The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-18 00:00:00

ashore ?" I said " Yes." I went on the topgallant
forecastle, and made the rope fast round my waist.
Mr. Stephens asked me what I was going to do and
wanted to give me a lifebuoy, and 1 said, " No."
and I lowered myself down by a flying-jitiboom. I
was washed back three times to the ship, but at
last succeeded in getting ashore, where I saw some
people, and they said, " Give us the line," and they
took me away. I wanted to stop to pull the hawser
ashore, but they would not let me. I have been
five trips in the Royal
,Charter. I joined her
in the second trip. We never used storm-staysails.
I do not know whether she carried storm-staysails.
Mr. Bateson, solicitor, said they would be able
to prove that they had storm-staysails on board.
Rowland Hughes, being sworn, said—l am master
of the lifeboat at Moelfre. It is a self•righting life-
boat. We have a double crew, but six men and a
steersman go in at a time. She belongs to the Na-
tional Lifeboat Institution. Last year we saved
some lives from a Liverpool flat. I was at Red
Wharf on the night of the wreck. I had not my
lifeboat there. I am the owner of a smack, and I had
my smack at Red Wharf that night. I did not see
any lights or signals of distress. I went to bed at
half-past 12. I was out till then but did not see
anything like signals. Not a lifeboat in the world
could have rendered any assistance that night, if I
had seen signals. I got up next morning at six
o'clock. I was not on the Moelfre shore after I
rose. I saw a schooner in distress on Red Wharf
sands. We could not relieve her. The sea was
running too high, and it was blowing too hard.
It was not possible to get out a boat at that hour
and relieve a vessel in distress. I saw some person
in the rigging of the schooner. '
By Mr. Aspinfill—l have lived a long time on
that coast. lam a native of that part. lam new
52 yeare of age, and I never in my life saw such
a storm as on that night. I remember the wind
chopping round between 10 and 11 o'clock that
night. It came round to the north-east. It
then commenced to blow a hurricane. Between
seven and eight o'clock it was east by south. I
never saw such a sea in my life. I had been in
conversation with an old man of 80 years of ago, and
he told me he never saw such a storm in his life.

By Captain Harris—As the master of the boat,
it is left to my discretion as to the launching of the
boat in the case of a storm. The other master of the
lifeboat was at Moelfre while I was away. We
exercise our lifeboat every three months.
George Suaicer, a sailor, was next examined.
The effect of his evidence was that, after the ship
had broken in two, he attempted to go on shore
with a line. He was let down at the forepart of
the vessel, but he was palled up again by Captain
Withers and others, as they considered it was too
dangerous, and that he would be lost. Meanwhile
Rogers had gone from another part of the ship, and
succeeded in getting on shore with a line.
Mr. O'Dowd said this was the only evidence of
this nature that he intended to call, and he would
ask the bench for an adjournment for a few days.
He thought it right to apprise his friend, Mr. As-
pinall, that the evidenee he intended to produce now
would bear on two points—first, whether this vessel
was built according to the usual strength of iron
vessels, and whether that strength was sufficient ?
After some consultation between the bench and
legal gentlemen, the investigation was adjourned
till Wednesday next, at one o'clock.
Mr. Smith, receiver of wrecks, had a letter sent
to him yesterday in Liverpool, stating that on the
16th inst., two bags of sovereigns, supposed to con-
tain £5OO each, had been recovered from the wreck.
Some of the gold had been discovered which Capt.
Fell had in his possession. A male body was picked
up to the westward of the wreck, and upon it were
found £l7 135., two mourning rings, and a small
clasp. Another body was also washed ashore, just
before the despatch of the letter, having on it a belt
containing £l7, three gold rings, three breastpins,
and two pair of earrings.

