The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-18 00:00:00

THE EXPLOSION OF THE PLASTOON.

With reference to the melancholy loss of the

Imperial steam clipper Plastoon, by the explosion
of her powder magazine, mentioned in my last, I
am enabled to send you the following copy of a
private letter from one of the survivors, Dr. Johan-.

son, the surgeon of the ship, to a relative of his in
this city:--

"On the 18th of August, about five n.m•, the
squadron, consisting of the steamers Ryn'da, Novik,
and Plastoon, on their return from the Pactific after

an absence of nearly three years, arrived off the
entrance to the Gulf of Finland, and were bo Ming
along with a fresh breeze and rather high sea. We
were just abreast of the Island of Hoogland (not
Heligoland, as incorrectly printed in our last num-
ber), and I was sitting
in my cabin engaged in put-
ting in order my papers a9d collections of plants and
shells, which had cost me so much time, expense, and
labour, when I heard a sharp explosion, which, how-
ever, did not sound louder to me than the usual re-
port of one of the ship's guns, and I at first took
but little notice of the circumstance, under the
impression that it was the commencement of a
salute to some ship' of war or battery we might be
passing. As, however, the report was not repeated,
and recollecting that something was being done in
the powder magazine, I scrambled upon deck,
where I found everything in the greatest confuSion,
the decks strewed with dead bOdies, and the ship in
a sinking state. I jumped with several of the sea-
men into the barge between the masts, the fasten.-
ings being hastily cut away, and scarcely had we.
taken our places when the vessel went down with
a heavy plunge. The foremast, as I learned after-
wards, was seen to shoot up like a rocket, but in the
sinking of the ship our boat was ~repsized by com-
ing in contact with the shrouds and rigging of the
mainmast, and
we were all thrown into the water.
When I again reached the surface the vase! wasno
longer visible, and the sea was covered with
pieces
of floating wreck, among Which I noticed several
human heads bobbing up and down with the waves.
I managed to seize a large block belonging to one
of the gun tackles, and then a bale of sail cloth than
was floating near me, but the latter I was seen ob-
liged to abandon, as it began to sink as soon as
saturated with the sea water; but luckily just then
I caught hold of an oar, with which I managed, to
support myself for some time. Hearing human
cries near me, I looked round and perceived a boat
upside down, to which were clinging ten poet'
fellows. The next time the wave raised me high
enough to obtain a sight of the boat there were only
four left, all the others having perished. . Just as
my strength was beginning to fail me I saw a boat
approaching, on my hailing which a rope was
thrown to me, with which I was hauled on board
and saved, though in a very exhausted state; but I
have to lament the loss of nine brother-officers and
86 of the seamen and marines.".—London and China
Telegraph.
'

COUNTRY MABEETS.

SHEFFIELD—OcT. 16.

---- ----
At to-day's market the supply of wheat was larger
than previously, but generally of very inferior quality.
The best samples maintained late rates; inferior declined
6d to is per load. Beans scarce, and somewhat higher irs
price. Best new oats at former quotations; inferior sorts
rather lower. No change in flour.
Red wheat, per load of 3 imperial bushels 24s Od to 26s Od
White )7 $) 2ss Od to 28s Od
New red ), 22e Od to 24s 6d
New white „ ) t 24s Od to 26s Od
Beans 7) /1 l9s 6d to 21s 6d
Peas, per qr 48s Od to 52s Od
Grinding barley, per qr
Malting ditto, „ 3ss Od to 448 Od
Oats 2ss Od to 30s Od
1)
Millers' prices for flour-2s 4d, 2s 6d, and 2s 8d per
141 b.