The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-11 00:00:00

UNITED STATES.

AWFUL STEAM-BOAT EXPLOSION.—FEARFUL
LOSS OF LIVES.
(From the Baltimore American.)
It is our melancholy duty to record the most fearful and fatal
steam-boat explosion which has ever taken place on the waters
of the Chesapeake. The new and splendid steam-boat Medora,
built for the line between this city and Norfolk, was yesterday
rendered a wreck by the explosion of her steam-boiler, attended
by a fearful destruction of human life.
The Medora was just completed, and preparatory to being
turned out from the hands of the machinist, a number of per-
sons were invited to ge in her on an experimental trip. The
day being pleasant, it is supposed that probably one hundred
or more were on board, including some of the Directors of
the Steam-boat Company and their friends, and a number of
the hands engaged in finishing the vessel, putting in the ma-
chinery, &c., and otherwise connected with the construction or
sailing of the boat.

Soon after three o'clock, p.m. the boat was about to start
from the wharf of the engine builder, Mr. John Watchman, on
the south side of the basin, on the proposed trip. A gentleman
who was on board informs us that the engine had only made the
second revolution, in order to back the Medora from the wharf,
when the boiler exploded with a loud noise, carrying upwards
a considerable portion of the tipper deck anA those upon it,
and blowing the smoke stacks high into the air. The main
farce of the explosion was almost exclusively towards the head
of the boat, and the portions of the boat around the boiler were
turn to pieces. The boiler itself, an immense one of iron, was
thrown crosswise on the deck.
The boat was instantly enveloped in a cloud of scalding steam,
which was inhaled by some with fatal consequences, while
others suffered externally in their persons from its effects. Our
informant was in the after part of the boat, where the steam
had no effect. He states that several persons were forced over-
board, and that one of them was drowned. The boat imme-
diately settled down in the water, until her hull rested on the
bottom of the river.

In the centre and forward part of the boat there was a fear-
ful destruction of life and limb. Some of those on board were
blown high in the air, and fell on shore, in the water, and on
the boats lying near by. Others were crushed with the splin-
tered timbers; others scalded with the steam ; while those
below thedecks, not having time to escape, were either suffo-
cated by the steam or drowned when the boat sunk.
When we reached the scene of desolation, we found a large
number of persons, among whom were several physicians,
busily engaged in endeavouring to assist the injured, and carry-
ing away those who were dead or dying. So great was the
confusion that prevailed, and so little was known as to the num-
ber and names of the persons on board, that no complete
account could be obtained. We annex a list of all those who
were injured or killed, as far as we could learn them. There
are no doubt some who were on board, whose loss will only be
known by their not returning to their homes.
Captain Sutton, who had command of the boat, was stand-
ing over the boiler when it exploded. He was much injured
in the head, and it was very doubtful yesterday whether he
would reeover.

John C. Moale, Esq., the agent of the steam-boat line, was
on board with his two sons. Mr. Moale had his right foot dis-
located, and was injured in the side and back. Soon after he
was taken home he expired.
Mr. Moale's eldest son William, a fine lad about 14 years of
age, was killed almost instantly. 11,s second son, who was also
on board, was dangerously injured.
[Here follows a list of about forty persona, not more than
hall of whom survived.]

MUTINY AND ROBBERY ON THE

HIGH SEAS.

The following extraordinary charge was investigated before
Mr. Broderip, at the Thames Police-office on Monday, and
excited great interest in a very crowded Court
Samuel Ogg, aged 30, Peter Maybone, 38, Thomas Mor-
gan, 22, James Ratree,l7, James Latoo, 46, James Willin,
23, John Higgin, 50, Frederick Diggen, 30, James Hough-
ton, 22, James Willis, 22, Charles Johnstone, 39, and Benja-
min Present, forming part of the crew of the ship Ann Hall,
of Liverpool, were eharged with piracy and robbery on the
high seas within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty of England.
Mr. Pelham, the solicitor, attended for the prisoners.
On the prisoners being placed at the bar and answering to
their names,

Mr. J. C. Evans, jun., an Inspector of Thames Police,
stated that by directions of her Majesty's Government he had
proceeded to Liverpool, to await the arrival of the ship Ann
Hall, from Charleston. She entered the Mersey on Friday
last, and he and his brother officers boarded her the same day,
and found all the prisoners now in custody on board. They
were given in charge by the Captain, and he brought them to
London.

