The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-24 00:00:00

A HORRIBLE AFFAIR.

The following extract of a letter from Lahaina,
Sandwich Islands, gives an account of a most horrible
occurrence which recently happened at a neighbour-
ing island, dated March 22 :—" You will have heard
from Captain Green, of the Ontario, that three men
deserted from him last Friday night. To-day two of
them returned; they were brought to the United
States Consulate Agency, and made one of the most
horrible statements I ever heard. They, as they say,
hired a boat of three natives on Friday eve, and started
for Hawaii. There were three in the boat—viz ,
Walter G. Pike, of New Windsor, Orange County,
New York; Robert APCarty, New York City; and
Jacob Von Chief, belonging to Middletown Point,
New Jersey—the latter a coloured man. They
pulled all Friday night, Saturday, Sunday, and
their nights, and became exhausted, and were unable
to pull any longer. On Tuesday they drifted on the
rocks at Lanai, and, having been without food or
fresh water the whole time, and having drank salt
water, they were in a state of starvation. They
were not able to get up the pali (precipice), and
agreed to cast lots to see who should die for the
benefit of the other two. The lot fell on Von Chief,
who was killed by blows on his head with a stone ;
they then cut his arm and throat and drank his
blood ; after which they cut a piece from his right
arm and ate it. After they became strengthened
they got up the pali, and met with some natives,
who gave them food, and brought them across the
island, and to this place, in canoes. The natives have
been examined, and confirm the statement made by
the men. The dead body was found as they de-
scribed, and buried by them. the governor will
send to Lanai to-morrow for the women they first
saw after landing, and for the remains of the boat."
We are informed by a letter, that these men were
subsequently tried for murder, and acquitted ; and
subsequently tried for stealing the boat, and fined
eighty dollars and costs. Having no means of paying
the fine, they were working it out on the public
roads.—American Paper.

