The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-21 00:00:00

ADMIRALTY, Auc. 16.

The following promotions have this day been made :
Mr. John Cooper to be Acting Engineer in Her Majesty's
Fleet ; Messrs. Alexander Ferguson Mclntyre, Mr. John
Forrest, Mr. James Keay, Mr. James Finlay, Mr. Edward
Ramsay, Mr. Arthur Shanks, and Mr. Thomas raparlano,
to be Engineers is her Majesty's Fleet.

COURSE' OF EXCHANGE—This Evening.

Amsterdam Short. 11 18 11 19
Ditto 3 Months. 12 1 i 12 2
Rotterdam

Antwerp
Brussels

25 54 25 62k
25 52i 25 623

Hamburg — 13 14 13 101
Paris Short 25 21 25 35
Ditto 3 Months. 25 50 25 65
Marseilles
Frankfort on the Maine —120 t
Vienna — 13 30 13 50
Trieste — 13 30 13 50
Petersburgn - 274 28
Berlin
Madrid
Cadiz
Leghorn
Milan
Genoa
Naples — 27 85 28 10

THE CHANNEL SQUADRON.

PORTLAND, Aug. 17.

In half an hour after the arrival of the Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty in the Osborne,
followed by the Enchantress, they went on board
the Caledonia, walking all round her decks, accom-
panied by the Admiral (Yelverton), Capt. the Hon.
F. Foley, and the principal officers of the ship, and
expressed themselves much pleased with all they
saw. From the Caledonia their Lordships proceeded
to the Achilles (Capt. Vansittart), walked round her,
mounted upon her topgallant forecastle, and heard
wonderful accounts of her sailing qualities. They
then went to the Pallas, and wondered how she con-
trived to float at all. From the Pallas they were
proceeding towards the Lord Clyde, when some sud-
den thought flashed through the brains of some of
them, producing the effect of altering the course of
the barge, which was steered to the Liverpool. After
the exchange of a few amiabilities with Capt. Sec-
combe their Lordships went on board the Lord
Clyde, and from the Lord Clyde to the Hector. It
was now 7 o'clock. They " did" the six ships in
something less than two hours, and they returned
on board the Osborne, where they entertained the
captains at dinner.
Next morning (Saturday, the 18th) they were astir
betimes. They went to inspect the works crowning the
height of Portland Bill—the Vern Forts, huge masses
of fortification like those on Portsdown Hill. To save
their Lordships the fatigue of climbing up the steeps
an ordinary railway truck had been converted into a
rude kind of char-a-banc, covered with an ensign,
and so strong that it would have borne the whole
Board and the two Secretaries if they had been all
six-ton guns. They returned to breakfast, and
at 10 o'clock all the ships had steam up, and
were ready to start. It was rumoured that they
were to disperse in the evening, the ships proceed-
ing to their respective ports. Exactly at 11 30 the
squadron passed out by the end of the breakwater;
the Osborne and Enchantress, just outside, waited
for them. The entire Board of Admiralty stood
upon the bridge and paddle-boxes of the Osborne.
It was a proud moment for Sir John Pakington.

The port line (consisting of the Achilles, Pallas,
and Liverpool) led the way. The signal was made,
" Keep close order," then " Form line of battle ;"
soon after, " Form line abreast." The signals in-
dicated the number of cables' lengths which each
ship should keep between her next neighbour and
herself. The water was as smooth as a pond. The
ironelads steered handily. All the steam tactics
were safely if not admirably performed. At 135
the Admiral made the signal to " Exercise at
general quarters," whereupon every ship assumed a
fighting attitude. The next signal was, " Prepare
to engage an enemy on the port side; whereupon
the Liverpool immediately fired one of her star-
board guns, which the Lord Clyde felt bound to re-
turn by firing a port gun. It was fortunate neither
was shotted. The signal to engage was made, and
then all the ships fired blank cartridge as fast as
they could, steaming rapidly round and round,
pouring in broadside after broadside, shrouded in
thick wreaths of smoke. The spectacle must have
been a fine one, as seen from the Admiralty yachts
and a small steam yacht which was with them. At
2 15 they formed line abreast on leading ship of
columns, like racers ready to start. At 240 the
order to " Chase enemy to westward" was given.
All the six ships started at full speed, stoking up as
fast as they could. The Achilles shot ahead of all,
going 12 knots. The Lord Clyde at first seemed to
gain on the Caledonia, but it was a close race be-
tween these ships and the llector, all three going 11
knots. The Pallas said she was going 10. She was ob-
served to throw up three distinct heavy waves as she
was forced through the water. The Liverpool said
she was going nine. The yachts slightly led the
whole ; the race lasted an hour, and was well worth
seeing. At 3.40 they formed order of sailing in two
columns ; at 4 they made all plain sail, bracing
sharp up on port tack. They then kept away and
set studding sails; then shortened and furled all
sail, shaping course for the Start Point. The Hector
and Pallas parted company. The signal was made
from the Osborne, " Admiralty are much gratified."
Their lordships steamed towards Dartmouth. Ad-
miral made the signal, " I intend to go into port to-
morrow morning at 7 a.m.," and the Caledonia,
Lord Clyde, Achilles, and Liverpool moored in Ply-
mouth Sound at 8 o'clock on Sunday morning.