Francis Lazenby Horrad, the commander of the ship, was
then called and sworn. He stated that he was the master of
the Ann Hall, on a voyage from Liverpool to Charleston, in
ballast. Although some symptoms of insubordination had
previously appeared, nothing particularly had occurred until
e 22d of January last. On that day a part of the crew, the
larboard watch, were ordered to go over the side to scrub down
the ship, to make her ready for painting. This they refused to
do, and they were then told it they would not scrub outside,
they should do it inside. At this period a seaman, named Ink-
man, who was then en the mizen-topsail yard, seeing witness in
an adercation with the hands, sung out " D—n the ship," with
other offensive observations, which the witness repeated. On
corning from aloft, he asked the man how he dared make use of
such language aft, to which Inkman replied, that on board a
merchant ship he did not know aft from forward. Inkman
then stooped down, and said he wished a flash of lightning
would take the ship. He pulled the man up from the deck,
and asked him what he meant by such conduct Inkman
then struck him on the mouth with a stave. Witness imme•
diately knocked down the man in self-defence, and a scuffle
en -ued. Inkman got away, and seized an iron belaying pin,
and was about to strike him ; but the crew interfered, and
took him away. About twenty minutes past one on the same
night, he went on deck, and ordered the mate to get studding
soda set. About fire or s'x o'clock in the morning, he looked
from his bed-cabin, and saw that the sails were not set. He
called for the second mate, and asked him why he had not got
the studding sail booms run out. The second mate answered
that he had done all he could. Witness told him he must get
some one to do better, and at the same time ordered him to
pack up his things, take th m into his cabin, and do duty as a
seaman. About eight o'clock on the same night, witness
went to the forecastle hatchway, and ordered the second mate
to come upon deck and do his duty. The second mate de-
el ired he would not do his duty till lie was reinstated. Per-
ceiving the crew in this state of excitement, he ordered them
to shorten sail, send down royal yards, and strike top-gallant
masts. This order he repeated several times. He looked at his
watch, and found that fifty-five minutes had elapsed before the
hands came on deck, and when they did come up, he ordered
all the sails to be furled, and the top-gallant and top-sail yards
to be sent down. Every soul on board refused to do it.
Mr. BRODERIP—What, all hands refuse to obey orders?
Captriat Horrad—Yes, Sir. After some little delay witness
took the second mate down into the forecastle, and asked him
the reason he did not obey orders? The mate replied that
the crew complained of various diseases, and were not fit to
do duty. That was all that passed on the Monday morning.
The larboard watch were then standing by the forecastle
scuttle. He went up to them, and asked them why they were
standing there, and not at work ? They said the beef and pork
were bast, and they would not work. Witness said if the pro-
visions were bad, or he ill-used them, there were people at
Charleston to look after them. While they were scolding
each other, all hands came on deck, and got in a group on the
starboard side of the deck. Witness, apprehending danger,
then went to the carpenter's tool-chest, which was close to the
cabin-door, and took out his adze and went below to the state
room. Whilst stowing away the adze some portion of the crew
made fast the cabin-door, and detained him there. He took up
the adze, cut down the door, and went upon deck.
Mr. BRODERIP —Did you take the adze with you? Wit-
ness—Yes. Sir. The witness, in continuation, said that he
proceeded to walk the deck with the adze on his shoulder
for about twenty minutes. In turning the deck, the carpenter,
Samuel Ogg, seized hold of the adze, and threw him down.
The whole of the crew then came up, and while some assisted
the carpenter in keeping him down, others pinioned his arms
and took him into the state room and laid him on his bed.
shortly afterwards the first mate came in and told him to be-
ware of himself, for the crew were up to something foul. Wit-
ness observed they could do no more unless they took his life.
With that all hands came into the cabin, and Hugh Dipey, a
seaman, not yet arrived in England, said the crew considered
him (the captain) mad, and were determined to give charge of
the craw to the chief mate.