COURT OF BANARUPTCY Dec. 23.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Hoenone.)
IN RE I. MYNDE COOEE.
The case of this insolvent has been frequently re-
ported, he being an attorney, and deeply engaged in
gambling transactions with well-known persons
named Coglan, Stratford Stratford, Page, and others
of the same clique. He now came up in custody
from the Queen's Bench, his further examination
having been adjourned to this day, upon applicaticn
for his final order.
Mr. Cooke appeared for the insolvent, and Mr,
James for Mr. Flight, who had discounted accept-
ances of Stratford for the insolvent to the amount of
2,000/., but not knowing that they were given for
gambling transactions.
Mr. Encke, as agent for Mr. Flight, and Mr. Cox,
his solicitor, were again examined as to the discount
of these bills, and they positively swore that it was
effected upon the representation made by the insol-
vent that Stratford was entitled to considerable re-
versionary property, and was about to marry a wife
with a large fortune. The insolvent was also exa-
mined at great length, and from which it appeared
... - that his debts and liabilities were upwards of
THE PARRICIDE, MARY GALLOP. 40,0001., including, however, qui tam actions
This unfortunate young woman, who was recently for gambling penalties, for 24,0001., and no as-
convicted at Chester of having poisoned her father, sets. He was in business about a twelve-
has made the following statement and confession to month, and had some law bills due to him.
Mr. Penrey, the visiting magistrate of the prison, in lie kept horses at Cheltenham, which he sold, and also
the presence of the chaplain : kept a Brougham in London, where he had had dif-
" I shall be 21 years of age on the 2d of next March. ferent lodgings, but only one at the same time. Ile
I was born in Warrington, and am the daughter of
went, when very ill, oh a visit to Coglan, at Strath-
Richard and Mary Gallop. My father was a joiner field Sturges, where he met Mr. Stratford, and Mr.
by trade. Both my father and mother were Wes- John Evans, a wine-merchant, of Crown-court,
leyan Methodists. My father was a very pious, good Broad-street, and considerable " play" took place,
man ; but my mother had fallen off from her religious and he won about 5,000/., for which Mr. Stratford's
profession. I recollect him taking inc to a Sunday- acceptance was afterwards taken. Many difficulties
school, in Warrington, when I could just walk. He pressed upon him in consequence of his marriage, and
also sent me to a day school in the same place. I con-
also the injunctions in Chancery. His profits from
tinued to go to these schools till I was about nine his business were not more than 2001., if so much,
years old. As my father could not get any work at while his debts and liabilities were about 8,0001. to
this time in Warrington, we went to live in Runcorn, 10,000/., but chiefly upon Stratford's bills.
where we remained two or three years. He sent me to By Mr. JAMES—Did not Stratford accuse you, of
a Sunday and day school during the whole of playing with false dice ?
that time. As his wages were very low, we went to Insolvent—l know he did so since, but not at the
reside in Liverpool. We lived some time at Rose-
hill. I went to the Sunday-school belonging to the time. I brought the dice to play with from a gam-
bling house in St. James's-street, where I won
Brunswick Chapel. My father afterwards removed 2,554 e, where I had previously lost, with the very
to Mansfield-street, and sent me to a Sunday and day same dice, all I had in my own pocket; but I was
school in Springfield-street. At this time he obtained
tipsy at the time.
work on the railroad, and we went to live at Windsor, By Mr. CooKE—These dice were afterwards left
near Liverpool. 1 was then about 12 or 13 years of
age. I think we remained there about seven years. in Stratford's lodgins, and were now, with an affida-
vit, in the Court of Queen's Bench.
During this time I was a teacher in Pleasant-street Mr. Jocelyn Cooke, the brother of the insolvent,
Wesleyan Sunday-school, and regularly attended was (at his own request) examined by Mr. CooKE—
chapel. My half sister lived with us, and I used to He lent his brother (the insolvent) 1,075/., includes
assist her, in the week, with the mangle. When we
in which was a cheque for 600/., and on the 28th of
lived in Mansfield-street, Liverpool, I formed an
acquaintance with a young boy, a neighbour. He November, 1842, an I 0 U for 240/., together with
another cheque for 801. Those sums he (the in-
was younger than myself. When we left Liverpool solvent) repaid me in 1843, when he (witness) dis-
for Windsor he used to come and see us. We formed counted Stratford's bills. He would swear that he
an attachment. Both my father and mother were averse did not know that they originated out of gambling
to him coining after me, bet particularly my father. transactions.
The young man was then an apprentice, and is not yet Wm. Jordan, clerk to Mr. Jocelyn Cooke, and
out of his time. We then went to live at Crewe. About
formerly clerk to Mr. Mynde Cooke, repeated his
three months afterwards I went to Liverpool with m
m
Y former evidence as to his having heard a conversa-
other for a few days. I saw the young man several
times. When I returned we used to write to each tion between Mr. M. Cooke and Mr. Encke, when
1 certain bills were sought to be discounted. Cooke
other. I have shown some of his letters to my mother, said he had received 4,000/. from Coglan for gambling
but not to my father. About ten months after we went
transactions, and Encke was to have had 5001. for
to live at Crew my mother destroyed herself in a fit of his labour in getting the discount.
insanity. When my mother was buried I went with By Mr. Jeues— I did not sayvans that I heard at the last exami-
my half sister to Liverpool for some time. I used to E
nation before Mr. Commissioner
see the young man. I returned to Crewe in June last, I what occurred through a hole in a boarded partition,
and that I swear. Cooke did not attend regularly at
and asked my father's leave to go again to Liverpool at
his office after the injunctions, and I believe notice
(iperissatimd ash.ee r should
give not o t
h, i as n
consent
21
have anything to do with the young man in Liverpool.
liweousaldidnlev
He was served with the injunction at the latter end
I then thought of going into a situation as servant in of May last. I saw Mr. Cooke pay Mr. Page 3,800/.
Liverpool. If I had I should have been very happy Mr. James and Mr. Cooke having been severally
now. I heard my half sister one day talking of a heard at considerable length for their respective
woman who had poisoned her husband with arsenic, clients,
which she had bought under the pretence of poi- The Learned COMMISSIONER said that this applica-
soning rats. The idea then first entered my mind tion was made under the 28th section of the Act, to
of poisoning my father, and I thought I should be ' grant the insolvent his protection. The opposition to
at liberty to go where I pleased and do as I the insolvent he considered to be perfectly legitimate,
pleased. If I could have opened my mind although no trade creditors as such now opposed him.
to anybody, and had received a little good There were three charges made against the insolvent;
advice, I am sure I should not have committed first, his obtaining money from Mr. Flight upon bills
the crime. I did not think that I should be detected. :by means of false representations ; second, his retain-
I considered his death would be attributed to the ' ing 1,200/. out of 3,800/, from Mr. Stratford's father's
bowel complaint, with which he had been afflicted for . estates, and third, reckless expenditure. Now, as to
several Weeks. I bought a pennyworth of arsenic, and, ! the discount of the bills by Flight, he (the Learned.

