The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-08-29 00:00:00

THE LOSS OF THE OCEAN MONARCH,

A subscription-list was opened on Friday in the Ex-
change-rooms, and it will be seen that the committee for
affording relief sit daily at the Town-hall for the purpose
of giving a proper direction to public benevolence. The
committee consists of the Mayor, Edward Rushton, Esq.,
James Price Esq., Thomas Littledale, Esq., J. Aspinall
Tobin, Esq.. Robert W. 'Osgood, Esq., Jacque3 Myers,
Esq., Lieut. Hodder, and Charles Cotesworth, Esq. D.
Neilson, Esq., treasurer. The total amount of subscrip-
tion exceeds, we believe £lOOO.

Any donations of clothes will be very acceptable, and
will be gratefully received at the Police-office, in High-
street.

A very -long list of subscriptions is now filled at the
News Room. Amongst the benevolent donors, are—
Baring Brothers and Co., £5O; Hamden and Co., £5O;
Brown, Shipley and Co., £2O; Fiehien Brothers, £2O;
James Brown and Co., £10; Maclean, Ward and Co.,
£lO 10s.

Mr. Gough, of Woodside, gave the use of his omnibuses,
gratuitously, forthe purpose of conveying parties to Hoy-
lake, in order to identify any of the nnfotunate parties.
We believe that ~£2OO has been forwarded by govern-
ment for the relief of the suffering survivors ; and it will
be seen that her Maiesty has contributed £5O for the sea-
man Jerome.

The Gem yacht belonging, to Mr. Meliing, secretary of
the Royal Mersey Yacht Club, passed the Ocean Monarch
.on Thursday, at six o'elock p.m., as she was returning
from Beaumaris regatta. There was not a single human
being any where in sight, and tho hull of the ship was
burned to the water's edge.
Thirteen bodies were washed up at Hoylake on Satur-
day. Among them were two infants, a man about sixty,
and eight females from twenty to sixty years old. Whilst
the outside clothes were being removed from one woman,
£22 6s. were found tied up in her stays.

THE INQUEST YESTERDAY.

Yesterday forenoon the borough Coroner proceeded to
hold an inquest on the bodies of five of the sufferers who
were brought to this port on Saturday by the steam tug,
namely, Mary Tobin, Geofrey Lynch, Ellen Teirricy,
Elizabeth Atherton, and a boy, name unknown.
In consequence of it being generally understood that
the captain and mate of the unfortunate vessel would be
present, and that evidence would be produced relative to
the Bangor steamer Cambria and Orion, the court and its
environs were very much crowded. We observed on the
bench with the Coroner, Admiral Grenfell, Capt. Evans,
R.N., Lieut. Loud, R.N., and in the court we not!ced
several gentlemen belonging to the town.
Mr. P. Wright, solicitor, appeared to watch the pro-
ceedings on the part of the owners of the Welch steamers
Cambria and Orion.
The following jury was sworn to try the inquest :
Time. Phillips, Walter Gilfillen, William I3ournes, John
Kelliott, Thos. Foulkes, James Bleasdale, 'Thos. Austin,
Thos. Ellison, Richard Rowlandson, Robert Norris. John
Chartres, John Johnston, James Edmondson, and Robert
Merser.

