The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-10 00:00:00

THI SUN,' LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 'lO, 1859.

THE GREAT EASTERN.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT.
(THIS DAY.)
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

PORTLAND, SATURDAY, 10 A.M.

The Great Eastern has just anchored. On the
passage from the Nore, off Hastings, at six p.m.,
a terrific explosion occurred in the funnel
casing of the forward boilers ; the fittings
of the grand saloon and lower deck cabins were
blown to pieces ; thirteen firemen and stokers were
scalded or burnt, two are since dead, one jumped
overboard, and was drowned. Five are not ex-

pected to recover.
By an almost miraculous interposition, no pas-
senger was injured.
The names of the men killed are John Boyd,
Millwall, fireman; Michael Mahone, Liverpool, ditto
(jumped overboard); Edward Patrick Gormon.
Those severely hurt are Michael Mulroy, E. Ed-
wards, J. Yoxon, Liverpool ; R. Adams, Rother-
hithe ; William Sparks, Mile-end; and William
Kil, Peebles. The slightly injured is William
Bristow Ra.wlinson.

The ship and machinery with the exception o:
;he burst fun nel are all right.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

HASTINGS, SEPT. 9.

It has been stormy here during the night, and
increased during the morning, blowing hard from
the south-west, with a strong spring tide rolling on
and along the coast. The morning was fine, the
sun shining brightly, but there were signs of foul
weather, and by noon showers of rain began to fall,

which soon cleared the beach of ladies, nurses,
children, and brave gentlemen. A dense and far-
spreading cloud appeared in the south-west, and
gradually covered the horizon. Presently the rain
increased, and all was murky darkness and dirty
weather. " It's an ugly look-out for the Great
Eastern to-day," said an old tar, as he en-
deavoured to scan to seaward. Still hopes
were entertained—for the rain ceased, the wind
moderated, and the sun burst forth towards
the afternoon. People were on the look-out
on the heights and along shore—looking out in
vain. Some thought she would not leave the
Downs, it being so late in the day, and expectation
began to subside. Still a sharp look-out was kept
up ; when suddenly a rumour ran, " She's coming !
she's coming ! where ? when ?" and curiosity was
on tiptoe to get a glimpse of " the great stranger."
It was now about six o'clock, and something
" doubtful" was discerned looming in the distant
haze in the offing, south-easterly. Telescopes and
wondering eyes strained and strained till vision
almost grew dim with eagerness. "It is she ! it is
she !" exclaimed one more fortunate than the rest—
and soon the Great Eastern emerged out of the
haze, just under the rising moon, which loomed
above the horizon. Presently the ship, which was
about eight miles off, veered in shore at an angle
of 45 degrees, and soon made herself manifest to
the naked eye in all her stately magnificence. She
altered her course and steamed broadside on, at a
rate apparently of some 15 knots. Her hull was
high above the water, and on she steamed majesti-
cally in her course. Her masts were distinctly
visible, and counted over and over again by the
delighted and wondering gazers. She worked the
screw only, and little or no smoke appeared ; but
such was the quiet speed with which she moved
that, though the foam dashed from her bows, there
was no motion discernible save her going a-head.
No rolling nor pitching, though there must have
been a heavy swell from the gale that blew so
strongly during the day, and the flood tide was
then rolling on, with the wind right a-head. She
proceeded steadily down channel, and soon vanished
in the distance.

HASTINGS, SATURDAY MORNING.

The Great Eastern hove to and anchored off this
place at seven o'clock last evening. This mornjng
at daybreak she weighed anchor, and proceeded to
the westward.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
SOUTHAMPTON, SATURDAY MORNING.
Capt. Higginson, of the Foyle steamer, arrived
here from Dublin for London, reports having passed
the Great Eastern at 5 o'clock this morning off the
Isle of Wight under steam and canvas.

ST. CATHERINE'S, ISLE OF WIGHT,
SATURDAY MORNING.
The Great Eastern passed this station on her
way up channel at five o'clock this morning.

PORTLAND, SATURDAY MORNING
The Great Eastern anchored here at 9.50 a.m.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