The following interesting letter is from Mr. Wm.
Gilmour, of Aylesbury, for two years surgeon su-
perintendent of the Royal Charter :
"Having been surgeon of the unfortunate vessel
during four voyages from Liverpool to Australia
and back, I feel myself called upon to give a few
reminiscences of the ill-fated ship and her late offi-
cers who are now no more.
" First, of the ship. At sea, with a good breeze
on her quarter, which was her best sailing point,
she was the best sailer I ever saw; we used to pass
everything we came up with. I have known her to
sail 18 knots an hour and yet go steady through
the water ; but in very rough weather, with a head
wind, she laboured very much and shipped a great
deal of water, which made her a very uncomfortable
ship for passengers, more especially the third class.
I have very often seen the water knee-deep, be-
tween decks, and in sloppy wet weather the main
deck always leaked, supposed to be from the work-
ing and straining of the ship. Indeed, I have seen
the boards of the deck working up and down like
the keys of a piano, and the seams all a mass of
froth. This I have frequently pointed out to the
captain and chief officer. I have also seen and felt
her vibrate from bow to stern like a fishing rod,
and often when great press of sail was on her have
often heard the rivets rattling in her sides, but I
must say never saw her leaking in any part only
once, and that was a small one in her bows. These
things I have more particularly noticed during
the last two voyages before this unfortunate one, as
I am thankful to Gad that I was not in her the last
one: During those two voyages, but more especially
the last one, I lost much of the confidence I had in
her, and determined to leave her as soon as I could
get a chance of settling down on land; in fact, such
was my anxiety to get out of her that I had a pre-
sentiment, which haunted me' continually, that
sooner or later she would be lost. This I have often
told Mr. Stephens, chief officer, Mr. Rogers, chief
engineer, and Mr. Lewis, purser. I never had the
same confidence in her that I had in the Great
Britain, of which ship I was surgeon at the time
she was engaged in her Majesty's transport service
during the Crimean war, which was a period of 18
months, and all that time I never saw her decks
wet by a wave, but the Charter's deck I have many,
very many times; indeed, I once
.very nearly lost
my life from a huge wave, containing many tons
of water, which nearly washed me overboard one
night I was going to the surgery. I have to thank
the boatswain- of that voyage, whose name was
Albert, for saving my life. He jumped right into
the water and seized me as I was being washed
into the lee scuppers. The same wave stove iti one
of the boats.

" Almost every one of the late unfortunate offi-
cers was most intimately known to me, as we were
more a' band of brothers' than anything else; hut,
poor fellows, they are gone, and they deserved a
better fate. To begin with Captain Taylor. A
better commander and seaman never had charge
of a ship ; he was a strict disciplinarian with his
officers and crew—almost too much so; ho was very
fond of carrying all the sail he could possibly have
spread out ; he took every advantage of the wind ;
but it was thought by' some that he sometimes car-
ried too much sail, which strained the ship more or
less ' • but of this, from my own knowledge in nau-
tical affairs, I cannot give an opinion, but I can
safely say that when at sea I never on any occasion
felt the least nervous or nneasy at the quantity of
canvas he had on her—l mean as long as we had
plenty of sea-room ; but I felt rather nervous the
voyage before last, I think it was, that I was in her
coming up Channel. We were steaming, and there
were a great may vessels passing us, and one ran
right across our bow, so close that I could have
almost stepped on board of her, but this was no
fault of Captain Taylor. What I used to say of him
was that he was a ' rough diamond,' as almost
every one is who has risen from the ranks of the
forecastle. He never had been a gold-laced, kid-
gloved middy, with more money than brains, but
had got up to what he was by his own perseve-
rance and proficiency. He has left a widow and I
think he told me, nine children.
" The chief officer was W. B. Stephens. A more
gentlemanly, better educatecl, cool-tempered, chief
officer, there did not exist. He was one who always
had a pleasant word for everybody, and who did
everything in his power, to make all on board
happy and comfortable. He was the life of the
deck during his watch aloft, as very many of the
passengers who sailed in her will remember. He
had been twice shipwrecked before, and was in the
steam-ship Cleopatra as chiefofficer all the time she
was employed in the transport service during the
Crimean war. Poor fellow! If he had been spared
he would have been an ornament to the mercantile
marine service, but it was willed otherwise. Many,
very many, hours have I spent in his company, and
I can safely say a better young man I never knew.
He was a good Christian, a good seaman, a fond and
tender husband, an honourable and true son of the
ocean. He has left a widow and two children, who
are residing in Bootle. He was a native of Scotland.
" The second officer, Andrew Cowie, was also a '
very promising young man, a good seaman, well educated, and fearless of danger. He was once ship- wrecked on the coast of South Australia. He came
home with Capt. Taylor in the old Wm. Munny,
which showed that he was fearless of danger in
trusting himsclf in such a craft. He was also a
Scotchman, and married ; his wife resides at Govan,
near Glasgow.
" The third officer, Mr. Bean, I did not know
much of. He was of a more reserved and quiet die.
position, but always pleasant and agreeable to the
passengers; and he always did his duty on all oc-
casions as a true British seamen. I cannot say it'll°
was married or not.