The Fatal Collision off the Suffolk Coast.

-~

The terrible collision which took place early on
Sunday morning off Aldborough, on the Suffolk
coast, between the General Steam Navigation Com-
pany's steamer Bruiser, from Hull to London, and
the Haswell screw collier, bound to the Tyne from
the Thames, has not been attended, it is believed,
with the very extensive sacrifice of life which was
first reported. Unhappily, however, there has been
a sad loss, and it is stated that many who perished
were children and women. The collision took place
about ten minutes to three o'clock in the morning.
The Haswell had recently undergone some repairs
in the Victoria Dock, and was going down light to
the North to receive a cargo of coals. The Bruiser
left Hull on Saturday for London, and had a full
complement of passengers. Both vessels were pur-
suing the usual course some few miles off the land.
On the part of the Haswell it is averred that she
kept a port helm, and that the Bruiser must have
suddenly altered her course to have brought her
across the bow of the Haswell. The Bruiser was
struck amidships on the starboard side. The shock
is said to have been of a most terrific character, and
for the time it was apprehended that both ships
would go down. The Bruiser was cut down below
the water line, and the sea rushed into her hold with
considerable force. The cry was raised for the pas-
sengers and crew to save themselves by getting on
board the Haswell. Capt. Martz, the master of the
Bruiser, is reported to have been below at the time
of the collision, having left the chief officer on deck.
In about ten minutes the Bruiser went down in
several fathoms of water, and as she disappeared
several hands, apparently of children and females,
were seen above the companion. Many of them
were asleep in the berths when the collision took
place, and in the confusion were unable to get on
deck. Two of the stokers of the Bruiser were killed
in their berths, and a sailor belonging to the same
vessel was drowned. Amongst the passengers who
came on board at Hull was a German woman and
two or three children, and it is thought that they
have perished. A passenger also lost his wife. Con-
sidering the character of the accident and the short
time that was allowed them to save themselves, it is
somewhat providential that the loss of life was not
greater. The number who perished is computed at
about 20 or 25, but some of the passengers may have
been picked up by passing ships. The Haswell, after
remaining about the spot for some time, returned to
London. She sustained a fearful rent on per port
bow, the iron plates being driven in, but fortunately
she was light, and the forward bulkhead held firm,
as we stated yesterday. She arrived off the Victoria
Docks on Sunday evening, when the passengers
were landed.

Mr. Joseph Fry, bookseller, Chelmsford, who
was a passenger on board the Bruiser, gives the
following
account of the catastrophe :—I had gone
to bed in the saloon part of the cabin about eleven
o'clock
on
and the
the sea previous evening, the weather
being
calmsmooth. I went to sleep
soon after, and
rememberi nothing more until 1 was
suddenly awoke in t
about 3 o'clock.
The noise which awoke me morning
me was a strong loud crash,
and when I looked out I stle
cabin. floo r . I hurriedlyonly
as
asked what was the matter, but received
reply that something had happened to
and at once
the ship. I
then put some articles of dress
nEvery_
v
hurried on deck, where I found the greater portion
of the passengers in a state of semi-nudity
thing was in the greatest confusion. The captainy-
told the passengers to take to the rigging,
as the
ship was sinking. A great number of people obeyed
the order, but I was so unnerved by the sight which
presented itself that I was unable to mount into the
shrouds. The boats which were suspended to the
davits amidships were both stove in, and there was
only a small boat on the quarter-deck that could be
launched. In the meantime the ship that had run
into us was entangled in the rigging. Iler bowsprit
extended right across our vessel, and all her crew
,

