The Times, Tuesday, Feb 06, 1866; pg. 6; Issue 25414; col B THE LOSS OF THE LONDON. ----------------------- OFFICIAL INQUIRY. [continued] John KING, examined by Mr. O'DOWD. - I was an able seaman on board the London. I have been at sea for 13 years, always on foreign voyages, but my first voyage on board the London was her last one. I remember the day we left Plymouth - the morning of Saturday, the 6th of January. The day after the weather began to freshen, and on Sunday afternoon it blew hard from, I should say, the north-west. The ship had her sails set, and was on the starboard tack. We had our staysailsheets set on the port side, and we were under steam. On Monday, the 8th, the wind increased. On that day I was employed in lashing cases on the poop. I think on the Monday night, but I will not be certain, our spanker blew away. Captain MARTIN and myself, and some others of the crew, tried to get the spanker in. That was between 8 and 12 o'clock. It had split away. We got it in. I think our foretopmast staysail blew away on that day. The maintopmast staysail was carried away also, but I don't remember on what day. The jibboom was carried away at 9 o'clock on the morning of the Tuesday, the 9th. We lost the starboard cutter and another boat about the same time. On Wednesday I fell off the poop and hurt my back. I could not move after, and was not on deck all day. I came on deck again about half-past 8 on Thursday morning, and remained on deck all day. I knew nothing of what had occurred in the meantime. When I came on deck on Thursday morning I did not see the skylight, nor hear it was on deck. I saw the hatchway and perceived the skylight was not on it. When I came from my berth I came on the port side. If the skylight was there, I did not notice it. Mr. TRAILL. - Could you have passed by such a big thing and not have noticed it? The witness. - I don't know; I think I might. Mr. TRAILL. - It was 12 feet by 9. That was a big thing, you know? The witness. - If it was, there I did not see it. I don't know whether it was there or not. Before then I had not heard that the skylight had been carried away. I never saw it after. The combing of the hatchway remained. I don't know how the skylight had been fastened to the combing. I did not take any part in assisting to put a sail or tarpaulin over the hatch. When I came on deck the sails were lying about and through the hatchway. For about a quarter of an hour I endeavoured to haul them over it, but, finding that of no use, I went away. At no time was the ship before the wind, except towards the last, when she wore round for the port cutter to be launched. I could tell that she was not before the wind when I was below, for I was not asleep. The next thing I did was to see that the starboard pinnace was got ready for lowering. I and five others were in her. I got the tackle fall in the fore part of the boat, and said to SMITH, the boatswain's mate, to take his fall into the aft part, and as soon as the boat was lowered we would try to get her clear of the ship. Captain MARTIN had given orders to lower that boat about an hour before it was lowered. He gave no orders to lower it at the time we lowered her. Six of us agreed to do all we could to save the boat and ourselves. We were determined to take others in. I saw if we got her lowered we could take 50 persons. I told SMITH when the ship rolled to leeward to let go his after fall. I let go mine, and he held his, and the boat sank head foremost. I was thrown into the sea, and after being about 12 seconds under water I was washed up to the rail of the ship and got on board. The other five men also got on board. This was about 1 o'clock. SMITH and I wanted to get her out, but no one would assist us to do so. They thought it no use. Afterwards, when we left her, some few tried to get her out, but they could not, they were too few. This was before we attempted to get away in the port cutter, which at this time was swung inboard. After that SMITH and myself agreed to go in the port cutter. We got a bag of bread in her, a beaker, with about a quart of fresh water, three bottles of brandy, and I think two bottles of champagne. I never heard Captain MARTIN give orders for her to be lowered. Just before the boat was lowered, and everything was in her, I went to him and said, "Are you going in the boat, Captain MARTIN?" and he said, "No, I am not; I am going to remain on board." I then asked him what was the course for the nearest land possible. He said, "E.N.E., Brest." I asked him how many miles was I off Brest. I understood him to say 90, but it was 190. I then left him, and went to the boat. We had two compasses. Captain BAKER. - How do you know Brest was 190 miles off? Witness. - I don't know it; I heard Captain MARTIN say 90; but it must have been 190, because when Captain CAVASSA picked us up in the Marianople he said we were more than 90 miles off land. Mr. TRAILL. - And so you reckon you had gone 100 miles before you were picked up? The witness. - I think we had. An attempt had been made to lower the jollyboat. I did not assist in that. Mr. TRAILL. - Before you got into the cutter were there any persons who wanted to get into that boat with you, and whom you recommended to go by another boat? The witness. - No. I did not do that. By Captain BAKER. - I don't know how we steered in the boat. I steered mostly all the night. I steered by the "pointers" to the north-east. After I came on deck on the Thursday morning I was busy about with the boats and other things. I really cannot say whether the skylight had been washed away, or whether it was on the port side of the deck. I did not see it. The inquiry was then adjourned till this day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ End of day 7 of the inquiry. Petra