The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-17 00:00:00

FATAL PILOT-BOAT OATASTItOPHZ

A most lamentable accident occurred off Greet Yar-
mouth, early on Tuesday morning, which resulted in the
loss of three experienced pilots. It appears that a boat,
containing five of the body, put off from the port, and
was rowed out to sea towards Corton, on the look out
for the London coasters. On nearing that place, it
seems that the craft by some means got inside what is
termed the outer bank, which is considered a dangerous
position. Time would not permit them to extri-
cate the boat, before a heavy sea caught her
broadside, and capsized her. Two of the pilots, Ben-
jamin Holt and Richard Garwood, succeeded in reaching
the shore, although in a very exhausted condition,
but the other three were imprisoned under the boat.
Holt, the survivor,, contrived, after much exertion, to
raise the boat, but the poor fellows were almost past
recovero. One of the sufferers, Abraham Wooden, was
first conscious enough to recognise Holt, who was seized
by the leg by the dying man. Holt having to clamber
up a cliff to save himself, begged of the unfortunate fel-
low to loosen his hold. He eventually got clear of him,
and reaching the summit of the cliff he gave the alarm.
Assistance was then obtained, and on proceeding to the
spot Wooden was found to have breathed hls last, and
the other two unfortunate men, Isaiah Leggatt and
George Fox, lying in the water, dead. They were at
once conveyed to a neighbouring public-house to await
a coroner's inquest. The deceased pilots were much
respected at the port.

ELECTORS AND POLLING PLACES.—Yesterday, a re-
turn to the House of Commons was issued, from which
it appears that there are 50,170 electors for counties in
Scotland, and 133 polling places.
MARYLEBONE FREE LIBRARY.—Last night a public
meeting, emanating from the working-man's committee
appointed to conduct the movement at present on foot in
the borough of Marylebone for the establishment of a
free library to a successful issue, was held at 60, Pad-
dington-street ; Mr. Wilson was called to the chair.
The chairman informed the meeting that the subscrip-
tions, including those of the Bishops of London and
Durham, and several other influential promoters of the
movement, amounted to 8001. Mr. Murrough, M.P.,
Mr. Oliveira, M.P., and Mr. Macgregor, moved
and supported resolutions.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN TURIN.—The attention of
the Chamber of Deputies of Turin was, in its sitting of
the 12th, called to a subject which has often engrossed
the attention of philanthropists, by an occurrence,
which although rare, is not the first of its kind. A man,
named Antonio Sismondi, 25, had been hanged for mur-
der that very morning, when, being taken down, and
carried to the cemetery, a slight cough issuing from the
body showed that life was not extinct. The grave-dig-
ger called for assistance, and the patient was taken into a
house and bled three times ; but notwithstanding all
the assistance afforded him, he died a few hours after-
wards. This matter was brought before the Chamber
the same day by M. Deviry, who moved as follows :
—" The Chamber, inviting the Ministry immediately
to provide for the reform of public capital execu-
tions, as also of the mode of execution itself, passes to
the order of the day." The Minister of Justice con-
curred in the general principle of the motion of M.
Deviry, who, he said, at the same time advocated the
restriction of the punishment of death to one single
crime ; but the ministry added that this was a matter
requiring such serious consideration, that he could not
for the present pledge himself to any course without
further inquiry. M. Brofferio, expressing his conviction
that the time was not far distant when capital punish-
ment would be done away with altogether, moved an
amendment to the motion as follows :—" The Chamber,
recommending the ministry to present a bill to correct
the present enactment of the penal code respecting the
punishment of death, passes to the order of the day."
This amendment, being accepted by the Minister of Jus-
tice, was adopted unanimously.
CONSUMPTION OF SUGAR IN THE UNITED STATES.—
The usual annual returns have been published of the
consumption of sugar in the United States during the
past year. From these it appears that the total quan-
tity of foreign and domestic (produced from the cane)
taken into use was 315,217 tons, against 288,435 tons in

1851-; being an increase of about 94 per cent. About
13,058 tons, made from foreign molasses, and 11,600
tons, yielded from the maple tree, have to be added to
this amount, and the aggregate consumption was there-
fore 339,875 tons. Out of this total the quantity of
foreign was 196,558 tons, against 181,047 tons in 1851 ;
and it would, therefore, appear that the consumption
of the domestic production from the slave labour of
Louisiana has increased in rather greater propor-
tion than that of foreign. As regards prices, the
averages of 1850 and 1851 were almost the same—viz.,
about $5 50c. for New Orleans descriptions, but last
year shows a reduction to $4 81c., the quotations at the
commencement having been very low, although they
subsequently advanced and remained steady. In
rela-
tion to future prospects, it is stated to be the impression
of American dealers that the crops now coming forward
from nearly all the producing countries will be rather
above than under an average. In Louisiana
it is said, the yield will exceed in quantity
andan qua
T" ex,tY
ss,
all former ones ; being estimated at 280
000 h hdsTihe
accounts from Cuba are less favourable,' but from. Porto
Rico, Manilla, Java, and Brazil a full supply is looked
for ; while the effect of the increasing production from
from beetroot in Europe has also to be taken into ac-
count.

A RAILWAY THEFT EXTRAORDINARY.—At a place
one
of the railways i
been abandoned on
this neighbourhood, where a sta-
ion had
moved, the other day, and the old wooden hut re-
novel theft y, a bystander saw an ingenious and
before and
a...,committed; and made himself accessory both
thing, an, lte
u all the felony—for he looked on, said no.
with his b owed the cunning felon to retire unmolested
rat booty. Our particeps crtminis saw a fine sleek
peer out from beeath the old station office, and
presently venture forth and proceed to a siding, where
stood a carriage, not at that moment numbered amongst
" rolling stock." Climbing up one of the wheels by
the spokes, the rat reached the place where the c,omposi-
tion for lubricating the is axle kept, and, as if to the
manner born, he dexterously raised the spring lid, and
held it up with one of his fore-paws. Then looking round
to see if cat or hawk, or any of his natural enemies, were
abroad, he seemed satisfied with' his survey, and forth-
with plunged his nose and whiskers in the yellow unguent,
composed we believe of palm oil and tallow, which he
"th as much gout as aldermen are said to exhibit
ate
towards the green fat of turtle. But as circumspection
seemed requisite, our whiskered thief from time to time
withdrew his head from the grease-pan to look around,
ani during these recomissances he still held up his fore-
paw, looking the while exceedingly furtive and sagacious.
As his apprehensions became allayed by the general
quiet of the place- —for no one was stirring near he
resumed his "high and palmy" feast, till at length, his
delicate epicurism sated, he withdrew, and suffered the
lid to fall, and, descending by the spokes,:
his abode. The cool and systematic
this affair was transacted was such manner in which
astonished and amused spectator that as to satisfy the
more than one previous visit of the at ratty had paid
officials should be on their same kind. Railway
~
unsuspected species of peculation guard against this new and
property,-3faacheater Guarcuttn committed on their