The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-19 00:00:00

(LEFT SPEAKING.)

LOSS OF THE BENCOOLEN.
INQUEST ON ONE OF THE SEAMEN.
An inquest was held on Tuesday, before Mr. Reyes,
county coroner of Lancashire, touching the death of
George Ellis, steward of the Bencoolen, which was lost
on Saturday week, on Taylor's Bank. The inquiry took
place at the house of Mr. Robert Rainford, of the Blun-
dell Arms, in Crosby, and, owing to the peculiar circum-
stances of the case, excited more than ordinary interest.
Previous to the commencement of the investigation, Mr.
Ripley stated that he was owner of the vessel, and he
wished for a most searching investigation into the whole
circumstances, so as, if possible, to ascertain the cause
of the unfortunate disaster. It would, he believed, be
proved in evidence that the loss of the vessel, the sacri-
fice of so many lives, and of so much property, had not
been occasioned by the usual course of events in such
cases. It would be proved that the weather was mode-
rate, that the atmosphere was clear, and that the ship
was in good condition ; and if these pleadings were
proved, it would, he believed, be incumbent that the
inquiry should go fut then, and that they should look
into the causes that had produced the disaster. It was
of no consequence to the poor fellows whose lives were
lost, or to him as the owner of the ship, what the result
might be ; but circumstances might arise in evidence to
show the necessity of adopting measures to prevent in
future such loss of life and of property.
The first witness called was George Grey, who de-
posed as follows:-1 live at Stockton-on-Tees, in the
county of Durham. I was a seaman on board the
barque Bencoolen, which left Lima on the 13th of Oct.,
and made the west of Ireland on the 6th inst. We took
our pilot on board at eight o'cicck on Saturday morning,
at Redwharf Bay, in Anglesea. The weather was at that
time bad; it was blowing a gale of wind from the W. to
W.N.W. That was a favourable wind for us. We
passed the Bell Buoy at half past six o'clock at night.
The wind had then abated a little. It was a beautitul
moonlight night—quite clear. The pilot was walking
the deck; he was sober, perfectly sober, so far as
I know. We were right abreast of the Formby
light-ship when the vessel struck. The tide was
flowing ; it would then be about too hours before
high water. It was high water at twelve minutes past
nine that night. She struck several times upon the bank,
and never got off. The wizen-mast went over in ten
minutes after she struck. We lowered the. quarter boat
in about ten minutes after striking, and five seamen and
three boys got into it. The steward was in, but he went
back for something, but before he could return, the boat
had broken from the vessel. She had been fastened
with a three-and-a-half inch rope. We tried to get
back to save our fellow-creatures aboard of the barque,
but we could not—the sea and the wind drifting us away.
We got into Liverpool about half-past nine o'clock, and
gave every information of what bad occurred. I believe
that in twenty minutes after the vessel struck she totally
disappeared. She had two boats aboard—the quarter
boat and the launch, beautiful boats. The name of the
pilot was James Greenwood Harding. He appeared to
be about forty years of age. I have not often sailed
out of Liverpool. The pilot seemed quite attentive, and
seemed to understand the management of a ship—
quite so. I have seen the deceased. His name
was George Ellis. I did not see the cook in the boat.
The boy said that the cook went back for his hat.
The rope broke. I expect that some one threw tl.e
end over. It was not the intention of the captain to go
into the boat. The steward put the captain's writing-
desk on board. The captain ordered the boat to be
lowered. He and the pilot at the same time gave orders
for the longboat to be launched. We had no head-sail
at all. The vessel steered well. The wind was aft. The
wind was on her larboard quarter coming up the Vic-
toria
Channel. No orders were given for bracing the
yards till she struck. I heard no orders to alter our
course when we came to the Formby light-ship. I was
forward, and heard no such orders.
Mr. Rowland—May I ask you whether, from the time
the pilot came on board, you had an opportunity of seeing
and marking his conduct ?—Yes.
Did he give his orders well. ?—Yes, he seemed to give
them very well.
To Mr. Cooke, superintendent of pilots—l cannot say
how the wind was in crossing the bar. The ship's head
would be about S.S.E., as near as I could tell. We had
close-reefed foretopsails and double-reefed main.
Mr. Rowland—You state that the pilot came on board
at eight in the morning, and that he was then perfectly
sober ?—Yes.
Had you an opportunity of observing him, say, an
hour before the disaster took place ?-ob, yes.
Was there then any apparent change in his conduct ?
—None whatever. He was just as perfect as when he
came on board.
Mr. Ripley—l suppose the captain was sober ?-oh,
yes, perfectly sober. I never saw him drunk. Captain
Clarributt was as nice a man as I ever sailed with. In
eluding tie pilot, there were twenty-cne persons on-
board the ship, eight of whom were saved.
Mr. Ripley— I believe that in coming up the channel,
the course of the vessel was not altered, and that when
she was on shore her head was E.S.E. ?—When she
struck I ran to the wheel myself, and her head, by the
compass, was then E.S.E. I believe, from the position
of the red light, that her course had not been altered
at all.
Benjamin Sparrow, an apprentice on board the Ben-
coolen. was next called. Ile deposed that the cook and
steward both got into the boat. The cook went back to
get his hat, and had not an opportunity of again getting
into the boat. The steward, after putting the captain's
desk into the boat, went back for something else. The
boat filled almost immediately after being got out, and
the people on deck hove buckets to them, so that they
might bale her. When they got clear of the water, they
were a long way from the ship. The rope broke—it