Commissioner) believed the statement of Drake and
Cox, who both said that the money was to be raised
for Stratford, who had considerable expectations, and
was then about to marry the daughter of a Baronet.
Besides, the insolvent was all that time acting in the
character of Stratford's solicitor, and no doubt it was
only from the expectation of large gains that Flight
discounted the bills. The transactions with Page are
certainly left in doubt, for Evans (the wine-merchant)
had not been called ; but yet, taking the whole of the
evidence upon that point, it was decidedly against the
insolvent. As to the transactions between him and
his brother, they appeared to be a complete juggle;
and, under all the circurnstences of this case, which
was full of fraud and culpable neglect, he had no
hesitation in at once dismissing the application alto-
gether.

The complainant, however, having expressed that
he had no vindictive feelings against the defendant,
and that he would be satisfied with the above sureties,
the defendant said that he was aware he should have
some trouble in finding the witness he alluded to, and
that, therefore, he was contented the matter should
rest as it was, upon his finding the required hail.
The defendant's solicitor, and another gentleman,
entered into sureties, and he was discharged.
Edward Edwards was brought up for re-examina-
tion, being found in Mr. Bright's house, at NGrth
Brixton, for an unlawful purpose; and Margaret
Sheen, the nurse in the family, was charged with
stealing a satin waistcoat, belonging to her master,
and also with harbouring the other prisoner in the
house.

Mr. COOKE—By the Act the insolvent must be pro
tected after twelve months.

The circumstances attending the discovery of the
prisoners at four o'clock on Saturday morning, lying
together before a blazing fire in the complainant's
kitchen, and of the femal' dropping her master's satin
waistcoat on the way to the station-house, have
already appeared in our police report of the preced-
ing day.
Mr. James, the prisoner's solicitor, put some ques-
tions to the complainant, with a view to show that
both their characters were good up to the period of
the above transaction ; that Edward's father, who was
in attendance, was a highly respectable man ; and that
he, together with other frien is, were in Court, pre-
pared to tender bail in his behalf, if it was found
necessary.
The complainant, in answer to certain questions,
admitted that he had never missed any property but
the satin waistcoat, which must have been taken out

The Learned COMMISSIONER—That must be for
another tribunal.

The Court rose at seven o'clock.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.)
BOW-STREET.
Yesterday Ebezier Paron Hingston, a young man,
employed as prosector to the professor of physiology
in King's College, Somerset-house, was brought up
for re-examination, before Mr. Jardine, charged with
stealing a coat, a pocket-book, a cigar-case, several
letters, an inkstand, and a key, value 41. and upwards,
the property of Mr. John Farmer, a medical student.
Several coffee-shop keepers, who had known the
prisoner for a considerable time, were in attendance
in the early part of the day to identify a number of
books that had been stolen from their premises, and
which were found by the officer, with other property,
on searching the prisoner's lodgings.
Mr. \Vontner appeared for the prisoner.
The prosecutor having repeated the statement he
made on Friday last, said, in answer to Mr. Wontner,
that the porter's room was much frequented by the
students, and when his coat was found in the cup-
board, he articles were found in the pockets per-
fectly safe.

I of his drawer; that Sheen had access to the pantry
where the plate was kept, but he had not missed any ;
that she was in the habit of bringing up the key
of the kitchen to her mistress every night be-
fore she went to bed; and that on the night in
question she brought up the key as usual; and that
she must have left Edwards in the kitchen, and after-
wards gone down stairs to him when all was quiet;
that the discovery would not have taken place but for
the crying of the infant, which might have met its
death owing to the neglect of the nurse while with
her paramour in the kitchen.
Mr. TRAILL said he should send the nurse for trial
for stealing the waistcoat if the prosecutor wished to
press the charge; but it appeared the garment was
very much worn, and of little value, and he there-
fore doubted very much whether a bill would be found
against her, as he (the magistrate) had very recently
noticed that a strong representation was made by a
grand jury on the subject of committing persons for
trial for stealing articles of a trifling nature, deeming
it the most proper course to have such cases summa-
rily dealt with. He (the magistrate), however, in
this instance, would consult the feelings of the com-
plainant on the subject, and would either commit for
trial or dispose of the case himself.
The complainant having expressed a wish that the
latter course might be adopted, the nurse (Sheen)
was therefore committed for two months to hard
labour for unlawful possession of the article, and
Edwards was adjudged to enter into his own recogni-
sance of 401., and find two sureties of 201. each, to be
of good behaviour for twelve months.

