The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-13 00:00:00

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RIVER.

LOSS OF TWO LIVES.

The danger of all 'wing unskilful persons the use of boats
unattended by a regular waterman, was fearfully illustrated
last night by an accident which unfortunately resulted in
the loss of two lives, although five young men were at one
time immersed in the river Thames. The particulars of the
fatal accident, which occurred last evening a short distance
of the steamboat pier at Hungerford, are briefly as follows.
Five young men, respectively named Abraham Abrahams,
of Exchange-court, Strand, who was well known in the
sporting world /rem the performance of a few pedestrian
matches; Robert Smith, of 21, Thistle-court, St. Martin's-
lane ; Edward Tayl)r, of Vinegar-yard, Brydges-street ;
George Layton, of Ru-sell-court, Drury-lane; and Fre-
derick Bull, of No. 1, Jerusalem-passage, Clerkenwell—
hired a boat from a person at Arundel-stairs, for the
purpose of a rowing excursion. Everything seemed to
have proceeded safely until the return home down the
river in the evening, and when near Hmagerford-pier, one
of the young men perceived a steamer coming directly
down upon them. The vessel in question was the Victoria,
one o: the penny boats running from Lambeth to London
Bridge, and the unfortunate occupants of the boat made
every effort to attract the attention of those on board the
steamer, and failing in that, to row out of the course of the
Victoria. In this also they failed, and the steamer
struck the boat near the bows ; the frail craft immedi-
ately sank, and the five young men were plunged
into the Thames. The utmost exertion was
made to save the lives of the young men, and
fortunately one was picked up by the persons on board the
s earner, one swam ashore, another was rescued by one of
the watchmen near Westminster bridge, but unfortunately
Abraham Abrahams and Robert Smith perished. The at-
tendants on the steam-boat pier at Hungerford were aware
of the amident, but unfortunately they had not the means
at hand of proceeding to the spot, and thus they were pre-
vented rendering the least assistance. Up to 12 o'clock to-
day neither of the bodies of the two young men had been
recovered, although every inducement in the shape of re-
ward had been offered by their friends. The following
hand-bill was circulated this morning :
" £2 REWARD.—Drowned, last night (Sunday), at eight
o'clock, close to Hungerford pier, a young man, aged 21,
height sft. 4in., had on dark blue suit, side• spring boots,
gold watch and Albert chain. Whoever finding the body
and give information to No. 1, Exchange-court, Strand,
shall receive the above reward."

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

CITY BETTING—SATURDAY.
CITY AND SUBURBAN.
Bto 1 agst Glenochty colt (taken)
9to 1 agst Adventurer (taken)
16 to 1 bar two (offered)
GREAT METROPOLITAN.
6to lon the field (offered)
CHESTER CUP.
4to 1 agst Stradella (taken)
12 to 1 agst Plover (taken)
TWO THOUSAND.
2to 1 agst Hospodar (taken)
9to 2 agst Saccharometer (taken)
66 to 1 agst }lick (offered)
THE DERBY.
7to 1 aget Lord Clitden (taken)
Bto 1 apt Hospodar (taken)

LATEST BETTING AT MANCHESTER.

For the City and Suburban Adventurer remained firm,
but the Glenochty colt and Oberon were in bad odour, 100
to 3 being offered against either horse.—Hospodar was in
great force for the Two Thouba. d Guineas, 2 to 1 being
taken in hundreds ; and Rapid Rhone and Macearoni were
also in demand for the same event. Closing prices :

CITY AND SITBURBAN•
7to 1 agar Adventurer (taken and offered)
14 to 1 agat Argonaut (taken and offered)
100 to 3 agat Glenochty colt (taken and offered)
100 to 3 agat Oberon (taken and offered)

TWO THOUSAND GUINEA%
2to 1 apt Hospodar (taken freely)
12 to 1 agst Maccaroni (taken freely)
12 to 1 agst Rapid Rhone (taken freely)

THE JAPAN.

PLYMOUTH, Saturday Morning.
From circumstances which have since transpired
it appears that the A!ar has been actingin conjunc-
tion with the steamship Japan.
Mr. Buck, the
master of the Alar, has been required by Mr. E.
Brown, the collector of her Majesty's Customs at
this port, to account for the proceedings of that
vessel after she left Newhaven. It seems that in-
stead of proceeding to her pretended destination, St.
Malo, she went to Folkestone, and there shipped a
quantity of " provisions," &c., and embarked a num-
ber of seamen and a " gentleman," under whose
orders the vessel was placed. He instructed Capt.
Back to steer towards a certain part of the coast of
France, and after some delay the steamship Japan
hove in sight. The Alar having burst her blowpipe
was unable to proceed into smooth water, and, in
consequence, the Japan took her in tow. The tow-
rope broke, and became entangled with the Japan's
screw. Through these misadventures consider-
able delay took place, and the small steamer
carried away her bowsprit and incurred other
damage by coming in contact with the larger
ship. Eventually the gentleman," who is sup-
posed to be the real commander of the Japan, went
on board her with the other passengers from the
Alar, which received in exchange the pilot and 15
of the original crew of the Japan, who left Ply-
mouth immediately they landed. The goods shipped
under the name of provisions are said to have in-
cluded munitions of war. It is considered rather
remarkable that although the Alar received part of
the Japan's crew off the opposite coast of France on
Thursday she did not reach Plymouth until this
morning.

THE SO• CALLED BAPTIST MINISTER,—The " Bap-
tist Hand Book for 1863," containing the names of all ac-
credited Baptist ministers in the United Kingdom, does
not contain the name of the " Rev." Thomas Wycherley,
whose case has lately appeared in the police reports.

EXECUTION AT MAIDSTONE.--The last sentence
of the law was e-trried into Efect on S,turday
morning, at twelve o'clock, in front of the county gaol at
Maidstone, upon Robert Alexander Burton, a lad 20 years
of age, who was convicted at the late spring assizes for the
county of Kent of the murder, under very crael and aggra•
vated circumstances. of a little boy, nine years of age, by
stabbing him in the neck wiih a knife.

EXECUTION AT SIIREWSBURY.—E I ward Cooper
was executed in front of the gaol, Shrewsbury, at noon on
numberSaturda of is
Saturday, foprecthtaetomrs.urder of his son, in presence of a large

ATTEMPTED MURDER BY
81::AaTmI
apparentlyA tabou t
11 o'ciock on Thursday morning, as a man named
an,
Jacob Watkins was walking across a footpath towards the
new works at Maesteg,
a tramp, overtook him and demanded a shilling. On Wat-
kins refusing, his assailant seized him with ungovernable
fury, brutally beat him, and then cut his throat from ear to
ear. He then decamped across a mountain towards Neath,
where he was cap urAd. He proves to be a lunatic, who
had just escaped from a neighbourin3. asylum. His victim,
though in the greatest danger, was able to identify him,
Hopes are entertained of Watkina'a recovery,