The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-01 00:00:00

LOSS OF THE SHIP INDIA,

A letter from Commander A. C. Strode, of her
Majesty's troopship Vulcan, has been received by
Captain Halsted, R.N., the secretary at Lloyd's,
giving an account of the loss of the ship India in
the Straits of Malacca. It appears that at two
o'clock on the 25th of January last, from the deck
of the Vulcan, then in the Straits of Malacca, in lat.
2.41 N., and long. 101.15 E., a boat was observed
making signals of distress. On communicating with
her it was found that the ship India, 1,030 tone,
had been wrecked about 16 miles off, with 669 pas-
sengers on board. The Vulcan proceeded towards
the place indicated, bearing about S.W. by S., and
shortly saw her fore and mizen masts, the mainmast
being gone. After proceeding about five miles the
Vulcan picked up another boat, with the master of
the ship and 80 women and children in her, and so
I overloaded as to be nearly sinking. At this point
the water shoaled to tour and three-and-a-
quarter fathoms. The Vulcan reversed her en-
gines, and went astern, and then being near the
northern edge of the South Sands, anchored. They
ascertained that the India had lett Singapore on the
13th inst., bound to Jedda, in the Red Sea, with
natives on board going on a pilgrimage to that place,
and numbered 504 men, 45 women, 120 children,
and a crew of 45. The ship had got ashore on the
South Sands on the ii2d inst., and was now lying
on her side, with her bottom bilged in several
places. From the dangerous nature of the sound-
ings it was not considered sate to go nearer to her,
but the eight boats were immediately hoisted out
and sent away. They returned during the night,
and up to 4 o'clock in the morhing, loaded with pas-
sengers from the wreck, and in two or three hours
were again sent away. The boats continued work-
ing until the night of the 27th, by which time the
passengers were all on board, with a considerable
amount of vatuable property. When the Vulcan
left, on the morning of the 28tb, the holds of the
wreck were flooded up to the hatchways at high
water, and it was not considered likely she would
hold together long. The crew and pas3engers had
all been landed.

THE CROPS IN THE WEALD OF KENT.—The
weather during the last few days has been un-
usually mild, and a summer temperature accompanied by
sett breezes has been preponderant. Vege ation progres-
sion is wonderfully rapid, so much so that if a "blackthorn
winter" ensues of a severe character our prospects Of a
crop of fruit will be "nipped in the bud." The agricul-
turist has "broken up his fellows," and Lent sown corn
has gone in well. As early as Wednesday morning last
"harbinger of spring," the cuckoo, was heard in this neigh-
bourhood.—Maidstone Journal.
FATAL COLLIERY ACCIDENT IN NOTTS.—On
Monday afternoon last a fatal accident occurred at
the Kimberley corn ry, Nottinghamshire, the property of
fir. North. It appears that, about four o'clock in the
afternoon, a man named Edward Williamson, aged 65 years,
was at work in a part of th, coal mine by himselt when the
roof fall in, and he was killed on the spot. His body when
found presented a sickening spectacle. An inquest will be
held on the body this day (Wednesday) before Mr, Coroner
Swann.