Mr. BRODERIP—Were the words spoken loud enough for
the crew to hear? The Captain—They were, Sir. The
crew then referred to the chief mate for his answer, who
said, " I suppose I must." The second mate took posses-
sion of the chronometer, and called out to a seaman,
"Jem, Jem, don't shake her !" Witness got out of bed as
well as he could, still bound, and told them he would swear
a robbery against them. He asked for something to eat,
and Williams, one of the men, fed him off a fork. He re-
remained bound until six o'clock at night, when he begged of
the crew to slack the lashings, because his hands were getting
sore. The lashings were then removed and he was put in hand-
cuffs. In the morning the handcuffs were taken off, and he was
allowed to go upon deck with a seaman on each side of him.
Between five and six o'clock the next evening he was sitting at
his cabin table, when the crew all came aft again, and Richard
Inkman stood forward and said he had made something more
comfootable for • him than irons, and forthwith produced 1
a straight-jacket, made of the strongest canvass in the
ship, No. •l canvass. The jacket had a lacing behind, and
a band went round the waist, confining the two sleeves,
which were sewed up at the bottom, so that he could not
gat his hands through them, by which his wrists were dou-
bled back all night, and he suffered great pain. At his
earnest entreaty the sleeves were lengthened. The next
day he was at liberty again, but stilt with the same guard
walking the upper deck. At night they came aft, and
wanted to put on the straight-jacket again. He begged
that they would not, for he was so exhausted he could not
stand it any longer. He was allowed to go to bed in his
state room, two seamen keeping guard over him. This
treatment continued during the remainder of the outward-
bound voyage, and he was deprived of all command of the
vessel, or control over the crew, and was closely watched. On
making Charleston the pilots came on board, to whom he ap-
pealed, and the ease was made known to the British Consul
and the American authorities, who interfered and investigated
the matter. A portion of the crew were committed to gaol,
previous to their being sent to England in a ship of war. The
twelve men at the bar were sent home as passengers on the
return voyage.
. .

Air. Pelham subjected the captain to a long cross-examina-
tioa, with a view of showing that the captain had conducted
himself in a very eccentric manner, and was incapable of taking
care of the ship. In answer to questions, the captain said he
was not in the habit of getting intoxicated ; that there were no
spirits on board, not a tea-spoonful; all that he had on board
when he sailed was two dozen of wine, two dozen of ale, and
two dozen of porter. He denied having sent down the top-
pliant masts in the middle of the Western Ocean, or the top-
masts either. He also denied giving orders to let go the an-
chor in the Western Ocean.

The prisoners, by the advice of Mr. Pelham, said they
should reserve their defence, and were then formally committed
to Newgate.

MURDER AT lIIGHBURY.

Immediately upon the arrival of the prisoner, Cooper, at
Newgate, he was visited by Mr. M`Murdo, the surgeon of the
gaol, who, seeing his appearance, directed his immediate re-
moval to the infirmary of the gaol, where he now is, in a very
weak and exhausted condition. It is understood that the im-
pression upon the minds of the medical officers of the prison
is, that he has taken some mineral poison, or other deleterious
ingredient, and it appears doubtful whether he will be in a fit
state to take his trial at the present session of the Central
Criminal Court. Mr. Horry, who is anointed to conduct
his defence, has been in communication with the prisoner,
airl has obtained a copy of the depositions, and taken
the necessary steps preparatory to the defence, but the wretched
man is in such a weak state that it is not at all probable that
the Judges will allow him to be tried until his strength is sill&
iiently restored to enable him to bear the fatigue of the trial.
It is at present understood that Good will be tried for the Roe- •
hampton murder on Thursday, and his trial, and that of his
two accomplices, will certainly occupy the Court until Satur-
day night; so that in any case Cooper's trial will not come on
before Monday, but the impression of persons officially con-
nected with the Court is, that the trial w;)! h• postponed until
the next session.

DISCOUNTS IN SCOTLAND.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—Whilst the Bank of England, as well as that of Ire-
land, has reduced the rate of discount on bills of exchange to
4 per cent., and the other bankers in London are freely dis-
counting good commercial paper at three, it is not a little re-
markable that the banks in Scotland are still charging 5 per
cent, on bills discounted with them. As I cannot account for
this difference, perhaps some of your able correspondents could
inform me why it is that the rate of discount, or value of
money, is so much greater across the border than in London.
If owing to any existing monopoly, it is proper this should be
known to the public. A TRAVELLER.

SPORTING INTELLIIiENCE.
NEWMARKET SECOND SPRING MEETING.
NEIVMARKET, MONDAY NIGHT.—The following are the
entries for to-morrow :

50/ Plate. R.M.—C. out of Miss Craven's dam, Lady Ful-
ford c.. f. Wire, Misnomer c., Nuncio, Sea Hor e, Bailin-
keale, Wild 'Jack c.. Rover, Robert de Gorham, and Rosalind.
T.M.M. Plate.--Sir Hans, 4 yrs: Y. Quo Minus, 4 yrs ;
Michaelmas Day, 3 yrs; Ohio, 3 yrs; Robin, 3 yrs ; and Pro-
sody, 3 }rs.
Handicap. —Flambeau, 6 yrs ; Menalippe, 5 yrs ; Joachim,
4 yrs; Eringo, 4 yrs; Lady Fulford c., 3 yrs; and f by Buz.
zard, out of Emma, 3 yrs.