Dr. Robert Bentley Todd being sworn, said

reside at 24, Parliament-street, and am professor o,
physiology at the King's College. On Friday last
the prosecutor stated to me the suspicions he had
of the prisoner, in consequence of which I thought it
right to examine several cupboards and boxes in my
private room, which were solely in the charge of the
prisoner, but when he is out of the way the key of
the room is in the possession of the porter, the pri-
soner being responsible for the safety of the property
deposited in the several boxes. I examined the open
boxes first, and not finding anything in them to ex-
cite my suspicions, I asked the prisoner for the keys
for such as were locked, and he proceeded to look in
a drawer in which I understood he was in the habit
of keeping them, but not finding them after con-
siderable search being made by the prisoner, I asked
for a chisel, with which I broke open a cupboard, from
which a coat immediately fell, and on taking it up I
called for the prosecutor, who identified the coat, and
took several articles from the pocket.
By Mr. JARDINE—No person had the key of the
cupboard but the prisoner, in whose exclusive charge
it was, there being several preparations in it of which
he had the care.
Cross-examined--I lectured on the day in ques-
tion, and concluded about half-past one o'clock, and
I do not recollect ever having seen the prisoner take
the keys from the drawers I locked in. The prisoner
was in the King's College about four years, and he
came there with a recommendation from Dr. Sharpy,
of the University College.
Eliza Gannon, wife of the porter, proved that on
Saturday morning she found the keys in the theatre
(a constable being present), between a patent stove
and a skeleton, on the floor, while she was dusting
the room.

HOUSE BREAKING.— Joseph Astelford, a man
dressed as a mechanic, was charged with breaking
into the dwelling house of Mr. Court, at Meeting
House-lane, Peckham, and stealing three suits of
clothes and other apparel.
A brother of the prosecutor stated.that at eight on
Saturday morning he left the property safe in the
bed-room of a small house attached to his father's
residence in Meeting House-lane, where he and his
brother slept. The front door was left on the latch,
and could be opened with a common latch key.
At the rear of the premises, which had connexion
with his father's house, a large dog was kept which
would not only make a noise but attack a stranger. At
eight in the evening he entered by the back door, and
proceeded into the bedroom, when he found that the
drawers had been broken open and robbed of their
contents. He also found the front door ajar, and
he had every reason to think that the entrance was
effected by that door, as it was seldom opened by
any one.
Constable, 47 M, stated that about ten minutes
past eight o'clock he was on duty in the Kent-
road, when he saw the prisoner with a bundle
under each arm. He asked where he got them ?
He replied that he was employed to carry them
by a man he never saw before. He afterwards
contradicted himself by saying he had found
them. After he had said so he dropped the bun-
dles, and ran away, but he pursued and took him
into custody.

