The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-13 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 13, 1860,

sible proof of the fact, the gap was cleverly plas-
tered over, and temporarily obscured by what is
officially termed " cloaking the matter." In spite,
however, of every precaution the evidence soon be-
came again apparent, when suddenly the piers
supporting the groins gave way, and the ponderous
iron rafters, thickly inlaid with concrete and
shingle, and covered with asphalt, composing the
flat roof, together with the supporting brick wall
underneath, now form a mass of ruins. From the
present state of the structure throughout it is ap-
prehended that other portions may in all proba-
bility be insecure. The police are therefore strictly
charged to warn visitors of the danger of their
approach. The building is stated to have cost
£7,500, and a discussion is likely to ensue as to the
individual liability, the building having been con-
structed by contract from a draught furnished by
the Royal Engineer Department of the Royal
Arsenal.

THE CIVIL JP AR IN ITALY.

(From the Speetal Correspondent of the Times.)
CASERTA, Nov. 5.
To-day it is exactly six months since 1,062 enthu-
siastic yortthi started from the shores of Genoa,

under the leadership of Garibaldi, 'to help their
brethren struggling in Sicily against despotism, or to
die for them. The day before yesterday was pub-
lished the result of the plebiscite, which by an over-
whelming majority deprives the Bourbons of their
throne, and annexes the South of Italy to the con-
stitutional monarchy of Victor Emmanuel. Yes-
terday Garibaldi presided at the distribution of the
medals which the city of Palermo has sent for those
who took part in the first expedition to Marsala,
and tomorrow King Victor Emmanuel is expected
to make his triumphal entry into Naples. A
strange coincidence of dates between the beginning
and the end, unsought for as it was, brings involun-
tally the wonderful and instructive history of the

last six months before one's eyes. There was a
Sovereign who prided himself on his 100,000 and
more men, and on his "firmness" in resisting the
just claimslof his subjects. And before a small num-
ber of untaught and undisciplined enthusiasts the
100,000 men melted and his firmness too. But it
was " too late." In vain were concessions made
and promises ; the avalanche could no longer be
arrested. The national Italian idea, so much
scoffed at, was carrying everything before it, and
the powerfil Emperor of the French became un-
easy, and thought it preferable to abandon his
scheme of a confederation in Italy, and give his
ally Victcr Emmanuel free hand to satisfy the
craving for union, rather than allow this union to
be effected by means of popular movements.
I could not give you the details of the surrender
of Capua in my last letter, so I take this opportu-
nity to complete the account which I have given to
you. As :you will remember the Sardinian General,
Della Roca, had taken the command in chief of
the form before Capua, and to him, of course, were
addressed the opening of the negotiation for the
surrender. It is curious to compare the articles of
the convention with those concluded by Garibaldi
during the war. In the latter you see everywhere
the traces of confidence and magnanimity, while in
the former you remark the prudence usual in such
transactions, and in this instance heightened by
the experience acquired in our negotiations with the
Neapolitan. Nothing has been forgotten to pre-
vent all those tricks which have been played on
former occasions when Garibaldi's magnanimity

