The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-04 00:00:00

The late Fatal Collision in the Channel.

t".. The first witness examined yesterday was the
steward of the Samphire, who stated that the vessel's
lights were properly fixed on the night of the colli-
sion, and burnt well. His evidence was confirmed
by the engineer and carpenter, the latter of whom
said he blew out the two bridge lights the morning
after.

Lieutenant Morgan, naval superintendent of the
London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company's
boats, was also examined. In reference to the speed
of the vessel he said—We have a special order
regulating the speed of the mail-boats. It says—
" The time allowed by the Post-office for the out-
going mails is two hours and five minutes, which
time counts from the arrival of the train on Admi-
miralty-pier, abreast of the vessel, to the gangboard
being placed on shore or on board at Calais—viz.,
10 minutes for the embarkation at Dover, and 1
hour 55 minutes for the passage. The captains and
crews will see that every one must do his utmost to
enable the work to be performed under the contract
time ; and the more so, as when it is so performed
a premium is given by the Post-office ; whereas, if
the contract time is exceeded, a forfeit has to be
paid. The captains are nevertheless specially cau-
tioned that the safety of their vessels, with all
they contain, are to be their particular care, and
that in endeavouring to make the passage as
quickly as possible they are not to neglect any
precaution to insure their being performed in
safety also. In foggy weather the captains are to
be very careful in approaching the land, and are
to ease the engines and try for soundings in good.
time, before even by calculation they are two or
three miles from the nearest land. They are never
to be afraid of using the lead too much. It is of
course an understood thing that, unless for some
special reason which would . require a special re-
port, the captain of a vessel running between
Dover and Calais, or Ramsgate and Calais, &c.,
should never go off deck."

By Captain Baker—lf upon the return of the cap-
tain he can explain satisfactorily why he has been a
longer time than usual on the passage he is exone-
rated from blame as to the delay.
By Mr. O'Dowd—The company receives the re-
ward for quick passages, and the captains only a
small portion of it. The penalty for delayed passages
is always exacted by the Post-office, although there
might be reasonable grounds to justify the delay.
By Mr. Fox—Captain Bennett has been in this
service since the beginning of 1862. I have always
found Captain Bennett to be exceedingly zealous,
steady, and trustworthy, and I consider a very effi-
cient officer in all respects. During the time he has
been in this service his conduct has always met with
my entire approbation. I would send him to sea
again.

By Captain Harris—ln October, 1862, Captain
Bennett was the commander of the mail packet
Maid of Kent, which broke down in mid-channel in
a heavy gale of wind, when he handled his ship in
such a manner that I consider he was the means of
saving the passengers and vessel. Captain Bennett
has never been in collision before. The cause of the
Maid of Kent's casualty was a breakdown of the
machinery, and not any fault of the captain. The
crews are not overworked. They have 25 hours at
Calais, and 19 hours at Dover, between the pas-
sages ; and their duty during that time is merely to
clean the ship. We have three crews—two running
and one ashore. We have five vessels—two spare
and three running.
The remainder of the witness's evidence referred
principally to the condition of the lowering gear of
the boats, and to the absence of the plug in the boat
which took the passengers on shore.
By Mr. O'Dowd—l think they have gained the
premium for quick passages about six days out of
seven through the year.
By Captain Baker—Whatever the state of the
weather, the penalty has always been inflicted. I
have never known the packets not to go at all.
They have been sometimes delayed a few hours from
bad weather.

By Mr. O'Dowd—Under any circumstances,
whether for safety or from the state of tide, the
fines are enforced if the delay is over a quarter of
an hour. At Calais there is a tender which can
take the mails from the packet ashore, and at Dover
they can come alongside the Admiralty-pier at any
time of tide. •

Sir Luke Smithett, who was acting as marine
superintendent on the night of the collision, proved
that he met the passengers on the Admiralty-pier
as they landed, and that he went with them to the
Lord Warden, where they obtained every comfort.