The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-12 00:00:00

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collision, which which was tho case when I 4ava, her, it would
cause the head to come round in the- ;Vry
Lion to what it would hare done if the e 4, -`", land la ,§
been reveree.i." I do not know which befilp.
helm was at the time. I think the Fdt-,bi..!tbe turd
would heave the Meteor in the angle of directi4l,ll
which the Sapphire was coming. lam convinced that the
collision was purely accidental. I conceive that the Sapphire
was in her proper course or thereabouts. lithe Sapphire's
helm had been ported she might have cleared the Meteor,
but the reversing of the engine had a similar effect. If
the Meteor had eased her engine she would would have
been caught amidships, and more mischief would have
resulted. I saw the Sapphire's paddle-wheels were re-
versed, and both vessels did all they could to prevent
the accident. I did not see the captain of the Sapphire.
Only a few seconds elapsed from the time I heard the
order given to the boy till I saw the Sapphire coming.
In answer to a question from the CORONER,
Mr. Harmer, chairman of the Star Company, said that
the company had examined several witnesses, and they
were all in accordance with that of the last witesss, but
they were in attendance it required. All agreed that it
was thoroughly accidental.
Mr. Southgate, solicitor to the Diamond Company,
made a similar statement.
Mr. Walter, solicitor en behalf of the relatives of the
deceased, said they were fully satisfied that the collision
was the result of accident.
Mr. Arnold, solici:or of the Star Company, said that
within the last eighteen years these boats had carried
about twenty millions of passengers, and this was the
first loss of life which had occurred from collision ; and
though the companies were rivals, they had assisted eat h
other on several occasions, and were ou the most friendly
terms.
John Brown, of 30, East-terrace, Milton, Gravesend,
river pilot, was then examined—Was on board Ph*
Sapphire at the time of the accident as a passenger.
Has been a pilot for fourteen years. I was sitting on
the starboard side of the fore part of the companion just
before the accident happened. The person in command
of the Sapphire was on the bridge of the paddle. box. I
saw the Meteor coming up. Orders were given by the
mate who was in charge of the Sapphire to " ease her,"
" stop her," and which were immedi-
ately turn her astern,
ately obeyed. At the time the ord:r was given we were
about a boat's length from each otter. There was a
light brig driving down with the tide, as'd this must have
intercepted our sight, as immediately edker we passed
the brig we saw the Meteor coming up the river. This
accounts for steps to prevent the collision not having
been taken before they were. I am certain a verything
was done to prevent the accident. I could not see the
helm. The Sapphire was going in almost a straig ht line
and the Meteor was in a slanting direction. After' the
collision the brig drifted down close to us, and the en-
gines were set in motion to get out of her way. There
was no point rounded near the place of accident. He
believed it to have been purely accidental. Witness was
not in any way connected with any steam-vessel. The
collision was very violent. Immediately after the accie
dent the boats were lowered from the Sapphire to render
assistance to the Meteor. The mate of the Sapphire is
called Thomas Dewardt.
• After a few remarks from the Coroner,
The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental Death,"