The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-04 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 4, 1863.

THE LOSS OF THE ANGLO-SAXON.

The following is the official report as to the loss
of this vessel
46 TO THE RIGHT HON. THE LORDS OF THE PRIVY

COUNCIL FOR TRADE.

" My Lords,—l have the honour to report for the infor-
mation of your lordships the result of the inquiry which, in
conjunction with Captains Harris and Baker, as nautical
assessors, I have held into the circumstances attending the
wreck of the screw steamship Anglo-Saxon, on the 27th of
April last.
" The frightful magnitude of the disaster naturally ex-
cited an unusual amount of interest, and communications
relating thereto, chiefly from passengers by the ill-fated
vessel, now residing on the other side of the Atlantic, have
in the course of the inquiry reached one or other member of
the Court.
" Their communications, though not receivable as evi-
dence of the facts stated therein, have on several points
guided the Court in the examination of the witnesses, as it

seemed highly desirable that the public mind should be set
at rest as to the truth of certain statements which had ob-
tained currency through the public press both in this
country and Canada. The conclusions, however, at which
I have arrived are deduced solely from the fects proved in
evidence by the witnesses who were examined viva voce
before the Court.
"The Anglo-Saxon was built at Dumbarton in the year

1860, and was owned by Messrs. Allan and others, and

was one of the line of steamers trading between Liverpool
and Montreal, and carrying the mails for the Canadian Go-
vernment. Her gross registered tonnage was 1,713 tons, and
she was of 250 horse power. She had a crew of 85 persons,
and was commanded by Mr. W. Burgess, who held a certi-
ficate of competency as master.
" The Anglo-Saxon left Liverpool for Quebec on the 16th
April. She had on board, in addition to the master and
crew, 360 persons, 48 being cabin and 312 steerage passen-
gers, a general cargo consisting of iron and measurement
goods, and the usual mails in charge of Mr. Green. The
requirements of the Board of Trade with respect to boats
and compasses had been complied with, and the ordinary
declaration for a foreign-going steamship, signed by the
shipwright surveyor at Liverpool, was shown to the Court,
specifying the number of passengers allowed to be carried,
and the number and cubical contents of the boats, from
which it appears that the vessel was licensed to carry 455
passengers ; and in the present instance, including the
master and crew, there were on board 446 persons. The
usu•il certificate as to compasses was also produced, signed,
as required by the Board, by the previous master, and dated
Oct. 29, 1862.

" After touching at Moville on the 7th of April, the
vessel proceeded on her voyage without anything to call for
remark until 8 p.m. on the 25th, when she fell in with ice,
accompanied by foggy weather. The engines were at once
slowed, and at 10 p.m., the ice becoming thicker and the
fog increasing in density, the engines were altogether
stopped, and, according to the evidence of the first engineer,
so remained until 10 a.m. on the 26th, when, the ice being
somewhat less compact, the engines were occasionally moved
slowly ahead by one or two revolutions at a time, until two
p.m., when clear water was reached, and the engines were
put on full speed ; all sail was made with the wind from the
S.S.E., and a oourse shaped N.W. and by W. towards Cape
Race. At noon on this day, an observation had been ob-
tained, which gave the lat. 46 54 N,, and at 3 30 p.m. sights
were taken for the chronometer, which, brought back to
noon, placed the ship in long. 47 24 W. A similar sight
taken at 4 p.m. the same result. From the position of the
ship at noon Cape Race bore about W. S., and the ship
steered about W. 1 deg. S. till 8 a.m. on the 27th, so that it
is obvious that in the long run of 18 hours she would be at
that time clearly to the northward of the Cape. At 8 a.m.
the engines were slowed to half speed, and the course was
then altered to W.S.W., true, until she struck, shortly after
11 a.m., about half a mile to the southward of Clam Cove,
and became a total wreck. Immediately on the vessel
striking such of the boats as could in the position of the ves-
sel be got at were lowered, and by that means and also by
means of a spar which was thrown across to the nearest
rock and a whip from the foreyard, to which a basket was
attached, many lives were saved, and in all probability, had
not the ship listed over to port and sunk in deep water, in
little more than an hour all hands might have been rescued.
Those earliest on shore proceeded to Cape Race and
communicated by telegraph with St. John's, in consequence
of which the steamer Dauntless was at once sent off in search
of the boats, and picked up three of them, and also took
several persons from parts of the floating wreck. In all,
according to the most reliable accounts that could be fur-
nished 209 persons were saved.