The COIIONER then proceeded to address the jury.
After describing the occurrence, he observed that it
would be the duty of the jury to inquire minutely into
every circumstance connected with this unhappy occur-
rence, not merely as to the immediate cause of the death
of these persons, but also into whatever might be the
occasion of the entire accident. If there bad been any
gross
.negligenee on the part of the captain, or any cul-
pable mismanagement of his ship, there was no doubt but
he would be liable to a verdict of manslaughter; and if he
had omitted to do anything by which the lives of those
under his charge might have been protected, the same re-
sponsibility would attach to him. lie then proceeded to
justify his going into a lengthened inquiry by referring to
what had occurred on this subject in the House of Com-
mons on Saturday night last. He next alluded to the
various rumours which had been circulated as to the cause
of this accident. He believed that the account given
about a seaman named Jenkins having been seen below in
the Lazeretto with a lighted candle, in the early part of
the day, was the most probable. He knew of no law
which compelled a man to jeopardise his own life to save
that of anofher ; but the man who would wilfully pass by
a fellow-creature in such distress was the most despicable
wretch that ever lived. The Coroner then concluded by
passing a high and well-merited eulogium on Mr. Thos.
Littledale and the crew of the Queen of the Ocean, for
their brave and magnanimous conduct on the occasion. -
The following witnesses were then sworn :
Johanna Tobin examined.—ls •a single woman ; was
•one of the passengers on board the Ocean Monarch. The
deceased, whose name was Mary Tobin, was my sister;
she was a passenger also; she was 38 years of age; we
were going to Boston in America; was sitting on a box
in the steerage when 1 heard the first alarm of "fire"
given ; ran immediately on deck, as the sailors and all
.ethers slid ; in the front steerage I observed a quantity of
smoke, and in about a quarter of an hour after I got on
deck I saw flames coming through the deck of the first
cabin. The flames increased very rapidly, and in a short
time the whole of the ship was on fire. I was saved by a
boat belonging to a packet which was close tous ; the ship
-Ind bulwarks were nearly all burned before I was saved,
and the masts were gone, I know by sight the captain of

the Ocean Monarch ; the gentleman now present was the
caetain. I know both the mates also by sight. I never-
saw the captain hut once, from the time I heard the cry-
of "fire" until Saturday last, when I saw him in- Liver-
pool. There was very great confusion after the alarm of
" fire'; was given, and I was so confused myself that the
caotain might have been there without my seeing him.
After the alarm was given, I saw the chief mate in a small
boat, throwing out life buoys to the people in the water,
and trying to save them. I did not see the dead body of
m y sister till Friday last, when I saw it in the dead house.
I saw the deceased going down the side of the ship by a
rope; that was the last time I saw her alive..
To Mr. Wright.—The captain might have been on the
deck for a long time without my seeing him.
Chas. Hill was next examined.-Is a passenger broker.
Identified one of the deceated as being Jeofrey Lynch,
who was a second cabin passenger on board of the Ocean
Monarch. The ship was on commission. Thinks there
were about 351 passengers altogether on board. The
ship's registered tonnage was 1307 tons. She could carry,
under the act of parliament, about from 415 to 420 pae-
sengers.
James Teirney identified the body of Ellen Teirney.
George Lee examined.—ls a fireman on board the
steam-frigate Affonso. Sailed from the river Mersey at:
half-past ten on Thursday morning last. We proceeded
on a trial trip of the vessel. The frigate was commanded
by Admiral Grenfelland Captain Lisboa ; but I did not
then know the name of the captain. Don't recollect what
state the tide was in. We went out by the new channel,
past the bell-buoy. Our attention was first called to the
ship on fire about an hour after we passed the bell-buoy.
Went on deck immediately, when I observed the ship
blazing up as high as half way between the top—between
the mainmast and mizentnast ; the flames came out of
the cabin window. The wind was from the westward at
the time ; there was a good sailing breeze for a ship; with.
rather a jobble of a swell. Her bearing from us was
seven or eight miles off us ; all the masts were
then standing ; there were a great number of vessels
then, about, all making their way to the westward;
some orders were given by our captain, but, as they were
in Portuguese, I did not understand them ; we got four
boats ready, and manned, for the assistance of the ship;
the frigate was steered es fast as possible towards the
burning ship ; on coming near the vessel, I observed that
she had lost her mizen mast, although I did not see it go,
and immediately after I taw the main mast go over the
side; I could then discover a great number of persons on
the fore part of the ship; when we were about a quarter
of a mile from the ship we let go our anchor, and put out
our boats immediately after; there was a warp got out
from the stern of.the frigate to the ship ; every thing was
done that could be done by the officers and inen of the •
Affonso, to save the lives of the people in danger ; the
warp was hove in so tight that the stern of the frigate was
within two ships' length of the burning vessel; I was in
one of the boats, with the mate of, the Ocean Monarch,
which saved 15 or 16 of the passengers ; he was endeavour-
ing to save all the lives he could ; his men were much ex-
hausted, and. he requested to change them for some of
our's ; we did so. and I was one of the parties who got
into the boat with him; I picked up the body of a little
girl : it was in the water at the time; it was not quite
dead at the time, but I heard that it died soon after.
To the CORONER.—Saw two steamers runniiig in ; they
were the Bangor boats. That was about fifteen minutes
before I heard the alarm of " a ship cn fire" given : those
boats would be about six miles and a half from us, and
in shore : they could not have been more than five and a
half from the burning ship. I then went below for about
fifteen minutes, and on returning I saw these two steamers
pursuing their inward course as fast as they could ; they
were then on our larboard quarter, and about nine miles
off the burning ship. Never saw them alter their course
in the least to render any assistarce.

