The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-26 00:00:00

S N 7 AUGUST 26, 1848.

to anchor right ander her bow, but the wind changed a
little, and prevented this from being accomplished. Four
boats were, however, at once lowered, and were soon fol-
lowed by the large paddle box boat. The Marquis de Lis-
boa jumped into one, and Admiral Grenfell into the
other, and were untiring in their exertions to save the
poor people. The Prince de Joinville stripped his coat,
and was particularly assiduous in assisting the passen-
gers on board the frigate. The heat was very intense,
and even to those on board the boats alongside was very
oppressive. What it must have been to those who were
crowding on the poop and bowsprit of the vessel, none
can tell but those who experienced it. It was sufficient,
however, to make them jump into the water, seek-
ing succour from one element, by taking shelter
in another equally as destructive, but far less agonizing
in its effect. From the crowd of human beings in the
water clinging to the spars, &c., the boats were unable
to get as close to the vessel as they otherwise would
have done, and, of course, considerable time was un-
avoidably consumed in rescuing the poor unfortunate s.
Several pounds were collected on board the yacht for
the relief of the sufferers, and on arrival here it was dis-
tributed to the poor people by Mr. J. A. Tobin, who was
on board the yacht.
Ann Roper has been sent to the Northern Hospi-
tal. Mr. and Mrs. Dow, of Glasgow, two cabin pas-
sengers, are amongst the parties who wero saved.
The Affonso rescued in all about 160 persons, in-
cluding thirteen seamen. Of these, about 140 anded,
and the remainder preferred staying on board the fri-
gate all night, the Marquis de Lisboa having given
directions that all who were desirous of remaining should
be accommodated in the best way possible. The dead
body of a child is on board the frigate.
One poor woman was on the landing-stage bemoaning
the loss of her two children, and we have heard that a
boy and girl, unclairues, are still on board the frigate.
A unavailing efforl, was made by some of the crew
and passengers to subdue the flames, immediately after
they were discovered, by means of buckets of water.
Finding their efforts in vain they gave up in despair,
and the horrible ory " Fire, fire," was uttered by al-
most every voice.

Some of the psosengers state that the fire originated
by the fall of a candle against some spirits, but the cause
is generally ascribed to the fire in the ventilator.
A noble fellow, a foreigner, whose name we could not
ascertain, went to the wreck when there was little hope
of saving any more, and stuck to the hull of the vessel
till every soul had left her. It is said this praiseworthy
individual, by his own hand, lowered 100 persons to the
boats below.

The telegraph reported last night, at seven o'clock, that
the vessel being burnt to the water's edge, had sunk.
When the Affonso arrived in the river she an-
chored in the Sloyne, and the distinguished company
landed at the new stage in one of the ferry steamers.
The passengers who were saved were transferred to
the President steamer, and landed at the north cad
of the Prince's Pierhead, doubtless with the view of
being near to the Northern Hospital, whither those
who were burned and otherwise injured were con-
veyed. Mr. Dowling, with the district superinten-
dent and a body of the police, attended, with the
view of providing lodgings for some for the night. On
landing they presented a sad and pitiable spectacle.
Many of the men and women were almost in a state of
nudity. Some of them had their heads bandaged, and
some their arms, legs, and other parts of their bodies
bound up, having been injured by their contact with
spars, in the water, by knocking against the boats, and
in other ways.
The particulars above given are necessarily hastily
prepared, but they have been obtained from authentic
sources, and there is no doubt they are substantially
correct.

The greatest sympathy was expressed for the poor
people, and every exertion was made to mitigate
their sufferings as much as possible. The exertions
of Mr. Littledale and those on board the yacht are
spoken of in the highest terms, and those of the
distinguished party on board the Affonso, especially
those of Captain Grenfell, the Marquis de Lisboa, and
the Prince de Joinville, are beyond all praise. The re-
ward of all those who exerted themselves in so praise-
worthy a manner must be in the inward satisfaction of
having done the best they could to save the lives of
their fellow-creatures under the most distressing circum-
stances.

