The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-09-01 00:00:00

INQUEST ON THE BODIES OF THE THREE
YOUNG GENTLEMEN, DROWNED AT BOOTLE

• In our first edition of Friday we
of the melancholy death of three young gentlemen who were
drowned while bathing at Seaforth.
On Friday, at ten o'clock, the inquest was held at ti,
rose Hotel. Bootle, before John Hayes, Esq., cot—
highly respectable jury. After viewing the I.-
tage of Mr. Bickersteth, at Seaforth, the jury rr
Mr. Wm. Rawson, being sworn, said--" I am
the Rev. Mr. Rawson; of Seaforth, and until l:'•
of his assistants. I ant at college, anal --
visit. The deceased, John Ratv--

gave a brief accoun

January

,vas the son of John Bott, Esq., of CotO'n Ilan
and was, I believe, in his fourteenth yea,
Bosanquet was son of Augustus .13,
Hall, Southgate, Middlesex., On Wednese.,
to bathe. The whole school went, to the number of
-nty. They went in on the north side of the R
It was about twenty-five minutes past p:
morning, about an hour and a half before high -
went, as usual, in machines. They had rerun._
usual time in the water, and I had called to them ti.
into the machines. I had been bathing- with them, at
returned to the machine. They were in a straight lint
the machine, and not more than twenty yards off. When
going to put on my clothes, Mr. Christopherson, c
the tutors called to me, saying there was, something .w
I went out into the water and saw a number of youths
gling in the water. Mr. Christopherson, who was in
the machines, jumped in with his clothes on. Two
youths floated past me. I waded and got up to the c
the water ; I cannot swim. I was not aware of any
deep water. Mr. Christopherson took hold of the t,
I saw another, anti got hold of him, and got hie-
name is Kirkman Finlay. Some had sunk.
the deceased, could swim a little ; the others no,
attempt was made to rescue them by the other ,
tide was running towards Liverpool. Their bodie,
found when the tide receded, until two and-a-half hc,
It is the usual place of bathing, or thereabouts w,
machines were. I do not remember that the boys
into a similar hole before.
John Christopherson deposed :—I am tutor with Mr,
son. I went with the pupils to bathe, but did not bath
self. I was in a machine in the water with them. IN
two machines for the school. Some of them came in
machine from the water, and shortly after I heard a
help. I looked out ,and saw some boys floating with
hands up, but had no idea they were in deep water.
were 20 or 25 yards off. I 'pulled my coat and waist
and went iu to them. I got hold of two of them.
were both black in the face, and much exhausted.
they must have been under water, as their faces were et
with sand. The cry for help was from those who were
When I got to the machine I looked out for others,
three heads on , the Bootle side of the brook, and
they were .soine others of the school, but on getting up I
found they weie, three men swimming. The boys of the
school are never allowed to bathe alone. ' They are always
attended by the tutors. I was not aware of any holes being
there before, such as that which I have heard described:
John Dixon. owner of the machines, said, 1 drove the young
men • into the water a good way to the north of the bole. I
considered it a safe place where I took them in. They must
have gone to the left to reach the hole. 1 have had machines.
for many years. I went in with my horse to try and save
them, and went overhead. There are some holes on the shore,
The shore and banks alter a good deal.
Kirkman Finlay, one of the pupils of Mr. Rawson, at Sea•
forth, aged 13, in November last, ssaid, I was bathing witl
the others on Wednesday morning last. I went in the nr
chine with Mr. Rawson. There, were with us John Raw'
:'nd H. A. Bosanquet. •We remained the usual ti-
Bosanquet went further out than the rest, and more tc
wards the south. He was a few yards from me. 1 sat
him struggling in the water, and then he fell on his back,
He then sunk, and rose again. He sunk again, and I did
not see him afterwards. We did not see Bott at all. Dun-
can, Plunkett, and John Rawson went with us to help Bo-
sanquet. When we got near we fell into deep water. Bc.. -
ton could swim a little. Mr. William Rawson took us up.
Mr. John Rawson was endeavouring to save Bosanquet.
After getting out of the pit I floated, and called out for help,
and Mr. Wm. Rawson came to us. I never knew of the hole
before. Ido not think we ever went so far to the south. .
John Henry Bailey, an assistant tutor, said•l was left on
the shore with five of the junior boys, waiting.for a machine.
I heard an alarm, and was called, by Mr. Christophekon,
and went in with part of my clothes on. I saw the machine-
man with his horse, which plunged in the water over head.
I went to the place where the boys sank several times, but could
find nothing of the deceased, and having part of my clothes
on had some difficulty in extricating myself'.
Thomas Cunningham, of Copperas-hill, Liverpool, said—
I am a plumber, and was on Mr. Muspratt's building when
saw the young men go down. I heard a scream, which
called my attention. I went into a caravan with another
person, undressed myself, and went into the water.: I can
swim well. We were in the water about an hour, endeavour-
ing to find them, but could not, and came out quite exhausted.
We went to Mr. Rawson's and got some refreshment, and
we, in about an hour afterwards, went into the water again.
I came to the place, while wading about, and thought the
bodies would be there. I called for assistance, and we even-
tually found the whole three bodies nearly together. One of
the young men who came felt 'one of the bodies, but it es-
caped him. I got hold of it. It was taken out by another
person, and I soon after found another body between my
legs. I soon afterwards found the third. They were re-
moved to the cottage belonging to Mr. Bickersteth, of Sea-
forth. I had bathed near the place before, but did not ob-
serve the hole, which might be four or five yards in diameter.
Richard Balfour Reid said—l am a surgeon at Bootle.
About nine o'clock I heard that three boys of Mr. Rawson's
had sunk. I and others got a boat drawn to the spot, but
did not recover the bodies, which were afterwards taken out.
Great interest and caution was taken. There were about
thirty persons so engaged. All possible Means were used to
endeavour to restore animation, by friction, warmth, &e.,
nor did they desist until all hope of success was at an end.
No further evidence was considered necessary, and the jury
found a verdict, that the deceased were accidentally drowned
whilst bathing.

