The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-08 00:00:00

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Yesterday a nieetine:Of the Repkaalgtional
boat,lnatitution was held tit itirhouseMoluare- -
Adel hi. Thomas Chapman, T+'. R. a, -
in the chair. -
There were also present AdmirAl Caton, Captain
Washington; R.N., F. R. s; Captain MeHardy,
RN., Rev. C. B. Gribble, M. A:, George Lyall,
Esq., M.P., Alexander Boeti-feur, Esq., Captain
Lambert Perrott, Captain W. •a. -11;11, -RN.,
C. 8., F.R.S. Admiral Bullock;--Mgder Palmer,
and Captain Ward, R.N., inspector Me: boats to
the society.
Mr. LEWIS, the secretary, having read the
minutes of the previous meeting,
The silver medal of the institution and 21.- were
voted to Mr. O'Sullivan, chief boatman of the Coast
Guard, and 211. to ten other men for rescuing, at
the great peril of their lives, the crew, consisting of
eleven men, of the brig Sona Fratella, which, dur-
ing an awful gale of wind, was wrecked off Black
Ball Heau, on the coast of Antrim on the 2d tilt.
When observed, the brig was standing for the land,
and on nearing the shore she attempted to weather
the head, -but failing to do so, owing to the violence
of the galoand the heavy sea, she had to bear up
and run under the lee of the White Ball rocks.
There she drifted from her anchor and went head-,
long on the rocks, becoming instantly a thousand
pieces. At this time the Coast Guard men, with
the promptitude and gallantry which alwgys dis-
tinguish them on occasions of shipwreck, plat Off in
their little boat, and at the critical momentoisin
few moments after no human aid could have pos-
sibly availed, rescued the master and eight of his
crew. • The five fishermen nobly seconded the
efforts of the Coast Guard by taking off the two re-
maining men Of the mow, at the great hazard of
their lives. The whole time occupied in this good
work was hardly half an hour. Such is the' class of
noble men who are constantly engaged in our life-
boats and shoieboats in saving their fellow-crea-
tures from the horrors of shipwreck.
A reward of 21. was granted to two fishermen,for
putting off in their boat .and rescuing, at the great
risk of their lives, the crew of three men of the
smack Lady Emma, which; during a heavy gale of
wind sank on Irvine Bar on the loth ult. A pilo t-
boat, manned by six men, had previously attempted
to reach the wreck, but the fishermen'persevered
and fortunately succeeded in taking off the three
men. The fishermen's boat was filled by the heavy
seas rolling into her, and the whole were in very
great danger of perishing.
A reward was also voted to-seven men, in consi-
deration of their valuable servicesin putting off in
their coble and rescuing, at the risk of their lives,
the crew of five men of the brig Zillah, of Whitby,
which, during a gale of wind, was wrecked off Win-
terton, Norfolk. The coble had to go through .a
very heavy sea and broken water, and it was a
mercy she was not swamped on the occasion, or
stove by the floating wreck. All the stern part of
the ship had gone, and the crew were taken off the
rigging.

PRESERVATION OF ET P 4 F.IZ:MOtk
OK: ,CP-Aapif

During the past month the institution had trans-
mitted to the Australian governors several sets of
lifeboats and transporting carriages. Others wore
to be despatched during the current month.
A communication was read from the Board of
Trade, expressing their approval of the manlier in
which the institution managed its numerous life-
boats, and promising their continued support from
the ercantile Marine Fund in aid of the °entrant-
tions of the public towards the maintenance in fall
vigour of the institution.

It was reported that the Norfolk Shipwreck
Association had joined the institution. The inspec-
tor of lifeboats had thereupon immediately pro-
ceeded to examine the lifeboats on the Norfolk
coast. His report, which was read to the meeting,
was full of recommendations regarding the renova-
tion of some of the lifeboats. Measures were
adopted to carry out forthwith these recommenda-
tions.

The institution had at present, it was aaid,:7o
lifeboats in connection with it, to each-of-which is
A coxswain, or master _and a volunteer crew, who
went afloat in the boats every quarter for exercise.
The average expense of each lifeboat in this respect
alone was 201. a-year, besides the large expense of
keeping the lifeboat establishment in a thorough
state of repair. The society is also now building
lifeboats for Hastings, Holyhead, Groomsport,
Ardmore, and several other places, and its, liabili-
ties for these, and for boat-houses and transporting
carriages are nearly 3,0001. Under these circum-
stances the institution has good reason to make an
urgent appeal for public support, which we
hope will-be given to it, for amongst the many use-
ful societies in this country, none is more valuable
than the National Lifeboat Institution.
By the lamented deaths of Admiral the Earl
Spencer, Admiral 'Sir F; Beaufolt; with that of the
Earl of ilchester, the institution had, -it was said,
lost valuable contributions to its funds.
The proceedings then 'closed. •

FEARFUL DEATH OF TWO COLLIERS.-
GROSS NEGLECT OF A STEWARD.

Last week we reported that a fearful accident had
occurred at a coal mine near Dodworth, in the
Barnsley district, by which two colliers came to a
cruel death. The inquest was adjourned in order
that the Government inspector might examine the
trine, it being alleged that the under-steward had
gross'y mismanaged the ventilation. The explosion
only partially affected the workings, but the two
victims were overwhelmed and buried in the ruins,
and their cries for assistance did not cease for seve-
ral hours after the accident. Mr. Hamer, solicitor,
appeared on behalf of the proprietors of the col-
liery. The evidence showed that there was great
laxity in the management of the colliery, and that
the rules in many instances were a dead letter. In
examination by Mr. Morton, Samuel Steam, the
steward, acknowledged that there was no real
deputy in the night shift. Witness was respon-
sible for the ventilation in the pit. George Rhodes,
a miner, after the gas had fired at bis lamp, told
Wm. Carr, the deputy, that there was more gas
than there should be, but Carr paid no heed, and
witness and he had found fault with miners for
blowing out th€-Ir lamps. Witness told Mr. Stears
that the place was not fit to work in on account of
gas ; Stears replied that it was no worse than.
usual. Both Stears and Carr saw it in a fiery con-
dition ; and Carr was with witness when it fired.
Williatn Carr, deputy, said he knew that Rule 9
required that they should have a deputy by night
when working double shifts, but he never told Mr.
Steals that they ought to have one. Witness, with
Mr. &ears, was responsible for the ventilation.
After some further evidence, the coroner summed
up, and the jury, after a deliberation of five hours
and a half, returned the following verdict :—" That
the deceased, George Chappil and Richard Turner,
died from the effects of burns received in an explo-
sion of fire-dame in the engine pit at the Strafford
collitry, but the cause of the explosion is not
proved. The jury are also of opinion that the evi-
dence shows a great want of care in the general
management and ventilation of the pit, and the
incompetency of the steward."
Ten of the jury were in favour of sending Stear s
for trial for manslaughter, and stood out for severe 1
hours ; but the coroner gave some information on
the I.tw of the case, and the above verdict was
returned. The proceedings did not close until ten
o'clock. The proprietors have now engaged the
services of an efficient under-viewer, under whose
hoped that these fearful explosions
will be management
teidt is
averted.

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