The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-29 00:00:00

COURT-MARTIAL.

PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.—A cam tene rtiel, COM-
prising Rear-Admiral Prescott, C. 8., President; Captain
Chada, C. 8., of the Excellent, &c.; Captain Yates, of
the Illustrious; Captain Purcell, of the Superb; Captain
Austin, C. 8., of the Blenheim; and Mr. G. L. Greetham,
Deputy-Judge Advocate of the Fleet, assembled on board
the Victory at nine o'clock this morning, to try Lieu-
tenant James Crashaw Bailey, Mr. Frederick John
Krabbe (Second Master), and Mr. William Coles
(Gunner), of the Sharpshooter screw-schooner, 202
hone-power, on the following charge, preferred by the
Lords of the Admiralty, founded on the repent of the
Commander-in-Chief of the Port, Admiral the Hon. Sir
Bleden Capel, K.C.B.:—
" For that the said Lieutenant John Crawshaw Bailey,
when Lieutenant commanding her Majesty's steam-vessel
Sharpshooter, and Frederick John Krabbe, when Second
Master of the said vessel, and William Coles, when
Gunner of the said vessel, all of them being at the time
in actual service and full pay of her Majesty's fleet, did,
on the 14th day of December, 1848, through negligence,
cause the said vessel to be stranded off Worthing, in the
county of Sussex."
The log of the ship having been put in and its correct-
ness certified to, with the exception of a slight difference
in the time of setting the staysail on the day in question,
the trial commenced.
Joseph Burnett, the pilot, was the first witness called.
The Court had considerable difficulty in making the wit-
ness understand that what be might have stag d at any
previous inquiry they had no cognizance of, and he
must tell them upon oath the facts as they transpired to
the best of his belief. The statement now made by this
witness did not differ i❑ substance from what he made
to the Commander-in-Chief. It append further, how-
ever, at the present trial, that the pilot was r nly qualia
fled to navigate from Bembridge Ledge to the (fivers,
and from the Needlea to Pevenatry, and that the second
master sent for him to navigate the Sharpshooter, and
that when he went on board he produced his licensee
which was deemed by Lieutenant Bailey and 111 r. Krabbe
satisfactory, and accordingly he took charge of the
vessel, which he retained under the circumstances al-
ready detailed until a quarter past four the next morn-
ing, when he requested the master to tack, which, how-
ever, was not dune (the master wanting to wash decks)
until five o'clock, at about twenty minutes after which
time she stranded. The witness persisted he had not
charge of the vessel when she stranded, but afterwards
admitted that about five minutes before she struck
he thought he had " a little bit of charge to make
sail on her." He also stated, " When she got
aground the ship's head was somewhat about S.
W., and the wind S.S.E, or rather to the eastward
of that, very light." Ile afterwards stated, " When
she touched the ground I do not know how her head
was, because I was walking to and fro on the deck, and
speaking to the master." The President asked the wit-
ness it he was pilot for that part of the coast (Isle of
Wight to the Downs) where the Sharpshooter was run
ashore ; to which he replied, " No, sir." And to
another question from the President, as to not consider-
ing himself in charge of the ship, why did he advise the
master to tack ? The witness replied—" Because I told
him she would be ashore." The witness did not state
to any one else but the master (he said) that he had
given up charge of the vessel, but that when the master
would not tack the ship at his suggestion, at a quarter
past four o'clock, " I thought it was time I gave up
charge." President—But did you tell him so ?—No.
(Here again was contradiction.) President—As a
general rule of conduct, would 3 ou retain charge of any
ship after your wishes respecting her management were
not complied with, and especially when her head was
inshore ?—No, sir ; I would not have charge in that
case ; the pilot would have no more to say abeet it.
How would you communicate to the commanding
officer that you relinquished charge in such a case ?
—By the officer of the watch, whom I should tell
that if he would not follow my directions I shoul•1
give up charge. Did you on this occasion tell the
officer of the watch ?—I told the master. Did yen
tell him you had given up charge?—Not then. When
did you?—At a quarter past lour o'clock I told him to
tack ship. The Court—That is not the question. Did
you, at a quarter past four o'clock, tell the master you
had given up charge of the ship?—l did, at the gangway.
What did you say to him?—l said, " Sir, I'll thank you
to tack ship;" and the master replied, "Let he r go till
five o'clock, Pilot, I want to get ley decks done;" and
that is all that passed at that time. What was the state
of the weather ?—Fine. Are you acquainted with the
soundings on that part of the coast?—Yea. tate what
precautions were used respecting the lead?—The lead
was not hove at all from about two or three o'clock in
the morning till she struck; neither the deep sea lead
nor o,e hand lead. Not after that time. In answer to
further questions the witness said he expressed no wish
for the hand lead to be going, although it ought to have
been going; that he did not tell the officer of the watch
he had given up charge—only told the master, whom he
told he would be ashore if he did not tack ship. Could
not say at what rate the vessel was going through the
water; could not show by the chart the position or
course of the ship. Never aicertained the water
under the ship when he told the master she
would go ashore, &c. It is impossible to give the
whole of the testimony of the pilot, but the above is a
fair epitome. It must be stated that, on cress-examina-
tion by Lieutenant Commander Bailey, to the question,
" Did you nut represent yourself to me that you were a
pilot up to the Downs, to the Channel Islands, and to
the French coast, enumerating a number of places?" the
pilot answered "Yes." Mr. Krabbe and Mr. Coles also
cross-examined the pilot, but the answers invariably
were " No," and "I do not recollect." It is, therefore,
unnecessary to give the detail.
Mr. Arthur Jones, the midshipman, was the next wit-
ness called, and gave his testimony in an officerlike
manner. He said that soundings were taken after sail
was made on the ship; he was relieved in his watch
shortly after four A.M.; no leadsmen was in the chains
at that time; was relieved by Mr. Coles, the gunner,
with whom he (witness) left orders to call the com•
mender if there was any change; to sound hourly, tell-
ing him at the same time the ship was under the di-
rection of a pilot, to get the ropes up and wash decks
at half-past four, and to call the second master at ten
minutes after four; that the master was on deck twice
during the watch of witness; that the pilot did not
express any desire to have the lead hove more frequently
during the watch; that the master had been on deck
taking bearings, but at the time witness was relieved he
was in the commander's cabin; the master was not in
bed when witness made his report to him.
William Bruce and William Birmingham, petty offi-
cers, stated, that no leadsmen were in the chains before
she struck, but the latter witness jumped in and gave
the depth as " half-two" afterwards.
William Ralfe, the musician of the Sharpshooter, who
was stationed at the wheel in the morning watch on the
14th of December, wasnext examined, but he only proved
that the watch were washing decks at the time she struck,
and bracing round the headyards.
The prosecution closed at half-past two, when half an
hour was asked for the preparation of the defence, which
was granted. At three o'clock, the court resumed, and
Lieutenant Bailey read a brief address to the court,
pointing out the getting under weigh, and other circum-
stances attending the leaving port, stating that he was
in an ill state of health at the time, and had beer so for
some time before, and on the sick-list, which he only
came out of for the better security and satisfaction of
superintending the navigation, but nevertheless was
reluctantly compelled to keep his cabin more than
was consonant with his anxiety and custom ; but,
knowing the master and pilot were on deck, and a clear
moonlight night, with a fine wind, he felt confident o