" In reviewing the circumstances attending the catas-
trophe the main difficulty arises from the conflicting evidence
as to the actual speed of the ship during the period from 2
p.m. on the 26th, when her position would be little changed
from the time of the noon observation of that day, till S a.m.
on the 27th. But in carrying back the reckoning from the
spot on which she struck till 8 a.m., it is clear that
she must have run at the rate of 12 knots an hour
during the period in question. During this long run
of 18 hours the tendency of the wind and sea would
be to place the ship ahead and to the northward and
westward of her reckoning, and the distance run was pro-
bably thus accelerated ; but for this it would appear that
no allowance was made. Had the lead been occasionally
used, as, without doubt, in such weather and approaching
land it should have been, Captain Burgess might have had
timely warning of his danger. Nor can I omit to n,-dice
(though I feel most painfully the necessity under which I
am laid to comment upon the acts of a man who, when the
fatal accident happened, nobly did his duty and perished in
idhl.:,,,_Pe;enrffeloeurlmrti
na:gucnaed)
thicktherefore, that f
ot
gh speedenadc
tiiacting
the a
ut whichnd ervicinityth et
advice
df
vvl
ieacsnes
land,
of
NNinvvaayss
na'uutilycailrnaPs7eds esourt; to pronounce that the Anglo-Saxon was

lost owing to a wrong estimate of the distance run ; that
there was a culpable omission to use the lead after 8 a.m.,
and that it was a most reprehensible act on the part of the
commander to continue his Giourse in a thick fog, even at
half-speed, in such an uncertain position.

" I may here refer to a recent report now before me, made
by Capt. Orlebar, R.N., surveying officer on the stati in, to
Sir Alex, Bannerman, Governor of Newfoundland, bearing
on this question, and which may prove useful to future
navigators. Capt. Orlebar says--' There are few coasts
more safely approachable than the south-eastern coast of
Newfoundland from Cape St. Mary to Cape Race, if the lead
be used and tL e speed moderate. Soundings of moderate
depth extend far off all these headlands, and the water shoals
ets currents,
rl
graudually to the shore. But if vessels continue to be navi-
gated in foggy weather, without
using there is so much uncertainty in
the strength
that shipwrecks must
occur, as they have occurred with lamentable frequency.'
,6 With respect to the boats, I find, from the documents tu
which I have already referred, that the authorities at Liver-
pool
certified that the vessel was properly equipped. I am
glad also to be able to refute th© charge of insubordination
and cowardice which has been alleged against the crew of
boat No. 4. The evidence of the first mate has fully con-
firmed the assertion made, and to some extent proved in :e-
-penden tly of his evidence on their behalf, that the boat had
beea injured in lowering and was laying off for the necessary
repair. I may also add that the crew were stationed to their
respective boats, and that a list was hung up in the proper
place, while the first mate distinctly speaks to the fact that
he at any rate found the right men in his own boat, which
was No. 2.

" I have but one other point to touch upon in reference
to this casualty. There was only one chronometer on board.
In all other respects the Anglo• Saxon appears to have been
thoroughly equipped.
" I think it due to the owners to state that, among their
instructions to their captains, is the following When
you meet with fog or ice, or when, owing to the darkness of
the weather, there is any risk of proceeding, the safest
course is to lay to till daylight, or until the weather clears
up.' And again :—' The lead should be used frequently,
and the utmost care exercised when you are in any doubt as
to your position.' Would that these admirable instructions
had been fully carried out I
" Considerably controversy has arisen out of this disaster
in reference to the expediency of a fog signal on Cape Race.
I have not thought it right to close my report without an
allusion to this suggestion. It is nu part of my duty to
discuss the respective merits of the plans proposed for adop-
tion. I am informed that the matter has already been before
your lordships, and I feel confident that you will not delay
to take such measures as may in your judgment seem most
desirable if, upon further inquiry, any action is deemed ex-
pedient.
" I have the honour to remain, my lords, your lordships'
most obedient servant,
" T. S. RAFFLES, Police Magistrate.

"Liverpool, July 31.
" We concur in the above report,
"HY. HARRIS,
Nautical Assessors."
" ROBY. BAKER,

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

GREAT NORTHERN.

The directors of this company have determined to recom-
mend the proprietors at the general meeting on the 22d
inst. to declare a dividend for the half-year ending June 30
last at the rate of £1 58. per cent. per annum on the original
stock of the company, giving for the half-year £2 2s. 6d.
per cent, to the original stock, £3 per cent, to the B stock,
and ss. per cent, to the A stock.

