PART II.

CHRONICLE

OF REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES

IN 1878.

JANUARY.

1. SHIPPING DISASTERS.-Lloyd's agent at Rotterdam has informed the committee of Lloyd's that a vessel has arrived at Maasluis from Oporto which reports having picked up at sea some goods, including a quantity of tobacco and a lifebuoy marked "Friesland." No doubt, therefore, can exist as to the loss of this steamer. It is reported from Corunna that on or about December 11 some fishermen observed on the rocks off Cape Corrabedo what appeared to be the third part of a large steamer, which in an hour or two sank and disappeared. In all probability this was the "Friesland," which had stranded on Cape Corrabedo, a little promontory a few miles south of Cape Finisterre, and somewhat resembling it in general conformation. On Cape Corrabedo is a light supposed to be visible for twelve miles at sea, so that the "Friesland probably ran ashore in a fog. There is no news of the crew, who, it is feared, have all perished with the ship. The depth of water about Cape Corrabedo varies from fourteen to over twenty fathoms, and it is just possible that the "Friesland" has sunk in a depth at which diving operations can be carried on. This, however, cannot be until the winter is over, the whole western coast of Spain lying in too exposed a position to permit diving operations except in fine weather. The vessel, of course, is a total loss, but the valuable cargo of indigo, hemp, coir yarn, &c., may be in part recovered. The "Friesland" was an iron screw steamer of 2,525 tons gross.

Information has been received of a serious casualty on the coast of Denmark, involving loss of life. The brig "Brierley Hill," belonging to North Shields, Captain Duncan, from Kotka to London, laden with staves, has been wrecked at Thisted; only

A

one man saved. She cleared from Kotka for London on October 20 last. The crew probably numbered eight men. She registered 250 tons, and was thirty years old, having been built at Sunderland

in 1847.

Information has also been received that the well-known fruit-trading steamer Oriana," belonging to the London Steamship Company, loading fruit at Catacola, Greece, had stranded on Catacola Point, in leaving port during stormy weather, and would probably become a wreck. She had about 100 tons of currants on board. The telegram states that all on board were saved. A later telegram to the owners states that the steamer had broken in two, and was a total wreck. Guards have been placed by the ship to protect the salvage. The "Oriana" registered 770 tons gross. She was built at Newcastle in 1867.

A serious accident, and one which threatened to interfere with the navigation of the River Avon, occurred on January 1 at Bristol. A large American vessel, about 700 tons burden, named the "Alice C. Dickerman," was going down the river in ballast, bound for Cardiff, when, in passing Sea Mills, owing to a dense fog which prevailed, she took the ground, and all efforts to get her off proved unavailing. As the tide left her, she heeled over, and fell broadside on into the river, her masts falling across the tideway and preventing ships passing. Prompt measures were taken by the haven master to remove the obstruction. The masts of the disabled ship were cut away, and, as the evening tide flowed she filled with water, thus showing serious injury to her hull. Several tug boats, however, were employed, and they succeeded in hauling the derelict on to the bank and out of the navigable course of the river. The crew fortunately escaped without injury, but lost most of their effects.

-GALLANT RESCUE OF A CREW.-The fishing smack "Smiling Morn," of Hull, has arrived at Hull, having on board Captain T. H. Smith and eighteen seamen, engineers, and firemen, forming the crew of the steamship "Danae," of North Shields, the vessel having been abandoned in the North Sea on Christmas Day in a sinking condition. The "Danae," having taken on board a full cargo of wheat at Revel for London, passed Copenhagen on December 21, and rounded the Scaw on the morning of the 23rd. Strong westerly gales were then encountered, with heavy seas, and on the morning of Christmas Day, when the steamer was about forty miles off the Horn Reef, coast of Jutland, the storm. increasing in violence, she was thrown on her port side, and her cargo shifted. Heavy seas washed over the vessel, the water entering the engine-room and cabins. The steam-pumps were set going, and although water was pumped out at the rate of two tons a minute it kept rising. The hatches were washed away, the decks damaged, and all hopes of saving the vessel given up. Towards noon the "Smiling Morn" was sighted by the crew, who were in a helpless condition, and signals of distress were made. The smack was then to leeward, and it took her two or three

hours to reach the disabled steamer. All this time it was doubtful whether the "Danae " could keep afloat, and efforts were made by the crew to launch the lifeboats. One boat was smashed whilst being swung in the davits, another was washed away, a third was too small for the heavy sea which was running, but the fourth was successfully launched clear of the "Danae." The men had to swing themselves by means of ropes from the weather side of the poop into the lifeboat, and after some difficulty the whole of the crew got safely away from the steamer, which had then about fifteen feet of water in her. The nineteen men were as quickly as possible got on board the smack, and their lifeboat secured. They lost most of their clothing and valuables, and several of them, from the engine department, were without coats and boots. The steamer was lost sight of at dusk. The smack had to give up her fishing voyage and make for the Humber. The shipwrecked men were cared for in every possible way. On arrival at Hull they were taken to the Sailors' Home, and in the evening forwarded to North Shields by the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society. The sight at the Hull Railway Station on Sunday night was most affecting. Three hearty cheers were given for the crew of the "Smiling Morn" by the poor fellows who had been rescued, and as the train moved away from the station they uttered many a heartfelt "God bless you!"

