The Express. — 1853-04-02 (London, England)

COURT.  At the sitting of the police-court, yesterday, Captain John Duncan was called, amid the greatest attention of a lalte court.  Mr. Verner-1 believe, Captain Dunetn, you have some statement to make to the bench.  Captain Duncan—Your worships, I was on my passage from Liverpool to this port, last night, on board the steamer Minerva, and when about fifteen miles northward of the Isle of Man, the steamer came into collision with a schooner. A few minutes before the collisiou, I was standing at the forward part of the steamer, and saw a vessel cumin; from the northward. We were then nearing the South light. Shortly afterwards the collision took place, and no Oran was made by those in charge of the steamer to save thos'., in the schooner. The Minerva was in charr ef the mate at the time ; and I called, before the collision, two of the hands standing on the bridge " Fat God's sake shift your helm," but no change was made in the steamer's course. I just then heard a voice from the schooner cry eta "Oh! this is murder," and she then went down. (Ser.sation.) Mr. Verner—Where was the captain of the Minerva at this period? Captain Duncan—The captain was below, and the steamer was in charge of the mate. I could not say whether the mate was on deck at the time of the disaster or not ; but 1 raw the captain on deck afterwards Them were no mefiend made ut the time of the occurrence to save the people in the schooner. The steamer was going at the rate of about twelve knots an hour—she, at any rate, ran at about that rote from the time she left Liverpool until abs arrived at the scene of the disaster. Mr. V —Could the schooner have been seen at a distance from the steamer 1 Captain Duncan—She could have been visible at a distance of two miles. It was about a quarter to eleven o'clock when the collision took place. The Minerva had iights up, but the schooner was so close when I observed her :hat I could not sea whether she had any lights up or nut. I may now state it as my opinion to your worships, that, bad those on board the steamer been doing their duty, the disaster would nut have taken place. (Sensation.) There was a man at the helm at the time, but it was not shifted when I gave the alarm. The Minerva was obliged to stop atter the collision, and a boat was lowered from the steamer atter the collision, merely to see if she was injured. The schooner and all on board of her had disarreared some time before this. (Sensation.) A few minutes after the collision, I saw two men swimming near one of the paddles of the steamer, but they were not saved. I myself belong to Belfast, and am of the seafaring pro. fusion.  Mr. Verner—About what size we, the a:loot:et ? Captain Dunctan—About 140 tons turthen, your worship.  Mr. Verner—Did you see any name on her, or do you know to whom she belonged ? Captain Duncan—l have no idea of either. Mr. Verner—For the present, Captain Duncan, your statement will suffice. Were there any pereoca convenient to you at the time of the diameter Captain Duncan—There was another man • passenger who, I know, belongs to Behan. Mr. Verncr—Then, Captain Duncan, we shall proceed to investigate the moire transaction in this court, to-morrow, at one o'clock, when we shall receive this and any further statement you may have to macs ; and we shall also ho prepared to take up the evidence of such other persons who were on board the steamer at the time as may be able to throw light on the transaction. Tie matter then dropped.