It will be seen by the account above that about 208
passengers have been accounted for, 32 by the yacht,
160 by the Affonso, and 16 by the fishing boat. One
man was also brought by the Taliesin, Rhyl steamer,
making in all 209. If the number stated to be on board,
360, be correct, 151 remains to be accounted for. We
should think, however, that the Prince of Wales
steamer, which was on her way to Bangor, must have
rescued some, and taken them on with her.

There is every reason to fear, therefore, that the
number lost will be about a hundred.

The following persons are in the Northern Hospital:—
Anna Roper (besides other injures), contused leg, very
badly bruised, and child. This woman took her child
in her arms, seized hold of a rope, and jumped overboard
from the vessel. She held on by the rope till the boat came
to her rescue. Michael Gleeson,in addition to other injuries,
very severe laceration of the hand. His brother, unin.
jured, is also in the hospital. Margaret Kershaw with
her child.: She was nearly drowned, and is suffering from
immersion in the water. Several persons were taken to
the Birkenhead Hospital.
Michael Gleeson states that there were several per-
sons on board the Affonso with their arms and legs
fractured, besides being otherwise injured. A steamer
came to the side and took three surgeons on board the
Affonso, to attend to those cases which could not be re-
moved. One poor man received a compound fracture of
the leg.
The following detailed particulars are from Wilmer
and Smith's European Times of this day :
We have waited upon Captain Murdoch, and from him
we glean the following :
" OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
"The Ocean Monarch, 1,300 tons burden, left the Mersey,
early on Thursday, with about 393 souls on board, in-
cluding the crew and passengers. We discharged the pilot
about eight o'cloak. No incident worthy of note occurred
until we arrived off the Ormshead, at which- time it was nearly
immediately
deck,w as a nd
actually
stated sent
on the
that
ihr
ae.t steward
thete then
cabinn and
hurrieda wn oat
sh
be
afr man
kl
twelve o'clock. Orders were given to tack ship; and while
hauling the main-yard it was stated that one of the steerage
passengers bad made a fire in one of the ventilators without
reflection.gt
heras tcame
ah me
e ship
nI
to extinguish the fire, and bring up the delinquent who had
made it. Immediately after this one of the cabin passen-
smoke, which was coming from below. On hearing this I
ran down to ascertain the position of affairs, and found
anotof
the deck and :gave orders to have water poured upon it,
and directed that the ship should be kept before the wind in
order to lessen the draft, but the flames, with a rush almost
as instantaneous as lightning, burst forth, and in less than
five minutes the whole stern of the ship was completely en-
veloped in the fiery element. I then gave orders ,to have
the ship brought to the wind. All was now a scene of the
utmost confusion, noise, and disorder. My orders could not
be heard. Despair had seized almost every soul on board.
The scene which presented itself was most awful to contem-
plate, much less to look upon.
" The flames were bursting with immense fury from the
stern and centre of the vessel. So great was the heat in
these parts, that the passengers, male and female, men,
women, and children, crowded to the forepart of the vessel.
In their maddened despair women jumped overboard with
their offspring in their arms, and sunk to rise no more.
Men followed their wives in frenzy, and were lost. Groups
of men, women, and children also precipitated them-
selves into the water, in the vain hope of self-preserva-
tion, but the waters closed over many of them for ever,
and fearfully realised the inspired declaration, that " in
the midst of life we are in death." In vain did I
entreat and beg of the passengers to be composed. I
pointed out to them that there were several vessels around
us, and that if they preserved order they would all be saved ;
that although the case was desperate, it was not hopeless.
It was of no avail. Howls of lamentation and cries for help
were the only answers which I could obtain to my entreaties.
Finding that every effort which I made was unavailing, and
that nothing could be done to avoid the total destruction of
the ship, in consequence of my orders not being heard, I
directed that the anchors should be let go, so as to allow the
ship to get her head to the wind, and thus, if possible,
confine the flames to the stern. In a few minutes
the mizen mast went overboard—a few minutes more,
and the mainmast shared the same tate. There yet re-
mained the foremast. As the fire was making its way to
the fore part of the vessel, the passengers and erew, of
course, crowded still further forward. To the jibboom they
clung in clusters as thick as they could pack, even one lying
over another. At length the foremast went overboard,
snapping the fastenings of the jibboom, which, with its load
of human beings, dropped into the water amidst the most
heart-rending screams, both of those on board and those
who were falling into the water. Some of the poor crea-
tures were enabled again to reach the vessel, others floated
away on spars, but many met with a watery grave.
" Meantime, I gave orders to get the ship's boat afloat.
Two were got overboard, and while in the act of getting the
others ready, and cutting away the lashings, the fire reached
them, and they were immediately enveloped in flames. On
seeing this the passengers became more unmanageable than
ever. It was a painful moment. The shrieks of terror and
alarm baffle all description. Maddened by despair, and in
the vain hope of being rescued they knew not how, numbers
again jumped overboard. Seeing my sad plight, and the
awful sacrifice of life which was going on, despite of every
effort which I made, I gave direction to throw every move-
able article overboard, so that those who had left the ship
might cling by them until help arrived.
" The Queen of the Ocean yacht was the first to come to
our assistance. Her owner, Mr. Thomas Littledale, with
whom were Sir Thomas Hesketh, Mr. Tobin, Mr. Palk, and
Mr. Aufrere, ordered the boat to be lowered, and proceeded
with alacrity and zeal, aided by the gentlemen named and
the crew of his craft, to pick up all within their reach.
I may just here observe that the last thing which I
did was to throw over a topgallant yard, made fast with
a rope to keep it alongside. The carpenter, and one or two
of the men assisted me to do this, and I then told those who
could hear me to jump overboard, and cling to the spar. A
good many obeyed my directions. At this time I was sur-
rounded on all sides, both fore and aft, by the flames, and
seeing no possible chance of escape if I remained for a mo-
ment longer, I followed the spar I had sent overboard._
Several seized hold of the same spar. I entreated some e
them to let go, or all would perish, and showed them the
_t
o•
ex-
ample by swimming to a plank, by which I was enabled
sustain myself for about half-an-hour in the water, when I
was picked up by the Queen of the Ocean.
of Wales
"The Brazilian steam-frigate Affonso, the Prince
New
coasting-steamer, and the New York packet-ship
' World, after some time, came up and rendered effective
' service. ,
" The Queen of the Ocean remained -alongside till three
o'clock. At that time the vessel was burnt near to the water's
, edge, and there were only a few of the passengers on board,

