The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-31 00:00:00

Passengers . ...
Parcels, H. C. and D. ...

Total

£155 15 11
LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY. (260 miles
open.) Traffic for week ending 0ct.27 ....£14,614 8 6
Corresponding week in last year, (2011
miles open) ..
....£12,104 4 3
CALEDONIAN RAILWAY.— (160 miles opened.),.. Return 0:
traffic for the week ending Oct. 20 :
Passengers, &c.
Goods, &c.

... £2,898 2 7
... 4,722 18 2

Total . ..• ....£7,P21. 0 9
Corresponding week last year ... 7.077 8 0

WRECK OF THE BRIG CUMBERLAND
HULL, TUESDAY. This morning particulars
reached this town of the wreck of the brig Cumber-
land, of Newcastle, Humphrey Clarke master, which
took place on Thursday last at Kilnsea, near the
entrance to the Humber. Early on the afternoon of
that day the coast-guard on duty at Kilnsea observed
the brig approaching the shore, with a signal of dis-
tress flying. During the gales she had got on the
Stony Bricks at the mouth of the river, but as the
tide was flowing at the time, she succeeded in getting
over them, not, however, without sustaining so much
injury that she had five feet water in the hold, and
was obliged, in order to save the lives of the crew, to
run for the nearest land. About four o'clock P.M.
the brig struck heavily about a mile to the south-
ward of Kilnsea, and, a sea breaking over her at that
moment, the unfortunate master, Clarke, was washed
overboard and drowned, the decks were blown up,
and the crew obliged to take to the rigging and
tops to save their lives. Messengers .had meanwhile
been dispatched to the Easington station for Mr.Certe's
rocket apparatus, and on its arrival every possible
effort was made to save the crew, but, owing to the
state of the tide, it was two o'clock in the morning of
Friday before a communication could he obtained
with the vessel. The rocket apparatus from Spurn-
point, and the small tender belonging to the life- boat
there, were also brought to the spot, and the tender
being hauled off to the brig (by means of the No. 6
rocket-line only), succeeded in bringing the mate
and four seamen safely ashore. A second attempt
was then made to rescue the remaining four men,
when, unhappily, the boat upset, and one of the
Spurn life-boatmen, named John Barnton, who had
nobly volunteered his services, was drowned. The
remainder of the crew of the tender had a very
narrow escape, but providentially reached the shore
in safety. he boat, however, being lost, no
hope remained of releasing the four poor fellows in
the rigging of the brig until another could be ob-
tained, and their cries for assistance during the night,
heard distinctly by those on land, were most heart-
rending.
Oa Friday morning a cart was dispatched to
Holmpton, another coast-guard station to the north-
ward of Easington, for more rockets. The messenger
was overtaken on his return by Captain Ellis, R.N.,
Inspector-General of the Coast Guard, who, with his
secretary, Mr. J. W. Safe, and Lieutenant Smyth,
inspecting officer of the Coast Guard at Patrington,
were on a tour of inspection in the district. Captain
Ellis, on learning the particulars of the wreck, and
that part of the crew were still on board the vessel,
desired that the rockets might be removed to his car-
riage, and all haste was made to the shore. The
apparatus was then again set up, and a rocket pa'sing
through the foretopsail, laid the line close to the men,
who speedily availed themselves of it. A coble and
a small fishing boat had by this time been brought
to the spot, and Captain Ellis generously offered 51.
to the fishermen to make an attempt at boarding the
wreck. The effort was made accordingly, but
the tide was running so rapidly that the boat
missed the vessel and was swept to leeward.
The rocket line was then attached to a smaller boat,
which happily succeeded in getting alongside, and
brought the poor fellows—wet, cold, and exhausted—
safely ashore. Warmth, food, and rest, however,
quickly revived them, and they expressed their
thanks to their deliverers. Too much cannot be said
in praise of the exertions of the Inspector-General of
the Coast Guard, his secretary, and Lieutenant Smyth.
The rescue of the crew also afforded an additional
testimony to the value of Mr. Carte's rockets in sav-
ing life from shipwreck. Without them on this oc-
casion, it is believed that every soul on board the
brig would have perished.
The Cumberland was a fine brig with a general
cargo, valued at 4,0001. The crew consisted of the
mate, eight seamen, and the captain, who, as we have
already stated, was washed overboard on the ground-
ing of the vessel. He was an unmarried man, and
belonged to Newcastle. The ship and cargo, we hear,
were partly insured. There is some probability that
the vessel may be got off, and part of the cargo is
being unshipped with that view.
A subscription has been set on foot in this town on
behalf of the wife and family (five children) of Barn-
ton, the Spurn life-boatman, who was drowned in
venturing his life for that of others.

THE IRON DISTRICTS.
BIRMINGHAM, WEDNESDAY.—The sequel to the
recent quarterly meetings of the South Staffordshire
masters, as anticipated, has proved anything but satis-
factory. The prices fixed at Wolverhampton have
proved altogether illusory, and at the present mo-
ment, although the heads of the trade expressed a firm
determination to maintain existing rates, certain de-
scriptions of iron may be bought for cash at prices
dependent upon the needy circumstances of the seller
and the prompt payment of the purchaser. Within a
few days of the termination of the meetings referred
to the eminent firm of Thorneycroft and Co. offered
by circular a reduction of 10s. per ton, and the con-
sequence has been great confusion in the trade. It is
stated that purchasers who contracted for their re-
quirements at last quarter's figures are loud in their
complaints, and consider themselves unfairly treated.
It may be talon for granted that if a house like that
of Thorneycroft's can set aside the decisions of guar.
terly meetings of which its partners are members,
little confidence can be attached to the deliberate re-
solutions of these trade assemblages. An authority in
these matters, after alluding to the fact that such
firms as the Messrs. Barrows and Hall, Messrs. Foster,
Messrs. Williams, an'l other first-rate iron estab-
lishments, adhere to the prices at which they were
supplying their customers during the last quarter,
says—" It is contended that the Messrs. Thorneycroft
intend to restrict the advantage they offer to a mere
reduction of 103. per ton from the nominal prices, ex-
cept in the article of sheet. iron alone ; and if this be
so the practice has been so general that it affords no
real occasion for complaint. In fact, the procedure
resolves itself into nothing more than putting the
public in possession of what has been for some time
practised among the initiated. Still it is throwing
the apple of discord, and some assert that the custo-
mers of this firm will be allowed an abatement of 103.
per ton on present contracts throughout the whole scale
of last quarter's payments ; in which case, however
unwilling other masters may be to adopt a similar
course of short-sighted self-interest, a further reduc-
tion in the price of iron may he expected to ensue."
As a natural result of this state of things, little busi-
ness is done, and the manufacture of iron in South
Staffordshire is gradually on the decrease.
The exposition of 1851 has, however, given an op-
portune stimulus to the iron manufacture in one or
two favoured districts. The works at Woodside,
near Dudley, under the active management of Mr.
Cochrane' one of the partners, are fully occupied
those
ed in
f
castings for Mr. Paxton's building, and
Messrs. Fox and Henderson, the engineers and ma-
chinists, at Sinethwick, are equally industrious in the
work of preparation. In both these extensive estab-
lishments the men are fully employed six days and
nights of the week. To the workpeople of South
Staffordshire and East "Worcestershire the employ-
ment thus afforded in a time of need is a real " god-
send," and promises to mitigate in some degree the
effect of the general stagnation of the iron trade an-
ticipated during the ensuing winter.
The tin-plate trade in Wolverhampton and its neigh-
bourhood continues good, although unfortunately dif-
ferences still exist between some of the masters and
the men.