WEYMOUTH, SATURDAY MORNING

I mentioned in the letter I addressed to you from
the Nore that, in consequence of the wind blowing
something more than fresh, most of the ladies on
board, and some of -the gentlemen too, notwith-
standing that the size and power of the vessel ought
to have given them a little more confidence in her
seaworthiness, began to feel uneasy at their position
until they saw, such is the force of example, a mere
cockle-shell living in the surf. The adventurous
gentlemen I have already mentioned having left
us, the vessel's head was about eight a.m. turned
southwards, and, with both screw and paddles
at work, we left the Nore for Portland.
I took care to plant myself close by the first
officer, of whose kindness in affording me the infor-
mation I required I must speak in the highest terms
of praise. Shortly after we weighed anchor the sky
thickened, and the slightest portion of weather wis-
dom would have told any one that a heavy shower
was in store for us ; and down it came, not rattling
on the deck, but something very like a Scotch mist,
with a little animation imparted to it, driving all
but the officers of the ship off the deck, and com-
pelling them to seek the friendly shelter of the
saloons and cabins. Such was the state of the
weather as we steamed past the Isle of Sheppey
towards Broadstairs, Ramsgate, and Margate, at
some 12 miles' distance from shore, the hateful
presence of the Goodwins preventing us from stand-
ing more inshore to give the inhabitants and the
sojourners at those watering-places an opportunity of
witnessing the manner in which the vessel cleared
her way through the waves, for, instead of riding
upon them, she absolutely cut them in twain. By
the time we had passed Dover and Folkestone the
weather cleared up. We came in view of Beachy
Head, and the rest of the day was just that descrip-
tion of weather which an epicurean in yachting
might well covet ; just such weather as the sailors
had a right to expect, as one of them informed me
from the " mackerel " sky on Wednesday night.
If the towns upon the Kentish coast had reason to
complain that the course of the vessel lay too much
out to sea, the people of Hastings, Newhaven,
Brighton, Hove, Bognor, and the other towns
upon the Sussex coast could not similarly com-
plain, for unless the improved state of the weather
interfered with my power of judging of distance at
sea—a task which, in the hands of even the most
experienced, is beset with difficulty—l should say
that the distance between us and them was consi-
derably smaller than that which separated us from
the good people of Margate ; for, as we required
telescopes to see them, it may naturally be con-
cluded that their vision had to be similarly assisted
to enable them to see us. Such, however, was not
the case in regard to either Hastings or Brighton,
for we could distinctly see the crowds that were•
assembled on the beach at both one and the
other of those places. Turning Selsa point,
we passed _the Isle of Wight and the Needles
the vessel going in perfect obedience to her helm,
smoothly and without scarcely a vibration, except
perhaps at the stern, immediately over the screw.
Having passed Bournemouth and Swanage, we
turned St. Alban's Head, and saw Portland Bill, the
end of our first voyage, before us, where we arrived
at about ten o'clock this morning, pleased and
gratified with the trip. The weather has been

magnificent, and the appearance of the sea by moon:
light was sublime.
The people of Weymouth are highly compli-
mented to think that the Great Eastern should
honour them with her first state visit, and there
are, we hear, great preparations afoot, as a demon-
stration of their gratification, to take place either
to-night or to-morrow morning. At present, the
paddle-wheels only dip into the water, so that they
have scarcely half purchase ; but even with that
drawback there were times when we made fully
17 knots an hour. Her average speed throughout
the voyage cannot, I think, have been less than 15.

LATEST NEWS.

The following telegrams have been received at
Mr. Reuter's office :

ZURICH, SEPT. 10.
On Wednesday and Thursday there were no
conferences of the plenipotentiaries.
Yesterday the Sardinian plenipotentiaries held a
conference with M. de Bourqueney, lasting two
hours.

VIENNA, SEPT. 10.

The official portion of the Wiener Zeitung of this
day contains an Imperial decree for the regulation
of the Protestant churches in Hungary—the Wog-
wodxhaft, Croatia, and Slavonia, and the military
boundary district (militairgrenze).
The non-official part of the same paper contains
an article promising that great concessions will be
n ade to the Protestants of all other provinces. A
Protestant member has already been elected to the
consistory of Vienna.

Baron Bach, formerly Minister of the Interior,
and lately appointed ambassador to Rome, is about
to leave for that city.

TRIESTE, SEPT. 9.
The French transport Mayence brought, yester-
day, 499 Avstrian prisoners from Algeria.
The Austrian Lloyd's steamer has arrived with
advices from Constantinople to the 3d inst.
Reinforcements of troops have been sent to
Crete. Several arrests have taken place. A secret
understanding has been discovered among the
Cretan refugees in Greece. The principal Greek
inhabitants of Crete have forwarded a memorial to
the Porte to justify themselves. News from Erze-
roum state that a large fire had broken out, and
the town had been visited again by repeated earth-
quake shocks. The telegraph to Smyrna is opened.
The Russian Steam Navigation Company has
announced that it is ready to receive all freights
for Kutais, Tiflis, Erivan, and Tabris.

MUNICH, SEPT. 9.

The Papal Nuncio, Prince Chigi, has been sum-
moned by telegraph to Rome to be present at the
council, which has under its consideration certain
important administrative reforms. His return is
uncertain.

TURIN, SEPT. 9.
A deputation, consisting of the Marquis Lagatico,
Chevalier Peruzzi, and Professor Matteucci, will

leave very shortly for Paris on a mission from the
Tuscan Government. Professor Matteucci left
Turin to-day for Paris, where he will meet his
other colleagues.

PARMA, SEPT. 9

In the sitting of the National Assembly to-day
a discussion took place on the address to be for-
warded to the Emperor Napoleon 111. Proposals
have been made by several members to confirm the
present executive powers of the Dictator Farini,
and to declare the decheance of the Bourbon
dynasty. The vote on the above two questions
wlil take place to-morrow.

MARSEILLES, SEPT. 9.
The Duke and Duchess of Malakoff embarked
here this morning for Alicante and Madrid.
Advices have been received stating that the
military authorities of Algeria had taken measures
of precaution against the eventualities of any dis-
turbances or hostilities taking place in Morocco.

ROME, SEPT. 6 (via MARSEILLES

The Pope has been attacked with fever, and in
consequence has suspended all audiences for seve-
ral days. He is now recovering, and will leave in
a few days for Castel Gondolfo.

NAPLES, SEPT. 6 (via MARSEILLES).
Rumours of changes in the Ministry still con•

nue.

PARIS, FRIDAY.

The Conference on the Danubian Principalities
will meet again in a few days, its work not being
quite completed yet.

The King of the Belgians will arrive at Biarritz
about the 14th instant, where he will remain some
days.

VIENNA, FRIDAY.

The statement that the Russian Ambassador at
this Court had delivered to the Austrian Cabinet a
note from his Government, recommending Austria
to seek counsel of the Great Powers in the settle-
ment of the affairs of Italy, is erroneous.