The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-04 00:00:00

DECEMBER A 1849.

POLICE IN TEL LIGENCE
1`.1,4:v5i0.,, JlO US E.

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.
JOSIIIJAELT). Esq., in tr.o Chair.
TUESDAY, Nov, 27.—The paper read ws a " De-
t'er4)tion of the 01:1 Southend Pier-hl!ad, and the
ensiun of the pier; vvith an inquiry into th.• n•t'ure
and ravages of the t Teredo and the means
hitherto adopted for preventing its attacks," by Mr.
John Paton.
iter describing the form of construc!ion of the
old pier-head, and showing the adoption of copper
sheathing for protecting it from decay, and the im-
portant considerations involved in the attempt to
preserve marine structures, the paper explained the
ravages committed by marine worms ("Teredo
Navalis," " Lymnoria Terebrans," and others) on the
piles, both above and below the copper sheathing. This
sheathing extended from the top of the mud to three
feet above low water-mark; the worm destroyed the
timber from two feet below the surface of the mud, to
eight feet above low water spring tides, and, in fact,
out of thirty-eight fir timber piles, a id various oak
piles, not one remained perfect, after being up only
three years ; indeed, some were entirely eaten through.
A general outline of the extension of the pier, and
a minute description of the pier-head, were then
oiven showing the means adopted by the uze of
iron piles, and by scupper-nailing the inner
piles, to preserve the structure from decay. The
greater portion of the extension of the pier, the
length of which was one mile, as well as the
whole of the pier-head, were constructed of square,
hollow, iron piles, and scupper-nailed fender piles;
the iron piles being forced to a depth of from
eight feet to sixteen feet, by pulling them backwards
and forward with ropes attached to them, and not
by driving in the usual manner ; they were then filled
with gravel and concrete to within five feet of the
top, and the fir piles to sustain the superstructure
were fitted into them. The pier-head was constructed
with forty cast iron piles, and twenty fender piles,
nailed from five feet below the bed of the sea to eight
feet above low water; its greatest height was twenty-
five feet above low water spring tides.
The paper then entered into an investigation of the
nature and operations of the " Teredo Navalis," and
showed, as a remarkable peculiarity, that no chemical
means had hi herto prevented wood from being de-
stroyed by these animals and the "Lymnoria Tere-
brans," whose destructive powers were likewise no-
ticed, and as having penetrated between the copper
sheathing and the wood at Southend. The operations
of the " Teredo," although most destructive in warm
climates, extended themselves to all places, having
been found almost in the Polar seas.
The chief peculiarities which distinguished the
" Teredo " were stated to have been ascertained by
minute microscopical investigation, and that woody
fibres of an extremely minute nature had been
discovered in the body, thus setting at rest the
question as to whether the " Teredo" did actually
feed upon the wood. It was stated that the failure
of chemical means to preserve timber from destruc-
tion by the marine worm was believed to proceed
from two causes, namely, of poisonous compounds
having no seriously injurious effect upon them, and the
sea-water, and other things, decomposing the poison.
ous ingredients contained in the wood. In corrobo-
ration of the first of these views, accounts of experi-
ments made by Mr. Paton were adduced ; and Physi-
ological facts, quoted from the British and Foreign
Medical Review, were brought forward to show that
cold-blooded animals were much more tenacious of
life than those of a higher temperament; and hence it
was argued, that, as it required a very large quantity
of poison of the most virulent nature to destroy
animals of a much higher order than the "Teredo
Navalis," it would take a still greater quantity to affect
those animals as they existed in their own element;
and it was questioned, under these circumstances,
whether wood could ever be so completely and
thoroughly saturated, as in any degree to affect them.
The corrosive action of the sea-water, its extended in•
fluence and constant variableness in different parts
of the gobe, were then commented on, and some
of the various salts held in solution mentioned. It
was believed to be impossible to form any general
notion of the precise action of seawater on timber,
whether chemically saturated, or not, without a
series of most minute experiments, and a large
body of facts, carefully collected in different parts
of the globe—as that which might be advantageously
used in the Thames, might not be of the slightest
avail in the Tropics, and vies versa; it was thus
questioned, whether any generally applicable
principle could be found for the counteracting
of that universal solvent of soluble matter. The
conclusions arrived at were, that the ravages of the
marine worm were not prevented by any chemical
application, and that nothing but mechanical means
could ever prove completely successful, studding with
broad-headed nails was considered to be the most
effectual remedy, and various authorities were quoted,
proving its success. The paper concluded with a list
of places where wood, prepared with various chemical
ingredients, ha•l been destroyed from various causes.
The discussion was commenced by the Dean of
Westminster, vaho descanted very lengthily on the
analogous action of the Pholas on stone, and on other
topics, until, as the evening was so far advanced, it
was announced that, the discussion on the paper would
be continued at the next meeting, on Tuesday, Dec.
4th, when the first monthly ballot would take place.

