The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-27 00:00:00

CAPTAIN MANBY'S MORTAR.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sia,—You :gave in the evening's impression of the
22d inst. the particulars of various experiments performed at
Yarmouth, in the presence of a deputation from the Danish
Government, of the right and proper use of Captain Manby's
mortar, in case of shipwreck. Now, these experiments prove
the contrary to what the report avers. It there says, the rope
invariably breaks when the iron mortar is used, and the shot
flies an immense distance without the rope, but not so when the
brass mortar is used ; whereas, the fact must be in the use of
no less than 6 oz. more of powder with the iron mortar than
the brass one, though the same weight of line and shot is used
in both, accounting thereby for the inability of the line to
withstand the extra force of powder. This must convince all
that it is necessary to use a line in accordance to the weight of
powder, which has much more to do with the matter than the
kind of mortar used. The sudden jerk given to the rope while
in a state of rest, by the headlong sweep of the ball, is the sole
cause of the line breaking. This might be prevented by hav-
ing the line made tapering in a very slight degree.
Now, Sir, having touched as briefly as possible on this part
of the subject, I will advert as briefly to the advantage of hav-
ing Captain Manby's mortar on board vessels. some years
have now gone by since I first mooted this question. Three
years ago I did my best to draw to it the attention of the Com-
mittee, appointed by the House of Commons, to inquire into
the cause of shipwrecks ; but, I am sorry to say, with no effect.
I not only pointed out how lighthouses might be constructed, so
as to show to the distracted, forlorn, and sea-tossed mariner,
his position ere he ventured his frail barque on an uncertain
shore ; but, also, the best means of stemming a lee-bound
ship, &c. Now, I will say, that while the wind howled, and
screeched, and moaned, and appeared bent on dest ruction, the
inquiry went on swimmingly. But, bad as the wind is in its
fury, like a crying child, it at last slept, and need I say, so did
the inquiry, but only till it shall again be aroused to a sense of
duty by one of those fearful storms that ever and anon devastate
our coast. Now, in the evidence as published by the Commit-
tee, all the witnesses speak of the utility of Captain Manby's
mortar, as employed in conveying a line from the shore to a
wrecked vessel, but not the least mention is made of its greater
utility, were every vessel to carry a mortar and proper lines
with it, so that, in case of need, the stranded vessel might hold
communication with the shore instanter, without risking the
forlorn chance of a mortar being in the neighbourhood. It is
too well known that many moat disastrous wrecks have
taken place ereia mortar could be obtained to project a line
to a wrecked vessel, even were it at hand; but when we consider
how few of these useful instruments of preservation there are,
I think it behoves the powers that be to compel all masters of
vessels to carry one or more, as it is plain and obvious that a
stranded vessel can throw a line treble the distance on to a lee
shore, with a tempestuous wind winging it along, than it can
be thrown from the shore to windward, right in the teeth of
that same wind. Besides, the shore presents a greater range
for the line to be thrown upon than the ship affords. In too
many eases the line has either fallen short or else en one side of
the wrecked vessel, thereby creating a moat serious and life-
sacrificing delay in rendering assistance.
Again, in many instances it has happened that a boat might
have safely left the shore, but could not, or durst not, venture
within a certain distance of the stranded vessel ; when, there-
fore, a line thrown from the shore falls short of the wreck, it
cannot be picked up on account of the tremendous swell of the
fallsbe picked short
up,of andthe
shore,
I:auti if
greater a
line
probability
ite w s sell
I
fixed on to the shore—thus making a firm and sure communi-
cation between the vessel and the land, by which all the lives
threw
h m
existse
would be saved. If the unfortunate Amphitrite convict-ship
had been furnished with a mortar and lines, it is not too much
to say that not a life would have been lost. So of the Con-
queror East Indiaman, homeward-bound—the lives lost by the
wreck of this vessel off Etables, were for the want of a mortar
and lines : and for this same omission poor Tucker, of the
Reliance, with the passengers and crew, fell a sacrifice off the
very same spot, and the like distance from shore, viz., a few
hundred yards. It is not six months ago when a vessel
stranded off Yarmouth had nearly every soul on board lost,
not because there was no mortar at hand, but because every
time a line was fired towards the vessel it fell short, and it was
not until after'some eight hours' constant firing that a line could
be got to strike the vessel • but ere this could be effected some
twenty lives were lost, thereby showing that if a mortar had
been on board, a shore-bound boat could have picked up the
line at the very first shot.
New, Mr. Editor, I do hope that all masters of vessels,
whether they be of the lowly craft or the royal yacht, will
think well of this, and render the lives of all who trust them-
selves on shipboard secure against every possible contingency.
I am, Mr. Editor, yours respectfully,
14, Crown-row, Walworth, Aug. 24. NOTTUSOJHN.

MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.—CIIATHAM, AUG. 26.
A party from the 65th regiment, consisting of one sergeant,
three corporals, and forty-two rank and file, marched from
Brompton Barracks this morning to Gravesend en route for
Woolwich, to embark from thence, as a convict guard, on
board the Samuel Boddington, under the command of Captain
O'Connell of the same regiment, for Van Diemen's Land.
Two sergeants and two privates the 11th accompany this
detachment out.