water I hove on the
kedge, carrying away fall after fall, but the ship
would not move and the tide then began to ebb.
Next morning, between the hours of five and seven,
the ship began to bump heavily, as the flood tide
had set in with a heavy swell. I tried the kedge
again, but could not move the ship. I then, as
the last resource, threw all the guns overboard,
which I buoyed, got up steam, and hove in on the
stream at nearly high water, but she was so
firmly aground that the stram chain was carried
away with the strain. I then made ready for get-
ting the bower anchor cut for the next tide by
means of the raft, but while so employed the ship
began to move on a pivot. I then immediately
went astern full speed. At the same time most of
the hands were at the pumps, the rest clapping on
the hawser, and at 8.5 a.m. she came off the reef
without making any water. I fancy that from the
fore part of the engine room to the mizenmast she
must have suffered, as pieces of hard wood were
seen to come from under her.
" The direction and force of wind at the time of
striking was SW by W, 2 L.C. 2 V., the weather
fine, &c.''
The first witness of importance called was
Commander R. A. 0. Brown, who stated, in an-
swer to the President, that at the time the ship
stranded Mr Gilpin (the master) had charge of the
chronometers. They were last rated at Hong Kong.
Witness was called on to produce the rate book,
chronometer journal, and master's work book.
Commander Brown, in reply to the President, said that
the port left before the stranding was Hong Kong, whence
they sailed on the 12th of May, bound to Labuan. They
had three chronometers. The day before the stranding they
navigated the ship by sights. They got their last sights on
the 18th of May, between nine and ted in themorning,
D.d you get the latitude at noon ?—Yes, meridian lati-
tude, and cross-bearing.
Were you certain of the.land from which you got the
cross-bearing. Have you any doubt about it ?—None, as
the bearings corresponded with the latitude at noon.
State all the alterations you made in the course—what
took place generally from the time you made the land on
the 18th and verified the ship's position until she struck.
Where was the land first discovered P—The land was re-
ported from masthead about head 8.30 on the port bow, and
shortly afterwards a head on both bows. We stood on till
12.30 in that course, steering SE, three quarters S, when,
having obtained sights and cross-bearings, the course was
altered to SW till 5.50. Between the hours of four and five
Mr Gilpin (the master) recommended that it would be ad-
visable to make the bank of Palawan, sounding along the
passage. I asked him his reasons, and he replied, "It
will be much better to obtain soundings before running on
during the night on the same course, as the chronometers
may be out a mile or two." To which I replied, that hav-
ing obtained good sights and cross-bearings, which corre-
sponded with the latitude and longitude at noon, I thought
it would be better to stand in, as we did, as I did not like
to make a zig-zag course. After one hour I altered the
course south-east, according as the master wished, to try
and obtain soundings. I kept on that course till eight
o'clock, during which time we sounded four or five times
without success—there was no bottom. The vessel was
stopped each time and hove to—the sounding from 85 to
90 fathoms—no bottom. The weather became threaten-
ing and dark, ;and I thought it advisable to haul
out from the land, and went down and sent for the master
to shape her course for the night. She was under steam and
sail until close on eight o'clock. I shortened sail when it
came on dark. The senior lieutenant, who I had sent, came
back and said Mr Gilpin had turned in. Knowing him to
be on the sick list I sent for the acting second master, sir
Jackson, and told him to take charge of the navigation of
the ship. This was at eight o'clock on the 18th. We shaped
our course for the night WSW, 60 miles, and kept between
Bombay shoals and the mainland of the bank of Palawan.
We endeavoured more particularly to keep clear of the
shoals along the coast of Palawan, which extend some dis-
tance from the land.
Commander Brown requested that the night orders be
put in and read.
The night orders referred to were to the effect that the
ship's course was to be changed to WSW; that a careful
look-out for dangers- should be kept ; that the corporal of
the watch should be kept near to the engines, so as to stop
immediately if necessary ; and, lastly, to call him (Core-
mender Brown) at four o'clock a.m.
Examination continued— Mr Jackson, having the first
watch, then went on deck to carry out the orders according
to his night orders, The engines were eased till after the
ship struck. After the night orders were given he sent for
Mr Arundel, second lieutenant, to shown him the course he
had laid down, and his Mr Arundel's) opinion coincided
with his. He was on the bridge the greater part of the
middle watch, and he left orders for the officer of the
watch to take as many stars as possible in order to ascer-
tain the position of the ship. Ho was on the deck when
soundings were tried for, To the best of his recollection it
was 90 fathoms, no bottom. He was on deck between 10
and 4, when the soundings were taken. Soundings were
taken twice when he was on the deck, and on each occasion
the ship's way was stopped before the lead was hove.
When Mr Jackson was relieved at midnight Mr Brodie,
master's assistant, took charge. The position of the ship
was pointed out to Idr ;Brodie at 12 by Mr Jackson, Mr

