The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-18 00:00:00

WRECKS IN 1865.

A return issued by the Board of Trade records
1,656 wrecks and casualties as having occurred in
1865 on and near the coasts of the United King-
dom. The number in 1864 was 1,390. The annual
average number during the five years ending 1859
was 1,204; in the five years ending 1864 it was
1,483. The number for 1865 was therefore above
the average. This is partly attributable to an
increase in the number of vessels frequenting
the coasts, and it is also to be noted that the
numbers for any one year will be increased or
diminished according to the prevalence or ab-
sence of gales. The return mentions that iu Nov.,
1864, there were 261 casualties, with the wind
chiefly in the south south-east and south-west ;
but, owing to the absence of any special gales of re-
markable duration and violence, the total number
of casualties in that year was 274 below the num-
ber in 1863. Iu 1865 the gales of January,
February, and March, and October, November, and
December, gave 766 casualties. It appears by the
returns that westerly gales are far inure fatal than
easterly gales, the most fatal being those from the
south-west. The number of ships lost or damaged
in 1865 was 2,012, and is in excess of the number
of wrecks and casualties (1,656), because in
cases of collision two or more ships are involved
in one casualty. Out of the 1,656 casualties,
868 occurred on the east coast, 386 on the
west coast, 187 on the south coast, and 146 on the
Irish coast. .While the greatest number of casual-
ties happened on the east coast, yet the greatest
loss of life occurred in the Irish Sea. Taking the
last seven years the number of lives lost in the Irish
Sea has been more than double the number lost on
any other part of the coast. Of the 2,012 ships
lost or damaged 1,914 were vessels employed iu the
regular carrying trade, out of which number 934
were unseaworthy, overladen, or ill-found vessels
of the collier class, chiefly employed in the coasting
trade. Of the total number of casualties in 1865
331 are referred to collisions, of which 114 occurred
in the daytime and 240 at night. It is remarkable
that although the collisions in 1865 are in excess
of any year since 1855, yet the number of lives
lost by this class of casualties is, with only
one exception, less than that recorded in any
year since 1858. Of the remaining 1,302 casualties
470 resulted in the total loss of the vessels, 99 were
lost through inattention, carelessness, or neglect,
and 38 are stated to have been lost through defects
either in the ship or in her equipments ; no less
than the 30 out of the 38 foundered from unsea-
worthiness. Out of the 832 partial losses, other than
by collision, 137 arose from carelessness, and 48 from
defects in the ship, or her equipments. The total
number of ships which, according to the facts
reported, appear to have foundered or to have
been otherwise totally lost, on the coasts
of the United Kingdom from unseaworthines
alone during the last ten years was 423 ; and
the number of casualties caused through unsea-
worthy ships, unsound gear, &c., during the same
period was bB6. It is noticed that of the total
number of casualties in 1865 the comparatively new
ships bore a very high proportion. Out of the
2,012 vessels lost or damaged 82 were rigged as ships,
130 were steamships, 542 schooners, 419 brigs, 187
barks, 187 brigantines, and 196 were smacks.
Among them were 1,267 old ships from 30 to 50
years of age; 230 were between 50 and 60 years
old ; 102 from 60 to 70 ; 48 from 70 to 80 ; 14 from
80 to 90 ; 6 from 90 to 100 ; and 4 of 101 years
and upwards. It is mentioned that the state of rot-
tenness and of want of repair of some of the ships
above 20 years old often calls for remark ; and even
at the age of 25 to 30 it sometimes happens that a
ship is so rotten as to fall to pieces immediately on
touching the ground, without giving the crew the
slightest chance of getting-out the boats. As re-
gards the loss of life the returns show that the total
numbers of persons lost on and near the coasts of the
United Kingdom in 1865, in 164 ships was 698. Out
of this number 275 lives were lost in vessels that foun-
dered, 53 were lost through collisions, and 335 were
lost in vessels stranded or cast ashore. On the
other hand, 4,162 lives were saved from wrecks
during the vear—viz., R 96 by lifoboata, 400 by
rocket and mortar apparatus, &c. ; 323 by lug-
gers, coastguard boats, and small craft ; 914
by ships and steamboats, 1,768 by ships'
own boats, 6 by individual exertion, and 346 by
other means. At the close of 1865 there were
234 lifeboats on the coasts of the United King-
dom ; there were also 249 rocket and mortar sta-
tions, and 553 coastguard stations provided with
cork life jackets and life lines. Attention is directed
in the report to a new double rocket, invented by
Colonel Boxer. This rocket is so arranged that on
the first rocket being expended the second takes
fire and completes the range. During the present
year, 1866, a new decoration, styled the " Albert
Medal," has been instituted by her Majesty, to be
awarded to those who endanger their lives in the
effort to save the lives of others from shipwreck and
from perils of the sea.

THE ANCIENT %AIM IN JAMES-STREET,
u_, ...rivet, which retained its former service until two
months ago, is now disused, and in process of conversion
to other purposes.

THE FENIAN HEAD CENTRE. There is not a
word of truth in the story printed on Saturday evening as
to the capture of Stephens, the Fenian head centre, at
Reepham, near Norwich. The hoax has excited much
amusement in the neighbourhood.
THE COST OF A CHANCERY SUIT.—A Corres-
pondent gives the following statement of accounts, show-
ing the result of a Chancery suit just concluded :

... .£717 3 10