In answer to Mr. WTontner, the prosecutor said he
was a student about fifteen months, and about two
months back the key of Dr. Todd's room was lost, in
consequence of the students locking the door and
running away, having locked several persons inside,
who were ultimately obliged to get out by the win-
dow as well as they could.
Mr. '\Vontner submitted that no case had been made
out against the prisoner, for, instead of acting like a
person who had committed a felony, he had made
every exertion with the porter to recover the pro-
perty ; and as to the keys, they might have been re-
moved by some of the students in the pranks they
were constantly in the habit of playing.
Mr. JARDINE said he would express no opinion
upon the subject until he could hear some account of
other charges, several of which, he was given to un-
derstand, were about to be brought against the pri-
soner.
Constable West, F division, said that on Saturday
last, while searching the prisoner's lodgings, 25, Har-
wood-street, Hampstead-road, he found in a front
room occupied by the prisoner the three diagrams
produced, which were used in anatomical lectures,
"Jones's Animal Kingdom," " Olden's Odentogra-
phy," a pocket compass, a small vice, a spirit measure,
and part of a dog's skull.
John Forrest, curator at the museum, King's Col-
lege, identified the eiagrams as belonging to the cor
oration of the College. The " Animal Kingdom "
was stolen from the library, and the other book, which
belonged to Professor Thomas Rymer Jones, was
taken from a drawer, the name of the author being
partially erased, and that of the prisoner being sub-
stituted. The compass and spirit measure were also
stolen from the college. They were missed at various
times, the measure being stolen about three years
back, and the pocket compass, which formed part of
the Queen's collection, about a year and a half past.
The vice was the property of witness.
In answer to Mr. Wontner, witness said the pri-
soner sometimes drew diagrams on boards with chalk,
but he never knew him to take home such as these
produced, nor could he obtain them without first pro-
ducing a professor's order.
Superintendent Pearce said there were several other
charges against the prisoner, and as the witness to
prove the next was in attendance, the Court would
allow him to give evidence.
Mr. Edward Sanford, a medical student, identified
a volume of " Bell's Anatomy and Physiology of the
Human Body," as having been stolen from his box in
the college. He left town in the month of April,
and on his return in the beginning of October two
volumes were stolen.
The proprietor of the Star Coffee-house, in Long-
acre, said ten books were found in the lodgings of
the prisoner that had been stolen from his rooms,
which the prisoner was in the habit of frequenting,
and as he had been a loser to a serious extent, he was
anxious to have the case investigated.
Mr. JARDINE told him he might attend at the Old
Bailey, and prefer a bill of indictment, but he thought
there was no use in taking depositions in more cases
than three, upon which the witnesses should be bound
over, and the prisoner remanded for a fortnight.
UNION-HALL.

The prosecutor identified the whole of the pro-
perty. The drawers and desk had been forced with
some brass compasses and a pair of snuffers, which
were lying about, and were broken to pieces.
In answer to the charge, the prisoner said he picked
up the bundles. A 3 for the robbery, he was quite in.
nocent of it, and did not even know where the house
was situated. He wished to be remanded, as some
clue might be obtained of the real offenders.
Mr. _FRAIL', said he intended to do so until
Thursday.

THE LATE FATAL STEAM-BOAT
COLLISION
CLOSE OF 'THE INQUEST.
The inquiry into the circumstances attending the
late fatal collision off Greenwich between the Orwell
and Sylph steam-boats was resumed yesterday be-
fore Mr. J. C. Carttar, coroner for Kent.
Mr. Wilkinson (of the firm of Cobbold and Wilkin-
son), and Mr. Cattarns (of the firm of Cattarns and
Fry), attended, as on the previous occasion, to watch
the case. The inquest room again was densely
crowded.
The first witness called was
Dr. Mitchell, of Greenwich, who proved, from a
post mortem examination, that Sullivan died from
suffocation in the water, and Shepherd from the
severe injuries he had sustained about the head and
body.

Commander Henry Smith, of her Majesty's steam
frigate Rattler, being sworn, said I was a passenger
on board the Sylph, on the afternoon of Tuesday week,
and was standing abaft the engine-room when that
vessel left the Greenwich pier on her way towards
Black wall. The weather was so thick at that time
that I was induced to remain on deck. There was a
man in the bows looking out forward After proceed •
ing a short distance I heard the noise of a steamer ap-
proaching us. I looked out forward, but saw nothink.
Immediately afterwards the man on the look out said
something to the captain, when he called out " Stop her,
go astern." I then saw a large steamer bearing down
upon us, at about twenty-five yards distance. At
that time a collision was inevitable, and when the
captain saw the large vessel so close to him, he folded
his arms and said, " By God, it is all over with us!"
I could not see the shore on either side at that time.

When the collision took place the motion of the
Sylph was quite stopped, and if a boat had been under
her bows we should not have injured her. I am of
opinion that the speed was on the Orwell whsn the
collision occurred. She must have been going at a
good speed, because she cut quite through the deck
of the Sylph, and from the position in which the
latter was, it was impossible that she could have
contributed much force to the collision.