several boats being alongside endeavouring to take them off.
" Finding that the yacht could do no more, Mr. Little-
dale ordered her to start for Liverpool, where we arrived
about seven o'clock in the evening.
" Although I did not see the part taken by the officers
and distinguished party on board the Brazilian frigate, yet I
am bound to return them my grateful thanks for the very
laudable and successful efforts in rescuing the lives of so
many human beings from a watery grave, or the still more
fearful death by fire. Of Mr. Littledale, and his company
and crew, I know not how to speak ; their conduct is beyond
all praise. May he in whose hands are the issues of life
and death grant them in another and a better world the full
reward which such philanthropy and benevolent conduct
eminently deserve.
"Of the origin of the fire I cannot at present say. My
mind has not yet been so fully composed as to enable me to
investigate with accuracy the probability of the ♦arious con-
jectures which are afloat. At present lam inclined to say
that it arose from some of the passengers smoking in the
steerage, contrary to orders.
" The Ocean Monarch had a very valuable cargo, the
freight of which, together with the passage-money, amounted
to about 2,6001.

" JAMES MURDOCH,

" Commander of the Ocean Monarch."

(FURTHER PARTICULARS.)
From one of the cabin passengers, who had himself a very
narrow escape of life, and who remained on board the ill-
fated vessel till the last, we learn the following particulars
The ship left the Mersey at three A.M. on the morning of
file 24th, and had the assistance of a tug-boat until twenty
or twenty-five miles out at sea. Shortly after she left, and
at about eight o'clock, a part of the crew, under direction of
the steward, commenced to remove the stores, consisting
of spirits, wines, &c., which had been under Custom-
house seals, into the store-room. This operation occu-
pied a considerable time, and during it a light was called for
by those assisting, and, it is believed, was taken down. Soon
after nine o'clock the cabin passengers assembled to break-
fast, and some twe hours atter which the narrator, who was
at the time• lying on one of the sofas, perceived a strong
smell of smoke and fire. and on more minute examination,
found that it proceeded from the scuttle, down which the
stores had been conveyed, and which is under a part of
the first-class passengers' cabin. The steward and captain
were instantly informed, and an alarm given. The smoke
increased most rapidly, and soon filled the cabin with its
density. The scuttle was pulled off, and some buckets of
water were thrown down, but without effect. In twenty
minutes from its being first perceived, the fire in that part
of the ship had gained so much head that it was impossible
to remain below, and the narrator, who went to his state-
room to procure a valuable part of his luggage, was almost
overpowered in the attempt, and was only saved from suffo-
cation by being drawn on deck through the sky-light. It is
worthy of notice, in ascertaining the origin of the fire, that
the first alarm arose in the first-class passengers' cabin, and
that the active part of the fire proceeded from the scuttle,
where the steward and part of the crew had been em-
employed in stowing away inflammable articles :—and that
the steerage passengers were in no way accessory to the
acident, and were first informed of it by the cabin pas-
sengers running on deck. It is the unanimous opinion of
the cabin passengers that, from whatever cause the sad
calamity happened, the seat of its commencement was cer-
tainly the store-room.

