The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-02 00:00:00

01w-ram

LONDON, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1850.

A more important inquiry has seldom taken place
before a criminal tribunal than that which was held
before the LORD JUSTICE CLERIC, at Edinburgh, on
Thursday and Friday last, into the conduct of the
master and mates of the Orion steamer
on the occasion of the loss of that unfortunate
vessel, in June last, and which has terminated in the
conviction of Captain HENDEBSON, the master, and
JOHN Vtrxmaams, the second mate, after a patient
and protracted investigation, continued during two
entire days. The charge was withdrawn against
GEORGE LANGLANDS, the first mate, at the close of
the case for the prosecution. His evidence, therefore,
became available on behalf of his fellow-prisoners,
who were thus enabled to present their cases in the
most favourable light to the jury. It was, however,
insufficient to exculpate the parties, who were, as we
have already stated, convicted of a culpable neglect of
duty, for which the captain was sentenced to 18
months' imprisonment, and the second mate to seven
years' transportation.

The circumstances of the melancholy transaction
must be perfectly familiar to our readers.
The vessel left Liverpool on a beautiful day
in June; numerous passengers, full of joyous
anticipations, and looking forward to a delight-
ful passage, were on board. There was nothing
that could terrify even the most timid ; the sea was
unusually calm, and there was scarcely a breath of
wind. A slight haze hanging over the land towards
the Mull of Galloway was the only inauspicious
omen, and even that did not prevent the land from
being visible all the way between Dunman Head
and the Mull. The passengers, having no conception
of the dangerous consequences of their undue prox-
imity to the coast, had retired to rest, expecting to
arrive at their destination in the morning. Even
the master, to whose protecting care the
lives of so many human beings and so
much valuable property was entrusted, had
left the deck, and was fast asleep in his cabin at the
time of the catastrophe. Nothing occurred to disturb
the general confidence until the striking of the vessel
on the rock, which happened fifteen or twenty minutes
after the Portpatrick light had been reported to the
officer of the watch, JOHN WILLIAMS. Then, indeed,
there was a scene of wild tumult and confusion : the
passengers, aroused by the crash and the fearful in-
telligence that the ship was in danger, hurried on
deck and increased the confusion ; there were life-
boats in which many might escape, but
as if they bad been prepared rather for
"ornament than use," they were " covered up,
and no knives " were prepared for the purpose of
cutting the covers. The number of persons who
crowded into these boats, and " the stiffness of the
tackle," considerably enhanced the difficulty of
launching these boats ; and the " starboard" one, un-
fortunately, got under the paddle-wheel and was
swamped.

It is due to the captain and mates to state that,
from the moment of the accident, they behaved them-
selves with the greatest propriety, as became British
seamen. They retained their composure throughout,
did all that experience suggested to save the lives of
the crew and passengers, and were among the
last to leave the ill-fated vessel. It was, however,
but too painfully perceptible that there had been
gross incapacity or criminal negligence somewhere.
All the circumstances of the fatal transaction dis-
tinctly proved that fact, and that the lives of so many
British subjects and so much valuable property had
been literally sacrificed to the carelessness or incom-
petence of some one or more of the officers in charge
of the ves e'.

The clataia and second mate pleaded specially.
The former alleged that he had gore below to take a
little res►, leaving the vessel in charge of a
competent officer, and that afterwards the accident
arose from causes which he could not. control.
The second mate alleged that he had steered the vessel
to the best of his judgment, and that the accident bad
arisen from the "defective state of the ship's compasses,
or other machinery." LANGLANDS, the first mate,
who had given up his watch to WILLTAMS, and gone
to rest, merdy put in a general plea of " not guilty."
Although, however, Captain HENDERSON was asleep
in his cabin at the time of the accident, he could not
shake off the responsibility of his position, or transfer