The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-09-03 00:00:00

Aker t

we the live

)f the passengers, and as far as in
could do thought he had done his duty. One of t
boats, the starboard life-boat, on being let down.

a; the paddle-wheel, and was swamped by the v(

now hov

There were some boats came
from the shore, and in the gray of the morning it was
difficult to crstinguish between the shore boats and their
own. Considered the ship boats to be in proper order.
Went up the rigging as the ship sunk, and remained there
as long as the top of the masts remained above water,
nd till he saw all the passengers clear of the wreck. He
to leave the ship. The shore boats were
s in approaching for fear of a rush of the
He had left special instructions to call him

with passenger

very cant
passenger
if there v

any change_of weather

the usual
assels of the

lice of the commanders of the other

line to give such instructions in similar
He was not called, but aroused by the sho
sel. When the ship struck he stripped hir

hore, and he was almost naked

he wreet

The declaration of John Williams, the second mate,
taken atPortpatrick, was then read. He stated that he

turn of his watch. The master remained on deck till
half-past twelve, and, on leaving, said, " John, if it be-
comes any way thick or hazy, mind give me a call."
When the vessel was off' the pier of Portpatrick, it sad-

:k. Could see tt

rs to John Kelly, who was at the helm, to
:I north by west a half point off from the lac

going to call the master, according to his instructions,
when the vessel struck. Could not understand how the
accident occurred, unless the current had swept the vessel
in-shore against the helm. It was not unusual, on this
part of the coast, for the master to go to his room for an
hour or so. Declarant kept the vessel near the shore for
the purpose of shunning the tide. The master gave him
no order to do so on this occasion. Remained on 'hoard
till the ship went down, and was saved from the rigging.
The Solicitor-general then stated that he had expected
to be able to fix on the first mate, Langlands, a sort of
independent responsibility in regard to the state of the
boats, and therefore he had been included in the indict-
ment along with the, captain and second mate. He
thought it right to state, however, that the Crown had
not found that separate'responsibility to exist to the ex-
tent expected, and under these circumstances he thought
it consistent with his duty to withdraw the charge against
the first mate.

Mr. Crawford said that he proposed to call the first
mate as evidence for the captain, which was allowed.
The jury having returned a verdict of not guilty against
Langlands, he left the bar, and shook hands with the
captain, as well as with several friends in court. He was
then taken to the witness-room.

EXCULPATORY EVIDENCE.
Capt. Wm. Johnston, Glasgow, was called as a witness
for Captain Henderson. He is harbour master at Glas-
ow. He kenw the Orion—a fine vessel. Her equip-
ments were very complete, including her boats. She was
considered in point of fact the best vessel that went out of
the Clyde. He knew Captain Henderson, whose charac-
ter was unimpeachable—a clever active sailor. _

Captain John BoydLliasretiredaiouiayear from the )
command of the Admiral steamer. He had been on the
passage for sixteen years. As captain he had no writte,.l
nstruction, nor had he any particular watch. In firae
weather the two mates keep ratch. The captain is abr,ays
on deck going down the Mersey, and on the Isle a Man
Point, Mull of Galloway, and •in the Clyde. It •sas his
practice -to go to bed in good weather after rouri.ing the
Mull of Galloway. He had two life boats. He had
covers for them and quarter boats. There were plug
holes in all their boats. He has gone to slee p during the
second mate's watch.. He is entitled tQ O'iep four hours