Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-07-20
THE SINKING OF THE STEAMSHIP
LONDON--INoIDENT

one OF the few survivors of the ill-fatet
steamer London, that recently went dow
wnlie on her way from England to Australia
writes the following startling incidents tC
the Cornhill Magazine, which he witnessed
previous to departing from the ship:
There was division between the after
state'rooma and the cuddy In passing these
rooms we saw some sailors aud tiremen IN
tnere opening cases of liquor, and some with
bottles of brandy in their hands, there were
several drunk at this time. The captain
SAID to them; calling some by name, Don't
do that, boysl don't die like cowardsl" /
saw sailor down on his knees, feeling
about in foot of water for sovereign he
mad dropped out of his mouth; lie was as
cool and eager looking for it as street Arab
would be for sixpence he had seen fall.
saw standing at the cuddy door first
class passenger with life preserver strapped
round linn, then turned and went down
again TO go TO my room, opened one of my
trunks, took out coat, saw my watch and
PURSE thought to myself, well, may as well
take them; laid them out, shut the trunk,
was particular in locking II (such is the force
OF habiO; then pnt my watch in my pocket
AT that moment the ship gave n roll, the
water covering the port, which darkened
room, and in picking up my coat, my purse
fell into the water. There was about foot
and half there at that time put my arm
down and felt for half minute, like tile sail
or for the sovereign, but could not find il;
then walked out into the cabin; there was
about half dozen there at the time.
! saw Mr.. Lennon; he shook his head
as much as TO say he did not wish TO be in.
terrupted then some were sitting with their
leads resting on the table--almost all pre-.
pairing for death, and patiently waiting.
saw an elderly person strappng UP rail
way rug into bundlei shortly after he was
seen on deck with it, when the captain, with
IA faint smile, asked him if he intended tax.
ing it with him. have since been told by
friends of this gentleman that he had a
thousand soyereighs with him; and proba-
bly, these were IN the rug. got
on the poop as soon as could, knowing now
that the end was near. had some Difficult.
ty in getting up the staircase between the
cuddy and the poop, as it was crowded with
people, who were all mute, 1t was then
about one or half-past one o'clock, in the
day, Thursday, 11th January.
Just as got on the poop saw an elderly
couple, man and wife, with three children,
two little girls about eight to ten years of
age, and. an infant. l am not sure, but
think they were the same who were wrecked
short time previously in the Dunbar, and
this was the second if not the third attempt
they had made TO 90 to Australia. The
mother and the two girls were sitting on the
lee side, close 10 the mzzen rigging and the
father alongside Of them, holding an infant
in his arms, and shielding it from the spray
that was blowing clean over mwindward.
took the mother and two girls up aud set
them midships, in the lee of the after COM
panon way. In about half an hour after.
and just before we left the ship, saw the
mother and two girls washing about on deck,
drowned.