was abused.
According to the terms'of the convention, the for-
tress, with all its materiel of guns, ammunition,
military stores, arms, horses, money, &c., was to be
given up. Any destruction, such as spiking of guns
(a usual trick of the Neapolitans), breaking of mus-
kets, wetting of powder, concealing of stores, was
to be considered contrary to the convention, which
would expose the garrison to all the consequences
of an unconditional surrender. All troops and
officers, in whatever way connected with the army,
were to leave the fortress in detachments of 2,000,
with all the honours of war, to be drawn up in face
of our forces on the glacis of the fortress, and to
lay down their arms, except the officers, who were
to keep their swords. After leaving the fortress
and laying down their arms, the whole garrison
was to proceed en foot to Naples, and thence be
transported to one of the Sardinian ports. This
condition was very necessary, especially as regards
the officers, for there was more than one man among
them who had capitulated three or four times, and
given his word of honour not to fight against us.
All the private property of the officers, horses in-
cluded, was to be left to them, and a mixed commis-
sion appointed to receive all the property of the
State, war materiel, and money. In order to pre-
vent all foul play from the beginning, it was sti-
pulated that immediately after the signing of the
convention the gates of the town should be occupied
by our troops, and the ramparts likewise.
The convention was carried out as it had been
stipulated. On the evening of the 2d a Piedmon-
tese regiment was summoned from Sessa, which
occupied the gates and ramparts next morning at
daybreak. The Miltitz Brigade advanced from Santa
Maria, and took up a position a cheval of the road
to Capua, at a few hundred yards on the right. The
Simorietta Brigade of the Medici Division advanced
from St. Angelo, and took up likewise a position on
the glacis. On the left the Piedruontese advanced
from St. Tammaro, so that a semicircle was
formed all round the southern side of the fortress.
The Neapolitans came out with flags flying, and
accompanied by their military bands, and, after
forming in line of battle, and receiving the mili-
tary salutes, piled their arms, laid down drums
and bugles, knapsacks, and cartridge-boxes, and
marched off towards Santa Maria, under escort told
off for the purpose. At Santa Maria they received
a ration of dry provisions, and then continued their
road to Naples. Arrived there, they were lodged in
the barracks of the Graniti, a large red building on
the road to Portici, capable of containing 9,000 or
10,000 men. It was evening before all of them
arrived. The officers tried to impress on the guards
that they were on parole, and allowed therefore to
go out, but the convention was too clear to allow
these pretensions for one moment to be taken into
consideration.

As I suspected, the bombardment has done very
little harm. Here and there a hole in the walls of
a house—among them in that of the archbishop—
are all the traces which appear. The town was all
but deserted by its inhabitants, the only exception
being the lowest classes. In the hospitals were
found all our wounded, those prisoners of war who
were able to march having been taken off before to
Gaeta. The Neapolitans had scarcely left the town
when the inhabitants, who had mostly taken refuge
in the neighbouring towns and villages, were seen
returning home with their goods and chattels.
There was a good number of Neapolitan sick, be-
sides the wounded, in the hospitals, fever and
ophthalmia being the chief complaints. Above all,
the latter malady bad made ravages in the army.
One-third, at least, of the prisoners were tainted
with it. No doubt the low, marshy ground about
the river and the exhalations from it had a good
deal to do with this, but not a little is due, I am
sure, to uncleanliness, in which quality the Neapo-
litan army is vastly superior to any other I know.
They have large basins which serve for washing,
and a whole battalion use them sometimes without
ever changing the water in them.
The taking of Capaa opens to us the direct road
to the Garigliano and to Gaeta. While the sur-
render took place a telegram from Farini to Villa-
marina, the Sardinian Minister at Naples, announced
that the Piedmontese had passed the Garigliano the
same morning. The despatch was very laconic; it
said merely that the Garigliano had been passed
after a fight, that the Royal troops were in pursuit
of the enemy, with the view of cutting him off from
Gaeta, and that the Bersaglieri were bringing in
the prisoners in batches.
Since then we know that the passage was very

much helped by the co-operation of the fleet. The

road—namely, at the point of crossing the Gari-
gliano at the Ponte di Torro—is only a few hun-
dred yards from the sea, and thus exposed to the
fire of the ships. In order to escape this, it seems a
flank position was taken by the Neapolitans, which,
when the Piedmontese had passed, exposed them to
be cut off from the direct road to Gaeta. The fight
appears not to have been very severe nor very long.
The passage of the Garigliano is the beginning of
the end, which cannot be distant now, especially as

the French policy has about the same time changed
with respect to Gaeta. As you know, about ten
days ago two men-of-war were sent by Admiral
Persano to Gaeta, where the whole French fleet,
with the exception of a liner and a frigate at
Naples, is assembled. When the Sardinian men-of-
war approacheLl they received a message from
Admiral Barbier do Tinan to the effect that he had
instructions to prove,;:t any hostile measure against
Gaeta by the Sardinian n...'et'
and that hewas
cided to do so if necessary by us)..ng force. The Sar-
dinian men-of-war returned to the.at disappoint-
ment of Persano, and every one was as: onisked at
this new mystery on the part of Flr,
he he
lc
.1 Go-
the War-
vernment. It is probably" explained
ssw Conference, which was then held, an,..1• the be-
fore of which were expected by French ''Y
poi
fore taking decided , ,
course of
actioinli