AN EMIGRANT SHIP ON FIRE.
The Tay brings an account of the total loss of the
emigrant ship Caleb Grimshaw, Captain lloxie, by
fire, sixteen miles south east of the island of Flores,
one of the Azares. The emigrants, 390 in number,
with the crew, were providentially saved from de-
struction. The cry of " fire" was raised at about
eight o'clock on the night of the 12th ult. The
decks were immediately flooded. On raising one of
the fore hatches the fire was discovered abreast the
chain locker. The heat was so intense that no one
could live below, and the immense quantities of
water poured into the ship by the crew and passen-
gers generated steam, and the heat at length became
insufferable. But this was the only means by which
the ship was kept from being rapidly consumed. The
boats were stowed astern of the burning vessel for
five days and nights, filled by poor emigrants be-
wailing their fate, while about 60 were on a raft,
when a ship was seen bearing towards them, which
proved to be the barque Sarah, Capt. Cook, bound
from London to New Brunswick, in ballast. As soon
as the captain of the Sarah saw the signal of distress,
he immediately approached, the Caleb Grimshaw, but
was only able to get on board during the night of the
17th three boatsful of passengers, owing to the wind
blowing hard. The next day, the 18th, he got on
board about 150 passengers. Night approaching,
and the wind still increasing, he was obliged to lay to.
On the 19th there was a heavy sea, and no more
could be got off. On the 20th about 10 persons who
had escaped from the burning ship volunteered to
return and relieve those who were on board at work,
as by this time there was no more water or provisions
to be got without raising the hatches. The main-
mast was now settling down, and the upper deck
was working each way. On this day the ship
floated to the leeward of Flores into smooth water,
and during the night all the passengers that remained
on board were got off. Before the last of the crew
left they lifted the hatches, and immediately the ship
burst into a terrific blaze. The escape of all the
persons, 399 in number, was most miraculous. Con-
sider a ship, filled with nearly 400 persons, on fire
for eight days and nights, and not a single person lost
his life ! Nothing but the continual flooding the ship
prevented her from being burnt to the water's edge,
and every soul on board perishing before relief could
be had. The crew and men worked like heroes. The
conduct of the master of the Sarah was , beyond all
praise. For three days and nights did he hover about
the burning ship amidst the most tempestuous wea-
ther, taking every opportunity to lower his boats to
save some of the passengers Nothing could exceed
his heroism and humanity. To him, under Divine
Providence, the unhappy emigrants owe their preser-
vation. Although perpetually obliged by the tem-
pestuous wind and heavy sea to leave them apparently
to a dreadful fate, he always endeavoured to keep in
sight, and cheer their aching hearts with a prospect
of escape. The Sarah arrived at Fayal with the crew
and passengers of the Caleb Grimshaw in safety. The
passengers had lost everything on board, and were
perfectly destitute, for they had the greatest difficulty
to get food from the burning ship to keep them alive.
Captain Iloxie chartered the Sarah to take on the
passengers to New York. The Sarah had not left
Fayal when the Tay took her departure, but the
American Consul was using the most strenuous efforts
to arrange everything for her leaving. The Caleb
Grimshaw belonged to Messrs. Grimshaw, of Liver-
pool. The origin of the fire was not known.

GAS -LIGHTING.—The Salford Council Committee
in management of the Corporation Gas Woiks report,
that notwithstanding the reduction of charges for gas
from 65. and ss. to ss. and 4s. ad. a thousand cubic feet
(or rath, r in consequence of that reduction it might have
been said). the gas rental shows an increase over previous
returns, and " they are confirmed in their previous
opinion, that a very large increase in the consumption
of gai will be the result of the reduction in the price."
The retbtal in 1848 was 12,7701. odds—in 1f49 it rose to
about 15,0001. The consumption in private houses, the
committee believe, would be still fuTther and greatly in-
cre2sed by hiring out meters at a small quarterly charge.
—The Central Gas Consumers' Company for lighting
the City of London and its liberties, &c., is quietly mus•
tering its forces. The directors are said to have entered
into formal written enzagemehts for delivery of gas of
superior purity and iliundr,ating power into the com
pany's gas-holders, at ls. 41-d. per 1,000 cubic feet, and
4,680 extensive consumers within the city are said to
have already contracted to take 270,000,000 feet, at a
maximum price of 43. per 1,000. When the consump-
tion from the company reaches 750,000,000, they promise
to reduce their charge to 3s. per 1,000, and in either
case to clear a dividend of 10 per cent.—A company of
gas engineers and contractors, we observe, are offering
to manufacture gas, either on a small scale or a large,
so as to be saleable in 1111 eases at 33. per 1,000 eubio
feet.—Build.r.