The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-18 00:00:00

LOSS OF THE QUEEN VICTORIA STEAMER.

INQUEST ON FOUR OF THE SUFFERERS.
The remains of two females aged respectively about
thirty and forty-five years of age, and of two male chil-
dren, having been washed ashore at Howth on Monday
evening, they were conveyed to Kingstown by the Nep-
tune steamer to await a coroner's inquest, it having been
considered most convenient to hold the inquiry into the
mysterious loss of this ill-fated vessel in the board room
of the police office in that town. At twelve o'clock, on
Wednesday, Mr. Davis, county coroner was in attend-
ance, and swore a respectable jury.
The coroner and the jury then proceeded to view the
bodies, which were lying in a large yard close to the ter-
minus of the railway. The remains of the two women
and one of the children were not identified, but those
of the other child, John Reardon, were pointed out
by its father, a dealer from Nottingham, who appeared
to be suffering from the deepest emotion, the poor man
having lost his wife and three children in the wreck.
There were also in attendance several of the passengers
who had the good fortune to escape with their lives ; but
it is deeply to be deplored that ten of them, including a
young female but recently married, and whose husband
was one of the many who met a watery grave, are at
present in the most destitute condition, and are solely
dependent upon the bounty of a few humane and chari-
table persons who subscribed a small sum to keep them
from further suffering or actual starvation; all their pro-
perty and clothes having gone down with the wreck.
The jury then returned to the police-station where
Mr. J. A. Curran, with Mr. C. Fitzgerald as agent, ap-
peared for the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company.
Mr. Howell, the secretary, and Mr. Gray, the agent of
the Chester and Holyhead Company, were also present
during the proceedings, together with several clergymen
and resident gentry. The body of the court was densely
crowded.

The first witness examined was John Reardon, of
Nottingham, the father of ong, of the children who
. had been drowned, upon wise body the inquest
was held. He gave his evidence in a low melan-
choly tone of voice. He said—l am a dealer. I have
seen those bodies ; one of them is the body of my
child, John Reardon. He was a year and nine months
old. I saw him alive last about two o'clock on Tuesday
morning. I left Liverpool at half-past two o'clock on
last Monday, on board the steamer Queen Victoria, for
Dublin. My wife, child, and brother accompanied me.
I cannot say how many passengers were on board. I was
in bed when the boat struck. That was about two or
half-past two o'clock. There were two very violent
shocks. I and some others got up and dressed ourselves
partly, and went upon deck. I then saw a large rock,
very high, and the fore part of the vessel on it. I could
not say that the lower part of the rock on which the
vessel was was dry. I heard an order given to back the
" vessel. The vessel was then backed off the rock into
deep floating water. The ship, as soon as she was
backed into deep water, commenced sinking. She
was about five minutes on the rock. After I went on
deck I was standing on the quarter-deck. When the ves-
sel commenced to sink, the captain ordered all hands on
deck, but before he did so, he ordered the vessel to
be steered towards the rock. She was in deep
water at the time. He immediately ordered the boats
to be lowered. The boats at that time were un-
covered. The boats were not in the position for lower-
ing. When the boats were lowered several people
jumped into them. There was a great deal of
scrambling to get in. I escaped by swimming to the rock.
I had to swim about 100 yards. The child who is now
dead was on my knee when the water swept me off the
vessel. I thought to get back to the vessel to my wife
and child, but the waves struck me in the face and pre-
vented me. The sea was perfectly calm. Had it not
been calm I could never have reached the shore, and not
a soul could have been saved. There was a little snow

falling at the time. I believe my wife is lost. I cannot
nay anything about the vessel's striking, as I was in the
cabin at the time. When the vessel struck, and was fast