tainty in this respect is over now, and this may

explain the return of the French policy into a
clearer path. It facilitates operations, at any rate,
for Gaeta attacked by sea and land cannot resist
long. Nor does there seem to be a great doubt about

this, for, instead of sending the troops about Capua
forward, they have received orders to come back to
Naples. At the same time two new brigades are to
come from Genoa, so that 14,000 or 15,000 are des-
tined for Naples. This seems likewise to indicate
that Austria is not going to stir, fora fortnight ago
a telegram came from Turin asking whether the
Aosta Brigade, which was destined from the begin-
' ning to form part of the expeditionary force in the
South, was absolutely necessary ; for, if not, it
would be sent to the Mincio, which was threatened
by the Austrians. As now not only the Aosta
Brigade but another is likewise sent to Naples, the
fear of an Austrain invasion seems to have vanished.

The Aosta Brigade has already arrived at Naples
where Della Rocca has taken the supreme command
instead of Turr, who has resigned his office as com-
mander of the town and province, All the forces
of Garibaldi have left the town to make room for
the Piedmontese, who will want the barrack accom-
modation, and who are destined to figure at the
entry of the King.
On Sunday last the distribution of the medals to
those who took part in the expedition to Marsala
took place in the Largo del Palazzo. This medal
was decreed by the municipality of Palermo soon
after the liberation of that town. A committee
was appointed to have the medal struck, and a
deputation came up to Naples to present it. The
medal itself is of the size of a florin piece ; it has
on one side the eagle, the arms of Palermo, en-
circled with the inscription " To the brave who
were led by Garibaldi." On the reverse are the
words, "The Municipality of Palermo, revived in
1860" (revindiato) ; and around it the words
fg Marsala, Calatafimi, Palermo." The riband is
scarlet, with an orange border, the colours of the
town. Every one entitled to the medal receives
the document which confers it upon him, and in
which his name is inscribed. The families of those
who have fallen on the field of battle or died of
their wounds are to receive the medal. A list had
been made out of all the names, and this was the
basis of distribution, but as the original rolls have
not been preserved, those who were not on the list
were allowed to make their claims, The Duchessa
della Verdura, the wife of the President of the
Municipality of Palermo and president of the com-
mittee, distributed the medals. Before the distri-
bution took place Garibaldi addressed a few words
to his old companions in arms, who were drawn up
in a line to the number of some hundreds. Ile
said :

"It is because I know you that I undertook with you
an enterprise thought impossible by every one. I knew
that with men like you one could attempt everything. This
impossible work you have accomplished. But many
of those who went with us are now absent—their bones aro
bleaching on the fields of Calatafimi and Palermo—the
Montanaras, the Schiallinis, the Tuckoris ; but they will
not be forgotten. Lot their families keep this testimonial
of their valour as a heirloom; and you, young veterans,
who can receive it in your own hands, remember that all
is not done yet, and that I trust and reckon on you when-
ever your services shall be again required. Let us begin
the distribution with those who have fallen in our sacred
cause."

After these words Garibaldi sat down before one
of the tables, and the names were called one after
another. The ceremony lasted for several hours,
after which came a breakfast in the Foresteria, to
which a number of those who had been decorated
had been invited.

Nov. 6

To-day was fixed for the arrival of the King at
Naples, but up till now he has not passed through
here. He was expected last night at Caserta, but
did not arrive. The very idea of Garibaldi's with-
drawal has created great excitement all over the
army. _ _

11 A. M

The news has just come in that the King is on
the point of arriving. I must, send off my letter, or
it will miss the post.

THE EXPLOSION ON BOARD THE

TOAXING.

