The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-11 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENI hs G, OCTOBER 11, 1862.

RAIL WAY INTELLIGENCE.

HULL AND HORNSEA.

The ceremony of turning the first sod of this railway was
performed on Wednesday by Mr. J. A. Wade, the chair-
man of the company, at Hornsea. The new line will form
a junction with the North-Eastern Railway Company's
Victoria•dock branch, near Hull, over which the trains will
run for about three miles. The length of the Hornsea line
will be about 13 miles, but, Including the portion run over
the North-Eastern, the total mileage will be over 15. The
line is to be laid upon the most approved-method, and it is
expected that it will not cost more than £60,000. Messrs.
S. and T. Crawshaw are the contractors, the contract being
taken within £2OO of the engineer's estimate, and is to be
completed and in work by the commencement of next year's
season, in July. During the ceremony great demonstra-
tions of rejoicing were made. It is expected from the
importance of the district through which the line will pass,
the easy gradients and works, and the light capital cost,
that it will prove one of the most remunerative railway
undertakings in Yorkshire.

TO2'AI, LOSS OF THE MAIL STEAMER

CLEOPATRA.

The follming are the particulars of the loss of
the RoyallVlail screw steamer Cleopatra:—

The a boßi ship was totally lost on the bar (entrance
to the Sfurboro' River), about 100 miles south
of Sierra Leone, on the night of the 19th August,
about half fast .nine o'clock. A few minutes pre-
vious to thehour mentioned land was reported on
the starboarc bow, when the course of the steamer
was at once filtered; but it proved of no avail, as
she struck alhost inintediately afterwards, and al-
though everyavailable means were used to get the
ship off she could not be moved from the spot she
had struck on. The only alternative now left was
to wait until
daylight, as the exact position of the
vessel, owing to the darkness, could not be correctly
ascertained. Although the Cleopatra held fast all
night—the engines being kept going about half
speed astern, to prevent the ship verging ahead—
still
every one hid hopes that she would be got off '
in the morning by kedging. Daybreak of the 20th
revealed to us oar true position. About 6 a.m.
the ship's
gig 4as lowered in charge of the
second officer t take soundings, and shortly
afterwards the Tong boat was lowered to
receive an ant rs and cable to kedge the
ship off. The longboat was
very nearly being
capsized by gettbroadside on to the rollers, and
was obliged io be 01414 into smooth water to bail
her out. The gig now returned, and with some
difficulty the second officeranaged to get on board,
but the boat was obliged to leave the ship's side to
save her from being stove In. As both boats had
now left the ship, and were some distance off,
signals were made for their return, but apparently
without being observed byithose in the boats.
The ship bad been bumping very heavily all the
morning, and it was desirable as a last resource that
the kedges should be got out. It was therefore
agreed that a third boatskould be lowered, in charge
of the chief officer, to recal the other two boats.
This boat was lowered about 11 a.m. Shortly after-
wards we were obliged to cut away the fore and
main masts to ease the ship. By this time it was evi-
dent that it would be impossible for any of the
boats to return to the ship on account of the heavy
breakers alongside and the strong tide running, so
that we were now dependent on one boat. The en-
gines also had now stopped of themselves, the boiler
being nearly filled with sand, while the surf broke
constantly with tremendous force against the ship.
The night of the 20th was spent 'most anxiously
by all on board ; and the thumping of the ship on
the bar was frightful, and it was apparent that the
bar was getting worse every day. The morning of
the 21st broke, but no signs of any of the ship's
boats. We still agreed to remain on board in the
expectation of some assistance from a man-of-war
from Sierra Leone. We discovered that during the
night we had been driven in towards the shore a
considerable distance, and now lay firmly embedded
in the sand. The ship was a total. wreck. Several
times during the day we saw several people on the
beach (about three miles distant), but could not dis-
cern whether they were white or black. The passen-
gers generally were more inclined to remain by the
ship, in the hopes of some assistance being rendered,
rather than land in a place where it was uncertain
whether the natives were friendly or hostile, but the
afternoon of this day decided our movements, The
flood tide and surf combined coming in so heavily it
was evident that the ship's stern could not hold to-
gether much longer. It was determined that the last
boat—a life-boat—should be lowered next morning
(22d), containing no one but the passengers and a
picked crew ; the captain (Delamotte) and the re-
mainder of the officers and crew agreeing to take to
rafts, which were immediately begun to be con-
structed. During the night the stern partly gave
way, and it required every possible exertion, with
the aid of sails bung over the stern, to keep the
saloon from being flooded. This was, indeed, a most
anxious night for all on board.