Brodie had been at sea four years. The master told him it
would be better to obtain soundings on a bank before we
shaped our course for the night. Afterwards he said the
chronometers might be out a mile or two. Chronometers
A and B were very regular, but C was doubtful, and not
trustworthy.
The Court called Commander Brown's attention to an
extraordinary divergence of chronometer B between the
11th and 16th, and ash( d if the'master pointed it out.
Commander Brown—No. I should say the writing in
the entry was made by Mr Jackson.
Did it occur to you that after standing to the eastward at
half-past Git was extraordinary you did not obtain sound-
ings when, according to the posit!on laid down you must
have been on the bank at the moment your altered course
to stand furth, r in shore ?—lt did.
What inference did you draw from that ?—That we were
either set by a strong current which prevails on that pas-
sage and is very uncertain, or that the compasses must
have been very much out.
The President—How set off the bank? In that case
would it not have been more desirable to stand in and
ascertain by the lead your distance from the land than to
trust either to chronometer or to compass under circum-
stances where the sounding's are so clearly defined ?
Witness—ln the first place I did not trust the chart, as
by the short run from 12 o'clock to 6 it was quite impossible
to be out so much in our dead reckoning. Had it not been
for the threatening state of the weather I should have con-
tinued longer on a SE course to try and obtain soundings.
The sights and cross-bearings agreed.
Then what reason had you to mistrust the charts ?—From
the course I had shaped at 12 30 I ought to have obtained
soundings, being in sight of land. The passage even now
is not correctly surveyed.
In answer to further questions touching the correctness
of the chart, witness stated that mariners constantly cruis-
ing around these ielands stated they could place no depen-
dence on the chart, but he had never hiniself proved it in-
accurate. hlr Gilpin, master, Mr Jackson, acting second
master, and Mr Brodie, master's assistant, took the meridian
altitude on the 18th May. The latitude by those three ob-
servations agreed. He was satisfied it was correct. The
observation was made in the first v atch by three stars, and
the latitude by those stars agreed with the dead reckoning
at noon.

Knowing your latitude, why did you not steer eastward
until you got soundings, which would have given you your
longitude at once ?—I did not consider it safe, on account of
the shoals laid down close to the bank. The shoals 1 tried
to keep clear of were patches marked inside the bank to Cot-
lingwood Shoal. Being night I preferred stopping in deep
water than chance running the risk of getting on shore.
Cir., you explain how it was after the master's advice you
did not stand in for soundings and verify your position ?
On account of the appearance of the weather. At 7 p.m. we
had a doubt of our latitude, and I could not understand why
we could not obtain soundings when I thought we ought to
have been on a bank. I expected we might be six or seven
miles out. Assuming that they were that distance out, it
occurred to witness that they must still be 15 miles on the
banks. He was satisfied he was off the bank. The course
he was steering would certainly have cleared the shoal by
10 miles southward of it, supposing he was 10 miles north-
ward out of his reckoning and off the bank. He computed
his distance from the nearest land from 22 to 25 miles.
The day before the stranding of the ship the master went
on the sick list. The mister took the bearings of the land.
When the course was shaped at 8 p.m., an allowance
was made for currents, but it was always difficult to
decide the exact allowance. He allowed for the current
being on the port bow setting off the land. He was aware
that for two or three preceding days the current had been
setting strong from SS.W. He could not see any broken
water on the shoal when the ship struck, but directly after
she struck there was a slight breaking of water on the port
beam. When she struck he supposed himself 20 miles to
southward. The master on being placed on the list did riot
cease to attend to the navigation of the ship. There were
men with hand leads keeping them going on the morning of
the 19th. A man was constantly kept in the fore chains
and relieved every two hours.
The Court then adjourned.