on the rock, if the captain had allowed the people
to walk on the rocks, I believe both passengers and crew
would have been saved, and it is also very likely that
the vessel and cargo could have also been saved.
Mr. Curran—That is only your opinion.
Witness—l am quite certain the passengers could all
have been saved.
To a Juror—The captain, I believe, was on deck. I
heard some persons exclaim, " Let us step on the rock,"
but I do not know who they were speaking to.
To Mr. Curran—l was not near the captain at the
time. It was not foggy. I could see the rock quite
plain. It was very high. I do net believe the water
was washing the rock. It was under the lighthouse
I got ashore, about 100 yards from the place where the
vessel struck.
To a Juror—The fore part of the vessel was on the
rock. I heard the captain say "Back her." The ropes
of the boats were all tangled, and they had to be cut.
Seven, besides myself, swam to the place where I got on
the rocks.
To a Coroner—l saw three or four sailors on deck ; I
did not notice that any of them were drunk.
To a Juror--When the vessel was backed out I saw
the lighthouse quite distinct.
Matthew Maguire, another passenger, deposed—l
came from Liverpool. I was lately superintendent of
police for Howden, near Hull. I was a deck passenger
on board the Queen VictOria, on Monday last. I passed
the greater part of the night in the cook-house. When
the accident happened it was between two and three
o'clock on Tuesday morning. I was then at the bow ;
it was snowing a little at the time ; there was no person
between the paddle-boxes and the bow of the vessel but
myself. I was standing there about 10 minutes before
the vessel struck. When I passed the paddle-box I ob-
served something like a black cloud before the vessel. I
thought it was too low for a cloud, and was just consi-
dering it was the land, when I heard some one (I think,
from his size, he was the mate, but am not sure), on the
bridge between the two paddle-boxes cry out twice,
" Stop her, stop her." . The vessel was immediately
stopped. She was then going at the rate of about ten
knots an hour. I then saw the snow on the sides of the
rocks, which were perpendicular, and perceived at once
she was too close to them to be saved from being smashed
to pieces. I seized hold of the top-gallant forecastle, and
I received a shock when the vessel first struck that
loosened my hold. She fell back after the first shock,
but pitched on to the rock a second time. I then knew
that it was the bottom of the vessel, under the bows,
that was injured. The snow was on the sides of the
rocks. I cannot say there was any standing room on the
rock. If there were, I would have jumped on to it.
There was no look-out from the bow of the vessel. The
mate, I believe, was in his proper place on the bridge.
If the mate bad not stopped the engines when he did, we
must have been smashed to pieces. The snow was not
very heavy. It was clearing off. I could not see the
Bailey light, but I could see the Kish lights plainly. I
saw the light when we backed out, and it was an ex-
ceedingly brilliant one. I did not look in the direction
of the light before the vessel struck.

To Mr. Curran—The bow of the vessel was raised
when we struck. It would have been more judicious to
have let the vessel stay where it was. If that bad been
done, the vessel and cargo might have been saved.
To the Coroner—l did not see any of the sailors
drunk.

To a Juror—l do not know who said "Back her ;" it
was all confusion. When she struck I did not see the
captain on the deck. I think it was the mate who was
on the bridge, but I am not certain.
To the Coroner—l do not think the load was heaved
at all.

A Juror here remarked that the course was so well
known that there was no occasion for heaving the lead.
Mr. Curran—There is something very extraordinary
about this light. The witness said he saw something
black, but was not able to see any light.
The Coroner said that lights in foggy weather were of
little use, except a bell was attached to them.

Examination continued—l observed the boats before
the vessel struck. The boats were in an improper posi-
tion for lowering ; those on the quarter-deck rested on
the deck. I consider that all boats should be slung. I
think the boats at the paddle-box were in slings.
To Mr. Curran—The boats that were on the quarter-
deck were slung on the davits, although resting on the
deck.

To the Coroner—l cannot say who ordered the vessel
to be backed. After several evolutions, she went out
into deep water. I think w went out too far, much
farther than I liked. She t en commenced to sink in
the bow ; she was then turn _ d again to the land,
and her bow pointed to the Bailey Light.
To a Juror--No person had left the vessel at the
time.