Tlie frantic conduct of the poor emigrant passengers sur-
passes description. Captain Murdoch did everything in his
power to restrain them, and inform them of the best means
to take for preservation. The crew appear early to have
been influenced by the desire of self preservation, rather than
that of assisting their commander in preserving order, and
rendering the best assistance they could to their fellow-
sufferers; the masts were suffered to fall as they consumed—
nothing was cut away; and the only seamanlike operation
performed-by them, after the extent of the calamity was as-
certained, was to bring her to anchor. Many of the passen-
gers rendered praiseworthy assistance to their poor fellow-
sufferers; and, from half-past eleven till six in the evening,
used their utmost endeavours in this laudable object.
The ship had on board when she left the Mersey 307 pas-
sengers in the steerage • six in the first cabin, sixteen in the
second ditto, besides the crew, 47 in number; making, with
the captain, a total of 376 souls.
CABIN PASSENGERS.—Mr. and Mrs. Dow, Glasgow; Mr.
Southwell, artist, Boston; Mr. Thomas Henry, Mobile; Mr.
J. K. Fellowes, Lowell; Mr. Gregg, Salem.
SECOND CABIN.—Mr. James Siddall, Maine; Mrs. Howard
and child, England; Mrs. Reynolds; Mrs. Roper and two
children; Miss Maria Banning; Mrs. Shaw; Mr. J. H.
Powell; Mr. Bristow; Mr. Murphy, and four others.
The cargo consisted of 200 bales and cases of fine goods,
220 crates of earthenware, 96 tons of salt, and about 600 tons
of iron and dead weight.
STEERAGE PASSENGERS.---John Atkinson, Thomas and
Mary Anne Anderson, Johanna Baring, George Barker,
Elisha Bannister, William Banson, John, Emma, and Eliza
Bell, Joseph Blyden, James, Mary, and Edwin Booker,
Patrick Brady, Jerry Brisnall, Thomas and John
Bretell, John Thomas, Frederick, and William Brown,
wife and child; Joseph Butterworth, Mary Buttan ;
Denny, Eliza, and Mary Burns, Johannah Casey,
Dennis and Susan Callaghan, son and daughter, Mary
Cashman, and five children ; Catherine, Mary, and Isabella
Clark, James Connor, Denis Corcoran, Catherine Coyle,
Eugene Condon, Thomas and Ann Constantine, John
Combs, Richard, Peter, and Mary Ann Cox, Edward and
Ellen Crowley, Mary Crook, Acles Cuddy, Ellen Curley,
Dominick Curran, Patrick Delanham, James and Bridget
Devine, and child ; Alice Deacon, Arthur Donelly, wife
and two children ; John and Edward Dolan, Darby Donohue,
John and Martin Dougherty, Whiston Driston, Mary Druen,
Julia and James Drury, Catherine Dargen, Mary Ellis,
Henry and Sarah Fisher, Mary Ann, Mary, and Bridget
Finan • Samuel and Ann Fielding, Michael and John Flem-
ing, Margaret, Catherine, Bridget, and Margaret Flood, J.
Freckleton, Nora and udy Galvin Mary and B. Gaffney,
John, Michael, Catherine, Ann, Michael, Daniel, Mary, and