GREAT YARMOUTH, MONDAY EVENING

The adjourned inquest into the circumstances
attending the late dreadful explosion on board the
Tanning steamer was resumed to-day by Mr. C. H.
Chamberlin, coroner for the borough, Captain
Robertson, R.N., and Mr. Galloway, marine engi-
neer, the inspecting officers of the Board of
Trade, attended the inquiry to report the re-
sults of their examination of the boilers, &c. The
proceedings having been formally reopened, the
jury walked to the hospital to view the body' of
Aintz Yunker, the cattleman, who died on Friday
night. The body of Warsp, the chief mate, had been
previously viewed on Friday. The inquest was
then considered to have arrived at the same stage as
regards the whole five men who have died from the
explosion, and was continued at the Toll-house-hall.
The names of the five deceased are Jas. Commings,
John Langley, Robert Spooner, Aintz Yunker, and
James Warsp.
Mr. Pearse, barrister, of London, said he appeared
on behalf of the owners of the Tonning, whose object
was to facilitate the inquiry as far as possible.
Mr. Cufaude, solicitor, of Yarmouth, also stated
that he was instructed to appear on behalf of the
owners of the ship.
The first witness called was Mr. T. H. Colley,
house surgeon at the Yarmouth hospital, who de-
posed that seven wounded men were brought to the
hospital at 3 a.m. on Sunday, the 4th inst. Their
names were John Hall, boatswain of the Tonning ;
James Warsp, chief mate; Edward Peak, seaman ;
Aintz Yunker, a cattleman ; Peter Peters, another
cattleman ; Timothy Read, fireman ; John Francis
Reay, chief engineer; and a man named Hall, who
was very slightly injured, and went home the same
day. Warsp died on the 7th, about 12 o'clock.
Aintz Yunker died about 9 o'clock on Friday night.
Warsp was very severely scalded, and had a large
wound over the right eye. His skull was also
fractured. He was delirious the whole time he
was in the hospital, and never rallied. Aintz
was severely scalded about the head and body, and
his ribs were fractured. The two men died from
the injuries described, and were pulseless all the
time they were in the hospital. The bursting of a
boiler would occasion such injuries.
. _

By a Juror—Aintz was occasionally conscious for
a few minutes, but did not in any way allude to
the accident. Warsp, who never spoke at all, was
33 last birthday. Aintz Yunker was 44.
The evidence of Captain Rivers, adduced at the
last sitting, was read over, and in answer to further
questions, said he had commanded the Tonning
about two years. With the exception of the inter-
mediate shaftbreakingon a passage out to the Medi-
terranean last April, no previous accident had hap-
pened to the ship. No complaint was ever made to
him at any time of any defect in the engines or
boilers. If anything had been wrong the chief engi-
neer would have reported it to him and also to the
owners. The patch put in the port boiler was near
one of the furnaces, quite in the lower part of the
boiler. Witness had seen the; chief engineer on deck
about three minutes before the explosion took place.
He was in charge of the engine room at the time,
and strictly speaking perhaps ought to have been
there. None of the firemen were found in the stoke-
hole, and could not have been there at the time of
the explosion ; if they had they would probably
have escaped unhurt. No one was found in the en-
gine-room either. Strictlyspeaking, the firemen on
duty ought to have been in the stoke-hole. Two fire-
men and a trimmer ought to have been on duty, but
witness did not know their names. The engineer
and firemen had probably come on deck to see the
boat alongside, but witness did not particularly no-
tice any of them. Witness did not know the num-
ber of safety-valves on each boiler, but there was a
Government safety-valve on each. Witness had the
key of each valve, and the key had not been out of
his possession since the ship was officially examined
six months ago. The chief engineer ought not, in
witness's opinion, to have had the, keys so as to exa-
mine the valves when the ship was in port. The chief
engineer had never applied for the keys during the
last six months, and had never, in witness's remem-
brance, made such an application. Reay had been
chief engineer ail the time witness had been captain
of the ship. Witness didkot know whether safety
valves were liable to get out of order. No one had
had access to the valve keys while they were in
witness's possession. The ship had been gowig 8;!,
to 9 knots before the stoppage was made to take in
fish. This was about her full speed. No other,
steamer was in sight at the time. The six Tenths
certificate of the Government surveyor expired on
the sth, two days after the explosion occurred.
Under that certificate the ship was authorised to
carry 268 passengers. A great many of the bullocks
were killed in the explosion; they were stowed in
the lower hold and the fore and aft between decks. Forty nearest to the boilers were killed. Witness
could not say whether steam was escaping or blow-

ing off at the time the ship stopped. Witness did
not observe the steamer go on at all after the order
was given to go a-head the first time. The explo-
sion happened after the order was given a second
time. The ship and engine stopped not more than
6or 7 minutes. _ _ _

