The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-28 00:00:00

FRIGHTFUL BOAT ACCIDENT NEAR

WORTHING.

TWELVE LIVES LOST.

On Thursday afternoon a frightful boat accident occurred
near the coast, a short distance from Worthing, by which
the lives of 12 persons were lost. There were 20 persons in
the boat, eight of whom were saved.
It appeared that Mr. George Torr, a gentleman from
London, has for some time past been occupying the
AugustalHouse, Worthing. While there, a Mr. W. Smith,
with his family, came to visit him. On Thursday
morning Mr. Torr and his wife, Mrs. Smith, and
other friends went to the Littlehampton Regatta and
Races; before leaving Worthing, however, they
said that the servants might take the children for a
sail. Accordingly a pleasure yacht, named the Mary Eliza,
was engaged for the purpose. George Wood was the owner
of the yacht, and she was manned by two experienced boat-
men, Jacob Tester aid Edwin Bland. The entire party left
Augusta House shortly after two o'clock, and were put on
board the yacht by a ferry-boat. As we have just stated the
company consisted of 20 persons altogether. The yacht first
sailed in an easterly direction, then she took to the west of
the town, and shortly afterwards was seen returning towards
Worthing. At this point she was passed by the Fairy yacht,
when all appeared to be perfectly safe. In a few minutes,
however, a sudden squall arose and capsise,l the Mary Eliza.
The majnity of the party were thrown overboard ; but it
would appear that one of Tester's legs became entangled in
the ropes, and while in this position he was seized bold of
by such f the party as had the opportunity—eight persons
in all. While In this position, the shrieks of those who
clung to him attracted the attention of the crew of the
Fairy, which had just before passed. They came to the
rescue as soon as possible, and saved the lives of
eight, Tester being among he number. His conduct,
considering the very trying position in which be was
placed, appears to have been most praiseworthy. The
bodies of the 12 who were drowned were picked up during
that afternoon and on the following day, and those who
were saved are now in a fair way of recovery. The bodies
of the drowned lie at Mr. Harmer's Royal Baths, where
they await the coroner's inquisition. Their names are—
Martha Smith, Richard Smith, Thomas Smith, Geo. Smith,
and Clara Smith, all children of Mr. W. Smith ; Florence
Torr, Ada Torr, and Elizabeth Torr, all children of Mr.
Torr ; Clementine Jackson, a little girl ; Harriet Hum-
phrey and Ann Hennes, servants ; and Bland, the other
boatman. The names of those saved are—Emma Smith and
George Torr, two children ; Emma Shark, Ellen Reading,
and Matilda Lacey, servants ; Louisa Bright and a child ;
and Tester, the boatman.

THE INQUEST.
At seven o'clock this evening Mr. Blagdon, the coroner
fn.- the western division of the county of Sussex, and a jury
of the most influential inhabitants, assembled at the Spaniard
Inn, Chapel-street, for the purpose of opening the investiga-
tion into the circumstances attending the deaths of the un-
fortunate persons who lost their lives by the fearful calamity
of the sinking of the Mary Eliza pleasure-boat near this
coast on Thursday afternoon.
The jury then proceeded to view the bodies of the 12
dead persons who have been recovered, and which laid at
the Royal Baths, on the Parade, and presented a most
shocking appearance. That of Martha Smith, who was last
recovered, was fearfully disfigured. On the return of the
jury, the following evidence was taken :
Mary Ann Reading was the first witness—l am a servant
in the employ of Mr. Wm. Smith. I went out with the
children about two o'clock in the afternoon. Myself (Matilda
Lacey (a nurse), Emma Sharp (a nurse to Mr. Torr), and
Mrs. Totes bead nurse, went with the children. Ann Henn'
went with us—but she was not saved. Ten children went
with us—six of Mr. Smith's and four of Mr. Torr's, and Miss
Jackson, was with them. The coachman's wife went with us
and one child. The child was saved. We all went into shoat.
It was named the Ann. A man named Blaun was the boat-
man. His wife went with him. One other boatman vas
with us. Ido not know his name. There were 21 in
the boat. I went into the boat by permission of my mis-
tress, and I took the children by permission. She knew
when she was going out that we were going on the sea. The •
boatman was sober. I can't remember how long we were
out before anything happened. We went out for two hours.
We had been out some time. I don't remember where-
abouts we were, but the boat, I believed, turned over. I
cannot tell what caused it. I heard nothing said. We
were all thrown into the water. I was saved by clinging
to a sailor. I was picked up by another boat.
The Coroner—Twenty-one went out—how many were
drowned ?

Witness—l. cannot remember. I have seen the bodies of
some of them—all but Martha Smith—and I recognise them
all as the same parties who went out in the boat.
By the Jury—The wind bad not been blowing very bard
before the accident took place. We first went in a small
boat to get into the large boat. I have nothing more to add.
JacJb Tester was then examined by the coroner—l am
boatman. Yesterday I went out with the boat named the
Mary Eliza. She belonged to Mr. George" Wood. He lives
at Wortniug. Another boatman went with me. His name
was Edwin Blanc'. We took out 10 persons in the beat, be-
sides ourselves. We reached the beach about 20 minutes
after four. The weather was very fine at that time. Ido
notknow the tonnage of the boat, but it was about two and
a half or three. She would carry seven or eight tons. I
should consider her safe with that number. I have gone out
with 28 people in her—all full-grown people. I was in the
forepart of the vessel, tending the fore-sheets. Edwin Blanc',
who is dead, was steering her. The boat was 22 feet long by 8
feet in beam. When we started we went to the eastward. We
were out some time before anything took place. I should
think we had gone three-quarters of a mile from the shore.
Everybody appeared very cheerful, and not one of us appre-
hended the slighest harm. The weather was very favour-
able and the wind was by no means fresh. I was, as I be-
fore said, in the forepart of the boat, and some songs were
being sung. Mrs. Mann. sang a song, and her husband
began another. but he had scarcely finished the first verse
when all of a sudden—l can't say how—l found the boat go
do Ain. We were thrown into the water, and 1 found mY
self clinging to the topmast, my feet rested on the cap of the
topmast, and while there several persons, children and
adults, caught hold of me. I became nearly exhausted, and
some of the persons were washed away from me, several,
Niwever, still retained their held on different pasts of WY,
dress. We saw another boat reaching for the shore.
hailed it. It was the Fairy lugger. The master of On
Fairy called out to keep our spirits up, as he would assist us
as soon as possible. In a few minutes she came alongside,
and we were, eight in number, brought ashore.
Several other witnesses were examined, but nothing de-
nite was elicitel.
The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evi-
dence of Tester.