The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-12 00:00:00

THE WRECK OF THE ERCOLANO.

We have been favoured with some details of the loss
of the Ercolano, the ill fated ship in which Mr. Halsey
was a passenger, by Captain Townshend, R.N., M.P.,
who had them from the lips of Sir Robert Peel :—Sir
Robert said that, feeling ill from the motion of the
vessel, he was sitting in his carriage, which had been
moved to midships on account of the heavy rolling of
the sea, smoking a cigar, when suddenly, and without
the slightest warning, a collision occurred. A large
vessel (the Sicilia) came upon them at the rate of 11 or
1 knots an hour, running for eight or nine feet into the
Ercolano, and literally "doubling her up." The col-
lision was so sudden, and death so imminent, that there
was no time for consideration. Sir Robert had just
time to spring out of his carriage before the funnel of
the steamer and the apparatus of the galley fell against
it, and threw it overboard. To take off his coat, his
trousers, and his boots was the work of a moment. His
servant was standing by him—an old and valued ser-
vant, much attached to him ; and in that awful moment
Sir Robert (who must pardon us for referring to a cir-
cumstance which he never intended to be made public)
found time and courage and calmness enough to say
a few words to his faithful servitor—" Good by God
bless you! Nothing can save us ? In a few minutes
we shall be in the other world ; but be comforted,
I have made a provision for your daughter" (the
old man's only child). The old servant said he would
indo
ividual
afeoiriviteyit,heerxeloafimtehde,m:,
yexocuepti
n
never leave his master ; but Sir Robert, feeling that
ptlrio:errpwt
as
and n
can-
not help me. Do the best you can. I shall jump into
the sea ;" and then he took a strong
eddy caused leap to escape the
by the sinking vessel, which be happily
cleared. In the sea Sir Robert got hold of something,
which he supposes to be the bowsprit of the Sicilia,
which was carried away at the moment of the collision.
Then he got hold of a, chain, and finally of a piece of the
wreck, to which lie found three other persons, one of
whom he thinks was his old servant, were clinging.
In this position he remained, the sea rolling heavily,
for three quarters of au hour. One by one his com-
panions relaxed their grasp on the floating portion of the
wreck and dropped exhausted into the sea—their grave ;
and at last he alone remained holding on till he was
picked up by a boat belonging to the vessel which had
run them down. Till that moment Sir Robert never
lest consciousness or self-command, but once on board
the boat he sank into a state of insensibility, from which
he was restored in the engine-room of the Sicilia. Sir
Robert says he heard the cries of people in distress from
the Ercolano before she sank, and he thinks that lives
might have been saved if proper means had been taken.
Mr. Halsey and his family, and many other passengers,
he believes, were below in the cabins, in all probability
asleep, at the time of the collision, and the doubling up
of the vessel wont(' prevent them from getting on deck ;
but Sir Robert thinks that if the Sicilia had remained
about the spot till daylight she might have picked up
some of the passengers, who would probably have been
washed out and found clinging to the wreck.—Hertford
Mercury.

haen d Conservativesehenlec allot-
mentud,Seire.
t)).
evcrebA eßrjr.atEh'ur'ei
estate,f;(ts Rsi
uSlectdil.p.3\t‘oll
r,o'laeolNi.ocr:l:l-I:—eril•e(saitTna' Margaret's
tin estate,the7toso2an7c2r
ebs building
June next.
ltoetnst'fiosrf‘oirlltaisleolraesheilgt class ; the lots varying in price
from 521. 4s. 6d. up to 4751. each. If we may judge
from the plan, the estate, as laid out, will be one of the
most noticeable spots on the banks of the Thames,
great care having been taken to preserve the natural and
artificial beauties of that fine site. We observe that a
considerable portion of the park is to be preserved as a
pleasure-ground, with an ornamental sheet of water,
spanned by two iron bridges. A plot of ground 160 feet
by 115 feet, has been reserved at the corner of the
avenue for the erection of a church. From the plan it
would seem to be contemplated to preserve the noble
mansion erected by the Earl of Kilmorey.

ASTLEY'S EIJKOPF.',I NATIONAL NIP Ell riIEACKE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke.
TIIIS E.VEgING, MAT 12,
Will be presented the new grand ,:auttc.al and Equestrian spec-
tacle, embodying n •vel and extraordinary elects (wri:t.,,n by Mr.
Nelson Leg), entitled A OF Me, SPA Bit WAlt ; or.
The Horse of the Wreck. Tie iIOCS33 expressly trained by Mr. W.
Cooke.
Followed by an entire change of the Scenes of the CIRCLE, intro-
ducing Miss Emily Cooke.
Mdlle. Blanch?, the celebrated Continental Artl,te, on the
TIMIT ROPE.
To conclude with a Grand Ballet, entitled THE STAR OF THE
R HINE.
Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W.
West.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
T. 414 DAY —Morning 24 min.after 1 1 Evening 43 min.aft. 1
-Moaaow—Morning 1 min.after 2 1 Evening 23 min.aft.. 2

THE WEATHER.—Eux Onnot, MAT 12.
THBRMONETICR, IN THE SLIADE.
61—highest since noon yesterday.
46—lowest this morning and during the night.
65—this day at noon.

BAROMETER, 30.23.
WIND, S.W.—Light breeze, and fine weather.