The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-08-20 00:00:00

2,:ADFUL ACCIDENT Oft THE RIVER.-
NINE LIVES LOST.

On .s=st:4l7 eveoing a melancholy accident occurred off
Easrham, ffolh the upsetting of a beat, carrying a pleasure
party, by whic:t ilfee lives have been lost. The following
are the circumsfa-fvces, ascertained by us from inquiry
on the spot. At afierett half-past five o'clock the boat in
question—a half-decked fishing or pleasure boat—belong-
ing to a person named Blackie, started from the south
end of King's Dock Pier, having on board ttvo of his
sons and a party of friends, with the intention of making
a pleasure trip to Eastham and back. The sail up the
river was safely accomplished, the boat in question,
so far as we could learn, being perfectly fitted in every
respect for such work, having previously made much
more hazardous excursions, both for pleasure and on fish-
ing trips up the river. At about 20 minutes to S, p.m.,
she started on her homeward course, having on board
fourteen persons, and the river, so far as we could learn,
presenting no appearance which would excite in the minds
of unskilled navigators the idea of any danger. It was,
in fact, within the Eastham bight, which our readers are
aware, is protected by high banks and overhanging woods,
and like a sheet of glass. The boat accordingly hoisted all
sail, with the intention, it is said, of racing home with
another similar craft ; but when about a hundred yards
from the north or new slip of Eastham ferry, a sudden
squall struck her, the wind outside the protecting land
blowing a gale, and she went over and sunk instantly.
The boat with which she was about to have a trial of speed
was at the time only about 30 to 50 yards eastward of her,
and having a reef in her mainsail, was enabled to weather
the squall, but unfortunately could afford no relief to the
submerged passengers.
The number of passengers missing is as follows, viz :
A boy named Youd.
Two boys (twins), named Gerard, a little over fourteen
years of age. One of these, the eldest, swam lustily for
some time; but before assistance could he rendered him
was heard to exclaim "I'm done," and sank immediately.

William Blackie, aged about eighteen, son of the owner
of the boat.

Two young women, one a servant, named Elizabeth
Walker, and her sister Ann. The latter was only married
a week ago. These young women, who reside in Tox-
teth-park, had under their care two children named Spen-
cer, one about seven years old and the other about four
years, both of whom are lost. The whole of this party
were seen to enter the forecastle ; and it was supposed
that they would be found there when the boat was got up
out of the water. The other party missing is a young
man named John Duncan, making nine in all, who have
perished through this lamentable occurrence.
The accident was witnessed from on board the Eastham
packet-boat, which was just discharging her passengers at
the old slip, opposite to the hotel, and promptly put out
for the relief of the sufferers. She was fortunate, by great
exertion on the part of the crew, in picking up two boys
named Joseph Blackie, son of the owner of the boat, and
Richard Ash, or Ashworth, who were floating on a bench
used on board of the boat, which they had fortunately
succeeded in securing. The steamer also picked up, in an
exhausted state, two elderly parties, one resident in Bir-
kenhead, and both engaged in some mercantile capacity
in this town. One of these at the time he was picked up
was apparently dead ; but, by the exertions of a medical
gentleman, who was present on board the steamer, and
who inflated the lungs of the half-drowned man; he shortly
breathed, and is now at the tap of the Rock Ferry Hotel,
in a state of rapid convalescence. The other party was
still suffering very much last night from the effects
of the water which he had imbibed. Another man,
named William Cooper, was picked up, after swim-
mine for about a quarter of an hour in the direction of
the Bank opposite Eastham, by an old man, named Moses
White, his son, also named Moses White, and Richard
Jones, all of Eastham, and who launched their boat for
the purpose.
On visiting the scene of the accident yesterday, we found
the mast of the unfortunate boat above water, in as nearly
as could be the precise situation in which she was allowed
to go down. A tug-boat, the Prince Albert, was on the
spot, with two or three other boats, for the purpose of
raising her. Chains were got under her, both fore and
aft; and with great exertion she was at length hauled up
alongside the slip, so far that her side and deck could be
seen. The tide flowing, however, it was found impracti-
cable to get her high and dry, so that her forecastle could
be examined ; and she was, therefore, secured in her posi-
tion to wait the ebb of the tide. The scene during these
operations was a painful one, the owner of the boat, who
had lost one son, being present with the father; of the
twins (Gerard) and of the two children (Spencer.) The
relatives of the other lost parties were also pre: eat. None
of the bodies had been recovered up to the hour we left
Eastham last night.

COMMERCIAL AND MONETARY REPORT.

Monday Night.