To Mr. Curran—l think the captain endeavoured to
round the Bailey Light, with the intention of running
her on the sand ; had he succeeded, all lives would have
been saved. I know the coast well, and I think there
is an escape-ladder on the beach.
To the Coroner—They then endeavoured to lower
the boats. There was a long swell, but the weather was
very calm. There were too many people about the
boats, and all was confusion. The sailors could not
work, there was such a crowd about them. The bow of
one of the boats was got out, but they were unable to
get the back part of the boat loosened. The boat filled
with water and the people in her baled her out with their
hats. I remained on the paddle-box until I was carried
off by the sea, and. then I swain towards the rocks. I
had a carpet-bag in one hand and a hat-box in the other,
and swam with them for some time, but when I became
exhausted I dropped them both. I was carried from one
rock to another, and was pulled into the shore by one of
the crew. I was quite benumbed, and had lost all sense
of feeling in my legs. I crawled on my knees to the
light-house, and was treated with great kindness by the
light-keeper ; I cannot say whether there was a proper
look-out. I have travelled a great deal in vessels and
steamers, and have always seen two men on the 100k-out
at the bow.
To Mr. Curran—We .were about three-quarters of a
mile from the land when I observed the black cloud; I
think the black cloud intercepted my view of the Bailey
light. When she struck I turned round and saw the
Kish lights.
To the Coroner—lmmediately when the packet
backed out I saw the light. She was not then in the
same course as that in which she had been travelling. I
was not convinced the apparent cloud was land until I
heard the order given to stop her, and we were then so
close to the rock that all the endeavours in the world
could not save her.

Roger M'Alanus deposed—l was sitting in the place
called a stable or horse-box. I did no leave the box
until I heard the crack. It was'very dark. I thought
the Hill of Howth was a cloud until some of the pas-
sengers said it was the Hill of Howth. There was a
steep high rock over us, and I saw some snow on it.
It appeared as if it was hollow at the bottom, and
hanging over us. I thought if the vessel was allowed
to stay where she was until morning we would all
have been saved. I held my wife in my arms as
long as I could. She and her three-little ones perished
fact, I may say there were five lives lost, The

police, out of their own pockets, treated us in the kindest
manner. It was Providence saved my life. I went
down into the water ; I saw a boat floating, and threw
mysely across it, and remained half senseless in that
perilous position until I was picked up by the Roscom-
mon.

Charles Ralph, of Wicklow, a seafaring man, who
exerted himself in the most exemplary manner during
the frightful catastrophe, was the next witness examined.'
He said—l am a sailor, and was in the Revenue service
for a short time. I have been at sea, and in the Coast
Guard boats since I was a boy. I was on board the
Queen Victoria on Monday. I was a deck passenger,
and was "forard," with my arm on the starboard anchor,
before she struck. It was very thick at the time—l
mean there was a snow storm. I knew we were very
near the Bailey, and was looking for the light. I
was close up to the topgallant forecastle. I saw the
Kish light for a long time broad on our larboard
bow. It was a very fine night before it commenced to
snow. It was snowing very heavily over the Bailey at
the time. I was looking out for the Bailey light, and
could not see it. I am sure the light was obscured by the
thickness of the atmosphere. From the place where we
were we could have seen the light if the weather was
clear. I thought we were steering clear in between the
Kish and the Bailey. An accident happened on board
to a young man a short time before the vessel struck.
I saw another young man who was walking on the deck
on the look-out. I did not see two men on the bows on
the look-out. In sailing vessels we always had a man
looking out in the forward part of the vessel, but then in
those vessels there is no bridge. I did not see any per-
sons on the look-out at the bows of the Queen Victoria
before she struck. Ido not think the speed was slack-
ened before the order was given to stop her. I did not
see the lead thrown. I think they should have had men
on the bows, and that the speed should have been slack-
ened, particularly in thick weather, if they supposed
they were near land. I attribute their not seeing the
light at the Bailey to the snow, which was falling heavily
over the light at the time,
Mr. Curran—Do you think they should have slack-
ened their speed if they were in their proper course.
Witness—l think they should have slackened their
speed when they saw the Kish light, and knew they
were approaching the land, the weather being so very
thick.
To the Coroner—lf there was a fog bell on the Bailey,
it would have alarmed them, and might have prevented
this fearful and terrible accident. If the sea was rough
I do not think a single soul would have been saved.
Mr. Curran—About five years ago, when the late Mr.
O'Connell was nearly lost in a vessel at the same place,
Mr. Howell, the agent of the City of Dublin Steam-
Packet Company, requested the Ballast Board to erect
a fog bell at Howth, and although they promised to do
so, it has never been put up, and that has been the cause
of the present 'catastrophe.
Exareinglion continued—About half-pa,st two the
vessel struck. Her bows were fast on the rock. They
had not time to stop her before she slapped on the
rock. Her bows were in a small cove, as it were.
The rocks branched out at each side. I do not
know what standing room there was. I went forward
when she struck. I looked at the position of the vessel,
and considered that if a plank was put out to the rocks
the people might have been saved. The captain, I think
it was, ordered the engines to be reversed. She then
went out into deeper water, and she commenced to settle
down very fast by the head, and the water commenced
to flow in. Her head was then turned towards the
Bailey, and the captain immediately directed all possible
speed to be put on. I was on the quarter deck when I
heard the captain tell the man at the wheel to put her
helm hard a-port—that was, to run her head to the rock.
She went down quite convenient to the rocks. All was
then in confusion. We tried to get down the larboard
quarter-boat, but failed, in consequence of the awkward-
ness of the people.
To Mr. Curran—When I was leaning on the anchor,
I thought we were keeping our course fair. They gene-
rally make allowance for the motions of the tide, but
she might have drifted a little more than was allowed.
The tide might lead the best seaman in the world astray.
we had a flood tide with us almost the entire way ;
a flood tide carries the vessel a little to the north ; the
vessel was only a few yards out of her course ; the light
on the steamer was,on the mast-head ; that light would
obscure the vision of those on deck ; from the time I
saw the rock, there was no time to save the vessel ;
there were high projecting rocks over our heads where
the vessel struck ; I did not look in the boat of the

