The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-17 00:00:00

AWFUL CATASTROPHE AND LOSS OF

LIFE AT KILRUSH.

INQUEST OF THE BODIES.—THE VERDICT.
DUBLIN, SATURDAY EYSNING.—A rumour re-
4pecting a lamentable loss of life at Rilrush is un-
happily confirmed by the second edition of the
Weekly Freeman, published this afternoon. The fol-
lowing are the particulars :

"Kilrush, Dec. 13, 5 o'clock A.M.
" The number of bodies found during this day, as I
;lave already stated, are 33, five of whom are not as yet
claimed by any friend. Many of the bodies, though not
quite 24 hours in the water, are so mutilated that it was
ALI] difficulty they could be identified. There are 12
others yet inising. The fatal row-boat has been for
many years in the service, and has been neretofore em-
ployed as a horse-boat, but, being found too weak,
was used as a passenger boat. She belonged to a man
named Williams, who has for the last three years
let her at a weekly rent to the boatmen who worked
her, both parties neglecting her repairs ; conse-
quently this sacrifice of human life. The description
given by the surviving boatman of the accident is, that
when within about 60 yards of the beach the boat split
rrom the bows down by the keel, and began to fill with
water, when the passengers leaned to the side favouring
the swell of the sea, when she upset with crew and pas-
sengers-49 or more human beings, as the precise num-
ber lost cannot be yet ascertained. There were four
persons saved by another ferry boat's crew. An inquest
was held by Mr. F. O'Donnell, coroner, this Evening, on
the bodies found, at which Captain Kennedy, poor-law
inspector, attended, who ordered coffins for all the
bodies recovered. Another batch of coffins will be in
readiness to-morrow for any more that may be found.
Tha verdict returned was—

"' We find that Jonathan Brew and other persons
came by their deaths, on Wednesday, the 12th instant,
by drowning, while crossing the ferry at Comogue, on
their way home from the Kilrush workhouse through
the mismanagement of the boatmen and passengers.' "

THE HUNGARIAN REFUGEES. - The subscription
announced in our last for these gallant sufferers produced
enough to supply them with outfits, to pay their passage
to America, and leave about 150/. to be divided among
them on landing, a sum which will be considerably in-
creased by the subscriptions opened in Greenock and
other places. Application was made to the Edinburgh
and Glasgow Railway Company to carry the refugees to
Glasgow at a reduced fare, but that greediest and most
unpopular of companies sharply and peremptorily de-
clined. The Caledonian Company, however, acted in a
very diff‘rent spirit. The refugees leave Edinburgh by
the Caledonian line this morning, and in the evening sail
from Greenock in the Mountstuart-Elphinstone for New
York.—Scotsman.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETT......TiIe ordinary
half-yearly general meeting of this society was held at
the society's house, Hanover• square, at eleven o'clock,
on Saturday; his Glace the Dukelof Richmond in the
chair. In the report from the council, which was read
by the secretary, it was stated that the last country
meeting of the society, at Norwich, had been most
successtul, and that the affairs of the society were in the
most flourishing condition. The opinion of Sir Frede
rick Thesiger and Mr. Warren had been obtained as
to the liability of members to pay arrears of subscrip
tions, and the council recommended that those members
in arrest for more than two years' subscription should
be sued in the county courts. After a good deal of dis-
cussion; several parties being opposed to legal proceed.
ings, whilst others maintained the necessity of resorting
to them, the report was agreed to. Mr. Raymond
Barker, on the part of the Committee on Finance,
brought forward the statement of the society's pecuniary
affairs for the half-year ending June last, from which it
appeared that the receipts amounted to 5,7504 18441.,.
whilst the expenditure was only 3,920/. 17s. 4d., leaving
a balance in the hands of the bankers and secretary of
the society of 1,8291. Os. 91 On the recommendation
of the council it was unanimously resolved that the
veterinary surgeon of the society should be instructed to
pay particular attention to the diseases in cattle all over„
the country during the ensuing year, and with that view
the society agreed to pay him 2/.. '2B , and 11. Is. for
travelling expenses, to visit diseased cattle throughout
the kingdom, and report to the society thereon. A vote
of thanks having been awarded to the chairman, the
meeting adjourned.
LARGE CAI:MA.O/I.—We have seen an extraordinary
large cabbage, grown in Cheeklaw Nursery, Duns°
Castle. The cabbage is one of the Drumhead species,
and measured 13 feet in circumference, and weighed,
when taken out of the ground, 36 lbs. The quality
seemed to be good, and every part of it sound.—Berwick
,41drcrli4er.