The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-05 00:00:00

THE LATE ACCIDENT TO THE CALAIS

LIFEBOAT.

A British officer, who was present at the inquiry
at Calais relative to the accident to the lifeboat on
the occasion of the recent wreck of the Prince
Frederick William, gives the following as the
cause which produced it :
" 1. That the lifeboat was seriously damaged in
contact with the steamer either before or after the
accident to herself.
" 2. That she struck her bow twice or three
times under the steamer's stern, or counter, before
getting alongside of her.
"3. That when she got alongside she was held
close to it by three ropes, made fast to her forward,
amidships, and aft, each with little scope.
" 4. That the passengers, on getting into the
boat, were all placed in her starboard or off side,
to prevent their getting injured against the vessel.
" 5. That the boat then gradually heeled over
more and more on the starboard side, until the gun-
wale was but little above the water ; and that she
did not clear herself of the water she shipped,
which remained to the depth of seven or eight
inches on her deck.
"6. That, when thus heeled over, a sea struck
her on the off side, still further immersing it, and
forcing her against the vessel, when she slowly
turned over altogether, throwing those in her,
17 in all, into the water.
" 7. That she did not right herself immediately,
owing, as was supposed, to the persons in the water
holding on by the life lines, but that she righted
in about a minute after upsetting.
"8. That the boat was then allowed to remain
some time alongside, when the ropes holding her
were let go, and she at once sheered off, and rode
to her anchor, which had been let go before she
went alongside.
" 9. That the small boat of the steamer, which
landed six passengers in safety, had been veered by
a rope from the vessel when she was lying broad-
side to the shore, the water being smooth, from
being under her lee. That, on the contrary, when
the lifeboat was afterwards taken alongside, the
tide having risen, the sea was much rougher, and
the steamer had turned nearly head to the sea and
wind."
Reasoning from these premises, he considers that
the boat was upset from the following causes :
" That she was rope-bound to the vessel, and had
not sufficient scope of line to allow her to rise and
fall freely with the sea—of itself a sufficient cause
to upset any boat in a sea-way.
" That a 'large quantity of water having leaked
in beneath her deck, caused a proportional quantity
to remain undischarged on her deck, both which,
on the boat heeling over to starboard from the
weight of the passengers, would also have settled
on that side ; and
" That, while in this inclined position, the sea,
which broke on and into her on the same side, still
further depressed it, and drove her against the
vessel's side, the reactionary force from wich com-
pleted the most effectual series of measures that
could have been devised to upset a boat."

[ADvEßTisEmENTHelloway's Pills.—Cold, Catarrh,
Fever, Influenza.—Since dreary November opened her
dismal calendar, the atmosphere has been exceedingly try-
ing to the strongest constitution. Few persons have
escaped without colds; which, though seldom attended
with immediate danger, often lay the foundation for the
most serious diseases. At their commencement the cure is
accomplished with ease ; reduce the existing fever and
allay irritation, and the patient is himself again. To
secure this desirable result no pharmacopoeia bears on its
page any medicine or combination of medicines comparable
with Holloway's antiphlogistic pills, which operating on the
blood, their influence with it goes the whole round of the
circulation, stimulates every organ, and excites the exha-
lants to perspire, which effectually removes the febrile
action.