SINGULAR CASE OF SUICIDE.-William Jackson, accused of attempting to murder a Mr. Eugene Hamburger on the Holborn Viaduct a few days ago, shot himself in Falmer churchyard, near Lewes. He dined at an inn in the village, and attended afternoon service at the parish church. About five o'clock the report of a pistol was heard, and Jackson was found in the churchyard, shot through the heart. A pocket-book was found on him, in which he had written a long history of his connection with Hamburger, whom, he said, he had no intention of killing, and expressed a hope that he might recover. The pistol with which he shot himself he says he bought in Lewes for the purpose. Mr. Hamburger's condition is stated to have slightly improved. At the inquest on the body of Jackson a witness who had known. him for some time stated that Jackson was a temperate man, and he was sure that the object of his attack on Mr. Hamburger was not robbery. A long written statement found in Jackson's pocketbook was read, in which he stated that he had been insulted by Hamburger, and that he was determined to be avenged, but that he had no thought of assassination or robbery. "It," he wrote, 66 was a fair duel, and the odds were against me. I drew part of the powder from the cartridge, and I did not think it would kill. I asked him which he would have, the dagger or pistol, and he said the dagger. I threw it to the other end of the room, and when he rushed to pick it up I fired. I then closed with him, and after a terrible struggle wrested the dagger from him and threw him off. I repeated my act, and asked him to make terms. He

offered me a sovereign to go, but I did not ask or wish for money. I said if he would allow me half an hour's start I would leave him, on the condition that he would not pursue or prosecute me. He promised most faithfully not to do so, and I threw down the knife and ran. He picked it up and followed me down the first flight. I made a stand, when he at once returned to the room, and I ran down St. Andrew's Street, jumped into a cab, and drove to Westminster." The jury found that the deceased committed suicide, but that there was not sufficient evidence to show the state of his mind at the time.

"WHO'S WHO IN 1878":-The oldest member of Her Majesty's Privy Council is Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe, G.C.B., aged 90; the youngest, His Royal Highness Prince Leopold, aged 25. The oldest duke is the Duke of Portland, aged 78; the youngest, the Duke of Montrose, aged 26. The oldest marquis is the Marquis of Donegall, aged 81; the youngest the Marquis Camden, aged 6. The oldest earl in the House of Peers is the Earl Bathurst, aged 87; though the oldest bearer of that title is Earl of Kilmorey, an Irish peer, aged 90; the youngest, is the Earl of Hopetoun, aged 18. The oldest viscount is Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, aged 90; the youngest, Viscount Clifden, aged 15. The oldest baron is Lord Chelmsford, aged 84; the youngest, Lord Southampton, aged 11. The oldest member of the House of Commons is the Right Honourable Joseph Warner Henley, M.P. for Oxfordshire, aged 85; the youngest, Viscount Helmsley, M.P. for the North Riding of Yorkshire, aged 26. The oldest judge in England is the Right Hon. Sir FitzRoy Kelly, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer Division of the High Court of Justice, aged 82; the youngest, the Right Hon. Alfred Henry Thesiger, Justice of Appeal, aged 40. The eldest Judge in Ireland is the Hon. James O'Brien, of the Court of Queen's Bench, aged 72; the youngest, the Right Hon. Christopher Palles, LL.D., Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer, aged 47. The oldest of the Scotch Lords of Session is Robert Macfarlane, Lord Ormidale, aged 76; the youngest, Alexander Burns Shand, Lord Shand, aged 49. The oldest Prelate of the Church of England is the Right Rev. Alfred Ollivant, Bishop of Llandaff, aged 80; the youngest is the Right Rev. Rowley Hill, Bishop of Sodor and Man, aged 42. The oldest Prelate of the Irish Episcopal Church is the Right Rev. John Gregg, Bishop of Cork, aged 80; the youngest is his son, the Right Rev. Robert Samuel Gregg, Bishop of Ossory and Ferns, aged 44. The oldest Prelate of the Scotch Episcopal Church is the Right Rev. Robert Eden, Bishop of Moray and Ross, aged 74; the youngest, the Right Rev. George R. Mackarness, Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, aged 55. The oldest Baronet is Sir Richard John Griffith, aged 94; the youngest, Sir Thomas Lewis Hughes Neave, aged 4. The oldest Knight is Major-Gen. Sir John George Woodford, K.C.B., aged 93; the youngest, Sir Ludlow Cotter, aged 25.