By Capt. Robertson—l got a cast of the lead,
took an observation of the sun, and received some
fish on board while the ship stopped. I had been
observing the sun some time before the stoppage,
from half-past 11 to meridian. I have observed
that when engines are stopped in this way the
steam in blowing off makes a great noise. I did
not observe this on this occasion; neither saw steam

escaping nor heard any noise. Not more than a
minute elapsed between my first ordering the
steamer to go a-head and my doing so the second
time. I thought my first order was not heard from
the distance at which I gave it. I am not aware
whether there were two Government valves and
two ordinary valves attached to the boilers. I
know nothing of machinery. No other person be-
sides the Government surveyor had examined the
vessel, so far as I know. Repairs have been made
by a person under the superintendence of the
engineer, but I am not aware whether they have
always been done by the same person. The
Tonning has been employed during the last
six months in the home and foreign cattle
trade. Among the ports visited have been Co-
runna and Oporto. At the time of the accident
there was an opposition between the General Steam
Navigation Company and our owners in 'sending
' ships to Tonning. Since the opposition commenced
nothing had been done, I believe, to the boilers of
the Tonning to increase the speed of the vessel.
The engineer has never reported to me any defect
in the boilers, and I had no reason to doubt their
perfect safety. lam positive we did not stop more
than ten minutes. I heard no noise previous to the
explo"sion. If the engineer had asked me for the
keys of the Government safety valves I should have
given them to him, and should have attended myself
when the examination was made. I have com-
manded several other steamers besides the Tonning,
but I have never given the engineers the keys of the
safety valves. I have never been in the habit of
doing it. I have never seen the engineer of the
Tonning examining the valves, and do not know
whether he ever did examine them. Tho engineer,
when I saw him three minutes before the explosion,
was on the upper deck. I have not had any con-
versation with either the first or second engineer
respecting this accident since its occurrence.
By Mr. Pearce—The distance from Tonning to the
spot where the explosion took place was about 220
or 230 miles. We had come that distance at our ordi-
nary pace, which was eight or nine knots an hour.
I should have noticed it if we had been going at a
greater speed. I had spoken to the engineer a few
minutes before we stopped. He made no complaint
to me about the engines or boilers at any time. The
explosion took place about the time the watches
would have been shifted. Ido not know whether
the chief engineer had seen the Government safety
valves from inside the boilers, or whether he could
do so. It is usual for the chief engineer to come
occasionally on deck when on a voyage. He has
sometimes to come on deck to lubricate the engines,
slides, &c. Ido not know who the firemen and
trimmer were who were to come on duty when the
watches were shifted. It was the chief engineer's
province to order that.
By Mr. Cufaude—When the explos;on took place,
and when the chief engineer was scalded, he was in
his proper place in the starting-room. The engine
was a steeple-engine, and would have to be lubri-
cated on deck. Two of the firemen were unhurt.
I was taking an observation at the time. I also
took a lead cast, and was attending to it. I
account for my not seeing the steam escape by my
being so much occupied. The two opposition
vessels were in London when the explosion took
place, and there was no race between us, and we
had no motive to increase our speed. The chief
engineer had been in the vessel longer than I had,
and he was a most experienced, steady, attentive
man, never taking any spirits. He unfortunately
lost a son by the explosion.
By Captain Robertson—The engines had been
neither eased nor stopped from the time of leaving
Tonning till we stopped to take up fish. I think
the engineer came on deck to lubricate the engines.
Our being a faster steamer and making the run in
eight or ten hours less would not have given us
any advantage over the other boats.
By a juror—l never saw any printed rules for
the guidance of the people on board such steamers
as ours. The mate kept a log-book, but it was lost
with the certificate and other things. The vessel
drew about 11 feet water. I believe the boilers
to have been safe, in consequence of no complaints
having been made, and from what I have seen of
them since ; but I know nothing positive on the
subject from my own knowledge. The patch was
put upon the port boiler at the instigation of the
chief engineer, who is now in hospital, and ut-
terly unable to attend. The second engineer is
here.