sanque

John I

At the request of the jury, the Coroner \ stated that I.
should co►rmunicate with Lord Sefton, by way of recur
mendation, as lord of the manor of Litherland, to which
machi►►es belonged, and with the authorities of the tc
ship, requesting them to procure a stake or post,
found so as to denote the position of the mud hole, as a
caution to parties who may hereafter bathe ►►ear the spot

A BLACK BOY PICKED UP AT SEA.—The Belfast arrived
at this port from Jamaica on Saturday. The captain reports
that on the 3d of May, (while on the outward passage,) in
lat. 16 at, long. 66 34'W., they picked up a small boat, with
a negro boy in it, in a famished state. The poor fellow had
been blown off the land in an attempt to get on board a
schooner to which he belonged, in one of the bays in the
island of Marugalante, and he bad been thirteen days in the
boat. He had drifted two hundred and eighty-four miles in
a westerly direction, and was much exhausted when found,
having been seven days without food or water. He, however,
recovered.

Viscount and Viscountess Sandon are at Cheltenham,
where they have taken a vila, with their youthful family.
The lion. Miss Ryder is greatly improved in health.
THAMES STEAMERS.-It seems there are never less than
50 steamers afloat during the summer months on the
Thames. The iron steamers between London Bridge and
Chelsea have carried 100,000 persons during the last month.
Passengers per Powhattan, from New Orleans.—J.
Duckworth, and John Copland, Esqrs., of New Orleans.
The Watchman says, that John Thorogood, the church_
rate prisoner, has been released from Chehnsford gaol, his
friends having paid the rate and costs, in all amounting to
;CSO, or thereabouts. This is said to have been done without
his knowledge or concurrence.

The Earl of Sefton is still enjoying the delightful sport of
salmon fishing and grouse shooting on his Scottish estates.
The noble earl's family are not expected at Croxteth before
the middle of October.

THE. WAR IN FRENCH AFRICA.—A despatch has been re-
ceived by the French government from Marshal Val6e, dated
August 15, which gives the following account of an unfortu-
nate affair on the banks of the Mazafran :—" On the morn-
ing of the 12th, Colonel Champion, of the 3d Light Infitntry,
commanding the camp of Koleah, was informed that a body
of Arabs, commanded by the Bey of Miliana, and composed
of Hadjoutes, 400 infantry, and 200 regular cavalry, had
passed about midnight between Coleah and the sea, directing
their march towards the plain of Staoneli. A convoy was
expected on the same day at Koleah from Douera, atm also
fifty natives, who had been to the market of Algiers to lay in
provisions. It was to be presumed, that the enemy
to surprise this convoy, and carry off the natives on thee,
turn. Colonel Champion instantly sent out a recommit,
ing party to explore the valley of the Mazafran. The de
tachment, which was too weak, was commanded by Captai
Morisot ; it reached the banks of the river, meeting with in
a few Arabs, who were easily driven away by our cavalry
but suddenly our troops were surprised and surrounded b
the enemy, who were in ambuscade in the bushes. A char
combat ensued, and, although our soldiers were taken I;
surprise, they showed as much sang froid as valour; the
were obliged, however, to give way, and fall back upo
Koleah. The enemy lost a great number, and two of ii
standard bearers were killed by a charge of bayonets fror
our carbineers and veltigeurs ; but on our side we have t
deplore the loss of two officers, viz. Captain Morisot, of t'
3d Light Infantry, and Lieut. Chacaton, of the Ist re,gip
of Horse Chasseurs, and 103 noncommissioned offlc'
soldiers.

