Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-02-08

THE Loss OF THE STEAMER LONDON
AND $50 LIvHs.-TheWestern Mail, pub
lished at Falmouth, England, gives the
following description of the loss of the
steamer London, on the voyage to Mel
bourn. Out of270 souls on board only
16 of the crew and passengers were
saved. The disaster took place Deem
Der rs, 1855, and the survivors were
landed at Falmouth on the 10th ultimo;
at was at 10 o'clock on the morning
of that fatal Thursday that Capt Mar
tin had the terrible task of making
known to the passengers that the ship
was sinking, and that they must pre-
pare for the worst. The London was
then as low in the water as the main
chains. The whole Of the passengers
and crew gathered, as with one consent,
in the chief saloon, and having been
camly told by Capt. Martin that there
was no hope left, remarkable and
unanimous spirit of resignation came
over them at once. There was no scream
ing or shrieking by women or men, no
rushing on deck, or frantic cries. All
calmly Tesorted to the saloon, where
Rev. MIR. Draper, one Of the passengers,
prayed aloud, and eXhorted the unhap-
py creatures by whom he was surrOun-
ded. Dismay was present to every heart
but disorder to none. Mothers were
weeping sadly over the little OneGFabOut
with them to be enguiled, and the chill
dren, ignorant of their coming death,
were pitifully inquiring the cause of so
much woe. Friends were taking leave
Of friends, as if preparing for a long
journey others were crOuChed down
with babies in their hands, endeavoring
to snatch consolation from passages
long known or long neglected. Incred-
ible, we are told, was the Composure
which, under such circumstances, reign
ed around. Captain Martin stationed
himself In the poop, going occasionly
forward or into the saloon but to none
could he offer word of comfort by tel
ling them that their safety was even
probable. He Joined now and then for
few moments in the public devotions,
but his place to the last was on the
deck. About two o'clock in the after
noon, the water gained fast on the ship
and no signs OF the storm subsiding be-
ing apparent, q small band of men de-
termiped to trust themselves to the mer-
cy Of the waves in a boat rather than go
down without q struggle. Leaving the
saloon, therefore, they got out and
lowered away the port cutter, into
which sixteen of the crew and three of
the passengers succeeded in getting and
In launching her clear of the ship. These
nineteen men shouted for the captain
to come with them, but with that heroic
courage which was his chief character
istic, he declined to go with them say
ing, No, / will go down with the pas
sengers but wish you God speed and
and safe to land The boat then pulled
away, tossing about helplessly on the
crests Of the gigantic waves. Scarcely
had they gone eighty yards, or been FIVE
minutes off the deck, when the fine
steamer went down stern foremost with
her crew Of human beings, from whom
one confused cry of helpless terror arose,
and all was silent forever. After the
pinnace had got away from the London
and in the brief interval before she
foundered, rush was seen to be made
for the two remaining boats; but the
efforts to launch them were Intellectual,
and the suddenness Of the laundering
at last--the London being an iron ship
prevented what might have been
successful second attempt to save few
more lives"