The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 19, 1844.

THE LATE UNFORTUNATE EX
PEDITION TO BORNEO.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.
(From the Friend of China, May 4.)
After leaving Semmirendan, we dropped down until
we felt the effects of the flood tide, when we anchored,
still lashed together, watching the boats that several
times attempted to close in. At daylight we weighed,
the boats firing at us from a point above ; but having
a fair wind, we made sail, followed by the boats,
until we reached that part of the river where the bar
is situated, about thirteen miles from the sea. here
we had to anchor in one of the four branches into
which the river divides, separated from each other by
narrow islands covered with jungle. Captain hart
went in his boat to sound, but found it would be
some hours before we should be able to cross. The
boats now took advantage of a point above us, and
opened a well-directed brisk fire upon us, raking both
vessels, cutting up the rigging and completely hulling
the brig. It was so severe that at one time Captain
Lewis allowed no one on the poop but himself; the
poop gun being of no use. Boats were arriving in
great numbers every minute and crossing over out of
our fire, with the evident intention of passing down
one of the other reaches, and attacking us in the rear.
Seeing this, it was decided to move a little further
down, so that we could prevent them rounding the
point, and at the same time compel those boats above
us to come out, at least when they fired. In a slim t
time, as we expected, the boats came to the point now
abeam of us, though not, as they expected, in our
rear, and received such a severe fire of grape and
musketry as compelled them to retreat; but they soon
returned with fresh boats, opening a brisk fire of
grape and musketry on us, but it was so warmly re
turned by both vessels, that they were never able to
round the point
It was here, during this heavy cross fire, that Mr.
Murray was killed ; he was shot through the heart by
a grape shot, whilst pointing the schooner's midship
gun. Two men, volunteers, came in the schooner's
boat for me, in spite of the heavy fire ; but he had
expired almost instantaneously; the expression of
"My God !" was all he ever uttered. During the
whole of the action he was very active, going from
gun to gun, and encouraging the men, who certainly
behaved most bravely, standing to their guns, though
much exposed in the hottest fires, returning their shot
with a cheer, always ready for anything, though they
had nothing to eat but biscuit during the action.
The firing from the boats now slackened, it being
the first time that we had been able to get them
within the range of grape and musketry, and severely
they felt it, their guns being long, and carrying a
great distance remarkably correct. After about seven
hours hard firing at our anchors, Mr. Garret, chief
officer of the schooner, with the brig's long-boat, and
a crew of volunteers, laid out a warp over the bar,
when both vessels lashed together and warped over
the bar. Though we grounded several times, yet with
a fair wind we got over safely, and made all sail for
the sea, which we could see about thirteen miles dis-
tant, still pursued by the boats, who kept firing at us
until we made a good offing about eight P.M., when
they fired their last shot, about thirty-four hours
after the first, the brig having fired alone 720 rounds
during the action. 'We now made all sail for the
Dutch port of Manado, to refit, &c. Mr. Murray was
interred in his own flag on the morning of the 18th
of February, at sea.
The above is the simple and correct account of all
that occurred from our entrance until our leaving the
River Coti, of the death of our lamented leader, and
of our really wonderful escape out of this nest of
pirates. Nor do any of us look back on the scenes
through which we passed without thinking of the I
conduct of our commanders, Mr. Murray, Captain A.
Hart, and Captain 11. Lewis, and feeling that respect
for their abilities, bravery, and coolness, which
brought us out of so much danger and difficulty : nor
of that of the other officers and gentlemen of the
expedition, who did their duty in most dangerous
situations.

From my being in both vessels during the action,
and intimately acquainted, through Mr. Murray, of
all that occurred, both before and during our stay in
the Ceti, and when not engaged with the wounded,
passing my time in assisting on deck, and being thus
able to see more what passed than a person confined
to one place and one vessel, is the reason why I have
taken the task of writing this upon me.
W. SAM., Surgeon to the Expedition.

DISTRESSING AND FATAL
ACCIDENT.

It is our melancholy duty to record the particulars
of a most distressing accident, which happened in
the neighbourhood of this city last Saturday after-
noon. On that day, the Rev. Prebendary Medley,
vicar of St. Thomas, accompanied by Mrs. Medley
(his mother), the Rev. Prebendary Cornish, vicar of
Kenwyn, near Truro, and the lion. Mrs. Shore, of
Mount Radford, a widow lady, and sister of the gen-
tleman last named, left St. Thomas for a drive, in a
double-bodied phaeton, drawn by a pair of horses.
They visited the chapel at Oldridge, which is a
chapelry connected with Mr. Medley's parish, and
were returning by the Whitstone road, Mr. Medley
driving. At the top of the hill, beyond Whitstone, at
the point where the descent begins, the horses started
off, and proceeded down the hill with fearfullrapidity,
never stopping until they came within fifty yards of
Nadder Farm. The carriage swayed from side to
side, during the descent, and Mr. Medley felt it would
be best to keep in the middle of the road. They went
on without injury until they came to the turn of the
road, when the carriage, either from the locking of
the wheel, or from coming in contact with a stone,
was in an instant broken in pieces, and the whole
party thrown violently upon the ground. Mr. Cornish
regained his legs immediately, and escaped with-
out injury, but Mr. and Mrs. Medley and Mrs.
Shore lay upon the ground in an utterly helpless
condition. With the assistance of a man named
Nichols, of Exeter, who was working in a field hard
by, they were removed as quickly as possible to the
house of Mr. Baker, at Nadder Farm, and a man on
horseback, who happened to come up at the time,
was instantly dispatched for a surgeon. Mr.Lyddon,
of St. Thomas's, promptly arrived, and rendered to
the sufferers all the assistance in his power, but the
injuries which Mrs. Medley had received were so
severe that she expired in less than two hours-and-a-
half after the occurrence of the accident. Mr. Med-
ley, in the course of the evening, was removed to his
own house, at St. Thomas's, where he has been since
attended by Mr. Barnes, and we rejoice to say that,
although he was much hurt and bruised, no bones
were broken, and he is now doing well.
Mrs. Shore remains at the farm-house into which
she was taken at the time of the melancholy occur-
rence, her state being so precarious as not to justify
her removal. We are happy, however, to learn that
the latest accounts yesterday represented her as im-
proving.
The event has thrown a gloom over the parish of
Saint Thomas, and great anxiety is manifested on all
hands for the recovery of their respected vicar, who is
alike looked up to and beloved by rich and poor.
The horses appear to have fallen into a ditch, ani
to have escaped without hurt.—Western Luminary.