The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-02-13
TERRIBLE sHIPwREcKs.
Scenes on a Sinking Steamer.

Thrilling Scenes on Sinking Steamer.
The ships supposed to have been lost during
the late gales on the British coast number be-
tween three and four hundred. One .ofthe Liver
pool papers says that letter from ToIby states
that thirty one fine vessels and eleven fishing
sloops were dashed to pieces on the shore. 1t
is feared that one hundred and fifty men must
have persisted. The Liverpool journals give
further particulars of the wreck OF the austria
liam steamship London, Quilt of lron,) In the
Bay of Biscay and the loss of two hundred and
seventy lives. The vessel which was bound
from London to Melbourne, had been for some
time in a furious gale, and had suffered severe
damage, but the fatal incident was when the en-
.gine room hatch was carried away and the water
rushed into the engine room, put out the fires
and stopped the engines. The scene that en-
sued when Capt. Martin, of the London, inform
ed the passengers that the steamer was sinking
and that they must prepare for the worst is thus
described:
The whole of-the passengers and crew gather
ed, "a with one consent, in the chief saloon, and
having been calmly told by Capt. Martin that
there was no hope left, remarkable spirit OF re-
siguatien came over them at once. There was
no screaming or shrieklng by women or men,
no rushing on deck or frantic cries. All CALM
. " resorted to the saloon, where Rev. DR.. ORA
per, one of the passengers, prayed aloud, and
DHay to
;. heart, bit disorder to Mothers were
sweeping sadly over the little ones about, with
them, to be engulphed, and the children, igno-
rant of their coming death, were pitifully inqui-
ring the cause of so much Woe Friends were
taking leave of friends as if preparing for long
journey; Others were crOuched down with BIZ
.bles in their hands, endeavoring to snatch con-
ISOLATION from passages long known or long neg
lected. Incredible, we told, was the COM
.posure which, under such circumstances, reign
ed around Captain Martin stationed himself
in the poop, going occasionally forward or into
the saloon but to none could he offer a word of
comfort by telling them that their safety was
even probable. He joined now and then for a
few moments in the public devotons, but his
place to the last was on the deck.
About two o'clock in the afternoon, the water
gaining fast on the ship and no signs of the
storm subsiding being apparent, small band of
imeE determined to trust themselves to the mer-
.cy of the waves in boat rather than 90 down
without struggle. Leaving the saloon there
fore, the got out and lowered away the port
cutter, into which sixteen Of the crew, and
three of the passengers succeeded in getting in
and 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 characteristic, he declined to 90
with them, saying: NO. l will go down with
the passengers, but l wish you God speed and
safe to land" The boat then pulled away, toss
ing about helplessly on the crest 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, aud all was silent
forever.
Wooley and G. V. Brooke, the tragedian