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

Singular Inquiry at Sunderland.

For a considerable period (says the Northern
Express) rumours have been wafted about in'shipping
circles as to the prevalence of flash lights on Whit-
burn Steel, which some persons, in fact, have been
bold enough to assert were intentionally placed there
as decoys for unwary mariners. From what cause
they arise, or by whom exhibited, cannot at present
be determined ; but certain it is that during the last
few months an incredible number of homeward-
bound vessels have been decoyed in-shore by these
lights, and, before they could again be " hauled"
round to sea, have been dashed upon the fatal spot
where the fury of the waves speedily rendered them
total wrecks. Two or three wrecks might fre-
quently be seen lying together, and the reports
raised being greatly detrimental to the fishermen of
Whitburn, a full and complete investigation was
demanded, not only by them, but by the pilots
of Sunderland as well—the latter actually petition-
ing the Trinity-house to place a flash light on
Souter Point, as that was deemed the only effectual
remedy. With a view to clear up this mystery,
Rear-Admiral. Collinson, C. 8., and Captain Lam-
bert, elder brethren of the Trinity-house, visited
the neighbourhood on Wednesday, and made every
possible inquiry concerning the matter ; but at no
definite conclusion could they arrive. They also
visited Sunderland North Pier in the evening, ac-
companied by Capt. Kirby, RN., master of the
coastguard, in order to view the gasworks, near
Whitburn, which some one had alleged to be the
cause of the lights ; but their glare failing to be dis-
tinguished, the idea was somewhat reluctantly aban-
doned. An official inquiry, conducted by Mr. W.
Wilcox, collector of customs and receiver of wrecks,
was held before Admiral Collinson, on Thursday,
in the Sunderland Custom-house. There were also
present Capt. Lambert ; Capt. Kirby, R.N. ; Mr.
Joseph Jerome, chief officer of the coastguard ; Mr.
Robert Blair, Tyne Pilotage Board ; Mr. J. R.
Hodge, Sunderland pilot master ; Ald. Givens ; Mr.
Cooper Abbs, Rock-lodge ; Rev. G. C. Abbs, Clea-
don ; and Rev. C. Hutchinson, of Whitburn ; the
four last named gentlemen having attended in com-
pliance with a request made by Sir Hedworth Wil-
liamson, M.P., in order .to watch the interests of
the fishermen. Mr. Frank Mills, a coastguards-
man, was the first witness called, and he stated that
one night about three weeks ago he observed in a
field south-east of Whitburn what appeared to be
two lights flashing upon the banks. He was pre-
paring to follow when they suddenly disappeared.
Mr. Robert Morrison, master of the Monkwear-
mouth Dock, said he was in the habit of going along
the North Pier at all hours of the night when any
rough weather was apprehended, and at such times,
in looking towards Whitburn, had frequently
seen a revolving light, which, but for the distance,
might easily have. been mistaken for that of
Tynemouth. Mr. C. Abbs was the next witness, and
remarked that his residence, Rock-lodge, was about
two-thirds of a mile above the North-pier, and in
close proximity to Whitburn, consequently his win-
dows commanded a full view of the entire bay from
Souter Point. The house was about the same height
above the level of the sea as the North-pier Light-
house, viz., between 70 and 80 feet, and, during the
10 or 12 years he had resided there, it had been his
constant practice to observe the appearance of the
weather, note objects along the coast, and daily
glance at the sea ; but he could safely aver that he
never observed anything resembling a light that
could be mistaken for that on Tynemouth Castle.
He had, however, frequently seen a light shining
from a window of Mr. Wilcox's house at Whitburn,
which looked directly south, and could not be seen
any distance out at sea. When vessels were round-
ing Souter Point from the north their masts were
visible long before the hull, and consequently when
they carried a white light at the masthead it might
easily be mistaken for a flashing light, particularly
when passing the irregularities on the shore about
that spot ; therefore it is probable that that might
account for the flashes alleged to have been seen at
Souter by parties on Sunderland North-pier. Ile
did not think any one could go to the beach with a
lantern withoutbeingoverha,uledby the coastguards-
men, who kept a sharp look-out at that spot. Mr.
N. Cooke, master of the steam-tug Vigilant, and
Mr. P. Saunders, master of the Tom Bowline, de-
posed to having seen lights exhibited on Whitburn
Steel, which they believed were intended to decoy
vessels. Captain Jerome Major, of the schooner
Test, of Southampton, which went ashore on Nov.
21th, said he observed two lights, which he first
thought resembled those at Tynemouth, but after-
wards imagined them to proceed from two vessels at
anchor. On approaching them, however, he dis-
covered he had allowed his vessel to run close in
shore, and she struck before he could bring her
round. Capt. C. Adams, of the brig Token, which
went ashore Oct. 15, while running from Amsterdam
to Shields, said he first made the land about six in
the morning, when a little off Whitby, and all went
well until he made for what he supposed to be Tyne-
mouth light, when he unfortunately ran his vessel
ashore at Whitburn. When the vessel struck he saw
a light brought along the coast in that direction,
and after being over his decks, was taken away to-
wards the village. Two cobles attempted to put off
to his assistance, but were unable to do so in con-
sequence of the force of the waves, and the lifeboat
had ultimately to be manned. About three quarters
of an hour after his own vessel struck he observed
another one drawing rapidly in the same direction,
but he fortunately apprised the captain•of his danger
through a fog trumpet, and she stood out to sea. Mr.
C. Hutchinson, who resided in the easternmost house
in Whitburn, was in the habit of being on the shore
and on the sea all hours of the night, but had never
seen any light likely to mislead homeward bound
vessels. Mr. Hodge, pilot master, said the Sunder-
land pilots wished to make no further statements to
what they had already made, and declined to be
examined. They had frequently stated, however,
that they had seen a strange light atWhitburn for 30
years, but never so frequently as during the past
few months. They had been misled by it on many
occasions, but on nearing the coast to discern
whence it proceeded, had lost sight of it entirely.
in consequence of their representations, he had rid-
den over to Whitburn to try and unravel the mys-
tery, but had failed to discover anything. Mr.
Jerome, chief officer of the coastguards, observed a
bright light in the direction of Whitburn on Tuesday
night while walking near Roker battery, but on
walking in that direction it disappeared. He had
been five years in the neighbourhood, but, with this
exception, he never saw any revolving lights before.
The gentlemen from the Trinity House then said their
inquiry was merely preliminary in order to see if any
lights were to be seen at Whitburn which could be
dangerous to shipping, and, if so, to suggest a pro-
per remedy. They had not assembled for the purpose
of endeavouring to criminate any one. The inquiry
was then for the present concluded, after a pro-
tracted sitting of nearly four hours.