the safety of vessel. Mr. Bailey also put in testi-
monials of his character as an efficient and experienced

officer.

Mr. Krabbe then delivered his address to the Court,
which embraced all the scientific bearings of the case.
The chief feature was, that he ordered a man into the
chains about a quarter to five o'clock, and hearing eight
fathoms reported, ordered him out, and told the watch to
go on with the deck, denying the statement of the pilot
that he had requested him to tack before five o'clock.
Mr. Krabbe also put in a number of certificates as to his
character and conduct in the service from the time he
left Greenwich School, all of which eminently distin •
guished him as an officer of exemplary assiduity, perse-
verance, zeal, &c.

Mr. Coles, the gunner, also put in a statement which
went to show the discrepancies between the pilot's evi-
dence and his conduct on board the ship, especially as
regarded the position and bearing of the lights and the
ship's course.

Or. Roberts, assistant-surgeon of the Sharpshooter,
deposed to the commander being on the sick list at the
time spoken of above, and to his having been under his
care three weeks in November previously. This witness
also proved the pilot to have snid, with surprise, when
the commander found himself ashore, and the latter said

" Why, pilot, this is not Brighton?"—" No, Sir, that's
Worthing."
Mr. Tewson, midshipman, proved Mr. Krabbe having
ordered the lead to be hove, &c.
Mr. Krabbe then called,

Mr. Thomas Davies, assistant engineer, who deposed
that sifter the ship struck the pilot told him it' she had
been her length or a few lengths further to leeward,
he should have had deep Water into the Chain-pier
(Brighton).
Alfred Ward corroborated the testimony of the last
witness.

PRESIDENT-It appears by the log that soundings
were taken at 4.50 A.M. on the morning of the 14th,
and a cast of eight fathoms. That does not appear
substantiated.

Mr. Krabbe—l am sorry to say, sir, I cannot substan-
tiate that. I heard a man's voice cry eight fathoms, and
I said, " Then let him come out." I cannot find out that
man, but I heard his voice.

Captain Austin, one of the members of the Court, on
being requested by Mr. Krabbe to state his opinion o;
him, pronounced him to be a most intelligent, zealous,
and watchful officer, so much so that he had determined,
should opportunity offer, to recommend him for advance-
ment to the rank of master. Captain Austin also further
stated, that whilst on board the Sharpshooter, during her
late cruise with the Rifleman, had every reason to
consider that Lieutenant Bas:77was most energetic,
capable, and careful in the management of that vessel.
The court was now (5 P.m.) cleared for deliberation,
and remain, d closed until half-past 6, when it re-
opened, and the Judge-Advocate read the following as
the finding:— _

" The Court, having heard all in support of the
charge, and what the prisoners had to allege in their
defence, is of opinion that the charge has been portly
proved proved against the said Lieutenant John Crawshavve
Bailey at.d Mr. Frederick John Krabbe, inasmuch as
they recsivcd on board, at Portsmouth, a pilot, without
duly ascei taining his qualifications, to which circum-
stance is mainly to be attributed the stranding of the
said vessel; and also, inasmuch as the hand•lead was not
kept so regularly hove as it ought to have been on the
Sharpshooter standing inshore, at a short distanc►,there-
from; and that the charge had not been proved against

the said Mr. Wm. Coles. The Court, therefore, in con-
sideration of the said Lieutenant John Crawshaw Bailey
having been at the time in bad health and on the sick
list, cloth adjudge the said Lieutenant John Crawshaw
Bailey to be admonished to be more careful and circum-
spect on future occasions; and doth adjudge the said Mr.
Frederick John Krabbe to be severely reprimanded; and
the said Mr. William Coles to be acquitted; and the said
Lieutenant James Crawshaw Bailey and Mr. Frederick
John Krabbe are hereby respectively admonished and
severely reprimanded, and Mr. William Coles acquitted
accordingly; and the Court cannot abstain from stating
that the evidence given by Mr. Joseph Burnett (the
pilot) before the Court is unworthy of credit."