The Elcho Challenge Shield,

On Tuesday afternoon a model of the Elcho Challenge
Shield was placed in tha vestibule of the Parliament House,
Edinburgh. It will be remembered that the shield, a de-
scription of which has already appeared, is the gift of Lord
Echo, to be competed for annually at the meetings cf the
National Asso&a.tion by eight Scotch against an tqual
number of English riflemen. At the Itst meeting the honour
was won by the Scotch eight; but in consequence of the
extensive and elaborate nature of the work, the shield has

not yet been completed, and in order that the winners inighi
have something to show, an exact copy of it has been exe•

euted in plaster. The occasion orplacing this model in the

estibul;of Parliam nt Houle was deemed worthy of some

er.l.emony on the part of the volunteers; but judging from
the comparatively small turn-ut on Tuesday— t.,) be ac-
c..;unted fur partly by the inconvenience of the day and hour
—the interest in the matter did not appear to be very ge-

neral, though doubtless the remit would have been different
had the shield itself, instead of a stucco effigy thereof, been
the olject of the gathering. The shield was temporarily
fixed on the front of the balcony over the entrance to the
offices of her Majesty's Board of Works ; and at half-past
3 o'clock detachments of the City Artillery, Mid-Lothian

Coast Artillery, Edinburgh Rifles, and Leith Rifles, were
drawn up in open square opposite the trophy, Among
those present at the ceremony were Lady Elcho, the Lord
Provost, Sir J. Gardiner Baird, Sir George Home, Colonel

Davidson, Captain Horatio Ross and lady, Mr Edward
Ross, Major Macrae and lady, Mr Matheson, H.M. Board
of Works, Major Macdonald, Captain D. R. Macgregor,
Captain Horne, Baffles; Alexander and Johnstone, &c.
Shortly before four o'clock the proceedings commenced
by the Lord Provost stepping into the square formed by the
volunteers, and calling for three cheers for the Queen, which
were heartily given, followed by the band of the City Rifles
playing a portion of the National Anthem.
Captain HoRATio Ross came forward, and, in the course
of a few remarks, made over the custody of the shield to
the Lord Provost, as representing the city of Edinburgh,
expressing at the same time an earnest hope that for many
years to come Edinburgh might, by the skill of the
Scottish riflemen, be enabled to retain possession of the
trophy.

The shield was then uncovered amid loud cheers, and the
band struck up " Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled."
Tho LORD PROVOST said—Captain Ross and Gentlemen,
—lt affords me very much pleasure to be present here to-
day, and to see this ceremony performed, It is an honour to
Scotland to have this shield hung in its capital. (Applause.)
Time was when we tried our skill with our southern friends
in a very different manner ; but we are glad now_a-days to
put shoulder to shoulder, and vie with each other in the per-
fection of our national; defences—a far more useful and more
honourable rivalry. (Applause.) I believe, more than all the
diplomacy of our statesmen, this universal handling of the
Enfield rifle will secure our national safety; and we shall
never reflect on its origin without respecting the name of
Lord Elcho, who has stuck so perseveringly and heroically
to the cause of the volunteers. (Applause.) At a ceremony
like this we cannot forget the zeal which Mr Horatio Ross
has thrown into rifle competition, and especially into that
one which has gained for Scotland this year's possession of
that magnificent shield. (Applause.) It is a success which
Mr Ross and our champions well merited ; and to Captain
Ross and our eight champions I would now beg to propose
three most sincere and hearty cheers.
Three cheers were then given for the champions, and the
band struck up " See, the Conquering Hero Comes."
Captain HORA.TIO Ross thanked those present for the
hearty manner in which they had responded to the call of
the Lord Provost, ane proposed three cheers for the English
eight, than whom, he said, a more noble and excellent set
of men never met in any contest.
Tho proposal was cordially responded to.
Major MACRAE having read over the names of the eight
representatives of Scotland in t he last contest for the shield,
Lieut. Col. DAVIDSON. proposed three cheers for Lord
Elcho, and in doing so said-._lo presenting the shield to be
shot for by the riflemen of the two countries Lord Elcho
shows that he is not one of those who wish to see our na-
tional distinctions obliterated. He knows that is not pos-
sible, and were it possible, he knows it is best for the inte-
rests of both countries that these national distinctions should
be maintained. He knows that an English, Irish, and a
Scottish regiment drawn up together, shoulder to shoulder,
in the same battle-field against a common foe, will fight
all the more valiantly that each represents a country whose
history and traditions are peculiarly
its own. (Hear, hear.)
In the bygone history of our country we have long and
bloody struggles between two nations, neither of which knew
what it was to yield ;
i but now, happily, in the gracious pro-
vidence of God, this s changed into a generous rivalry as to
which shall best show its loyalty to a common Sovereign,
and which shall best qualify itself to protect a common
throne. (Hear.) I think Lord Elcho has been peculiarly
happy in selecting a shield as the trophy of victory. A sword
is the emblem of aggressive warfare; a shield, like the vo-
lunteers who contend for its possession, is only for defence.
This shield, of which we have hero only an imperfect
copy, is the most costly and munificent gift that has yet
been presented to the riflemen of our country ; but it is
neither too costly nor too munificent to represent the pa.
triotic feelings of the noble donor. (Applause.) I ask you
to give three hearty cheers for Lord Elcho.
The proposal was enthusiastically responded to.
Captain HORATIO Ross then proposed a vote of thanks
to the Lord Provost for presiding,
The Lon") PROVOST, in reply, said—Captain Ross, I beg
warmly to thank you for the very complimentary manner
in which you have proposed three cheers for me. 1 have
always Jean anxious to forward every rnoveraent connected