was not cut by any one. He jumped into the boat
without any orders. He did not hear any orders given
by the captain or pilot that the boat should return to the
ship. All hands were on the poop, and the captain
called out, " Cut away the long boat." After that no
attempt was made by any one to get into the quarter
boat.

Thomas Brooks, a fisherman, stated—On Sunday
morning last, about seve•i o'clock, I was looking at my
fishing-lines, on Little Crosby liberties, when I found
the body of the deceased. It was lying on Charles's
Bank. It was then low water. I hoisted a signal fur
assistance, and three men came. We carried the body
about a mile to shore, and lodged it in the house of Mr.
Rainford.

David Lloyd examined—l am the master of tha
Formby light-ship. I recollect the night of Saturday
week, when the Bencoolen was lost. She came directly
up the Victoria Channel, on our larboard side. Th,
wind was then N.W. I was at the time on the deck of
the light-ship, and expected that she would not get
clear of our buoys, and I went forward, to be ready in
case we should want the helm shifted to one side or tl.e
other. She passed so close to our buoys that we could
have thrown a stone aboard of her.

Mr. Cooke, superintendent of pilots—Bow Ras she
steering when she crossed your bows ?—She hauled up
to the N.E., and steered to the N.E. for a considerable
time before I heard a word to say keep her away. Then
there was a great noise, and they hoisted the foretop-
mast staysails and then the jib ; but by the time that the
jib was half-up, she was on shore.
Mr. Ripley—When she passed your bows, I suppose
that, if the helm had been put the right way, she would
have gone up the channel 7—Yes ; but I suppose slw
got into shallow watEr, and then she would not answer
so soon to the helm.

But when she was passing the floating-light, if the
helm had been put aport, she would have answered it ?
—Yes, she would.

Mr.-Cook—How must her helm have been put ?—lt
must have been put to the starboard. I heard them say
on board, " Port the helm!" " Hard up with the helm !"
That was after she passed the buoy ?—Yes.
Mr. Ripley.—She was in danger then?—l considered
she was. She was [Lahore when the jib was got up; but,
when the foretopmast staysail was loosed, she was no'
ashore. lam perfectly satisfied (continued the witness)
that the helm must have been put to the starboard when
she crossed our bows, or she would not have gone to
the N.E.