By the Coroner—l know nothing of the wreck
having been thrown overboard after the explosion.
She came into Lowestoft in just the same state.
The patch is on the lower part of the port boiler,
and remains undisturbed.
By Mr. Pearce—l have frequently gone a much
longer distance than the number of miles between
Tonning and the scene of the explosion without
stopping or easing the engines. We have merely
to carry the beasts so as to be in time for the
markets. The weather was fine and clear, and
there was nothing to retard us at all. I don't
know of the second engineer having gone down
to attend to the furnaces after the explo-
sion, but before the ship was brought into
Lowestoft. He has told me he did so this morning.
It is not true that the ship took fire after the ex-
plosion ; but there was an alarm of fire, and water
was hove demon upon the boilers. It was the re-
maining fire in the furnaces that was smoking.
By the Coeoner—The fires were drawn after the
explosion by the second engineer, but I was not
aware that he had done so till this morning. New
boilers had not been ordered for the ship.
George Wilkinson, second engineer on board the
Tonning, stated—l have filled my office about two
years. Mr. Reay has during that time been chief
engineer. I recollect the engines and boilers being
examined by the Board of Trade surveyor, but I
do not remember the exact date. I was on board
at the time. The examination took place in Lon-
don, and I think it took place in May or June.
There were two safety-valves on each boiler—one
government valve and one ordinary valve on each.
I cannot tell from my own knowledge the diameter
of these valves. The proper pressure for the Ton-
ning boilers was 151 b. to the square inch, and all
the valves ought to have opened of themselves
when the steam was above that pressure, as they
were self-acting valves. The two common valves
would act for each boiler ; the government valves
would not. There were two stop-valves, one to
each boiler. The steam could pass freely to each
boiler, supposing the stop-valves were open, and
they have never been shut since 1 have been in the
ship. Supposing the steam to have been above
' 151bs. the valves, if in proper working order, would
have relieved the boilers, and I think any one of
them would have done so, Safety valves sometimes
get out of order, but it is not generally the case.
As far as I know engineers generally examine
valves when vessels are in port, and when there is
time to admit of its being done. I cannot exactly
call to mind any time when the valves of the Ton-
ning were examined by the chief engineer. The
second engineer has nothing to do with such mat-
ters. The working valves have been inspected by
Mr. Reay,lin Loudon, within the last three months.
I cannot say the exact time, but it was between
two or three months. The bonnets of the working
valves were taken off by Mr. Reap, and the valves
were lifted. This was the last time I saw them
examined. The weights were taken off, the nuts
were unscrewed, and the valves were examined in
their seats. They were found in working order.
I assisted in unscrewing the nuts. I have not seen
the government valves examined since they were
examined by the Government inspector. I saw the
Government inspector examine them, the machinery,
and boilers. If the valves had been in proper work-
ing order I think the accident could not have oc-
curred. I went off duty at eight in the morning,
and the watch would have been changed at noon.
Just before the watch is changed the stokers do not
generally make fresh fires ; it is generally the re-
verse. There is a lever on the working valves by
which the engineer can open then& without waiting
for the steam to force them open. If this lever is
lifted by the engineer the steam must escape if too
much is generated; and in that case, assuming there
is a proper supply of water in the boiler, an explo-
sion becomes impossible. When a steamboat is
stopped for any purpose, it depends greatly upon
circumstances whether the engineer should lift the
valves and open the fire-doors. If you were carry-
ing 14th. of steam it ought to be done, but not with
81b. It would be a proper precaution if the engines
had been going at their usual speed and were sud-
denly stopped. I think the accident could not have
happened if the valve had been opened. I do not
know whether the valve was opened. I was in bed
at the time. I cannot say whether the lever of the
valve was open or shut when I first went into the
engine-room. I went there about two minutes or a
minute and a half after the accident happened. I .
did not touch the lever. I have been on board ship •
as an engineer four or five years. Ido not know
whether the engineer had a key of the government
safety valves as well as the captain. I have served
my apprenticeship as an engineer. When I joined
the Tonning she had just received the two go-
vernment valves; originally she had only two
working illyee. I do not know why the extra k