The Sun.
London, England, 1827-09-19 00:00:00

CORONER'S INQUEST.

Yesterday afternoon an inquest was held at the
sign of the Waterman's Arms, Dockhead, Bermond-
sey, before R. CARTER, Esq., on the body of James
Smith Bampton, who was drowned in consequence
of being run down while on board a wherry, by the
BeockelbanA: Gravesend steam-packet. Consider-
able sensation was excited along the water-side owing
to the accident, which was attributed to negligence
on the part of the persons navigating the vessel
above-mentioned.

Thomas Owen, a waterman, 17 years of age, de-•
posed, that on Saturday evening last, between six
and seven o'clock, he and the deceased were on
board a wherry off the Tower, and perceiving the
Brockelbank steam-packet coming up the river, they
pulled towards her for the purpose of going on
board for passengers. There were four other wher-
ries approaching her at the same time, and the
wherry in which witness and deceased were was on
the starboard side. One of the wherries which ran
too close to the steam-boat was struck by the beam
before the wheel, and nearly upset, immediately
after which, the wherry in which the deceased and
witness were was also struck by the same beam with
great force, before they had time to pull away, and
completely capsized, bottom upwards. Witness and
deceased were thrown into the water : the former
managed to gain hold of some part of the bottom of
the boat, to which he clung until released from the
perilous situation by a waterman named Raymond.
His unfortunate companion, who it appeared
grappled with the witness while in the water, all at
once let go his hold, and before assistance arrived
he sunk, and was drowned. The witness added,
that after the accident occurred the steam-boat did
not stop, but proceeded forwards to her destination,
opposite the Custom-house.

Juror.—`Why did you not keep your wherry out
of the track of the steam-boat ?—Witness said, that
the steamer was going at such a rate, they had not
time to pull out of her way; besides, she kept so
close to a tier of Newcastle colliers, between which
and the steam-boat their wherry happened to be,
that they could not possibly clear her.
Juror.—At what rate was the packet going at the
time? Witness.—l should think between seven
and eight knots an hour.
Here several of the jurymen exclaimed, that it
was by far too great speed for a vessel, particularly
in that part of the river, which was at all times so
full of craft of every description.
A Juror observed, that he had frequently noticed
the anxiety of some watermen to get on board
steam-vessels, before they had brought up at their
moorings. He had seen them run great risks, and
therefore wished to know from witness whether the
first boat was entitled to more than those that suc-
ceeded her ? Tlti witness said, that the first boat
that got alongside was entitled to the first freight of
passengers.

The Coroner here asked the witness, if those on
board the steam-packet heard the alarm before the
accident happened, they could have stopped the
vessel so as to have prevented it ? This witness
had no doubt if due precaution had been taken on
board the Brockelbank, the catastrophe would not
have taken place.
John Purvis, the master of a Newcastle trader, on
Saturday evening, about the time mentioned, was on
the quarter-deck of his vessel, on the starboard-side,
when he observed the Brockelbank coming up the
river at the rate of between seven and eight knots
an hour. Witness saw the sculler-boats astern of
the brig, and heard the persons in one of them call
out in the usual way to those on board the packet,
to look out. Soon after the alarm, the first boat
that approached the steam-vessel was struck with
such force by the beam of the latter, as to nearly
capsize it. The beam then struck the wherry in
which the deceased and the latt witness were on
board, upset it, and dashed tile two young men into
the water as above described.

This witness was asked several questions by the
Coroner and Jury, in reply to which he stated that
the steam-vessel was going at too rapid at rate. He
moreover was decidedly of opinion, that the accident
might have been prevented altogether if there had
been a proper look-out kept on board. He added,
that he believed the accident arose through negli-
gence on the part of the persons on board the
Brockelbank, but he had not the least reason to
think the boat was upset wilfully.
The father of the deceased, who was much af-
fected, was called. He said, that lie was not pre-
sent when the unfortunate occurrence took place;
therefore he could not state whether it arose from
accident, or from what cause. He described the
great danger of approaching the steam-vessels, and,
although he had been seventeen years on the river
as a waterman, he always avoided going on board of
them, and also endeavoured to impress on the mind
of the deceased the hazard attending going alongside
them.

The captain of the Brockelbank (Braddy) entered
into a long justification, stating that it was purely
accidental; he was not going at the rate described,
neither did lie proceed forwards when the accident
happened. He concluded by stating the present ac-
cident as the first that occurred since he had the
command. The Jury, after a long consultation,
brought in a verdict of "accidental death," and le-
vied a deodand of 5/, on the steam-packet.

A hostile meeting took place on Saturday last,
at five p.m., in a field near Tothill, between a
professional gentleman of Stonehome and the
brother of an officer now in this garrison, at-
tended by their seconds. Three shots were fired
on both sides, at 12 paces. On the third fire the
ball of the former grazed his adversary's proboscis,
but without doing any serious injury ; and, after
a vain attempt at reconciliation, the parties left
the ground. We have not heard the cause of the
dispute.••-.Devonport Telegraph,