In the Share market the week has been critical. A
large business has been done and prices have fluctuated
materially, influenced by operations induced by the differ-
ent reports that have been issued. The London and
Northwestern report was considered very favourable, but
the effect for good of it was destroyed by the speech of
the chairman, evidently made gloomy to prevent a division
of more than five per cent. Large purchases however
of these shares have been made (especially in London) at
the lowa. prices. There can be little doubt but that the
line will be in a position to pay 6 or 7 per cent. in Fe-
bruary next.—To-day our market is very flat, and prices
close lower this evening than for some time back. The
quotations for the day are :—Lancashire and Cheshire
Junctions, £22 shares, 11 dis. ; Lancashire and York.
shire stock, 39; Leeds fifths, 9k dis. ; Do. pref. shares,
12k; London stock, 111+; Do. new quarters, 1 18/9 pm.;
Do. fifths, 1+ pm, ; Midland stock, 321; Do. halves, 24
18/9 5 5c 5 41 dis. ; North Union B stock, 160 ;
Oswestrys, 61; Do, pref., 12,1 ; Old Dovers, 141 ; North
Midlands, 151; _Gastrquarters, 46+
In Scotch Pig Iron there has been no perceptible change
in our market during the week, and the prices continue
nominally the same, 445. Cash for mixed numbers, and
455. No. 1, Gartiherrie f.o.b. at Glasgow.. Bar Iron
£4 12s. 6d. in Wales ; leading brands £5 here. The
business done has been of a very limited character, and
the advices per steamer from the States have not caused
any alteration in prices.
We learn from Messrs. Mackay's timber circular pub-
lished on Thursday that since the 25th of January 109
vessels, 64,138 tons register. wood-laden, have arrived
from British North America, viz., 42 'from Quebec, 32
from St. John, N. 8.. and 35 from other ports; in the
like time last year, 125 vessels, 63,929 tons, arrived. The
imports from British North America during the last three
months have been sold from the quay on arrival at various
prices as in quality. The consumption is going on steadily,
with prices very much the same as at the opening, and
from present appearances there is nothing to warrant any
great change in favour of the importers or dealers.

The reports from Ireland received yesterday, as to the
potatoe crop, were much more favourable than the pre-
vious advices. _ _

The following ten gentlemen go as a deputation from
the Peace Society of Liverpool :—Rev. C. M. Birrell,
Rev. F. Bishop, Lawrence Heyworth, Esq., M.P., Messrs.
R. V. Yates, Thos. Urquhart, Charles Edward Rawlins,
Robert Henry Tate, Thomas Lilwall, and J. Stevens.
THE WEALTHY ESTABLISHMENT.—The Herald brings
before the public, the case of the lecturer of St. Mary's,
London, as one out of many instances of the mode in which
the clergy, even in London nre paid. There a gentleman of
high standing actually performs a full service (for, be it
understood, the rector's evening prayers are included in
his duties), every Sunday, for the pittance of £lB 12s. on
a four years' average, or 7s. a-week !—scarcely more than
the cost of the books in which his sermons are written.
THE ORION.—The trial of the officers of this ill-fated
ship has been appointed to take place at Edinburgh, on
Thursday, the 29th instant. The persons to be indicted
are Henderson, the captain ; Langlands, the first mate ;
and Williams, the second mate. The precognition, or
preliminary inquiry, has been the largest ever taken in
Scatland. The Procurator-Fiscal has been engaged six
weeks in this work, during which almost all the steam-
boat captains and mates navigating the Clyde have been
examined, with the view of fixing where the culpability
lay. A beautiful model of the Orion has been made in
Greenock, and will be used at the trial, on which the
most eminent men, on both sides, of the Scottish bar
will be engaged. The officers are out on bail. It is barely
possible the trial may be delayed a day on account of her
Majesty's expected arrival in Edinburgh on the 29th.
SUCCESSFUL CULTIVATION OF AMERICAN COTTON IN
INDIA.—On Thursday an interesting meeting of the
Manchester Commercial Association took place, Mr. J.
A. Turner, president of the association, in the chair. An
interesting statement was read from Mr. David Lees, a
manufacturer. who had proceeded to India some time
since, under the auspices of the association. for the pur-
pose of obtaining the best information as to the cultiva-
tion of American cotton in India. Numerous samples
were exhibited, at the meeting, of cotton grown by Mr.
Lees, from New Orleans seed, in the district of Tine-
velley, in Southern India, and these having been fully
examined by Mr. Brown, a cotton broker, of Liverpool,
had been pronounced by that gentleman equal to the
finest New Orleans ever received from India. These
were worth 80. per lb. Other samples of inferior quality
were valued at 6d. per lb. Most of the cotton grown by
Mr. Lees had been planted near the sea shore, and the
trees had been on the whole most productive. Mr. Lees'
statement was received with the greatest satisfaction by
the association.
PECUNIARV PROSPECTS OF RAILWAYS.—The gross
receipts from all the railways in 1849 amounted to
£11,806,000, from which, if the working expenses be de-
ducted at the rate of 43 per cent., being about an average
of
profitthe
taken from the published statements of a number
principal companies, there remains a net available
of about X 6,729,420 to remunerate the
holders of pro-
perty to the amount of £197,500,000, or at the rate of
3.40 per cent. ; and it, therefore, appears that all sums
raised at a higher rate of interest than this must reduce
nterestfo tw
r the remuneration of
the aggregate revenue available
cent., borne by die sums
larger rate of interest, per
of interest to
raised on loans, this average
ratere than 3 per cent. on the
share-
holders cannot be stated at more
theu
kin
gdom. at the present
original proprietors. In consequence. however, of the
aggregate of all the railway
;amongst others improvements in
from several causes
td in working expenses,
ma-
chinery and consequend
l increase of traffic, which may
and the regular and gra. gradual
ment
d is due to increased population, devel p
rate of dividend. But this' may be. expected to improve
be considered
The commissioners have, however, entirely
way transit. preferential interest
and a greater appreciation of the benefits of
the
omitted
which are also in existence to bear downdivi
general dividend. They have forgotten preferential -
of t.rattdede,
to take into account the
general theitlends.—Mining Journal.
dends and guarantee.s, which equally tend to reduce the