The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-02-14
Terrible Shipwrecks and Loss
of Life-ThriIling Scenes ON o
J Sinking steamer.

The ships supposed to have been lost
during the late gales on the British coast
number between three or four hundred.
One Of the Liverpool papers says that q
letter from Torbey states that thirty. one
6ne vessels and eleven fishing sloops were
dashed to pieces on the shore. Il is fear
ed that one hundred and fifty men must
have perished. The Liverpool journals
give further particulars of the wreck Of
the Australian steamship London, built
Of iron, in the Bay Of Biscay, and the
loss Of 270 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 engine-room hatch
was carried away and the water rushed
into the engiperoom and put out the fires
and stopped the engines. The scene that
ensued when Captain Martin, of tho Lon
don, Informed 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
gathered, as with one consent, in the
chief saloon, and having been calmly told
by Captain Martin that there were no
hope left, remarkable spirit of resigna-
tion came over them, at once. There was
no screaming or shrieking by women or
men, 70 rushing on deck or frantic cries.
All calmly resortc1 10 the saloon, where
Rev. Mr.. Drayer, one Of the passengers,
prayed aloud, and exhorted the unhappy
creatures by whom he was surrounded
Dismay was present to every heart, but
disorder to none. Mothers were weeping
sadly ever the little ones about, with
them, to be engulphed, and the children,
ignorant CT their coming death, were pit.
fully inquiring the cause Of so much woe.
Friends were taking Lave of friends, as
if preparing for long journey; Others
were crouched down with Bibles in their
hands cndcavoring to snatch consolation
from passages long unknown or long neg
ltcted. Incredible, we are told, was the
comptsure, which, under such circum.
stances, reigned around. Captain Ma
tin stationed himself iu the poop. going
occasionally forward or into the saloon
but 10 none could he offer word Of com
fort 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 two o'clock in tho afternoon,
the water gaining fast on the ship and nc
signs of the storm subsdine being appar.
cnt, a email band CT men determined to
trust themselves 10 the mercy of the
waves in boat raIher than 20 down
without 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 succeed.
ed in getting and in launching hr clear
of.tbe ship. These nineteen men shout
ed for the captain to como with them,
but with that heroic courage which was
his chief charac' eristc, he declined to 60
with them, saying: "No, l will godOwn
with the passegers; but wish you God
speed and safe to land" The boat then
pulled away, tossing about helplcssly on
the gigantic waves Scarcely had they
gone eighty yards, or been FIVE minute
of the deck, when the 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" sand. .
One account reports among the los1
Bishop Wooley and G. v. Brooke, tn,
tragedian.