The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-15 00:00:00

PROGRESS OF STEAM NAVI-
GATION.

Messrs. Miller, Ravenhill, and Co., have just completed a
new iron steamer for the Star Company, called the Meteor,
intended to ply from London to Gravesend. She is 170 feet
in length, 18 feet three inches in breadth, and carries two
40-horse power engines, also by Miller and Co., with tubular
boilers. As a river boat, her model is perfect symmetry—
speed is the leading object, and her form is scientifically
adapted to its accomplishment.
The Meteor yesterday made an experimental trip down th•
Thames from Blackwell. There were on board, besides the
builders, Mr. Benkhausen, the Russian Consul, a Russian
naval captain, Sir C. Forbes, and between 20 and 30 gentle•
men connected with science, the arts, and literature, forming
a most agreeable party, and the pleasures of the day were
much increased by splindid weather.
The experiment was altogether satisfactory. The Meteor
is worthy of her name. Considering the power of her en-
gines, her speed is astonishing. With the tide she performed
from 18 to 20 miles an hour. Her still-water speed was
fully 154 miles an hour.
In the course of the day she was laid alongside of the
Ruby, and several of the fast boats, but they had no chance
with her. The grand point of interest was her contest with
the Prince of Wales, which she met about ten miles below
Gravesend in full steam, with a moderate quota of passen-
gers on board. While the Prince of Wales was in advance
she gained in the ratio of one mile in fifty on the Meteor;
but when the Meteor led she had a similar advantage over

the Prince of Wales. The result is, that the two boats are
equal in speed; but, then, the Prince of Wales is ten feet
longer than the Meteor, and has two 70-horse power en-
gines, whereas those of the latter are only 40-horse power.
As a specimen of river steamers, the Meteor is unquestion-
ably superior to everything up to the present time afloat upon
the Thames.

~..... _..._.
The Meteor left Blackwall about half-past eleven, and
was kept in motion till after sunset. Her machinery worked
with all the precision and effect of long practice. Messrs.
Miller, Ravenhill, and Co. may well be proud of their
achievement.

The company on board sat down to an elegant cold colla-
tion, laid out in the ample saloon, and the best wines flowed
in abundance. Mr. Miller presided; Mr. Ravenhill took the
vice chair. Of course her Majesty was toasted; nor did the
company forget "Success to the new Steamer, and Prosperity
to her Architects."

In looking through the yard from whence were produced
these unequalled " walkers of the waters," the Prince of
Wales and the Meteor, we observed on the stocks two very
handsome iron steamers in a forward state, one intended for
the Nile and the other for the Rhine.

FATAL STEAM-BOAT COLLISION.

MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE OFF GREENWICH. I
Yesterday forenoon an inquiry was commenced before Mr.
Baker, at the Queen's Head Tavern, High-street, Poplar, re-
specting the death of Mr. Samuel Theodore Lebatt, aged 23,
one of the principals at Hennangild Castellani and Co.'s, in
Copthall-court, the Belgian Consul, who lost his life by fall-
ing from the Cameleon yacht, occasioned, it is alleged, by
her being run into by the Royal Adelaide Leith steam-ship.
Owing to the respectability of the deceased more than usual
interest was manifested during the proceedings, and was in-
creased from the circumstance of there being some very gross
neglect on the part of the crew on board the steamer.
Prior to the evidence being gone into, the Coroner observed
that he should like to be informed of a few of the facts of the
case, as, in the event of there being blame attributable to
those persons who had charge of the steam-ship, he should
wish them to be in attendance. A young gentleman, whose
name did not transpire, stated that he was one of a
party who, along with the deceased, went on board the
Cameleon yacht on Saturday, for the purpose of
cruizing down the river for a few days. They were
delayed a short time in Blackwall-reach, IN hen the vessels
in the Royal Thames Yacht Club sailing match being per-
ceived, they further delayed their cruize, and got up as far
as Greenwich Hospital to see the yachts come in. Here,
owing to the state of the tide and wind, they were obliged
to anchor. They remained there till ten o'clock at night,
and, having procured two watermen from Greenwich, de-
termined to proceed on their trip. As soon as the anchor
was hove up, and the vessel being what is called in stays,
the steamer was observed coming down the river. They
trailed to shove on board, but her paddles were not stopped
until she had gained within a few yards of the Cameleon,
too late to prevent a collision, and the consequence was
that she struck their vessel on the starboard quarter. The
deceased had but a few minutes before gone down in the
cabin to sleep for a few hours, singing, as he went down the
companion ladder, the pilot's song, " Fear not, but trust in
Providence," and hearing some confusion he rushed upon
deck, and, it was supposed, must have been thrown over-
board by the shock and struck by the paddles, as he was an
excellent swimmer, and had saved two young ladies from
drowning in Portsmouth harbour, for which heroism he had
been presented with a gold medal and vote of thanks by the
Royal Humane Society. His parents resided at Ramsgate,
his father being Lloyd's agent for that port. •
The CouomEn here said that lie should only take the evi-
dence as to the identity and finding of the body, and adjourn
the inquiry for the attendance of the parties connected with
the steamer. _ _ _

Mr. Joseph rNorton Lebatt, of No. 3, Copthall-court, Bank,
deposed that the deceased was his brother. He last saw him
alive on Saturday afternoon, at his office, and was about to
proceed on board the Cameleon, which was about twelve tons
burthen. He was then in good health and perfectly sober.
Witness has since seen his body, and noticed a redish
mark, extending down the whole of his nose, and to his left
eye, no doubt produced by the paddle-wheels of the steamer
striking him.
Henry Marston, Thames police-constable, stated that at
about half-past three o'clock on Sunday afternoon he dis-
covered the body of the deceased gentleman on the banks, on
the Isle of Dogs, opposite Greenwich. It had been left by
the tide, and had no shoes, coat, or hat on. On searching
him, 11. lls. 7d. was found in his waiscoat pocket, and the
front part of his dress was disordered.
The CORONER then formally adjourned the inquiry, and
bound over the several jurymen and witnesses to appear on
Wednesday week to further prosecute the investigation.