The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-21 00:00:00

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THE FIRE ON BOARD THE SEVERN.

The committee appointed by this, Court of Directors
of the Royal West India Mail Company to inquire
into the circumstances connected with the fire on
hoard the Severn steam-ship on her last homeward
voyage made their report of the result of the investi-
gation yesterday, which was submitted, as requested,
to the Lords of the Admiralty.
It may be proper to add that the following cor-
respondence preceded the holding of the investiga-
tion : _ .

" Admiralty, Aug. 13. 1852.
" Gentlemen,—l am commanded by my Lords
t a
letter from the Admiralty agent attached to the
Com-
missioners of the Admiralty to transmit to you the copy
orespecting a tire having oc-
curred .
on board, and to acquaint you that my Lords
Severn contract steamer
b., glad to be furnished with the result of the in-
quiry 1,,
lam
which they conclude will be immediately instituted
into the case.
, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,
" W. B. HAMILTON.
"To the Directors of the Royal West India Mail
Steam-packet Company."
"Royal West India Mail Packet Company's-office,
Moorgate-street, Aug. 14, 1852.
" Sir,—ln reply to your letter of yesterday's date, I
have the honour to inform you, that an inquiry is to be
instituted at Southampton on Tuesday next, the 17th
inst., respecting the fire which occurred on board the
Severn contract steamer, and so soon as the same is con-
cluded a full report will be made to you for the infor-
mation of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.
" I ern, moreover, to add, that should their Lordships
desire to have Captain Austin, Lieutenant Inglis, or any
other Government officer present on the occasion, it will
give the Court of Directors a great satisfaction to afford
them every facility for the fullest inquiry into the matter
in question.—" I am, Sir, your moss obedient servant,
" Captain W. B. Hamilton. "E. CHAPPELL."
"REPORT ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES ATTENDANT ON A
FIRE ON BOARD THE SEVERN, ON THE 7TH OF AU.
GUST, 1852.
" We, the undersigned, having been ordered by
the Court of Directors of the Royal West India Mail
Steam-Packet Company to inquire into
upon the circumstances attendant upon a fire occur-
ring ring on board the Severn steam-ship, on her Pad,
ate
between Madeira and Lisbon, and being assisted,
the company's suggestion, by Captain
st emAupackets at
Admiralty Superintendent
of - e 11;-the master,
Southampton, having examined personally
and a mid-
chief and third mate, second engineer,ejewitnesses who, it
and repuorrf
shipman, being the only available
matter, herewith
appeared,' knew anything f
submit
on which we are of
occasion, uP and written evidence
o means whatever of ascer-
taining that there are
such
Lire taking place ; that it
taining the cause of
osantracted space in the after run
occurred in a veryouthing
dausptoatnemtheentol then, ver°bal
was stowed but some tanks
where
nter ; that there was no communi-
fresh
thisvva place and the other parts of the
h hatches and gratin leading to it
ship except . Y
b cipal saloon ; that the company's printed
from the Pr'n
meat the prohibition of naked lights, the
regulations f king fires and of all lights at
hin o coo
extinguis
coo
cation tnti thoanei nsibnigP' between
t
fixed ;n ht, for having a fire-station bill and
. , the n.g _
during red for extinguishing fires, appear to be
d hours, f r visitation of the ship every half-hour
menus prePa
- aa tn-da rtmh the
and (in the case of the Severn) to
been strictly executed, as is proved by the chief
ocaffiteirivnseede fire-pumpsnattheeightr .31,thge otmraesatdeyr
have -
water-hoses
having seen all lights extinguished at eleven P.m., the
captain having remained walking on the upper deck
till past midnight, and the subsequent half-hour visi-
tations avid reports to the officer of the watch being
regularly made, and, above all, from the circumstance
that in a few minutes after the alarm was given the
paws were pouring water on the fire, which was
quickly extinguished by the exertions of the captain,
officers, and crew, all of whom behaved with zeal and
activity, Captain Chapman having had two of his ribs
broken by a fall on the occasion.
" Our attention having been directed to the allega-
tions respecting the number and efficiency of the
boats of the Severn, we
made close inquiry upon this
subject, and found, upon the testimony of Captain
Chapman, of Mr. Strutt, the chief officer, slid
_kr,
actual trials made by the latter at Southampton, and
by Messrs. 'White, who built the
Cowes, that the Severn's six boats were capable 30
u
carrying in safety at hest 230 persons,
board Persons more than the ship bad on life bobaltes aat
voyage.
of the evidence,
" it will be noticed, on
a perusal'ous surmises were
that (as might be expected)
but these being
formed as to the origin
of
t confessedly upon mere
contradictory, and founded
justified in •
pronouncing
conjecture, we do not feel
any opinion."
ot, one of the directors ; Cap-
Signed by Captain Y.
joint manager -and
, Captain
the Ere,
twin Chappell, R.N., _ .
company's superintendent at
Barton, R.N. ; ;the
Southampton.

,lforintbSaripn,
gfield, Mass., before a
between the self-
raking machines of M Cormick, Dinsmore, and Hassey, the
first premium 5.5 warded to
-
vtti 6, and the second to
11009'4.
committee At a re
app noti ndi a Purpose