METROPOLITAN.
Yesterday numerous passengers on the Metropolitan Rail-
way were surprised at the appearance of placards posted at
all the stations on the line announcing that the Great West-
em Railway Company had given notice that they would
cease to carry passengers over the line on and after Monday,
the 10th inst. It appears that the Great Western, who have
hitherto worked the line between Bishop's-road station and
Farringdon-street, deem it desirable to conclude the ar-
rangement for working the line, and to throw that duty on
the Metropolitan Railway Company, on the ground that
the working arrangements as they at present stand do not
pay them, and that in a pecuniary point of view they are
losers to the extent of something like .E2OO a week. The
Metropolitan Railway Company are thus temporarily thrown
on their own resources, and hope to be able to make arrange-
ments for carrying the passenger traffic between Farring_
don station and the Edgware-road station. There will thus
be a break between the Bishop's-road and the Edgware-
road stations. Yesterday the directors of the Great Western
issued a notice stating " that they would not be responsible
for the trains or the working of the Metropolitan Railway
beyond the last train at midnight on Monday, August the
10th inst."

VICTORIA STATION AND PIMLICO.
The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yester-
day, at the office, Duke-street, AVestminster—Mr. W. Lee,
M,P,, in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
in a position to pay 3 per cent for the
said they
eEy.wßeerlelanmoyw, the secretary, read the report.
ppaayst6hpalefryceeanrt,.,anwdhifoohr,
he hoped, would be satisfactory to the year 1863 they would be able to
the proprietors. He would be happy to answer any ques-
tions the proprietors might deem necessary with regard to
their affairs.
In reply to Mr. Borradaile, it was stated that the com-
pany were bound to expend £105,000 on the station. They
had already expended £102,000, and there remained £3,000
to expend. After this was expended there would remain
£16,000 towards the reduction of the debenture debt. The
London, Chatham, and Dover and Brighton Companies had
come to an engagement to enlarge, or widen, the line and
station; and, in lieu of a certain contingency in respect of
source for an annual payment from July, had agreed to commute the expected
the London and North-Western using the Brighton station,
receipts
eeipts Victoriai.rom that
rce
1864, of £1,125 a year- After deducting all charges, the in-
come of the company would amount to £20,425 in the year
1867, when the maximum rent would be paid by the Lon-
don, Chatham, and Dover and Great Western Companies,
together with the commutation of £1,125 by the Brighton
Company, It was believed the dividend would then. be some-
thing more than 9 per cent, per annum.
Mr. BLYTH seconded the motion for the adoption of the
report, which was carried unanimously,
A dividend of 3 per cent. for the past half-year was de-
clared payable on the Bth inst., and it was stated that the
dividend for 1864 would be at the rate of 7 per cent.
A vote of thanks to the chairman and directors closed the
proceedings.

thi3 company was held yester-
day at office,
Duke-street,eeetsng of
Westminster; Mr. W. A,
MID-KENT.
The half-yearly
0 theWilkinson in the chair.

Mr, E, BELLA v, the secretary, having read the notice
convening the meeting, the report was taken as read.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said the position of the company had now become very satis-
factory ; its traffic was increasing as usual, and no doubt it
would continue to increase. They had remonstrated with
the South-Eastern Company on their extension to Tun-
bridge, and had endeavoured to show them that there was a
better line than they had selected. The directors did not
think it necessary to oppose the London, Chatham, and
didD over
Company's extension from Beckenham ; but they
interfere with the South Eastern Company's exten-
sion to Tunbridge as affecting the interests of the company.
He was sorry that their application for the extension of their

line to Croydon had been rejected by the Parliamentary
Committee, He thought the committee should have paid
more attention to a petition signed by 1,000 persons resid-
ing in Croydon, including the authorities of Croydon, in
favour of the company's application for an extension of their
line to that town, especially as there had been no opposition
from landowners. The only reason for not granting the
lino to Croydon was because the Brighton Company did not
like it. Since the last meeting the South-Eastern Company
had offered to pnrchase the Mid-Kent Railway. The terms
were to the effect that the South-Eastern would assume the
debenture debt and preference shares of the Mid• Kent Com-
pany, and pay the latter company a premium of £40,000 for
the £BO,OOO of share capital, making the purchase money
£120,000, upon which interest at the rate of 4i per cent.
would be payable (being at the rate of GI per cent. on the
£BO,OOO of original capital) until that sum was paid. He
(the chairman) believed it would be a good bargain for both
companies. The matter could not be submitted for their
approval until the bill was prepared for the next session of
Parliament.

Mr. L. SIMPSON, a director, seconded the motion for the
adoption of the report. He thought it a wise policy on the
part of the South-Eastern Company to secure the Mid-
Kent line, which was intended to open up a beautiful dis-
trict, and it was constructed at a time when no other line
could be formed for so small a sum. He thought the arrange-
ment would be a great advantage to both companies.
Resolutions were unanimously passed adopting the report,
and declaring a dividend of 21 per cent. for the past half-
year, payable on the 7th inst.
The CHAIRMAN stated that in future the shareholders
would receive 41 per cent. on the purchase money of
£120,000, instead of, as at present, so much from the profits
of the lino.
The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the
chairman and directors.