CALCULATIONS OF SOUTHERN POLITICIANS.—" Agate,"
of the Cincinnati Gazette, asked soma of the Georgia
politicians why they so confidently counted Presi-
dent Johnson on their side, and this was the answer :
"We think him on our side because of what he has
done, and what we know him to be. Last spring you can
form no conception of the utter, abject humiliation of the
Southern people. We wore all prostrate, helpless, and
abased to the dust, but out of this abject condition Mr.
Johnson has partly lifted us. He has made us feel that
we have some standing ground, some chance still to battle
for our rights; and for this there has new sprung up
throughout the whole South a warm feeling of regard and
gratitude. Johnson knows this. He knows that if he
continues in this way, he will be able in 1868 to count on
the South as a unit for his re-election. There would be
no thought of contest: ho would be nominated by accla-
mation. Now, ho is a man of strong will and boundless
ambition. Of course he wants to be re-elected. He does'nt
want to quit the stage as an accidental President. And he
knows perfectly well that, with the South as a unit at his
back, his enormous patronage will enable him to carry Now
York and Pennsylvania, and defy the whole black Repub-
lican pack. Those States will bo enough to elect him
and a blind man could see the game, and Andy Johnson
has got plenty of nerve to play it."
GENERAL M'CLELLAN AT DRESDEN.—The hero of the
Peninsula and Antietam compaigns, who vexed the soul
of Lincoln and became the idol of the Peace Democracy
at Chicago, is now basking in the rays of royal favor at
Dresden. The King of Saxony recently granted him a
special interview and audience at the palace of Dresden,
and at a grand party given by M. Von Boust, Minister of
Foreign Affairs for Saxony, on the 14th inst., in honor of
the King's birthday. General WM.:Alan and Consul
Cameron were the only Americans invited.