The Sun.
London, England, 1837-07-28 00:00:00

PRESENCE OF MIND.

Captain Thickner had been in command of a 500 ton
ship, the Earl of Eldon, laden with cotton, and home-
ward bound from Bombay to England, with several pas-
sengers, officers and their wives, and with every prospect of
a pleasant voyage, when one morning, about four o'clock,
much rain having fallen the previous day, the ship was dis-
covered to be on fire forward, the rain having damped the
cotton, and caused it to ignite. In this awful predicament,
900 miles from the nearest land, the island of Itodrique, the
Captain fortunately retained his presence of mind. Neither
he nor his crew made any bustle or noise on deck, but
quietly proceeded to exclude the air from the hold, think-
ing to choke the fire ; and at the same time every prepara-
tion was made for saving the crew and passengers in the
boats in the event of being obliged to leave the ship to her
fate. The passengers were allowed to rise and to take their
breakfast at the usual hour ; but after the meal was finished
the Captain assembled them on deck and said--" I am
sorry to inform you that the ship has been on fire for seve-
ral hours ; and, owing to the nature of our cargo, it may be
impossible to extinguish it. We must be prepared, there-
fore, to leave the ship in ten minutes, but do not be alarmed.
I have made every preparation for our voyage in the boats ;
a sheep has been killed and boiled since the fire was disco-
vered ; salt provisions, beef, hams, cheeses, besides biscuit
and water, have been placed in the boats ; also sextants,
compasses, charts, and sails to sleep on. But I can allow
no baggage to be taken, and I set the example by abandon-
ing 800/. in specie. Now our last resource is to open the
hold and try to drown the fire since we cannot smother it."
Accordingly the passengers, about ten in number, and
one infant, were placed in the launch, the ladies in the
stern sheets, and the gentlemen forward, separated by a
screen, one old field-officer abandoning 3,000/. in money, his
hard-worn earnings in the Indian service. The hatches were
then lifted, when immediately volumes of smoke curled
aloft. Nothing daunted, however, all hands set vigorously
to work to remove as much of the burning cotton as could
be reached, and to deluge the rest with water. But in these
efforts several of the men were nearly suffocated, and insen-
sible fora considerable time ; and the fire gaining ground
the Captain again addressed the passengers, asked them if
they were satisfied with the exertions which had been made,
and if anything else could be proposed to extinguish the
flames, which now darted their fiery tongues up the hatches.
The passengers expressed their satisfaction with the exer-
tions made, saw that it was in vain to attempt to combat
the devouring element longer, and it was then agreed to
leave the unfortunate vessel.
Shortly after they shoved off—the Captain, passengers,
and some of the crew in the launch, and the first and se-
cond mates in charge of the cutters, with the rest of the
hands, in all about forty souls—the flames and smoke had
entire possession of the ship. The sight was painfully mag-
nificent ; the masts fell hissing into the water, and in two
hours the Earl q. Eldon blew up, and disappeared under
the waves. The boats stood away for Rodrique before the
breeze, the launch at night carrying a light between the
two others. For three days they were in a gale of wind,
which threatened them with death in another shape, and
one of the cutters was actually swamped and sunk ; but
the crew were taken into the launch, a washboard being
raised on her gunwale to keep out the white-crested seas.
In thirteen days they reached their destination in safety,
weak and ill from being so long cramped in a small space,
but heartily thankful for their preservation, and loud in
praise of the intrepid Captain Thickner.—Captain Alex-
ander's Narrative of the Western Coast ()Leif, ica.

On Tuesday afternoon a decently-dressed woman
was observed walking backwards and forwards by the River
silo, at Chelsea, in such a confused way as to excite suspicion
that she had some design upon her own life. At length she
jumped in and sunk. A lad, named Elliot, son of a coal-mcr-
chant in Westminster, who beheld the act, immediately came
up, took off his coat and waistcoat, and fearlessly sprung into
the water to rescue her. After considerable difficulty he suc-
ceeded in getting the body to the shore, where it was laid, ex-
hausted and insensible, on the bank, till some persons were
procured, who carried it to a neighbouring public house,
where animation returned. By the kind persuasions of several
persons she consented to return home, but would not tell why
she attempted the crime of self-murder.

