The Northern Daily Times. — 1856-02-08 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

HURRICANE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.  DISASTERS TO SHIPS  On Wednesday night, about nine o'clock, this town and neighbourhood were visited by a violent hurricane, which% lasted up to an early hour Thursday morning, and for fierceness, it has not been surpassed for some years. The weather for some days previous had been very variable, and on Wednesday morning a heavy fall of rain set in, followed by a light breeze. At an early hour, a nautical friend (Captain Smith) told us that there would be a terrific storm in the coming night, and his prophecy was more than fulfilled, though at the time we paid but little attention to the prediction. The storm came on, as the saying is, almost as " quick as lightning." and from the onset to its close, it continued to blow with the same violence. It stopped as suddenly as it began—instantly, and the transition, both at the commencement and the close, was not the least remarkable feature connected with itThere was another characteristic about it also—it blew,• as it were, in one continued sheet of wind ; there were no heavy gushes, nor puffs with short intervals ; nor wag there the least cessation from the onset to the termination. The point from whence the storm came was S.S. Iv. chiefly', but varying now and then to a point S.W. We fear that when the reports from the out-districts of the coast come to hand, that many and serious disastert; will be recorded. At present, locally, we are glad to sal that we have not heard of any loss of life, but a good deal of damage has been done in the river and at out the shores farther down. The following are amongst the accidents at present known:—  The Clangregor, from Calcutta to this port, was driven ashore at Crosby Point, and had her rudder unshipped and stern-post damaged. She was greatly shaken by the violence of the gale and the shock. She is much strained and making water, but is expected to be got off. The Ocean Rover, from Charleston fo Liverpool, wag driven ashore at Little Broughton, Waterloo. She struck heavily, and made water. She is also expected to be got off, but is, however, much shaken. Two ships, or barques, were seen ashore, from Holy' head, near per chart No. 9, at half-past-nine in the morn' ing. A steam-tug was near to them. The Henry Platt, Emery, from Mobile, for this port, came on shore about five o'clock this morning at Forth' neigwl, near Pwllheli, in a heavy gale from W.S.W., and remains, with masts cut away. The Commerce, of and for Conway, from St. Helens, with a cargo of coals, was towed into Mostyn, in a yell leaky state, by the Point of Ayr life-boat. She has lost her mainmast, and sustained considerable damage to her rigging. The Columbia, from New York, which was safe!! moored in the river, dragged her anchors during the severest part of the gale. She was unable to bring LIP, and was ultimately driven on shore near the Huskissoll Dock wall. She has since been got off, and is not stir posed to have sustained much damage. The Ann Baldwin was at Mizen Head with loss of tor masts. Considerable alarm was felt through town about the Australian ship Salem that sailed on Wednesday fet Melbourne with a valuable general cargo and 13',,; respectable passengers. We understand, however, that every inquiry has been made about her, and nothl unfavourable has been heard, so the hope is strong that she is all safe; for, had anything happened to her, 1t would have been known before this time. For the satis' faction of the friends of the passengers we give the following particulars. At five o'clock on Wednesday evening the ship was left by the tug-boat off Ornle'g Head. All was then safe, and as Captain Flynn saw there was a gale coming on he had the ship made, what is called, snug," so that he would be prepared for it. The Warbler, that sailed on the 4th for Messina, put back damaged. These are all the facts we could learn of the result of the great gale of Wednesday evening.  RAILWAY ACCIDENTS,-0a Wednesday, a return iv° issued of the number and nature of the accidents which bal occurred on all the railways open for traffic in England to Wales, Scotland and Ireland, respectively, from the Ist ; July to the 31st of December, 1855. From this return, ,; appears that seven persons were killed, and 204 injure;." from causes beyond their own control. In the correspon,u, ing half of 1854, the numbers. were 9 killed and 259 gito jured. Eleven persons were killed and 15 injured owing their own misconduct. or want of caution, as against 1, killed and 12 injured in 1854. There were passengert making a total of 18 killed and 219 injured, as against killed and 271 injured in 1854. Ten servants of comPal3l6 or contractors were killed and 20 injured, from causes beci pond .their own control, as against '2O killed and 37 injure in 1854; while 32 were killed and 35 were injured. orvina. ii to their own misconduct or want of caution, as apainstd killed and 11 injured in 1854. Twenty per'sons were killed and four injured through crossing at level crossings ; !11„ocre ed were three suicides, and two persons killed and one inJTr from miscellaneous causes. The grand totals were England and Wales, 115 killed and 224 injured ; Scotland' 8 killed and 56 injured; for Ireland, 10 killed and 6 '„5 jured; making together, 133 killed and 286 injure], of against 123 killed and 334 injured in 18.54. The length railway opened on the 31st December, 1855, was 6.218 miles in England and Wales, 1,087 in Scotland, and 95°,„r Ireland, making together, 8,293 miles, as against 8,054 for he corresponding half of 1854,