with the volunteers of this country, and I can only regret
that I am so old now that I cannot be at the head of any
of my own regiments—(a. laugh)—for if I could I certainly
would. (Loud applause.)
The proceedings then terminated, and the assemblage
dispersed. The shield was immediately afterwards removed
to the vestibule of the Parliament House. where it was fixed
up, and where it will remain until such time as a victory
over the present holders. entitles the English marksmen to
claim it.

Mr. Eerrand, M.P., and Mr. Fleming at
Devonport•

Mr W. Ferrand, one of the M.P,'s for Devonport,
and Mr Fleming, the Conserva►ive candidate who
intends to contest the borough at the neat parlia-
mentary election, arrived at the Plymouth Railway
station on Wednesday afternoon, and proceeded
thence to the Royal Hotel, Devonport, where from
a balcony in front of one of the windows both gen-
tlemen addressed a few words to a large number
of persons in Fore-street, who were awaiting their
arrival.

Mr. W. FERRAND, M.P., said—My kind friends,
it is my duty as well as my sincere pleasure to offer
to you my most cordial thanks for this hearty re-
ception, again repeated, which you have given me
on this occaaion. When I come down to Devon-
port I come to redeem the pledge that I gave to
you in 1859, when I said that if you conferred upon
me the distinguished honour of being your repre-
sentative in Parliament I would come before you
every year to render an account of my stewardship
during the session of Parliament. There are many
cither persons who have given a solemn pledge to
yon, but I am the only man who has kept his word.
(Loud cheers.) I feel that I have faithfully per-
formed my duty as your representative, and am,
therefore, not afraid to appear before you ; and so
long as I do my duty I believe you will deal sin-
cerely with me. It is said lam to be turned out
for the borough—(loud cries of " No, no")—but
I before I am turned out they must turn the hearts

in your breasts. (Loud cheers.) To-morrow night
I hope to appear before you to render up my ac-
count. I sincerely thank you for the hearty re-
ception you have given me now and on other occa.
sions since I have been your representative in Par-
liament. I say, too, that I have been most kindly
supported by the women of Devonport—(laughter)
—and to them I return my best thanks—tell them
so for me—and from my heart I wish that all the
single were married, and all the married happy.
(Loud cheers.)
Mr. FLEMING said—lt is only a few months since
I had the pleasure as well as the honour of being
in this town, and if I have such a warm reception
now, I feel I may look forward to a still warmer
one by and bye when I am one of your represents.
fives. (Cheers.) I can see plainly it is not to be a
lukewarm matter. I am here once more, gentlemen,
to say that it is my intention to fight the borough
of Davonport at the next general election. (Loud
cheers.) Having submitted myself some eight
months ago to the candidature of the borough I do
not seek that again : I am ready now to seek your
suffrages along with your excellent friend Mr. Fer-
rand. I have little more to say now except that
I feel your hearts are warm on the subject, and are
in the right place, and that you intend to have two
" good men and true" to be your representatives.
(Loud cheers.) The one stands by my side, and I
intend to be the other. I will not detain you any
longer, my friends, but wish you one and all good
night.