were in the bows. They lowered ropes to bring the
people on board, and by this means some were
hauled up, while others managed to scramble on
board by the bowsprit or any other means that they
could command. In the meantime the captain gave
orders that the only remaining boat should be lowered,
and the women and children were ordered to be ready
to get in. The sea was perfectly calm at the time,
and there appeared no difficulty about getting all the
passengers transferred from one vessel to the other.
The boat was letdown, and all was ready, but some
of the women in the dim twilight of the morning
hesitated about being lowered down the side of the
ship into such a small boat, and after endeavouring
to persuade a young girl to go in after two sailors,
who bad taken charge of the boat, and finding that
she would not go in, I descended by a rope, and was
the third person in the boat. I think there were
nine or ten of us in when we pushed off. We reached
the side of the other ship and got on board, but not
to soon. The vessel that we had left had been gra-
dually settling down, although in the hurry which
distracted every one except the captain, we could
not see exactly what injury our own ship had re-
ceived, we discovered after we were safe that she
was almost cut in two. She was now going rapidly,
and half-naked figures of helpless women, with
streaming hair and despairing looks, were seen
clinging to the shrouds. Just then a schooner hove
in sight, and seeing what had occurred she bore
down upon us. She arrived in time to be of service,
for she succeeded in taking off several of the unfor-
tunate persons who were left on the wreck. I was
conveyed in the other steamer to London. I never
shall forget the awfulness of the scene that presented
itself on the occasion of the ship going down. As
I have said, there were a great number of persons
clinging to the shrouds, and their wailings for help
were above the bustle and hurry which possessed
every one. Orders were given for all sorts of things
to be done, and everything was done to save life
which it was possible to do under the circumstances.
But above all this the shrieking of terrified women
was heard, and half-frantic men rushed in every
direction with the hope of rendering assistance to
those who were yet on the wreck. The ship into
which I had got had steamed astern, so as to clear
herself from the sinking vessel ; but we had not
gone further away than was absolutely necessary
for safety. I have said that I got into the small
boat and reached the other ship, but my time in
relating it far exceeds the time in which the occur-
rences took place. Indeed, so rapidly did one
matter succeed another that it is with difficulty
I can recollect the order of events. One thing I
do remember, however, and I am sure I shall never
forget it, and that is the awful sight of the sinking
ship taking with her some 20 human beings. All of
a sudden the ship seemed to heel, and then plunging
headforemost beneath the waves, a boiling surge
succeeded, and for ever drowned the cries of the
unfortunate creatures who had been unavoidably left
on the wreck. I afterwards inquired of the captains
of the two vessels how the accident occurred, but
they replied they were unable to say. Both ships
showed lights, and both bad men stationed on the
look-out ; but no signal was given to the helmsman
until the collision took place.
A Great Yarmouth correspondent writes :—The
collision took place about lin the morning. All the
passengers were in bed at the time ; the usual watch
was being kept ; the weather was very fine ; there
was little or no wind, and the sea was calm. Between
Aldborough and Southwold, near the Wirewell
Bank of the coast of Suffolk, the collier dashed into
the Bruiser, striking her right in the centre. The
water rushed into the engine-room and put out the
fires. A fearful scene ensued, the passengers run-
ning up on deck in their night clothes. The Bruiser
sunk rapidly, but a ladder was placed from the one
steamer to the other, and a number of the pas-
sengers succeeded in scrambling onboard thellaswell.
Others, however, in attempting to do so were
drowned, while others were sucked down. When
the Bruiser foundered, providentially the schooner
Perseverance, Capt. Gaffies, of London, came up and
picked up three passengers, a man named Stout, a
woman and her nephew, who were brought to Yar-
mouth and landed at the Sailors' Home. They were
in their night clothes when rescued, and in a very
exhausted state.