Phillip Gleeson, and child ; Margaret Gormley, William
Greenhouse, Rosanna Green, John Hannon, Sarah and
Margaret Halloran, Murthy Hanley, Thomas Haley,
James Harwood, James Hely, James Henry; Rebecca,
Sophia, and Sarah Ann Hill; Edward Hughes, wife and
child; Mary, John, and Samuel Hughes; Edward Hurd-
ley, William Jackson, wife and child; William Jackson,
wife, and two children ; John Johnson ; George Jones, and
wife, Thomas, Jane, Mary, and Edward Jones ; Thomas
Kaye and wife, Michael Kean, Winifred Keegan, Ellen
Keheller and child, Martha Kershaw and child, Nora
Kealing, Edward Kelly, John Kelly, Johanna and John
Kelly, Daniel Kilmartin, Catherine. Kilby, Catherine
and Daniel Leavy; Thomas, Mary. Ann, and James Lister;
William and Margaret Lloyd, Neville Lowes, Michae
Lynch, William Mavety and wife, Robert Maxwell, Jane
and Mary M'Evoy, Daniel M'Carthy, Elizabeth and Jane
M'Clelland, John M'Fall, Margaret M'Gee, William and
Mary 111‘Guire, John M'Loughlin, James M'Mahon, Patrick
and Ann M'Manus, John Moynch, Maurice and Humphrey
Monahan • Willian, Ellen, and Davis, and John Molan ; Pa-
trick and Ann Murphy, John Murray, William Murty, Bet-
sey Mullong, Arthur Muldoon, James Murtagh and wife,
Jane, and child; Mrs. Sarah Neelson, Edward and Jane;
Mary Ann Nesbitt, James Naugle, James and Margaret
Nolan, Daniel O'Connor and wife, Biddy and Catherine
O'Hara, Andrew Oullan, James O'Brien, Samuel Pollenseale,
Mrs. H. Powell, Gqprge Parker, Sarah Pollard, Mary Quin,
and two sons ;Miciael Quirk, Jane Roberts, James Radcliff,
Michael Rourke. Ellen Ruth, Patrick, Mary, and Catherine
Regan ; Anne, Thomas, James, Thomas, Catherine, and W .
Reynolds; James, Margaret, Catherine, Eliza, Johannah, and
Margaret Ronayn ; James and Mary Sale, William Sandars,
William Scandlon, William Scanlon, Joseph, Mary, Ann, and
Sarah Shaw; Joseph Shread, Emma Shea, Edward and Mar-
garet Shenan ; Margaret, Ellen, Mary, Thomas, Peter, Mary
Smith, and child; William and Francis Spencer; Darnby,
Geoffrey, Johanna, Ellen, Catherine, and Nancy Sullivan;
Betty Swallow, Mary A. Sarah, and George Tayler, Honora,
Johanna, and Mary Tobin • William Towns, Ellen and
Bridget Tierney, George Tomlinson, Henry, Sarah, Charles,
Elizabeth, and. Alice Thompson; Sarah Ann, Edward, and
Elizabeth Ward; John Warburton, wife, and two children;
Mary Warburton and child ; Richard Walsh, James Walker,
Henry White, James and Catherine Wilson, and child; James
Winstanley, William Willis and wife; Thomas and Cathe-
rine Woods, Peter Wrigglesmouth, Mary Wynne.
LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY NIGHT.—The Prince of Wales
steamer, from Bangor, which arrived here this evening,
brings 17 persons rescued from the Ocean Monarch.
The total number saved is 225; and the number not ac-
counted for 173.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.