Yesterday Mr. George Walter, of No. 42, Lom-
bard-street, was charged before Mr. Traill with com-
mitting a violent assault on Mr. John Young Aker-
man, Secretary of the Greenwich Railway Company.
From the complainant's statement it appeared that
on the 19th instant, he entered one of the first-class
carriages of the above company, and had scarcely
taken his seat when the defendant walked up to the
door, and, aldressing him, used some irritating lan-
guage, and at the same time got into the same car-
riage. With the view of preventing any unpleasant
consequences, which might arise if they both pro-
ceeded in the same carriage, the complainant alighted,
and, on getting out on the platform, he was followed
by the defendant, who was armed with a stick, and
who having applied the epithets rascal and scoundrel
to complainant, then made a blow at him with the
stick, which he warded off, when he again repeated
the attempt. Complainant, on finding him so deter-
mined on committing violence, struck him in his own
defence, when some of the servants of the Company
interfering, they were separated; and, for his own
preservation, he considered it necessary to adopt the
present proceedings against the individual by whom
he had been assaulted without provocation.
The defendant produced the stick with which it
was alleged he committed the assault, said that it was
a light bamboo cane, and that if a person were struck
even with great violence with it, it would not produce
much damage.
Mr. TRAiLL said that the indignity of even being
struck slightly with such a stick, or cane, was exas-
perating to the feelings of any man. The Magistrate
then asked the defendant what explanation he wished
to give, or whether he was desirous of calling any
witnesses ? The defendant said he wished to call a
gentleman who witnessed the whole of the transac-
tion, and who would be enabled to give a very diffe-
rent version of the affair., That gentleman, however,
was not present, but if the magistrate would post-
pone the case he (defendant) would have an adver-
tisement inserted in the newspapers, as he did not
know his address, calling upon him to attend to give
evidence.

Mr. Cattarns here produced two models of the
boats, that of the Sylph showing the extent of the
injury she had sustained by the collision.
Examination continued—l am decidedly of opinion
that the Sylph was motionless when the collision took
place. Had the Orwell put her helm astarboard as
the Sylph did, no accident would have occurred. I

think the Sylph was going down the river much
quicker than a prudent captain would have brought
her, considering the fog which prevailed ; and I am
of the same opinion as to the speed at which the Or-
well was coming up. In such a state of the weather
there should be soma regulation to prevent vessels
from proceeding at more than half speed. My im-
pression was, that we were travelling much quicker
than we ought to have been and I kept on deck in
consequence, fearing the possibility of an accident.
After the collision I remained on the quarter deck of
the Sylph until all the deck passengers were got off,
when I went on board the Orwell. I then called out
to the man in charge to back astern and get the two
vessels clear, as I saw that the people were prevented
from getting out of the cabin of the Sylph while the
vessels hung together.
By Mr. WILKINSON—The engines of the Sylph
were eased before I saw the Orwell. It was the fact
of her being eased that attracted my attention, and I
then looked out forward, and saw the Orwell's bows
close upon us. I judge of the speed of the Orwell
by the nature of the injuries inflicted on the Sylph.
I think she must have been going eight miles an hour
at least.

The complainant said he had no objection to an
adjournment of the case, but in the meantime he
called on the magistrate to make the defendant find
bail, as he really went in personal danger.
The defendant said he would give his honour that
he would have no communication with the com-
plainant until the day the inquiry was resumed.
The complainant said that even with that promise
he would not be satisfied, unless the defendant pro-
mised to " take the pledge" (the reporter understood
it), or the magistrate required him to find sureties.
Mr. TRAIL'. said that he felt it his duty to adjudge
the defendant to enter into his own recognisances in
the sum of 501., and find two sureties of 251. each, to
keep the peace for twelve months, as a protection,
against any injury to the complainant, and that the
further investigation pf the assault might stand over
until a future day,

Capt. Smith was re-examined by the coroner, and
again questioned by Mr. Wilkinson, but nothing im-
portant was elicited beyond that which is above given.
He declined to give an opinion that the commander of
the Orwell was to blame, and at the same time said
that he thought the captain of the Sylph had done all
he could to prevent accident.
Mr. George Edwards, of Sutton, Suffolk, being
sworn, said, I am a mariner, and was on board the
Orwell when the accident occurred. I was standing
near the paddle-box, on the starboard side, when
saw a steam-boat ahead about one hundred yards.
The vessel appeared to be across the river, with her
bow a little downwards. I heard Capt. Wrackham
give the order to stop her and back her astern. The
collision took place directly after. I do not know
what speed either vessel had upon her when the acci-
dent occurred, but the Sylph, when I first saw her,
seemed to have headway. Capt. Wrackham was for-
ward at the time.