SINGULAR ANECDOTE.—A letter from Warsav
Constitutionnel, furnishes us with the following ane
" M. Prazbynski, an artist of eminence, exhibi

some --.......,..,. nere,
time since, the portrait of a female of extraordinary
beauty, which attracted , the admiration of Marshal Tasice-
witsch, who, after learning from the painter that it was the
portrait of a lady in the country, agreed to give 200 ducats
for it, on condition that he was mae acquainted with the
name and address of the original. Several generals arriving
at the moment the marshal was conversing with the artist,
he desired him to come with the picture in the evening, and.
receive his money. Some good-natured friend having in-
formed the Princess Paskewitsch of the bargain, this lady
wrote a note to the painter, desiring him to bring the por,
trait a little before the appointed time. The painter kept
the new appointment, and, instead of 200, received 400 du-
cats from the princess, to whom he gave the name and ad-
dress of the fair lady whose features he had copied. Imme-
diately afterwards the princess burnt the picture, and sent an
order to the lady to quit the country. The marshal, on be-
ing made. acquainted with his disappointment, banished the
artist from 'Warsaw, but the princess has become his warm
patroness."

THIS TYPHOONS IN CHINA.—The. whole of the islands
which lie at the mouth of the Canton river are the resort or
innumerable fishing boats, in which entire families are occu-
pied at the nets. At night the lights placed at the stern of
their boats to attract the fish, afford a curious prospect, espe-
cially as they glance into some narrow strait, and light up
the craggy sides with the red beams of their torches. All
the season they spend thus pursuing their occupations ; but
when, by the warmth or coolness of the water, and by a vs-

riety of signs, they are warned of the approach of a typhoon
retiring into close creeks, they draw their boats ashore, anc
patiently await the end of the storm. Habit and curious
observation have given to the Chinese boatmen and fishers
a peculiar readiness in foreseeing the approach of the ty•
phoons. They assert that when, from no apparent cause,
the sea rolls in upon the beach with a long and heavy
swell, the typhoon is certainly approaching, •
prognostic is, that the atmosphere assumes a thick mud
dy appearance, and an unusual stir and • disquiet are ob
servable among the sea-birds, who rise on the wing. am
fly screaming about, as though to find a place of shelfe
from the coming tempest. Lightning, too, in the north is
threatening indication ; but thunder generally precedes an
abatement of the typhoon. These tornadoes are .not disas-
trons only to the fishermen and traders by sea, the hus-
bandman also feels their pernicious effects. The hurricane,
commencing in the north, gradually veers round to the east
and south, and frorp thence comes charged with salt water,
to wither and almost utterly destroy the vegetation near the
coast. Trees are often rooted up or shattered, ships driven
on the rocks, houses unroofed, and the -innumerable rivers
swollen into torrents, which pour destruction over the
rice fields on their banks. So terrible indeed are these vf
itatiops. that the Chinese build temples to deprecate
fury ;, witness the lofty tower of the thundering wina,
the numerous edifices that line the rocky shores of the narrow
strait between Hainan and the continent, in which, on the fifth
daY a the fifth moon, the magistrates offer costly sacrifices,
burning fragrant woods, or scattering rich essences, and
which seem placed there as guardians and protectors of the
commerce unceasingly carried on below.

Another

" Well, now, Ireland contains between eight and nine mil-
lions of inhabitants. There are only three or four indepen-
dent states in Europe that possess as much. There are twenty
independent states that do not possess as many inhabitants
as Ireland. Portugal has only one-third, Belgium not one-
half as many inhabitants as Ireland. It repealed the union
with Holland ; and if you ask your respected pastor, the Rev.
Mr. Flanagan, who has just returned from that happy coun-
try, be will inform you of the vast benefits the Belgians have
obtained by their self-government. (Loud cheers.)"
This gives us a clear insight into " Repeal." It
means Revolution. Belgium, at the promptings of the
Romish priesthood, shook off the authority of Protes-
tant Holland, and threw itself virtually into the hands
of Popish France. Belgium, in fact, rebelled ; ap-
pealed to arms ; blood flowed in her streets ; and a
mock independence was declared. O'Connell is fond
of the parallel ; he avows it ; he ostentatiously holds
it forth for imitation ; the Popish priesthood are with
him; they are to a man Flanagans ; and should the
deluded Irish peasantry be weak enough to fly to arms
in such a cause, we should soon hear of another French
armament in Bantry Bay, for nothing would so much
delight M. Thiers as to involve England in such a
struggle, as that would leave him, he probably sup-
poses, at full liberty to pursue the game of aggrandise-
ment in the East. And, in such a case, what solid ob-
jection could the Melbourne government urge to the
conduct of France ? They themselves similarly inter-

fered in Portugal. and Spain. They have theinselves
established both the precedent and the doctrine; and
they could not, without exposing themselves to uni-
versal ridicule and contempt, appeal to sound principles
of international law.

