The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-11 00:00:00

SUICIDE FROM DISTRESS.

On Friday a protracted inquiry took place before
Mr. Wakley, on the body of Mary Alloways, aged
63, a poor needle-woman. The jury, having viewed
the body, expressed their horror 'at its wretchedly
emaciated appearance. Ann Jones, the landlady of
the house in which the deceased lodged, said she last
saw her alive on Tuesday evening. She fancied there
was something strange in her manner, for, as she
went up stairs to bed, the deceased broke a piece from
a loaf she had with her, and in a very singular man-
ner said, " Only taste it ;itis so very sweet." On
Wednesday, a friend of deceased found her lying on
the bed quite dead. There was a cup, which had
contained some liquid, lying upon a box by the win-
dow. On the table was a letter (read to the Court);
which stated that she was very much troubled in her
mind in consequence of not being able to procure
work, and owing witness, as she said, seven weeks'
rent. It further.stated, that the only thin in the
world she possessed was a...watch, which she imagined
to be worth 101. She bequeathed the proceeds of its sale
to liquidate her debts, and the remainder to go towards
her funeral ; but if it did„not raise sufficient for the
latter purpose, her body was to be,. sent to the work-
house for interment by the pairish. It then added her
earnest wish that she should have one friend to fol-
low her to the grave, and, a hope'that her poverty
would not be made known; concluding with the
words, " God bless you all—l am very much ex-
, cited, and my pen is very bad." Deceased was an
extremely well-behaved woman, and had been highly
educated. They always imagined she had some tri-
fling income that helped to support her, but since her
death they had found such was not the case, and that
she supported herself by her needle. She had latterly
appeared very desponding, which she stated arose
from her inability to procure work and the poor wages
she received for it. She had once or twice adverted
lately to the double suicide at Kilmarnock, and said
she would rather follow their example than apply for
relief. She had some friends, who occasionally gave
her food, but she seldom had any other meals but
breakfast and tea. The surgeon said, the body was
wretchedly.' emaciated, and therdeceased had all the
appearance of having been completely starved. The
jury returned a verdict " That the deceased destroyed
herself by, taking oxalic acid, but in what state of
mind she was at the time there was no evidence to
show."

BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, IVov. B.—There is no
alteration to notice in onr sugar market this week ; the
demand still continues limited, but prices•are about sup-
ported ; the sales since our last are under 500 hhds.
West India, and 700 mots Mauritius.. In rum. there is
nothing do g.—Bristol Mercury.

WRECK OF THE RUSSIAN BRIC

DIANA. .
(From the Doncaster Gazette)
This was-one of the, must distressing• shipwrecks
that occurred during the gale of' the 2d and 3d inst.
and was attended with melancholy and heart-ren&ng
circumstances. The vessel was from Memel, with
.a
cargo of pipe staves and other wood, bound to Lon
don. She had been out fourteen days, and was driven
by the easterly winds on the coast of Yorshire, near
the small village of Atwick. At day break on Sun-
day morning, the coast was discovered :under her
lee, and to prevent her going on shore, both masts
were cut away and the vessel brought up with two
anchors about a mile from the land. In this situation
she was discovered about eight o'clock, and very
shortly after the rocket apparatus, in charge of 'Mr.
Gale, was on the spot, together with that at Hornsea,
and Captain Manby s mortar. From this time until
four o'clock, P.M. the gallant vessel rode out the gale
most nobly, and it was hoped and expected by the
numerous spectators that she would be able to weather
it. There were few who could imagine the dreadful
state, of those on board. .The cargo hadgot loose, and
breaking through the bulk-heads, dashed the cabin
furniture to pieces. The only place .of refuge was
the deck; and here the captain, who had only been
fourteen days married, strove to protect his young
bride ; his efforts were, alas l fruitless.; a tremendous
sea burst on the brig, and the ill-fated woman was,
with her.butband, crushed between some loose timber
and the'bulwarks, and- received such dreadful injury
as to preclude all hope of her surviving, and the
shortly after expired in her husband's arms! , The
same sea proved fatal to the poor cabin boy who was
killed by it. The distress and agony of the unhappy
captain may perhaps be imagined, but- cannot be
described. Wet and exposed to the merciless tempest
be still did all he could to save his. ship, but the re,
ceding tide brought the breakers round her, and she
began to pitch in a most fearful manner.

About four o'clock the men were observed busy
near the longboat, which still remained on deck, and it
was evident that some decisive step was about to be
taken before the night set in. Manby's mortar,
directed by Mr. 0. Reilly, R.N.A., and Mr. Carte's
.rockets, under his own direction, assisted by the
coast-guard with life buoys, belts, Bcc., were now re-
moved to the beach, and shortly after the vessel
parted, and drove in shore. Before she struck, the
boat was launched with one man in her, but was
stove in launching. The poor fellow drove through
the raging surf, the boat full of water, his head only
occasionally visible, until he reached the shore, and he
was rescued from his perilous situation by one of the
coast-guard, and a sailor from Burlington, who with
ropes and life belts' were ready to receive him. The
attention of all was now turned to the unfortunate
vessel, which grounded about 530 yards distant.
Manby's mortar and Carte's rockets were soon actively
at work, but it appeared to the bystanders, that she
was still too far distant to effect a communication,
and as only two rockets now remained, they were re-
served until the rising tide should bring her nearer,
which was anticipated would take place between
eleven and twelve o'clock. The mortar still continued
to fire, and happily at seven o'clock a shot struck the
vessel, which had drifted in, and by the rope, the
captain, the mate, and one seaman, were brought on
shore in a bruised and dreadfully exhausted state.
Two poor fellows still remained-on board, and several
shots were fired but without effect. The darkness of
the night and the tide which now approached the foot
of the cliff, rendered it necessary to remove all the
apparatus from the beach, and all further operations
were obliged to be postponed until the tide receded.

As soon as the moon rose it was discovered that
the vessel had approached within 40 yards of the
cliff, and at 3 o'clock A.M. she was boarded by Lieut.
O'Reilly, the Rev. G. Brown, of Atwick, Mr. Carte,
and two of the coast guard, who to their inexpressible
gratification found the two seamen alive, but almost
insensible from cold and weakness. They were in-
stantly removed to Hornsea, where they received
every care and attention. It was now ascertained
that in addition to the loss of the captain's wife and
cabin boy, a seaman had perished in attempting to,
leap into the boat—none of whose bodies have yet
been faun& •The t greatest praise is due to Lieut.
O'Reilly; the Rev. G. Brown, and Mr. Gale, of At-
wick, and• tO ull the gentlemen present for their un-.
remitting exertions. Lieut. O'Reilly, Mr. Carte,
Mr. Palmer, of Hull, and the coast guard, had been
called up at 3 o'clock to render assistance to the
Sarah Ann, wrecked at Cowdon, six miles distant,
but'the crew had safely reached the shore in their
boat before their arrival. otwithatanding the me-
lancholy circumstances before narrated, it is most
gratifying to reflect that the generous exertions of
these gentlemen were not unsuccessful, and that all
whom it was possible to save were rescued by them.
The captain, mate, and one seaman, were taken to
Mr. Bird's farm, and attended by Mr. Wilson, sur-
geon, of Hornsea; while the remainder were taken
care of at the Victoria Tavern, and there received
every attention from Mr. Denton. The agents of
that excellent institution, the Shipwrecked Mariners'
Fund, the Rev. A. Eyre and J. Beadle, Esq.,- had bot
baths in readiness for the reception of the sufferers,
who were provided with food and clothing, and their
expenses paid to Hull. There was onlyone English-
man on board, a passenger ; the captain and crew
were all Russians.