Could they have rendered assistance ? Was there any-
thinz in the state of the tide or weather to prevent them
doing so ?
()tiling whatever; they could have rendered very great
assistance. I observed Mr. Littleble.'s yacht, the Queen
of the Ocean, about the ship both before we came up and
after. She then had as many on board as she could do
with; afterwards saw the Prince cf Wales steamer come
up, and after going round the ship three or four times,.
she came to an anchor in a very fine position for rendering
assistance. She came too between the Alfonso and the
wreck.

Cross-examined by Captain EaANS.—Wh en T came on
deck the yacht was close to the vessel, but what the people
on board were doing I could not see; the Alfonso was_
nearly an hour from the time we first saw the burning-
ship till she reached her ; the Antis° then was going eight
miles an hour against the wind which was then blowing.
To Mr. WRlGHT.—Assisted in saving the lives of a
number of people. I think after the time we arrived we
had boats enough; but if others had been there previous
to us more lives might have been saved. The New
Weald was one of the vessels making to the westward;
could not sav whether she rendered any assistance. There
were several boats there; but I do not snow to whom
they belonged. I think the New \a was about four
miles off the wreck when I observed her. She was tack-
ing about, and hove too, as if to rerelta.
To the CORONER.—The Bangor boats might have been
at the burning ship at least ati hour before the Alfonso.
To Captain EVANs.—Tliese boats were coming from
the westward, and ,the burning vessel was to the west-
' ward, and from this circumstance I say the packets would„
be there an hour before us, and I think they could not
have passed the vessel without seeing the fire. When
say might have been, there an hour before us, take it for
granted that the ship must have been On fire when I first
saw the steamers on our larboard how.'
The CORONER then called on the captain of the Cam-
bria and the mate of -he Orion, with a view of allowing
them to cross-examine this witness. The captain of the
Cambria then proceeded to do so :—When first I saw the
ship there were flames ascending to nearly the main top,
and also coming out of the cabin- windows,—the steamers
were then on the larboard quarter. .
Tae Mate of the Orion declined to cross-examine the
witness.
William Roberts, a seaman on board the Ocean Mo-
narch, was next examined. He was a man before the
mast. There were 34 seamen and one boy, besides the
officers, on board ; a little before 12 o'clock on Thursday,
after we had sailed, I went to the mate and asked him for
my tobacco ; he went down and got the tobacco, and we
had just got below in the forecastle, put my tobacco in
my chest, got on deck again, immediately I heard a cry
that there was fire away aft ; heard the captain sing out
from the quarter deck for buckets, and he gave orders to
put the fire out; the captain still remained on the quarter
deck ; at this time I observed smoke issuing from the venti-
lator on the starboard side aft ; I assisted in passing water;
the captain then sung out to get the passengers on deck,"
and I went below to do so ; whilst I was so employed, the
flames burst through from aft, through the cabin, and in
about fifteen minutes, all between decks was on blaze;
there was then great confusion on deck, and the noise
was so great that I could not hear whether the captain
gave any orders or not. I saw the ship New World at a
distance from us. Mid not look out for any steamer or
other vessel to save us, for I expected to get a raft or piece
of wood to save myself by ; at last I got into one of our
boats, and some person cutting the painter we drifted
away ; we endeavoured to bale her out with our boots.
We then drifted down to a fishing-smack, and placed
what passengers we had on board of her—got oars from
her people, and we then pulled hack for the
.ship again. On our way we picked up a passenger and
put her on board the Prince of Wales steamer, which was
then steering for the ship ; we then returned and took off'
as many as we could, and put them on board the Affonso.
He remained at work as long as he could, till he was
exhausted; then he went on board the Alfonso and a
fresh crew was put into the boat. During ail this time
I did not notice either of the two Wcigh steamers.
Smoking was not allowed between decks, but we some-
times smoked above deck on the sly. This being all the
evidence which could be procured that evening, the court
alourned to 11 o'clock this day, when the inquiry will be
resumed.
We understand that an inquest was held yesterday, on
the bodies of a number of the sufferers who have been
found at Hoylake.