The fourth officer, John Croome, had been a.
cadet or middy on hoard ever since she first started
from Liverpool. He was appointed as fourth officer
the voyage previous to the last. At the time of hie

appointment he had not served out his time, but he
was a very clever and gentlemanly young man, a
good scholar, and clever draughtsman, which talent
he inherited from his father, who is a mechanical
draughtsman to the firm of Penn and Son, the cele-
brated marine engine boilermakers of London. He
was a mere youth in years, but a man possessed of
sterling nautical qualities.
" The purser, Mr. John Lewis, commenced his
sea life on board the steam-ship Great Western.
In her he made several trips across the Atlantic.
He afterwards entered on board the City of Pitts-
burg steamer, belonging to an American company.
She was burned to the water's edge, and he lost his
all, and suffered much privation both bodily and
mentally. He afterwards entered on board the
steam-ship Great Britain, and in her was promoted
to the post of chief steward, which he filled with-
out complaint all the time he was in her, more
especially while she was in the transport service,
when he came more especially under ray notice.
On her being paid off by the Government he was
transferred to the Royal Charter as purser, which
situation he has well and. truly filled to the satis-
faction of all—owners, passengers, and crew. He
wls allowed to be the best purser that ever sailed
on the sea ; he well knew how to make the most of
everything on board. He was most gentlemanly
in his manner; he was very engaging and pleasant
in his conversation, and many, very many passen-
gers will remember the pleasant hours spent in his
cabin after the business of the day was over. He
belonged to Bristol, and has left a widow and two
children.

" I come now to a person whose talents and edu-
cation were of a different kind—poor John Rogers,
the chief engineer. He was the second engineer in
the Great Britain while in the transport service, and
for some time previous, I- believe. He had made
altogether six trips to Australia, and this unfortu-
nate one was the seventh. On the Reyal Charter
being ready for sea he was promoted as ehief in her,
which situation he has filled ever since. He was a
good practical:engineer, and one who was complete
master of every part of his trade. He was ♦ery fond
of his violin, and, when not steaming, many a plea-
sant hour have I spent in listening to the beautiful
Scottish airs he used to play. But his little engines
were his chief delight. He used to call them his
children, and often, in the midst of our amusement,
would he say, Come and see how my children look.'
He was a Scotchman, born in Edinburgh, but for
many years his family have been residing in Liver-
pool. He has left a widow and six children to
mourn their loss.

" The second engineer's name I eannot recollect,
but his Christian name was 'Frank.'
" The third engineer was named Hoskins, son of
the Captain Hoskins who was. in command of the
Great Britain when she was wrecked in Dundrum
Bay. He played very well on the cornopean, and
when the ship was lying in Port Philip Bay used
to enliven the tedium with the strains of his music.
He was a very gentlemanly young man, and atten-
tive to his duty.
" The fourth, a boilermaker, whose name was
Wilson, I did not know much of, only that he was
a Scotchman, and could' spin a good yarn.'
" The principal storekeeper, Robt. Clucas, will
long be remembered by the many passengers and
others who were acquainted with him. He always
gave satisfaction to every person, and when the
toils of the day were over, the many invitations he
had to the passengers' concerts, parties, &c., told
how he was beloved. He could sing a good song
and tell a good story. He belonged to the Isle of
Man, and had a brother living in Liverpool.
" The barkeeper was Edward Lewis, brother to
the purser; he had been at sea many years ; I think
he told me that he had been shipwrecked on the
coast af South America. His situation was a diffi-
cult one to fill, more especially on board a passen-
ger vessel, and to give satisfaction to all was a
most difficult task ; but yet he managed to pleise
every one, and to carry out the regulations to the
best of his ability. He was also married, and had a
son in Australia and a wife and several children in
Bristol.