TUESDAY.
It is so many years since this meeting "drew," that however
good the list might have been, we should not have expected an
average company ; it is clear, indeed, that to abandon it alto-
gether would be to save 2001. of the Club money, and 100/. of
te Town fund, without in the slightest• degree affecting the
interests of the inhabitants, or exciting a single regret on the
part of their patrons. The "state of affeirs" at the closing of
this parcel will prove that we have not " ixesurned beyond our
last,' in suggesting the propriety of giving up a profitless meet-
ing. There are not one-third of the usual visitors, and the
racing would be altogether unimportant but for the appearance
of the celebrated Irish " star," Ballinkeele, in the R.M. Plate,
for which, by the way, neither Meteor nor Tiptoe were entered
as reported at " the Corner" on Monday. Of that and the
other events we subjoin the results :
Match T. Y. C. 501.—Duke of Bedford's King of the Peak,
Bst 31b, (Robinson,) beat Lord Exeter's Abydos, 6st 121 b.
Betting 5t04 on Abydns. Won easily by half a length.
Match 1001., h ft, D. M.—Mr. Pettit's Langolee, t 3 t 711*,
(Pettit,) beat Mr. 'Teen's Haitoe, 7st, by a length, easy. 11
to 8 on Langolee.

Match T. Y. C. 50/.
Lord Exeter's Abydos, Bst 71b (Darling)
Loid Albemarle's Nuncio, Bst slb 0
3 to 1 on Numio.—A dead heat.
. 501. for 3 yrs old colts, Bst 71b, and fillies Bst 41b, R. M.
Gen. Yates's Sea-horse
Mr. Dixon's Ballinkeele 2
The following also started, but were not placed :—Duke of
Beaufort's ro c, by Camel, out of Miss Craven's dam ; Mr.
Pettit's f Wire, Duke of Bedford's c, by Mundig, out of Mis-
nomer; Lord Orford's ch c, by Emiliut, out of Wild Duck
nth Goodman's Rover, Lord Verulam's Robert de Gorham,
and Mr. Combe's Rosalind.

Betting.-7 to 4on Ballinkeele ;sto 1 agst Robert de
Gorham, and sto 1 agst Rosalind. The Duke of Beaufort's
colt made the running, followed by Robert de Gorham and
Rosalind, the others lying up, and the pace good. They ran in
this order to the Ab. bottom, where Seahorse and Bailin-
keele singled themselves out, and ran a severe race home, Sea-
horse winning by a head. Rosalind, Rover, and Robert de
Gorham were well up.
.5,J1. for three yrs-old, 6st 21b ; four yrs, Bst; five yrs, Bst 71h ;
six yrs and aged, Bst 121 b. 'l'. M.M. The winner to be sold
for 2901., &e.
Doke of Rutlan,l's Sir Hans, 4 yrs
Lord Orford's Young Quo Mesas, 4 yrs
The folio a inff' were not placed—Mr. Pettit's Michaelmas-
day, 3 yrs; Duke of Grafton's Ohio, 3 yrs ; Lord Albe-
marle's Robin, 3 yrs, and Mr. Rosser's Prosody.
Betting-2 to I agst Sir Hans, 3to I agst Young Quo Minus,
and 7to 2 agst ehaehnas-day—taken. Won easy.
Produce Sweepstakes of 200 sovs. each, h ft, for colts, Bst 71b,
and fil des, Sit 41b. T. Y. C. (3 Subs. )
Colonel Peel's c by Slane, out of Jason's dam, and Mr.
Greville's Portumous, divided the forfeit.

Lord Exeter's Scutari, 5 yrs, Sst 11b, received ft, from Duke
of Bedford's Oakley, 4 yrs, List 71b. T. Y.C. 200/., h ft.
Canadian lett Newmarket this morning fur Littleton ; he is
now'the property of Mr. Greville.
Scott's horses started for Epsom on Sunday.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
HOUSE OF LORDS. May 10.
Their Lordships sat to-day, to heat writs of error. The
Judges were ►n attendlnc:>, together with the Lord Chancellor,
Lora Brougham, Lord Cottenham, Lord Campbell, and Lurd
Kenyon.