The Circassian Emigrants,

LARNACA, CYPRUS, Oct. 17.
Oa the 7th inst. three brigs of about 200 tout
each, entered this port, towed by a small Greek
steamer, and laden with Circassian emigrants.
Every one was startled upon learning that 2,700
beings were crowded into the three brigs, and it
flaw through the town like lightning that two-thirds
of the number were sick, that they were fully armed,
and that, by the account of the masters, they were
dangerous characters. Two evils were dreaded—
one, that the landing of such a number of sick and

dying in our quarantine, which is unfortunately
close to the town, would bring upon the place some
kind of epidemic; another, that public security
would not be maintained with such an arrival of

reckless, lawless people. Every one knew that the

only force for preserving order was seven or eight
zaptiehs and a few soldiers, as yet unable to use
their arms; hence all felt uneasy as to the landing

of 2,000 ❑eedy characters. For some object or other
the masters of the vessels gave their cargoes a worse

character than they deserved, and at least concealed
the true state of utter exhaustion in which they

were, The people, thoroughly frightened, shut their

shops, and rushed to the authorities to beg that the
landing should not take place till next day, when
the governor was expected. The consuls supported
this request, and it was accorded. Unfortunately,
however, two lighters, against the most positive
orders of the mudir, insisted on landing. They were

turned back by the captain of the port, but a few
minutes after, in spite of these orders, were again
seen making for the shore. Every one began to
think it was only too true what a master of one of
the ships had said, that if they were not landed they
would come on shore swimming. The mudir acknow-

ledged he had no force to prevent the landing, bu
the people were too anxious for their safety to leave
him in that condition. Following the example of one
of the consuls they gathered round the mudir, some
with arms, others intending to do their best with
stones to resist these who seemed determined to de•
bark against the orders of the local authority. For-
tunately, when all were waiting in su3pense, and
the lighters nearly arrived half way, a person from
on shore went out in a boat to meet the lighter, and
if possible turn it, that there might b 3 no collision.
He succeeded; but found that the master would no
longer receive the emigrants on board. Best of all,
however, he had seen the condition of these poor
wretches and returned- to tell the authorities and
the people that if they resisted them they would lie,
like sheep, at their feet. the effect of this informa-
tion, as the source of it could be relied upon, was
instantaneous. The consuls who had opposed the
landing of these two lighters now asked the mudir
that they should be received, and on the latter pro•
mising that he would go in person to land them, all
returned quietly to their homes. Next morning the
governor arrived, and it was pitiful to see the cone
dition in which these poor Circassians were landed.
Only 1,344 out of the 2,700 were landed, the rest
having died on the way or been thrown overboard.
Fortunately it appears that none died of contagious
diseases, all from sheer inanition. They had plenty
of food, but for three days had received no water,
and without this stores of bread were of no advan-
tage. They had been four days from Rhodes, and
it could not be that there was no water on board,
but it seems weakness and inability to move pre-
vented them getting it. In short, these poor creaN
tures appear to have been treated shamefully on
board. Bodies washed on shore bear evidence of
being thrown into the water alive; and when it is
remembered that these emigrants have many of
them money about their persons, it is not difficult
to fancy the object of thus getting rid of them.
Dead men tell no tales. It may be a kind of
humanity sending these poor Circassians to places
like this, but I question if it would not be nearly as
fine a degree of it had the commission at Con-
stantinople made a hole in the bottom of the
vessels and said saute qui peut. To put 2,700 peo-
ple in three small vessels of 200 tons each, and send
them on a voyage of nearly two months, was taking
about the most certain means in the world of killing
one half or all. The fault lies doubtless with the
masters who go and load such quantities, but if ever
manslaughter could be proved it would be in this
case. Some 40 or 50 of those landed die daily, and
about as many were washed on shore along the
coasts for three or four days after the arrival. The
air aieuud the qutlrautitio is inaufraab'e, and people