Queen Victoria for the cork ; I was too much con•
fused.

The Coroner said that as it would be perfectly impos-
sible to get through all the evidence in one day, he would
suggest, it being then five o'clock, that the inquiry should
be adjourned either to the next day, or to some other
occasion, when it would be convenient for all the wit-
nesses to attend. At the same time, however, if there
were any of the passengers present who wished to make
any remark, he was willing to hear them.
Campbell, the celebrated diver, who is in the employ-
ment of the Ballast-office, was sent to Howtb, and it
was hoped he would have been enabled to make a de-
scent into the wreck, in order, if possible, to obtain
_ _

possession of the papers belonging to the vessel, and the

captain's list of p;.ssengers ; but, vin consequence of the
unfavourable state of the weather, he had to postpone
his descent until this day. Since Tuesday night the
Victoria has forged three times her own length into
deeper water, her topmasts now above the cross-trees
being alone visible.
Soldiers saved—William Pearson, 52d Light Infan-
try ; William Walton, 52d Light Infantry.
Soldiers drowned—Sergeant, 3d Dragoon Guards,
wife and child (supposed be Sergeant Wood) ' • one gun-
ner and driver, Royal Artillery; one private, 54th Regi-
ment ; George Flatman, 5.`2d Light Infantry.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 17.

The Rear-Admiral Superintendent, acting POrt-Admiral,
with the clerks of the Pay-office, proceeded to Spithead this
morning in the Fire Queen steam-vessel, Master-Com-
mander Pane, to pay wages in advance to the Furious
steam-frigate, Captain Loring, and returned in the after-
noon.

The Barracouta, 6, paddle steam-sloop, Commander
George Parker, arrived at Spithead to-day from Plymouth,
on her return to Sheerness, for which place she sailed, after
discharging and taking in supernumeraries.
The Aganiemnon, 91, Captain Sir Thomas Maitland,
sent a number of sick to the hospital this morning by the
Echo steam-tug. She is ordered to remain at Spithead for
the present.
Vice-Admiral Sir Thos. Cochrane, K.C.8., Commander-
in-Chief, is expected to return from leave on Friday. The
gallant Admiral will reside at the Portland Hotel till his
residence in the dockyard is ready.

PLYMOUTH, FEB. 17.

The crew of her Majesty's steam-ship Desperate, 8, were
paid two months' advance of wages, and she is now in the
Sound ready for service.
The steam-ship Argus is reported entering the Sound
from Queenstown.
The General Screw Steam Shipping Company's mail
packet Queen of the South, Captain Norman, sailed en
Tuesday evening with letters for St. Vincent, the Cape,
Mauritius, and the East Indies.

