The Sun.
London, England, 1829-07-11 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.

Mr. J. Some=, the ship-owner, a gentleman well
known in the city of London, yesterday made a
most serious complaint against the proprietors or
superintendents of the Pearl steam vessel, by which
but an hour before he and three other persons were
very near losing their lives. He appeared before the
Lord Mayor with water in his boots just as he
escaped with his life. He had, he stated, been at
Gravesend, and came up that morning in the Pearl.
As soon as the vessel reached that part of the river
which is close to Stone.wharf, he (Mr. Somes) and
two other gentlemen got into a boat, which came
alongside, in order to land at the most convenient
spot. They most earnestly requested the superin-
tendents to allow the boat to push off from the
steam-vessel before they put on the power of the
engine, but their request was totally disregarded.
The steamer scarcely abated her speed for one
moment, and while the boat was actually touching
her, the full power was put on. The boatman, by
the violent motion of the boat, was tumbled over-
board,
but he seized hold of the stern, the boat was
instantly half filled with water, and every moment it
was expected that she would sink. If he had
swamped, the four would in all probability have
perished, for not one of the number could swim.
He (Mr. Somes) fortunately understood the manage-
ment of small craft well, having been a great part of
his life at sea ; and he accordingly begged that the
other two gentlemen would sit still, when he mica-
deavoured to steady the boat, which the surge, occa-
sioned by the rapid progress of the steamer, appeared
every moment threatening to overwhelm. He happily
succeeded in his efforts, but in the course of his life,
and he had met with many perils, he never was so
near death before.

The LORD MAYOR expressed the greatest indig-
nation at the conduct of the superintendants, and
congratulated Mr. Somes, who was a personal ac-
quaintance of his, on the narrow escape which most
probably would not at all have been effected but for
the great presence of mind and skill which had been
displayed.
Mr. Somes said that he prevailed upon the poor
boatman who wanted to get into the boat even when
she was half full of water, to hold on until she
righted. The two gentlemen sat steadily while he
opposed the sides of the boat to the surge, by press-
ing the weight of his body in such a manner against
one side as to prevent the water from gushing in at
the other. If it had happened that a lady had been
in the boat, all would probably have been lost.

The LORD MAYOR asked whether the superin-
tendents of the vessel then stopped ?
Mr. Somes answered in the negative. The peo-
ple all saw the great peril in which the boat was, and
cried aloud to them. The labouring men on board
the colliers stopped from their work, and cried shame,
and expressed the greatest fear of the consequences,
and upwards of twenty boats rowed over to their
assistance with all possible celerity. He was up to
the knees in water when the first boat reached him.
If such things were allowed to be practised, there
would be no security for the lives of the public.

The LORD MAYOR said he was convinced that
the particulars of a case of this kind would meet
the eye of the public with proper animadversions,
and he advised Mr. Somes to indict the proprietors
of the Pearl.
Mr. Somes said that he should indict for the sake
of the public.