The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-12 00:00:00

THE LOSS OF THE JOHN.

FALMOUTH, May 9, 10 p.m.—Up to the present time
about 80 corp,es have been washed on shore in the im-
mediate vicinity of the wreck. Owing to the change of
wind the vessel has not entirely broken up, as was anti-
cipated from the state of the weather on Saturday last.
She appears to have parted just abaft the foremast,
which still remains entire.
The Government steamer Avon, which had been de-
spatched from Plymouth for that purp )se, left Coverack
to return to that port with such passengers as wished to
avail themselves of the opportunity. 'Captain Robert-
son, R.N., from the Board of Trade, has arrived here
to investigate the circumstances connected with this
calamitous event, and the examination on oath of the
crew and pa.ssengers commenced in the Town-hall here
at two o'clock this afternoon, before a numerous bench
of o-unty magistrates.
The evidence of William Goodwin, the chief mate,
was to the effect that they left Plymouth, with moderate
weather and wind from the northrard, between 2 and 3
o'clock in the afternoon of Thursday last. He turned in
at a-quarter before 9 o'clock, and shortly after passing
the Deadman, at a distance of four or five miles, 1
up to which time he did not observe any material
alteration in either the wind or weather, the course ,
steered being W.S.W., he was awoke from sleep by the
ship striking violently on a rock. He immediately went i
on deck, he being then told that the ship had run !
against the Manacle Rocks. He supposed it was about
10 o'clock. The weather was hazy, and he did not see
the Falmouth Light. Found the master, boatswain, i
andan d ac
hni
ludi
rnebne,roonf
deck.pa s sen g
Theers, c(m
vesselsis tisocremof f
umr
gene
d, women, .
herself •,
off, and they endeavoured to run her towards the shore,
but found the rudder was gone. After running for .the I
land for about three-quarters of a mile they dropped as ,
anchor, and the master gave orders for the boats to be
lowered. The quarter-boat was first got out, and some
of the crew jumped into her. The deponent soon after
lost sight of her. The life-boat was then attempted to
be got out, but was stove and rendered useless. They
then tried the long-boat, but the state of the tide pre-
vented its being launched, and remained hanging to the
tackles. They hal another boat, a pinnace, on board,
but deponent did not know what became of her. In
smooth water the boats would have accommodated about
95 persot.s. When the anchor was dropped the vessel
was full of water. She grounded in about 30 feet with
a flowing tide. The passengers got on the house on
deck, the poop-deck. and in the rigging,. Those on the
poop were all washed away as the tide rose. During the
night a great many were washed out of the shrouds and
drowned. Deponent got from the house to the main
Elliott,
able
s e
abuio aatlaat,iitsnott'e:relw,solaiciesi,cir.mdnnee-
rigging. After daylight boats came alongside from the
shore and took off the, surviving passengers. Deponent
cense on shore in the last boat at about 6 o'clock. Tle
master left at the same time in another boat. One man
was then in the mizee and two in the maw rigging. The
crew consisted of 19 in all. They are saved. Did not
consider himself responsible for the vessel's course while
the master was 00 deck, and is not aware tl-as; the
master left. Received no orders from the captain, and
gave none to the boatswain. After the vessel settle I
down the water never left the deck. Those on board
were in the water all the time they werceaThririi)iti,sdtinagstorcumtg
the boats. Has no certificate of competency, but one of
service. They made sail after being towed outside the
Breakwater by a steam-tug, and deponent remained on
deck till half-past 8 or 9 o'clock. At 8 o'clock the
boatswain relieved him. The vessel was then off
the Deadman, and the wind a little abaft the
beam. The first boat from shore came to their
assistance at about half-past three o'clock, up to which
time they were powerless. There was a great
confusion of the boats alongside, but the captain gave
orders collectedly, and deponent did not see him get into
one of the first boats. If the ship's boats had been safely
got out a great many must have been saved. Had been
mate before, though for the first time with Capt. Rawle,
whom he considered to be a sober man. Cannot account
and 9 o'clock, He saw none of thyewobctafhritonceefhlwi
for the vessel's getting on shore. They had neither guns,
muskets, bluelights, nor rockets on board, and the only
signal that could be made was a light in the rigging. If
the boats from the shore had arrived earlier more
would have been saved. He did not look at the compass
during his watch. There was a light there between 8
order,
examined, and
seconda.caassisting
tdrtee jattaco?s ei
gnaoe,.
passen-
gers, They were all sober, as far as he knew. There was
at a quarterpast
no attempt to make a raft.
statedli e r
relieved
itehvaetdhtek
e performedde for
the
ee
firstdu t
eight o'clock. Did not look to see what course was
being steered. The master had charge of the deck
anything
nen
lydot‘ivioi.
inl only lea
abouthlerfte
wasit
steering.l iagh
to
iiuinaertatlrei
der
TheTl ansete.rinlfs)m
E Curry,dw Edwin
nnDues not know'nes
but he does not
on deck and ask Curry what course he was steering.
sailsTh is t
hwasree
ti betweentines
by t Sandhe n
the captain taDinidann,dairil),:tnicewlaysh,e:NeVr.tSb.\Tsi.,';
ewatwc:,:tbhuetr
know
weather for
irielwhat r purposeno
t.
Ny
atsh
in charge
: hauled'opfin
tl 1 thee
not of the ship. The master was in charge, and he
thought it would have been improper for bun to look at
the compass under such circumstances. Noticed the
theFalmouthlook-out Light"
man
a t 9
reported o'clockorte
do ni t tthoe
tstarboard i
captain,
whoam and
an-
swered, "All right." Did not see the Lizard Lights,
which he considered must have been shut in. About
half-past 9 o'clock a sail was reported, and the. captain
ordered the yards to be squarrlF;isii.mmediately alter
deponent
0`
la' leonotk -roauntiing-boatso ahead,"kd
'f' o rt nwaanrd reported,
and sa w they
the next moment the vessel struck. Ty'll'oereca tacins'saanng
out to brace round the yards, and to run the vessel on