A RECEIVER ow STOLEN Gcons.—ln consequence of --
suspicions, the police en Thursday searched the public-
Louse occupied by a man named Ellison, at the corner of
Skelhorne-street. when they found in every room in the
house stolen goods in larger or smaller quantities. Whole
piles of woollen cloth, wearing apparel, for both males
and females in abundance; an endless assortment of silk
handkerchiefs, and miscellaneous property were seized.
Many articles were rolled up in bundles, to which tickets
were attached after the manner of pawnbrokers. The
woods were taken to the Police-office, together with the
landlord of the rublic-house and a girl named Brothers.
On Friday the two prisoners were brought before Mr:
Rushton, when Bates and Tuck produced the property
found in the house. So great was the quantity, that it:.
covered the large table in the court in High-street, whera-
eases were heard during the occupation of the Sessions-
house. A portion of the articles consisted of gold rings,
telescopes, tke. Mr. Rushton directed that the prisoners
should be remanded to gaol for one week. Me. Snowball,
solicitor for Ellison, enquired if bail would be accepted for
his client. The magistrate drily remarked that he would
rather admit to bail the poor wretches who stole the goods._ •
During the interval the police will he engaged in endea-
vouring to trace out the owners; and we are requested to
urge parties, who may have had valuables stolen, to go to
the police-office, in iligh-street, where all the property
is deposited.
ROBBERIES AT THE ALBERT DOCK WAREHOUSE.—A.
long investigation was entered on before Ir. Rushton, on
Thursday, respecting an alleged robbery of flour, supposed
to have been committed by the porters employed at the
Albert Dock warehouses. The persons in custody wero
James Franklin, James A. Smith, W. Ridgway. Joseph •
Taylor, Daniel Hodgson, and George Dobson. In Sep-
tember last, Messrs. Sanders and Claxton stowed in the
Albert Dock warehouses a quantity of flour, about 8.982
barrels, being the cargo of the ship Reliance. They were
stored in No. 9 warehouse. The flour remained there
until it was sold, when it was found that there was a de-
ficiency of 53cwt. 151bs. In consequence of this, officer
Kehoe went to the Albert Dock warehouses for the pur-
pose of investigating the matter, why the first person he •
spoke to was the prisoner Hodgson, and inconsequence of
his information the other prisoners were apprehended.—
Mr. Cowan, the superintendent of the Albert Dock ware-
houses, said he had investigated the matter with officer -
Kehoe, but could not account for the deficiency, without
it was the length of time which bad elapsed from their
being taken in to going out, as barrels were apt to lose_
their weight when rolled about. In his opinion not one
barrel had been out of the warehouse; but that, probably,
in the hurry of business, the flour had been negligently-.
weighed. Mr. Rushton adjourned the case, but the evi..
deuce against them not being any stronger, he dischargcd,
them, with a caution, at the same time expressing a hope
that the matter would receive the attention of the dock
committee.
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