About six a.m. the next morning (22d) the only
remaining boat was prepared for the passengers,
and in about half an hour afterwards the ladies and
children were safely stowed in the places allot-
ted them, it being previously arranged that the
gentlemen should not enter the boat until it was
lowered into the water, life lines being all ready for
them to lower themselves at a proper opportunity.
Eventually the boat was lowered, and every one got
safely into her. Shortly after leaving the ship's side
she narrowly escaped being swamped, the boat being
completely filled with water. However, she was
kept afloat by being constantly baled out, and as soon
as she reached smooth water was brought to anchor
on account of the strong ebb tide. At the commence-
ment of the flood tide the boat was again got under
weigh, and shortly afterwards met one of the traders'
boats, into which the ladies and children were put,
the gentlemen proceeding in canoes to Telabana
Factory, a place about 23 miles from the wreck,
where they remained for the night. To return to
the wreck. Seeing the boat had got a strong ebb
tide, it would be dangerous to launch any rafts; but
about one p.m. we launched the first raft, and with
some difficulty part of the firemen and nearly all
the Kroomen got on to it, one Krooman unfortu-
nately losing his life in the attempt ; and it was
afterwards ascertained on landing that three others
were drowned. This was the only raft launched this
day. About 3 p.m the stern was completely carried
away, and the ship evidently broke in two.about the
engine-room, and filled rapidly with water, barely
giving us time to get the mails and specie removed.
The ship was now full of water, with the excep-
tion of the fore compartment, leaving us still the
fore cabin and forecastle for shelter, but, unfortu-
nately, this only lasted
nntil 10 p.m. when the
water began to make in the fore part of the vessel
also, and so rapidly that in less than an hour the
water nearly reached the main deck. The breakers
were now so fearfully heavy that they broke clear
over the ship, leaving us in a most uncomfortable
position all night, August 23d. They then agreed
to abandon the wreck, and about 2 p.m. two rafts
were launched, and about 16 persons got upon the
largest. Unfortunately it capsized before it left the
side of the vessel, and Mr. Webster, the chief en-
gineer, was drowned. This was not known,
however, until the raft reached the land, when
the body of Mr. Webster was discovered lashed
to one of the timbers. The second raft
reached the shore in safety. The captain and eight
men remained on board to constrict another, which
they made from themizen-mast and some hen coops.
The captain had still some hopes of assistance from
Sierra Leone to save the mails and specie, having
had no communication with the beach since the ship
had stranded. On the 23d a boat containing Mr.
Hanson,
lo
to come
ydoff to the ship, 'l3 agent, and a crew of five men
attempted but the boat was
swamped by the breakers and all on board perished.
anL
The captain and the few who remained with him
committing themselves to the
compelled to abandon
twheersehoipn,thaend2d September er
raft arrived in about two hours safely on the beach
and proceeded up the river to the factories, where
they were
andsome most hospitablyof
received. Most of the
re
passengers
had previously
proceededth
to Sierra Leone in a small steamer sent
e e
from there for the purpose. In the remainder a
After a tedious passage
at Sierra Leone on
greater portion being laid
ss etwphtaeeysnicabhrearrri,tvetehrdeed .
safely
usto
hmtp
efiawBvl l
jet
thhdoaty, vessel
fever.
The captain of the Cleopatra is highly praised for
his determined bravery and devotion to the ship.
The following are the names of the vessels at or
sailed from the ports named
me/lin—Medea, Earl Derby, and Cyclops.
Cameroons—Morelie, Invincibie, Commerce, and
Mary arrived August 26.
Old Calabar—Cressy, Clan Gregor, St. Andrew,
Elizabeth Monnow, and Parragon. Gorthsherrie
sailed August 16.

Bran.- Mosquito, Florence Nightingale, Orient,

Express, and Queen. Runnymede sailed August
29, and Mary Black Sept, 3.
Bonny—Charles Horsfall, Golden Age, Faith,
Star of the Sea, Benleli, Annie Selkirk, Royal Oak,
Ellen Grant, Ellerslie, Manners Sutton, King Eyo,
and Fidelite. Commodore and Express both sailed
for Liverpool, Sept. 5.

Lagos—Richard and William, Blanche, Kite, and
Watkins.

Cape Coast—Bryn and Mor.—List of passengers
—Mrs. and Miss Lake and servant; Captain
Donaldson, Mr. Walley, Mr. Langworthy, Captain
Davis, Mr. Tinton, Mr. Chimery, Mr. Wood, Capt.
Fehrmar, Mr. Johannsen, M. Del Grande, Mr.
M'lntyre, Mr. Sworder, Capt. Danger, Capt. Hen-
derson, Mr. Cox, Mr. Kennerling, Capt. Sterne,
Mrs. Hill and two children and servant, Mrs. Jones
and two children, Mr. Frame, Mr. Quinn, Mr.
Reader, Mr. Peters, Mrs. New, Mr. Mitchell, Capt.
Devonport, Mr, and Mrs. Ingram.