The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-05 00:00:00

THE LOSS OF THE CAPTAIN.

[CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAM.]

The court resumed its sitting at nine o'clock yesterday.

Henry Nothersole, engineer, RN., formerly of the
Captain, was called to confirm the statements made by
him as to the quantity of water at the bottom of the ship.
At an inclination of from seven to nine degrees that
quantity -was twelve inches, and the witness did not
observe it in a newly fitted-out ship. He believed it partly
arose from its continuously blowing through and
trying to get leeward engines to work ; also
from water running through the screw passages,
through the engine room bilge to stoke hole bilges,
and sluice valve at the track head, and to the stoke
hole being open. Witness never heard of its being possible
for propellers to revolve when under sail, in consequence
of their being disconnected. It was not the custom to
leave a double bottoin with water as the coal was used.
Witness had every faith in the Captain, believing that
both as to sailing and steaming and steadiness she was
one of the best ships in the navy. Witness could not say
what sail the Captain was under in the May gale. His
orders were to keep the double bottom of the Captain
continually dry, and rrwer to let water in except with
special orders from the chief engineer or Captain Bur-
goyne.
After this evidence all the survivors were called on for
their defence

Mr. May, the gunner, and only surviving officer, acted
as spokesman for the whole eighteen. He said : After
all that has been adduced in evidence it is ' unnecessary
for me to take up your time by details of the loss of the
Captain. I beg to state that I have been 23 years in the
service of her Majesty's Navy, but am unable to produce
testimonials, as they were lost. With the assistance of
John Heard I succeeded in placing Captain Burgoyne on
the bottom of the steam pinnace and save him once, and
when in the launch I made another attempt
to save him, but unfortunately failed. Witness added
that he requested to draw the notice of the court to the
conduct of Tredenna•, who for fourteen hours steered the
boat with an oar.

Mr. May and the survivors thanked the officers and
crew of the Lord 'Warden for their timely pecuniary as-
sistance, the Queen for her noble message of sympathy,
and the court-martial for its kindness.

The court adjourned on judgment until to-morrow at
10.30, when probably it will be known when judgment
will be delivered.

NEWS FROM PARIS.
(BY BALLOON EXPRESS.)
The following despatch of the Bullier Agency was
published in Paris on the 28th of September, and on that
day left the city in the balloon "Strasburg ":
" The apparent inaction of the Prussians is that
which now most occupies our minds. What is
this system of tactics intended to conceal ? Are
we to regard it as a good or a bad sign ? You can
understand that on this subject opinions vary, both
in the press and among the public. The statement
in the Official Journal, which represents the Prussians
as harrassed by the unexpected resistance of Paris,
and as having suffered much at the fight around
Issy, seems to favour the views of the optimists.
But, as long as we see Paris so completely
invested that even ambassadors are obliged to obtain a
safe-conduct for the couriers—as long as our only means
of communication with the provinces is the uncertain one
of balloons—we dare not place too much reliance on the
report of a check which has been inflicted on the
Prussians in the environs of Paris by the French.
But you ought to be better informed on this subject than
we, who are completely ignorant even of the distance to
which the lines of the enemy extend. We are in the
same condition with reference to the reported departure
to the army of the Loire of General Ducrot by balloon.
May the good news be true ! All the cannons
deposited at the Museum of Artillery have
been recast, and transformed into pieces of more
modern make. The fosses of the fortifications are
inundated on the side of Grenelle. The Seine is
blockaded in this part of Paris by a solid
bridge of boats. Many journals discuss
the advisability of endeavouring, by means
of sorties, to prevent the enemy from
completely taking up the position. This question is
naturally one of those on which the Government delibe-
rates', And it has been decided in the affirmative. But
We must be active in equipping the National Guards,
and in giving them as many chassepots as possible.
The balloon which will bring you this letter is called
"The Strasburg.' This one is quite complete, and three
others are in preparation. M. Wilfrid de Fonvielle, who
directed the last balloon, has undertaken to return in six
days at latest. The editor of the Liberte is a man of his
word.

The Siecle, which believes itself to be in a posi-
tion to guarantee the correctness of its information,
affirms that the bulk of the Prussian army is posted
on the heights between Chatillon, on the south-east
of Paris, and Bezons, beyond Courbevoi, on the north-
west. Five army corps and an important artillery siege-
train are massed upon this line. From the north to the
east and south-east the line of the enemy is much weaker.
at is principally by the route from Choisy-le-Roi to Ver-
sailles that the Prussian supplies pass—a fact of which
the Government delegate at Tours should take note. The
battalion of the National Guard at Clichy have just given
a splendid example of patriotism. They requested to be
allowed to remain outside the wall of the enceinte; in a
reconnaissance they killed three of the enemy,
and they guard and defend the passage of the
Seine. It is proposed to organise free companies
of National Guards, to be composed of energetic
volunteers. The command of the corps of scouts in pro-
Jess of formation will be given to the former Lieutenant-
Colonel, M. de Joinville, one of the chief secretaries of
the Charras Cabinet in 1848—which is a good choice.
Count Nugent, a captain in the Austrian army,
and military attache at the Embassy, who
on account of his hatred of Prussia, sent in
his resignation in order to fight for France as a
Private in the mounted Chasseurs of the ex-Guard was
killed at Chatillon by a ball through the heart. France
wili remember his name. The conflagration at Buttes-
Chaumont was put out last evening. It is said the
gatekeepers of the park have been arrested.
The Bourse has shewn a considerable recovery
on the favourable reports that have been re-
ceived. Infan!ry and cavalry reinforcements are
being continuously sent forward to our encampments.
Among the reports current is one to the effect that the
tunnel of Savonne, on the Eastern Railway, has been
destroyed, and another that a Prussian general has been
arrested at St. Denis in the disguise of a superior
French officer. Per contra, there is some fear of a
Blanquist demonstration to-morrow, and of an appeal to
the electors for the constitution at all hazards of the
Municipal Council of Paris. The attempt, if it be really
made, will be a miserable failure. The Patric en Danger,
the organ of the party, does not appear to find readers.