Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-02-03
Foundrring of the Steamship Iondon-LOss Of Two
Hundred aud Fifty LiNes-Terrible Scenes.


Hundred and Fifty Liyes-Terrible Scenes.
The steamship London, from London to Mel
bourne, has Oundered at sea, with about 30 souls
OH board. The survivor-l6 of the crew and 3 pas
sengers-wcre landed at Falmouth on January 10.
The JTeStcrn Mail gives tho following account OF
the closing sceneOf this terrible disaster:
Ii was at 10 u clock on the morning of that fatal
Thursday that Captain Martin had the terrible task
of making known 10 the 2OO passengers that the ship
was sinking and that they must prepare for the worst
She was then low in the water as the main chains.
The whole of the passengers and crew gathered, as
with one consent, in the clel saloon, and having
been calmly told by Capt. Martin that there was no
hope left remarkable and unanimous spirit of resig-
nation over them at once There was no scream
ing or shriekng by women or men, no rushing on
deck or frantic cries All calmly rcs0rted to the
loon, where Rev. Mr.. Draper one Of the passengers,
prayed aloud and eXhOrted the unhappy tues by
whom he was surrounded. Dismay was present to
every heart, but disorder to none. Mothers were
weeping sadly over the little ones about with them
to be engulled, and the children, ignorant of their
coming death, were ptifulIy enquiring the cause of
50 much woe Friends We're taking leave of friends.
AS it preparing for long journey; Others were
crOuchrd down, with Bibles III their hands endca
y0rimg to snatch consolation from passages
long known Or long neglected Incredible,
we are told, was the cOmposurr which, un-
der such circumstances, reigned around. Cap
tain Martin stationed himself in the poop going, oC
ClsiOnay forward or into the saloon; but to none
could he offer word of comfort by telling 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
o'clock in the afternoon, the water gaining fast
the ship, aud 10 signs of the storm subsiding be-
ing apparent, small band of men determined to
trust themselves to the mercy OF the waves in
boat rather than 90 down without struggle
Leaving the saloon, therefore, they got out and
lowered away the port cutter, into which 10 OF the
crew and three of the passengers succeeded in
getting in and launching her clear OF the sbir.
These nineteen men shOuted for the captain 10
come with them, but with that heroic courage which
was his chief characteristic he declined to
90 with them, saying; No. | will 60 down with
the passengers; but | wish you God speed and safe
to land The boat then pulled away, tossing about
hepessly on the crests of the gigantic waves
Scarcely had they gone eighty yards, or been five
minutes OFF the deck, when the line steamer went
down stern foremost with her crew of human beings,
from whom confused cry of helpless terror arose,
and all was silent forever.
Aftcr the pinnace had getaway from the London,
aud in the brief interval before she fOundered, rush
was seen to he made for the two remaining boats,
but the efforts tn launch them Intellectual, aud
the suddenness of the laundering at last-the Lon.
don being an iron ship-prevented what might have
been successful second attempt to save few more
lives