Mr. Ripley.—When the order was given to port the
helm, where was she?—To the eastward of the light-
ship, nearly abreast of Taylor's buoy.
Do you think she had struck then?—No, not then. She
kept her course to the N.E. till they hoisted the foretop-
mast staysail and shivered the maintopsail, when she
seemed to take off a little; but she did not go very
rapidly, and then I saw the jib go up, when she stuck
fast. After I perceived she was fast, in about ten
minutes she disappeared altogether. The surf was mak-
ing a fair breach right over her.
Mr. Ripley—Do you think the pilot was at any time in
fear of the ship coming in contact with the light- ship•
and that the course was altered to avoid that?—l don't
think there was any danger of that. He could have
gone on either side of the light-ship with a N.W. wind.
Mr. Cooke— How was her head when she stuck fast?
—S.W.; but she might have caught the ground before
that.

Did you observe whether there was a sea on the Vic-
toria Bar when she came up?—There was a heavy sea
there at daylight. I cannot say what there was at dark.
You have been at sea a long time?—Yes.
Do you fancy that a man competent to bring a ship
over the bar could have made such a mistake as starboard
for port, at such a critical period?

The Coroner—Oh, he heard the order given to port
the helm, and it was not obeyed.
George Grey re-called—There was no order given to
hoist sail till the vessel struck. Then there was an
order to hoist the foretopmast staysail, and afterwards
the jib. George Spencer was at the helm. He was lost
The last witness says right about the orders given. They
were, " Hard up with the helm!" and " Port the II( lni!"
but then the vessel had struck. After she struck I rushed
to the helm, and put it hard up. When we were passing
the light-ship I was forward. The word " Put up the
helm!" might then have been given without my hearing
it. " Hard up!" said the captain and the pilot. It was
hard up when I received it.
Mr. Ripley—When was the course altered? It was
when she got close into the light-ship. She want un
considerably ahead, and then there was a great deal of
noise abroad—cries of " Keep the. helm hard up," &e.,
as if come mistake had been made. The ship went
along some time after the hoisting of the sails, but she
was thumping all the time.
Mr. Ripley—lt is clear that the vessel had struck
when the order to port the helm was given.
Mr. Lloyd—Yes.

Mr. Ripley—Now, as a nautical man, Mr. Lloyd, what
is your opinion of the cause of the loss of that vessel ?
do you think it was the fault of the pilot I
could not say it would be the fault of the pilot ; but I
think that the ship might have kept away sooner.
Was she under proper sail ?—She was not under pro-
per sail at the time. She ought to have had her head-
sails on, the topmast staysail at the least.
And if she had had her head-sails on ?—The ship
would have been more liable to keep away more quickly.
She would have been more manageable 7—Yes, sir.
The sails are always set and taken in by order of the
pilot on board 7—Yes, as soon as a pilot goes on board a
ship it is under his command.
Your light-ship was in its proper position?—Yes,
quite correct.
Lieutenant Lord—And all the buoys were in their
right places? Was there not an American ship passed
at the same time? Witness—Yes, in five minutes after-
wards.

Which way did she return?—She gave the light-ship
plenty of sea room. She did not come on one side of it,
and then luff to the other. ShQ came straight in, and
one course would have taken her the whole way.

George Lewis examined—l was on board the light-
ship at the time the Bencoolen came up. She bore to
the northward of us, with her two topsails set, and the
master said, "She will be sure to go on that way." We
heard shoutings out, and saw the foretopmast staysail
got up, and she shivered her mainsail, and presently she
loosed her jib, but before that was up she was aground.
Ten minutes after she was on her broadside. She passed
us, and came to on account of having no headsail. In
coming through a narrow place like that, she should
have had her head sails set.