A barbarous murder was committed at New Inn,
barony of Kilconnell, in the county of Galway, on the (th
instant. A man named Michael Rafferty, while on his return
from a bog, was attacked at about two o'clock in the day by
three or four men, who knocked him down with stones and
brutally murdered him. An inquest was held on the following
day by Thomas Walsh, Esq., Coroner. of Loughrea, aided by
Thomas Cannon, Esq., S.M. After the examination of se-
veral witnesses, the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder
against Daniel Cannon, Dudley Cannon, and Patrick Cannon ;
and that Patrick Cannon, jun., had encouraged them to com-
mit the foul deed. The deceased was a most peaceful and
industrious man. No cause can be assigned for his murder,
except that he married a few years ago the widow of Daniel
Cannon's brother, with whom he got about seven acres of laud
as.a marriage portion. It appears the Cannons were anxious
to deprive Rafferty of his land, and had frequently endeavoured
to quarrel with the deceased. On the morning of the murder
some cattle belonging to the Cannons were found trespassing
on the hinds in question ; and as this had often occurred be-
fore Rafferty remonstrated with them on the impropriety of
such conduct. No other provocation, we understand, was
given, and the sacrifice of the unfortunate victim's life in a
few hours afterwards was the result. Mr. Graves, C. C., of
Loughrea station, succeeded in apprehending Daniel Cannon
and Patrick Cannon, jun., who have been committed to Gal-
way gaol. Ile Coroner issued a warrant for the apprehension
of the other two men, who have as yet eluded justice.
a man amused
pair of scissors in
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and A,
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e
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pears to be .as tough as Jersey oak, heirsg nearly 100 years of
age, led to the hymene4l altaV a young woman, named Le
Brun, }yhq liaa seen but thirty small-tiers Mrs. Le Riche 'sa
teacher of the violin, and may be cf great comfort to her hus-
band in playing her 4ciciiu to the tune of " In the downhill of
life; When I find I'm declining," &c. One thing is certain,
Miss 140 Dm has beeome Riche by marriage. —Jerk;' News.

GOVERNORS AND THFAR GRAVES

Al' SIERRA LEONE.

Whilst at Sierra Leone I visited the grave of Denham,
the traveller, who, after his many wanderings in Central
Africa, died a Lieutenant-Colonel and Governor of Sierra
Leone. He lies in the new burial-ground behind the bare
racks, under a young plum tree ; and beside him lie also
three other Governors—Sir Neil Campbell, Colonel Lum-
ley, and Major Temple. A house built by Sir Charles
Macarths, who fell in the Ashuntee war, looks down from
neighbouring hill on the " field of the dead." Besides the
above, General Turner, who lies under the plum tree in
the old buriAground, is to be added to the list of Germ.
no who have died since 1825. •
Poor Denham, after long braving the climate of Africa,
said that his fate was sealed when he was nppointed Go-
vernor here. He then imprudently exelianged his resi- •
dence from Government House to a wooden building ho-
side the creek, the mud of which at low water we inoa
otreosive. He alto took to physieking himself, became
soft and tlshy, and gradually sunk under the fever, His
grave is covered almost entirely with grass and bushes, and
I was obliged to remove them before I could see the sim-
ple superstructure of brick and lime raised over the moul-
dering remains of a traveller of first-rate enterprise.
The Governors of' Sierra Leone have in general when
they arrived been men past the meridian of life, and vel:ose
constitutions were not sufficiently 'vigorous to struggle
through either form of the seasoning fever—" tire lion" the
severe attack, or " the jackall," the milder variety of the dis-
ease. As I before remarked, they are harassed with ex-
cess of duty anti responsibility ; and also, like most Englisb,_
men, they will not alter their previous habits, and desr:ise
the advice of old residents. Thus, Sir Neil CampVil, an
officer of high reputation, said to the colonial surgeon,
" Doctor, there are two things which I wish you to do :
tell me when I am really in danger, but give me no calomel
whatever." A few months after assuming office he was
attacked with fever. The surgeon immediately gave him
twenty grains of calomel (disguised), and told his honour to
keep the house. Next day the surgeon saw hint dressed
and out walking ! But the same night he was laid on his,
back, and was quickly transferred to the fatal plum tree.
The last Governor, Major Temple, said, when he. tie.
rived in the dry season, " It is all nonsense to talk of the
unhealthiness of Sierra Leone. I have been in much
worse in the Greek Islands. The reason why the climate
here is so deadly to Englishmen is to be found entirely in
their indolent habits and dissipation." Accordingly, his
Honour was very temperate, though formerly he had been:
a free liver, was of a gross habit, and past fifty years of age.
He was very attentive to his duties, was much liked and
esteemed, and would have been a great benefactor to the
colony if he had lived. But whether the season was foul or
fair, he took exercise in the middle of the day. Ir. the
rains he has been known to ride forty or fifty mike with
his daughter ; and the day before he was taken ill, in the
fatal month of August, contrary to all advice, he set out
to ride before a tornado, and got drenched to the skin.—
captain Alexander's Narrative of Western Africa.