By Mr. Wilkinson—l was nearer to the engine-
room than Captain Wrackham was. I heard no one
give any order to the engineer. I could-have done so
had any one spoken to the call-boy.
Robert Fuller, mariner, of Ipswich's Kw I
am

I seaman on board the Orwell, and was upon the leek"
' out in the larboard bow on the afternoon of Thursclel
week. I first saw the Sylph when she was aitbts
fifty yards of the Orwell. I called on., " Stop hers
~
go astern ;" but in less than a minute she struekl
I think wen I first saw her she was going et
L.'
speed. The paddles were going ahead just boo-
,
she struck. The Orwell had very little speed on IA
and as soon as those on the look-out called out, 5,
• master in charge (Wiggins) stopped the engines.
called out, " Stop her—go astern." The Orwell
been eased previously, and was going "quite easily
at the time. She had been eased all the way fr°
Woolwich, and had come that distance about -five °,
six miles an hour. We were about twenty 311`"j
he from the north shore, and could see the edge of t
bank very plainly. Ido not think it was possible too
have avoided the collision, owing to the speed at %chic
the Sylph was proceeding.
William Pullifer, another of the crew of the °f#
well, gave similar evidence.
William Linney, of Ipswich, another seaman °,lis
board the Orwell, said—l think that if the SylPi
helm had been ported, instead of being put a starboard'ti
the collision might have been avoided. 'Very lie
seconds elapsed between our first seeing her end I
collision taking place.
By Mr. Wilkinson—lt is a general rule laid d°,alcil
by the Trinity-house, that when there is any ds"e
of a collision between two vessels, both should po
their helms.
Mr. William Wallace, shipbuilder, of Greeesead,
a passenger on board the Sylph, confirmed the ert
dence or the other passengers. My impression/I'h
said, at the time was that the captain of the SY Pis
exercised great presence of mind in the position
which he was placed.
By the CORONER—Had the Sylph been going Pry
viously at half-speed, I think the accident mighteit
been avoided. The fog came on very thick so
once, just after we left the south shore.
.11)
Henry Rogers (the call-boy on board the Orvi`o
proved having given the engineer orders to " t
easy," after leaving Black wall, and to " Stop," Pi
before the collision took place.
Joseph Sutcliffe, the engineer in charge, deP"ici
that on the passage up from Blackwall the engine 1;_.0
so
made about seven revolutions per minute, her
°
speed being from 28 to 30. He was standing bilec
usual in foggy weather, between the engines, Ivo oe
he heard the order given to " Stop her;' and je
astern." He did so, and after the engines had Mle
two revolutions astern the collision took place, and
s,
then shut the steam off and came on deck. it 'ske
pied about 15 seconds to stop the engine.. and 1
the two revolutions astern.
James Wiggins, a brother of the master in chei
and supercargo on
,board the Orwell, was next er
amined. He was at the wheel when the collision tLL
place, and his evidence differed in no respect n
that of the other parties on board the Orwell. hol
The CORONER remarked that he thought they
now got out all the circumstances of the case. &be. t
The foreman, on the part of himself and bre'
jurors, said he thought they had already heard VA,.
enough to enable them to come to a conclusion on

subject.
The CORONER then commenced summing up, 81„i4
through the evidence in his usually clear and pel/fract
cuous manner. lie remarked particularly on thejjog
that the Sylph was shown to have been procnbe
at full speed until within a very few moments 010,0
collision taking place ; while on the other hand it
not attempted to be set up that the Orwell bad Pro
ceeded at anything beyond a very slow rate $
passing Black wall.
ors'
The jury after an absence of half an hour „ d
tion, returned the following unanimous verdict---_,j,
consider that the deceased persons met their death 70(
dentally ; but we are of opinion that the caPtiabiell
the Sylph was highly to blame for the speed et Wo,ell
he had previously been going; we believe the Of, theto have been the moving power to the death
deceased persons, but consider the parties on board st
r° yoitl,
vessel u-ed due caution, and did all they could to !
the accident, and the jury are unanimously efOlpiotidi.
that Captain Sweisland should be severely re.r
manded by the Coroner."
The verdict appeared to give general satin hi,
and Captain Sweisland was
_suitably admonish.
Mr. Carttar.