_
Mr. Wm. Lord examined—l am the marine surveyor
to the Dock Trustees, and produce a chart of the dif
ferent channels to the port of Liverpool. I was down
there yesterday afternoon surveying the banks. There
has not been any alteration for the last seven years.
The buoys are in the same positions as they are laid
down in the chart. All the lights are in their proper
positions.
Mr. Ripley—l would ask you, Lieutenant Lord, as a
nautical man, whether the Bencoolen came in under
proper canvass?—l should have preferred more head
sail on the vessel. _ _

If she had had head sail, would she have answered her
helm better ?—The probability is that she would.
What number of vessels enter the port of Liverpool
through the Victoria channel 7—Last year, 28,861 ves-
sels entered. Since the channel was first opened in
1839, there have come in and gone out through that
channel, 141,680 vessels. That is pretty good evidence
that the buoys and lights are not bad.

Mr. Cooke.—You have heard the evidence given;
what is your opinion as to the cause of the loss of that
vessel, going as she was six knots an hour, and altering
her position to the N.E. when she should have gone south
and east?—l thought at first that *he might have
broached to; but I am now of opinion that the helm has
been put the wrong way.
Mr, Cooke.—Nothing could have brought her into
that position without the helm having been put to star-
board?—l am inclined to think so.

Mr. I). Rowland.—Mr. Ripley, in opening the case,
intimated very distinctly that there was an ulterior object
in conducting the investigation in this way; and at the
same time he made a very broad and strong statement,
involving the general practice of the pilotage establish-
ment of the port. In reference to that statement, I wish
to propose one short question to Lieutenant Lord. Dur-
ing his connexion with the port of Liverpool, I should
like to ask him what is his opinion as to the general
efficiency of the establishment?
Lieutenant Lord—l think, taking the Liverpool pilots
collectively they must be a very skilful set of men ?—I
have no doubt about it ; for it is impossible that so many
vessels could enter and quit the port in safety unless
they were so.
Mr. Ripley—Of course there are exceptions ? Yes,
there are exceptions.

Mr. D. Rowland examined—l am the Secretary of the
Pilots' Committee. Before giving thy evidence, permit
me to make a preliminary remark. The Pilots' Com-
mittee, yesterday, on having an intimation from Mr.
Ripley of what would, in all probability, form the cha-
racter of this investigation, instructed me, their secre-
tary, to furnish on this occasion, the fullest and
most complete information that could be given relative to
the pilot who had charge of the Bencoolen. I have accord-
ingly extracted from the books everything in reference to
him. His name was James Greenward Harding. He was
bound apprentice to No. 7 pilot-boat on the 19th of
February, 1827. On the 22d efJune, 1830, he obtained
his license. From that time up to the 16th of March,
1840, nearly ten years, no complaint against him appears
on the report of the proceedings of the Committee. He
was a particularly sober man. No charge to the con-
trary has on any occasion been brought against him.
On the 16th of March, 1840, he was for the first time
brought before the Pilots' Committee on a complaint of
Pile St. Croix, for getting the ship Ceres on Hoylake
bank, on the sth of February in that year. The judgment
of the committee on that case was—" James G. Harding
is found to have been wanting in judgment, aad is hereby
severely reprimanded, and admonished to be more care-
ful in future." On the 3(1 of Feb., 1842, he was again
brought before the Pilots' Committee en a complaint of
Captain Jackson, of the barque Jackson, for grounding
the said vessel OR Burbo, on the 80th of January in that
year. The judgment of the committee in that case was
That he should be re• examined by the examining
committee, that that committee should report, and
that in the meanwhile he should leave his license with
the secretary." On the 19th of August, 1844, having
been re examined by Messrs. Nickels and Atkinson,
two of the examining committee, he was found fully
qualified, and was recommended for a full license,
which was granted to him. On the 12th of May,
1845, on a complaint of Holderness and Chilton,
for getting the barque Lady Constable on shore
on Burbo Bank, on the 6th of that month, the
judgment of the committee was—" That his license
should be withdrawn on the score of gross inattention
to the critical position of his vessel, which ought to have
been brought immediately to anchor." On the 23d of
June, 1845, he petitioned to have his license restored to
him. That was granted; but he was told that if he was
again brought before the committee on a charge of inat-
tention, he would be dismissed the service. Unfortu-