Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1891-09-19 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE LOUGH FOYLE DISASTER.  The inquest was opened in Londonderry on Saturday on the bodies of Thomas O'Calley, of Dublin, and Henry Johnston, of Kingstown—two of the 18 persons drowned in Lough Foyle on the previous night by the sinking of a steam launch in a collision with the steam-tug Albatross. Charles Amison, of Longtown, Staffordshire, and W. K. Bell, of London, who were on board the Albatross, described the disaster, and a verdict of "Accidental drowning" was returned.  It appears that Mr. Grahame Hunter took 23 of his employees and his two children down the river for an excursion on board a steam launch, which was in charge of Francis M'Keever, the owner of the launch. When they were returning, at about eight o'clock, the launch ran into the Albatross, striking the latter's sponson. The Albatross was apparently uninjured, but the launch sank almost immediately. The captain of the Albatross lowered boats and picked up a number of men. Several others swam ashore, and one man, named Herbert Smith, of Belfast, brought with him one of Mr. Grahame Hunter's children. The other child was lost. Hp to Saturday night 11 bodies had been recovered. The scene at the quay was most impressive, a vast crowd looking on whilst the remains were being wrapped in rugs and borne to the morgue. It is stated that several men got within a few yards of the shore when they became exhausted and sank.  Herbert Smith, Utility-street, Belfast, the man who saved Mr. Hunter's little child, gives the following pathetic narrative: "We were coming home nicely. Keith, of Dublin, was standing beside the funnel playing the accordion, when suddenly he shouted Help! help! murder! Look at the steamer.' I shouted, ' Hold your tongue, you fool,' hut the words were hardly out of my mouth when a crash Caine. Even then I didn't know how serious it was. Mr. Hunter rushed forward past rne and immediately rushed back. I ran after him. I was beside the children, and I said, 'Mr. Hunter, you will want somebody to look after the kids.' He said, 'Yes, Smith, will you take one?' I said. 'Yes, sir.' William Mearns, of Volga-street, Belfast, was near me. Mr. Hunter said, 'Bill, will you take one? I want to see about the men.' Poor Bill said,' Certainly, sir, I can get her ashore.' The poor wee things were clinging to each other wildly, and each one screamed, 'Take me to my mother.' We! had to pull them asunder, Bill and me, and just then the water came over the gunwale, and when she was sinking Reams jumped. The same minute my little one clasped me. I went down, and then came up and held the child as high over my head as I could. Before jumping I shouted. 'Bill, jump for your life.' When I got to the surface three men were on one side of me and two on the other. I had to knock two off me, and another shouted, 'Keep back, men; don't you see he has got a child?' They then left me, and I was ashore before I knew. When I reached the beach I was totally exhausted, but someone came, and the little child I am so proud of saving was soon in Mr. Corscaden's kitchen." Francis M'Keever, owner of the steam-launch, was brought before the magistrates on Saturday and charged with causing the disaster by mismanagement, and a similar charge has been brought against the assistant fireman. The hearing of the case was adjourned, the accused being admitted to bail.  Tea Hindoo god Juggernaut is said to have grown tired in his dilapidated temple at Puree, and has gone for a change to Santipore. A temple is being built for him there. Tins Rev. J. M. Rodwell, Rector of St. Ethelburgs, Bishopsgate, who states that he has observed the spots upon the sun's disc for several years, and kept a register of the weather during the name period, says he has observed that whenever the spots are numerous and large, the weather is generally rough, unsettled, and windy. Ile thinks these gigantic openings in the sun's photosphere, whose breadth varies from 10,000 to 70,000 miles, must exert an immense power upon our atmosphere, and ' may be connected with its diaturbeneen