(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.)

FAWAY, AUG. 25.
STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE.

The following Resolution was reported from the above
Committee:—

That in the case of the Westminster Improvements Bill,
standing orders are applicable upon the clause offered upon
the report of that Bill, varying the priorities of interest of
moneys charged upon the London-bridge Approaches Fund,
in respect of interest of moneys applicable to the Westmin-
ster Improvements : —That the standing orders have not
been complied with :—That the standing orders ought to be
dispensed with :—That the said clause may be adopted by
the House on the third reading of the Bill, if the House shall
so think fit.—Resolution agreed to.

FIRES.—Two fires took place last night in the
metropolis, shortly after eleven o'clock. The first was at the
European Coffee-house, 53, Long-acre, and the back portion
of the building was completely destroyed. The other oc-
curred on the premises of Mr. Hart, wholesale hat and cap
merchant, 205, High Holborn. This fire raged ,with great
violence, but by one o'clock it was subdued. The premises
were completely gutted, and the adjoining houses sustained
considerable damage.
in-
cluded a selection of antique marbles and Etruscan vaf_iie:;
and the attendance of visitors and buyers attracted on 1
THE SALE AT STOWE.—The sale yesterday
indeed,
the day were considered exceedingly satisfactor9;
disposed
said to have been
occasion was very considerable. The prices real'
some of the lots are confidently The great
of at higher rates than their original cost.
lit Stowe, which
heraldic lanthorn formerly in the north hilneag,
actually cost
was sold on Wedresday last for ggoy.o
It was purchased
the Duke of Buckingham nearly ,
ihe lessee of the Calverley
on Wednesday for Mr. Churchill, t
entrance of which Hotel, at Tunbridge Wells,
tbe destined to ornament.
magnifi-
cent establishment
it is hereafter
but in consequence of the
There will be no sale this
dap, and grounds will remain
great in • flux of visitors the mansion
open for inspection.
E FRIDAY EVENING, AUG• 25.
WINDSOR CAST
, .
and carriages selectedfor
The royal horses
Prince Albert on their projected visit to Bal-
moral
Castlewto London; and to day they will be
at Windsor Castle
ere yesterday forwarded from the royal mews
shipped on .
board the Earl of Aberdeen steam-ship from
be in readiness at Aberdeen for the arrival of
1 yacht, the Victoria and Albert, and convoy, with
the royal
her Majesty and the Prince Consort and their suite. The
Castle at Windsor is now reported at the office of the Clerk
of the Works to be ready for the immediate reception of the
Court, but to the casual observer it seems to be still in a
very unfinished condition.
vvMajesty,Wapping,
pp i
ng and,
to
DISSOLUTION OF THE " MITCHEL" IRISH CON-
FEDERATE CLUB.—Last night a meeting of this club was
held at the Chartist Assembly-rooms, Blackfriars-road, at
which a resolution, founded on recent events, dissolving it
forthwith, was unanimously adopted. A collection was made
for the defence of Dowling, charged with treason. About
50 policemen, armed with cutlasses, were on duty in Webber-
street, and reserves, ready to act in case of any attempt at
disturbance, at the adjacent station-houses.