The Sun.
London, England, 1836-10-14 00:00:00

THE CLARENDON WRECK.

• (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.—The loss of the Claren-
don, West Indiaman, at Black Gang Chine, on Tuesday
morning last, was occasioned by the tremendous gale, and
the wind backing round to South during the night, which
rendered it quite impossible to keep the ship off shore.
Every exertion was made by the officers and crew to carry
sail, and gain an offing ; but the tremendous gale still
blowing them directly on shore, rendered their efforts una-
vailing ; and, just after daylight, the ship struck immedi-
ately under Black Gang Chine, and, in five minutes, was
in a thousand pieces. James Hains, the second mate,
saved himself by diving under the wreck of the mast and
yards, and just reached the shore, where one of the na-
tives caught hold of him and dragged him on shore. The
two other men were saved in a similar manner, assisted by
the people on shore. We are very happy in stating that
the conduct of the inhabitants in general exceeds all praise.
On Wednesday afternoon, a Coroner's inquest was held
on twenty of the bodies, in Chale Church, and a verdict
of " Accidental Death" recorded. Never shall I forget
the melancholy spectacle—some of the bodies in the coffins,
and some not, all the coffins not being finished. Poor
Lieutenant Shore seemed to have a smile still on his coun-
tenance, and the appearance of one of his daughters, ap-
parently about three or four years of age, dressed in its
night-gown and night-cap, with its plump and innocent face,
was enough to break one's heart. I have no doubt they
died instantly the ship struck, from the bruises they re-
ceived with the shock, and that very few were drowned.
The following are the names :
DROWNED—SamueI Walker, Captain ; Mr. Sheppard,
passenger ; James Penny, Robert Smith, Thomas John-
son, Charles Stevenson, passenger ; George Higginbottom,
Edward Cousins, William Sherlock, Edward Rush, Wil-
liam Stuart, and Lieutenant and Adjutant Shore, 14th re-
giment, passenger ; John Graham, James Paris, (a black) ;
Isee, carpenter ; Miss M. A. Shore, Miss Caroline
Shore, Miss Shore, three or four years old ; Miss --
Shore, a baby, eight months old ; and Mrs. Shore, mother
to do. passengers ; Miss Gordy, or Gourley, passenger ;
J. Hall, cook ; Mr. Pemberton and Miss Pemberton, pas-
sengers ; and Thomas Stretton, seaman.

SAVED—James Harris, second mate ; William Byrne,
and John Thompson, seamen.

All the bodies, except two, were recovered yesterday
and there is little doubt but those will be found to-day.

FURTHER ACCOUNT.

One of the survivors stated that they made all the lights
coming up the Channel ; that about twelve o'clock on Mon-
day night they saw the Needles Light---(this must have
been an error, as, soon after four o'clock on Tuesday morn-
ing, they became aware of their dangerous situation ; it
must, therefore, have been the Portland Lights they took
for it). The Captain felt confident, till a few minutes be-
fore she struck, that he should be able to weather Rocken
End, the eastern extremity of the bay ; but the gale in-
creased to a hurricane, at the same time chopping to the
southward, and drove them with tremendous violence on
the fatal beach. All the men were at this time on deck ;
the ladies in the companion. The Captain now gave up
all chance of saving the ship, and called to the men to
save themselves and the ladies, himself taking a rope to
lash Mrs. Shore to ; but the next sea took the poop, with
all the unfortunate beings who had sought refuge on it.
Many were killed, or wounded, by the falling of the masts
and rigging ; others were drowned by being entangled in it.
The three that were saved leaped overboard within a
minute or two after the ship struck, and were carried
on to the beach by the waves, and drawn up by a young
man of the name of Wheeler, whose daring conduct is
beyond all praise. Two or three persons, who saw the ship
strike, tied a rope round Wheeler's body, and, on the first
man being thrown on shore, he rushed down the beach,
and got hold of him ; but the next sea overpowered them
both ; yet Wheeler bravely held the poor fellow till, with
the assistance of the rope from his friends on the beach, he
was dragged beyond the reach of the coming wave. What
was his gratification to find in him an old friend and ship-
mate, both having sailed in Lord Yarborough's Yacht the
Falcon ! The others were saved in a similar manner by
this brave fellow, who had a narrow escape himself ; for so
near was the ship to the shore, that, when the mainmast
fell, it was not three yards from the place the receding wave
had allowed him for a moment to reach. Indeed one of
the men (we think Byrne), said he thought he could have
leaped from the ship to the shore ; but the waves dashed
over the ship, and far in on the beach, on which there is not
a whole plank or spar to be found, though for miles covered
with splinters, staves, and the mainmast is in three pieces.
Seven puncheons have been got up the beach, but only one
is full ; the others have more or less rum in them. There
is a little cabin furniture, clothes, &c. There were no
rocks where the ship struck, and about thirty feet water
outside of her. Part of her keel, and some of her floor
timbers, in a broken state, are on the beach ; but the mos
of it is buried many feet deep in the shingles.