" And now for the one solitary middy on board,
whose name was Frederick Foster, an orphan. He
was fonder of his bunk than the deck, and many an
hour he spent at the masthead as punishment, and
many a bucket of cold water he had about him to
wake him up. He was also very fond of foxing' or
feigning ill when he came under my notice. He
never would have made a sailor, but now all his
troubles are over.

" The chief steward, Mr. Emery, I did not know
much of him ; he was of a reserved disposition, but
always paid particjilar attention to his duties, as the
excellent table that used to be spread in the Charter
could testify. He belonged to Liverpool, and was
married.

" The chief steward of the second-class saloon was
Mr. Allen. He had been first steward to the officers'
mess-room. On being promoted to the saloon the
officers presented him with a purse, in remembrance
of his kindness and attention to them. He was after-
. wards promoted to the situation of chief of the second
class, which situation he ably filled during several
voyages. He was one of the smartest stewards that
ever was on board a ship, and the many preseits he
received fully testified as to how he did his duty. He
has left a widow and family, who reside on the
Cheshire side of the Mersey.
" The stewardess was Miss Wareing, whose father
has been in Mr. Bright's employ very many years.
She was a very good, modest young woman. She
had made two trips in the ship, and was universally
liked by all the lady passengers in the saloon ; but
her services and attention were very often given
to the second class as well, and often have I seen
her in the very bows of the ship visiting some poor
third-class passenger who was sick, -- indeed,
even to the common sailors when any of them were
ill. Well do I remember her attention and kind-
ness to one poor fellow, a sailor, who one night fell
from the mainyard on to the deck and had one of
his arms taken off. She tried to take him the nicest
part of her meals, and nursed him like a sister till
he was able to go about again.'
" The above are what may be called the perma-
nent staff of officers. Though not so engaged yet
they one and all had such a love for the Charter
that they used to remain disengaged the time'she
was in dosk, and when about to sail engage again.
But there were some minor characters that I cannot
pass over without mentioning here. There was Mr.
Oatwick, the pantry steward ; the two bedroom
stewards, Thomas Cormack (who is one of the few
saved) and Hugh Kane, who was also the captain's
steward---he was a very smart young man, a native
of Westport, Ireland.
"And now for Joe Rodgers, the Maltese who
swam ashore with the rope to which the hawser
was attached that was the means of saving several
lives. He was a hero, indeed, to overcome the death
dealing waves.' This feat will be ever remembered
by every true British seaman; but many a time
have I seen him go out on the yard-arm when it
was blowing great guns,' when no other sailor
would venture. He has often told me that he never
knew what fear was, and I bless God that such a
brave fellow has been spared to perform more deeds
of daring.
"I will now close with a few words on a charac-
ter whom every passenger by the Charter will re-
member--I allude to ' Piping Judd.' He was one
of the sweepers between decks, but his avocations
were multifarious, as you would often find him
scrubbing on deck. A few minutes afterwards
might be heard the lively strains of his tin whistle,
when hoisting up coal, &c. ; and in the evenings
many a dance has been performed to its music, and
many a concert on board has he been a performer
at, when he would play some of the most delight-
ful pieces from celebrated operas. He played all by.
ear, not knowing a note of music; but now his pip-
ing is over, and he and his pipe lie in the same
watery grave.—l remain," &c,

[AnvEßTlstAtt.l—Holloway's In,
decisions Lassitude.—Persons constitutionally Weak are so
much depressed by warm damp sveather, that the ordinary
offices of life become a labour the neOedaitY of thinking be-
comes a toil, The nervous system is unhinged, aid each
dey brings to Etch iiitialde objects nothing but a succession
of real or fancied miseries. To escape from such torments
it is only necessary to take Holloway's Pills, Which purify
and strengthen a debilitated shaken constitution mote than
any other medicine in the world. They cleanse the body
from all impurities, give tone to the stomach, regularity to
the liver, activity to the kidneys, bladder, and bowels; they
remove dejection of spirits and bodily lassitude, restoring
to the mind decision and cheerfulness.

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