In the teeth of the Emancipation Act, the Reform
Act, the Irish Poor Law Act, repeated encroachments
upon the Irish branch of the Protestant Church, and
the recently-conceded Municipal Act, O'Connell tells
his blind and unreasoning followers that-they have no
chance of obtaining justice from the Parliament of
England. "You might as well," he elegantly says,
" go ask a diamond for nothing from a Jew, or a boiled
potato from a hungry sow ;" and he seasons the laugh
raised by I,he oddity of his illustration by adding,

"Now don't you think Lord Stanley is very like the
hungry sow with the boiled potato ?" This question
was replied.to by another laugh; at which the ribald
jester cocks his eye and gesticulates, and it is settled
that Lord Stanley is a hungry sow swallowing a boiled
potato belonging to the swinish multitude running af-
ter Mr. O'Connell. We admit that the man has rea-
son to hate Lord Stanley. But the Irish registration
law is the actual boiled potato, and the, agitator is the
greedy beast who wants to swallow the sole benefit of
it; for, without it, he cannot maintain his authority in
the ministerial stye. _ _

From V the society of the pigs and potatoes Mr.
O'Connell makes a sudden transition to the infernal
regions and the spirit presiding there, giving rein to his
sooty wit in this fashion :

" Hanover—(loud cheers)—supports one of the worst boys
out. (Laughter.) Did any of you ever hear of a worse boy ?
(No, no. Yes, yes.) I heard of a certain black boy that lives
in a very warm place—(loud laughter)—and, to give the devil
his due. I think he is worse than His Majesty of Hanover.
(Roars of laughter.) Well, that fellow has only one million
of subjects, and they have an independent government."
In England such stuff as this would be injurious
only to the orator; in Ireland, among the "hereditary
bondsmen," the case Is different. Pat can swallow his
potatoes raw; he makes the enormous mistake of look-
ing upon the sordid agitator as a patriot, and will at
any time do his bidding, if not held back by the holy
fathers who profess to keep the keys of both heaven
and hell.

Further on in his Sunday speech O'Connell forgets
what he has said of the niggard disposition of the
British Parliament, and brags—" Yes ! I have more
power than I ever before bad." This is in allusion to
the Irish municipal act ; and he exults in the idea that
there are in the Dublin corporation forty thousand
pounds to handle. Strange, indeed, if such a sum do
not afford some pickings to one so expert. "Two
thousand pounds—say two thousand pounds." This
is the "diamond" which the expert juggler extracted
" for nothing" from the " Jew" whom he selected for
his master-trick. It will go hard with him if he does
not make a still better thing by the year, out of dupes
ever ready to play into his hands.
Pretending to be liberal, O'Connell holds out an in-
vitation to Protestants to come into the reformed cor-
poration, and baits his hook with the forty thousand
nounds. We are sorry to say that there are not want-

ing men, calling themselves Protestants, and pretend-
ing to be representatives of the people, who are likely
to snap at such a bait; but we trust to public opinion
for keeping them in order—at all events, for keeping
them from making a public exhibition of their readiness
to assist in the agitator's object in applying the corpo-
ration funds to corrupt personal and political purposes.
These men ought to know. too, that they would not
long be permitted to enjoy ill-gotten pelf; the plan of
the deceiver is to tempt them that he may destroy
them, and thus shelve them for ever.

But, it seems, the Romanist, or Pro-Romanist can-
didates for seats in Parliament are to be exempted from
joining the revolutionary repeal band at present. At a
meeting, held in Dublin on Monday last, O'Connell
moved and affirmed the following resolution :

"That it is not the intention of this association to require
the repeal pledge at present from any individual seeking a
seat in parliament in 1 reland ; nor shall we require it as long
as the present admini,ttation remain in office."

This lets the cat out of the bag. It is, as the Stan-
dard observes, " a handsome testimpny to the cabi-
net; they do the work of repeal so well that Mr.
O'Connell thinks it may be permitted to make its way
without the aid of pledges under their auspices, for on
repeal lie is resolved on whoever shall be minister. We
may congratulate the country upon the possession of a
government which openly-avowed traitors are so anxi-
ous to preserve that they postpone their dearest objects
to their convenience." Yes, yes ; these men lave
given O'Connell " more power than ever he had ;" he
will tolerate them till the time arrives to throw them
overboard with effect; at present they do his work as
well as he can wish them. We repeat that ministers
and the Irish traitor are in all respects worthy of each
other.