LONDON MARITIME INSTITUTION

The anniversary dinner of this institution was held on
Wednesday at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street.
Mr. George Palmer, M.P., presided, and was supported by
Mr. G. F. Young, M.P. ; Messrs. Buckle and Dent, Cap-
tains Williams, Barclay, and Nairn, and about forty gentle-
men connected with the commercial and shipping interests.
" The health of the King" was received and drunk with
great demonstrations of loyalty. " The health of the
Queen," was received with equal enthusiasm. To this toast
succeeded " the health of her Royal Highness the Princess
Victoria and the rest of the Royal family," which was re-
ceived with loud and long continued cheering.
After some other toasts, the Chairman gave, " Success to
the London Maritime Institution."—(Cheers.)
In giving the last-mentioned toast the Chairman ob-
served, it could not be concealed that the state of the insti-
tution was not so flourishing as it ought to be, and as it
might be expected to have been, from the excellence of the
principle upon which it was established, and the great good
it was calculated to effect, if properly patronised by those
who ought to be its supporters. It was not a mere chari-
table alms-giving society ; it was a society to the benefits of
which those who were the receivers of its funds had, in
some degree, a right. As the funds of the Society now
stood, it would appear that it possessed 10,0001. Three per
Cents., the interest of which went to the support of fourteen
widows and families of captains in the merchant service,
who, during their lifetime, had been subscribers to those
funds. There were also fourteen houses occupied by those
individuals ; and thirty-six other persons received annually
101. each out of the same funds, and from the amount sub-
scribed at the annual dinner. Those sums were very ina-
dequate to the demands made upon them, and totally
beneath the wealth, importance, and munificence of the com-
mercial and shipping interests of the country. The Chair..
man, in conclusion, impressed strongly on the company the
necessity of exertion to keep alive and render effective so
excellent an institution as that which they had met to com-
memorate; and sat down amidst the cheers of the company.
On the health of Mr. Young and the gentlemen connected
with the shipping interest being drunk, with acclamation,
Mr. YOUNG rose and addressed the company in an im-
pressive speech on the necessity of exec tion to support the
Institution.

In the course of the evening the Secretary announced a
handsome list of donations to the funds.

EXPLOSIONS IN COLLIERIES.—EarIy on Thurs-
day morning a dreadful explosion of fire-damp took place at
a colliery about a mile from Blackrod, belonging to Mr.
Blundell, when 19 persons were seriously injured, two so
much as to cause their speedy death, and others are not ex-
pected to survive. The horrid shrieks of the villagers on
hearing of the sad catastrophe were beyond description
heart-rending. A similar accident occurred the same morn-
ing, a short time previous to that mentioned above, in a pit
belonging to Mr. Johnson, Goodman's Farm, near Wigan,
when a young woman was so much injured by a fracture of
the skull, that the brain protruded, and' she is without hope
of recovery.—Wigan Gazette. On Thursday an explosion
of foul air took place in the old pit of Dinas Colliery, near
Newbridge, belonging to Mr. Coffin, by which occurrence,
it is stated, 14 persons were severely injured ; our in-
formant adds, that of these, four persons were missing when
he wrote.—Merthyr Guardian.
It is admitted on all hands that Lord Brougham's
Act for establishing the Central Criminal Court has proved,
now that there has been a second year's experience of its
working, effective for the great objects it had in view—
speedy justice, economy, and humanity.
EXPEDITION TO THE TAGUS.—Orders have been
received at Woolwich for one major, three captains, six
lieutenants, fifteen sergeants, fifteen corporals, nine drum-
mers, and 200 privates of the Royal Marines, to hold them-
selves in readiness to embark on board of a steamer in the
dock-yard, and to proceed from thence to the squadron at
Plymouth. This addition to the number of Marines already
embarked will make them amount to about one thousand
strong. Major John Wright, K.H., who for many years
gave such general satisfaction to the corps in the situation
he held as Assistant Adjutant-General, is, we understand,
to take the command.

CAPTAIN SYMONDS'S SIIIPBUILDING.—We are
informed by a correspondent, that the officers of the dock-
yards were ordered some time since not to offer any re-
marks or objections to the ships built by Captain Symonds,
as their services would be no longer required if they were
found acting contrary to such instructions. The master
shipwrights and other officers, who have powerful objections
to the system pursued by the Captain-surveyor, are conse-
quently silent. If such orders were issued the same ought
to be rescinded. The service requires the removal of all
restraint upon practical and scientific men who can improve
our naval architecture.