The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-10 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 10, 18C6.

mountain than to return yonder to Cayenne to re-
ceive 20 blows with a whip at any moment, if no-
thing else." He then asked for a glass of brandy.
It was given to him, but it had been previously
mixed with water, of which Poncet complained,
and asked for another glass of pure brandy. This
was also given him. The Abbe Frolley exhorted
him to pray. " I am going to smoke," said Poncet,
and he then took up a cigar which was lying on the
floor of his cell. " This cigar is not so good as
those you used to give me, Dr. Berigny," said he
to the prison doctor. The abbe confessed him, and
said a mass, which could be heard by the other pri-
soners without their being seen. After mass,
Poncet was delivered up to the executioner. When
the latter was about to cut off his hair, Poncet said,
"Don't be afraid of using the scissors. 1 have not
much hair, but I have let my whiskersgrow." Poncet
had on a handsome coloured American shirt, and he
remarked to the executioner that it had cost him
15 francs. " When I think that I have only three
quarters of an hour to live," continued Poncet,
while his whiskers were being shaved, "it appears
to me so droll, but go on." The executioner then
took off the irons which confined his hands, and
made him sit down while he took those from his feet.
As soon as. Poncet felt himself free, he rose up
gaily, and placing his right leg in advance while he
pressed his body with his elbows, he said—" I know
all that. I know how it is done. It is for the
cords." He allowed himself to be tied without
saying anything, having previously given a letter
to Dr. Berigny, containing a lock of his hair, which
he requested that gentleman to deliver to his bro-
ther. The Zouaves and Grenadiers kept the spot
where the execution was to take place. The num-
ber of spectators was immense. Thousands had been
on their way to the spot during the night. At seven
o'clock precisely there was deep emotion among
the crowd. The fatal cart was driven up rapidly.
" Theves Poncet, theves Poncet !" issued from the
mouths of thousands. He descended from the cart,
supported by two assistants. The priest embraced
him and delivered him to the executioners. His
face was deadly pale and he was almost fainting ;
he turned and bowed to the crowd and said, " I die
innocent, God knows it." In an instant he was
placed on the terrible guillotine ; the axe fell, and
in less than four seconds human justice was satis-
fied, for Poncet had expiated his crime.
Madame Listz, the mother of the eminent pianist,
died a day or two of bronchitis, in, her 84th year,
after a short illness. Her remains, after the funeral
service had been performed at the church of St.
Thomas d'Aquin, were conveyed to the cemetery
of Mont Parnasse, followed by a large number of
mourning friends.
A new piece by M. Emile Angier is about to be
produced at the Odeon, called La Contagion. The
title first given to it by the author was Le Baron
D'Estrigaud, but as the incidents turn upon some
exciting events connected with cholera, M. Angier
changed it to La Contagion. Such, at least, is the
dramatic version of the piece, but I have not yet
read it.

The weather continues to be exceedingly warm,
very unlike that of February, but it is rather stormy
and windy. The growth of the buds has advanced
very much during the last week.

Loss of the Ship Diadem, from New York.

SHOCKING SUFFERINGS OF THE SURVIVING
CREW.

The Board of Trade have received the annexed
despatch from her Majesty's Consul at New York,
reporting the melancholy loss of the ship Diadem,
with many of her crew :
" British Consulate, New York,
Jan. 22, 1866.

" Sir,—l have the honour to transmit herewith
for the information of the Lords of the Committee
of Privy Council for Trade a report made to me by
John Harrison, chief mate of the barque Diadem,
of Liverpool, detailing the circumstances of the loss
of that vessel at sea, and the deaths by drowning
and exposure of many of the people belonging to
her.
" The Diadem sailed from New York on the 6th
of January with a cargo of petroleum oil in casks,
and on the following day encountered a gale, which
continued to increase in violence until the 9th. On
the latter day a fearful hurricane struck the ship,
which threw her on her beam ends, carried away all
the masts, and swept everything above deck, includ-
ing the cabin and house, into the sea, and filled
the vessel with water, reducing her to a helpless
wreck. Four seamen named Wm. Hannan, Henry
G. Spencer, and the cap-
tain's Wheeler,Wm.
roswife,we
r e Phillips i
thislips Gtime washed into the sea,
and drowned. The survivors now lashed them-
selves to the rigging, but owing to the severity of
the weather on the same night, another of the sea-
men died from the effects of the cold and exposure,
and shortly afterwards the master expired from the
same causes. During the period of three days the
survivors continued in their perilous position ; total
deprivation of food and water being added to their
other sufferings. On the 17th, about 6 p.m., the
wreck was sighted by the barque M. and E. Rob-
bins, of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Captain Byron
Robbins, master, which vessel after a delay of six
hours, and with much difficulty, bore down upon
the wreck, and succeeded finally in taking from it
eight men who continued alive. These men were
in almost an absolute state of helplessness, and
were suffering frightfully from the effects of their
long exposure. They were with difficulty taken
on board the M. and E. Robbins, in the
boats of that vessel, where they were received and
treated with the greatest kindness by Capt. Rob-
bins, who resigned his own cabin for their use, and
did all in his power to contribute to their comfort."

The Consul adds—" Captain Robbins appears to
have acted with great humanity, the preservation of
their lives being no doubt due to his perseverance
in approaching the wreck and perilling the safety
of his vessel. The eight survivors of the Diadem's
crew have been landed here in a deplorable condi-
tion, owing to their Jong exposure, and it has been
necessary to send them all except the mate to the
hospital. Thomas F. Keeling, one of the number,
has died since, and some of the others continue in
a precarious condition. All the papers of the
Diadem, including the certificate and register, with
log-books were lost —I have the honour to be, your
obedient servant,

(Signed)

" E. M. ARCHIBALD,

" H. B. M. Consul.
" The Secretary, Marine Department, Board
of Trade, London."

The names of the crew lost were Capt. William
Hannan (master),:Mrs. Hannan (his wife), William
Hannan (nephew), Henry Wheeler, Wm. Phillips,
G. Spencer, J. Hurley, and Thomas F. Keeling.