SHEERNESS, FHB: 16.

The Horatio, 24, screw steam gaardship, Captain the
Hon. S. T. Carnegie, returned into harbour this afternoon
and proceeded alongside the coal depot to replenish her
stock of coals.

The Espiegle, 12, Commander George Hancock, has this
day been put out of dock. 20 volunteers, AB.'s and pet-
ty officers, late of the Phaeton, have joined Commander
Hancock, and he is only 17 short of his complement, who
are daily expected to join him from Portsmouth. Mr.
W. H. Annisley, mate, has joined the Espiegle to-day.
The Amphion, 34, Captain C. E. Patey.—Lieutenant
B. C. W. Nicolas, of this frigate, has been sent round to
Devonshire to raise volunteers. Letters have been re-
ceived here from Portsea, stating that many men-of-war's
men are finishing off their pay at Portsmouth and will
soon be ready for other ships.
A move at last appears to be making in the right direc-
tion to reduce the immense weight of spars, rigging, and
sails to be fitted to ships in the navy.
The Royal George, 120 guns, now being prepared for a
screw line-of-battle ship, is a three-decker of the second-
class. She will be fitted with the spars, rigging, and sails
of a I two-decker 'of the third-class ; consequently, a
very considerable reduction in the weight aloft will be
made, and her spread of canvas will only be reduced about
7 per cent. from that of the Agamemnon. It has been
strongly recommended to put all screw vessels, large and
small, under fore and aft sails—say, only courses and top-
sails for the larger class ships of the line ; this would bring
them, comparatively; under jury rig—a rig acknowledged
by all seamen, from the best practical experience, to be the
best for all general purposes. It is a well-known fact,
when men-of-war have been clismasted and sent home under
jury masts, their logs will tell their own tale as to sailing
qualities—the Daphne, to wit. Our present Admiralty
begin to think this worth a trial, as will appear in the
order given for the Royal George.

WOOLWICH, FEB. 17.

APPOINTMENTS.

Masters' Assistant.—Alexander M. Mould, to the Vic.
tory flag-ship at Portsmouth.
Clerks' Assistants.—Corbet Edwards, to the Victory flag•
ship, at Portsmouth ; and A. C. Archdeacon, to the Im
peneuse, 50, screw steam-frigate, at Chatham.

PROMOTIONS.

Acting Assistant-Surgeon Richard Evans (1851) is con-
firmed as assistant-surgeon in the Blenheim, 60, screw
steam guard-ship, at Portsmouth.
Commander Augustus S. Booth (1848) and John M.
Cooke (1852) have been appointed to study steam at the
Factory at Woolwich Dockyard, in the room of Captain G.
T. P. Hornby, passed out, and a Lieutenant, superseded by
his own request on account of ill health.
The Phoenix steam-sloop, Commander Edward A. Ingle-
field, has had her two boilers put in, and will be taken out
of the basin and put into dock on Saturday.

[ADVRRTISE3fENT.]—AUSTRALIA.—Emigrants to the
gold fields and rich pastures of Australia are respectfully
informed, that " Parr's Life Pills" are considered to be
the best medicine for the cure of diseases incidental to
that country and climate ; and they are strongly recom-
, mended to furnish their medicine chests with a supply of
this really excellent, long-tried, and rational medicine.
None are genuine unless the words " Parr's Life Pills"
are in white letters on a red ground, on the Government
stamp, pasted round each box ; also, the fac-simile of the
signature of the proprietors, " T. Roberts and Co.,
Crane-court, Fleet-street, London," on the directions.
Sold in boxes, at is. ild., 2s. 9d., and family packets at
ils. each, by all respectable medicine vendors through-
out the world. Full directions are given with each box.
* * A liberal discount to shippers.
* SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH COMPANY.—At the meeting
of the Submarine Electric Telegraph Company, held in
Paris on Tuesday, the revenue for the last half-year was
stated to have been 4,6321., against an expenditure of
1,9231., leaving a net profit of 2,7091. A dividend was
declared, being at the 'rate of 6i per cent, per annum.

RA ILW AY INTELLIGENCE.