The Times, Wednesday, Feb 07, 1866; pg. 12; Issue 25415; col G THE LOSS OF THE LONDON. ----------------------- OFFICIAL INQUIRY. The inquiry directed by the Board of Trade into the circumstances under which the London foundered in the Bay of Biscay on the 11th ult. was resumed at the Greenwich Police Court yesterday, before Mr. TRAILL, police magistrate, and Captain HARRIS and Captain BAKER, nautical assessors. Mr. O'DOWD appeared for the Board of Trade; and Mr. W. M. HITCHCOCK on behalf of Mr. CUTTING, whose daughter was lost in the ship; Mr. Clifford WIGRAM, one of the owners of the London, was also present. The first witness called yesterday was Richard LEWIN, an able seaman on board the London, but after answering a few questions he became so confused that his further examination was postponed. Benjamin SHEALS was then called and examined. He said he was an able seaman on board the London on her last voyage. He had been a sailor 18 years. On the ship leaving Plymouth the weather was fine and calm. On Sunday morning they had a light wind; they were on the starboard tack, and had been so ever since leaving Plymouth. He had taken his turns on the watch, and was on deck from 12 to 4 on Monday morning, when he went below. At 8 o'clock the same morning he came on deck again. It was then blowing hard, but in what direction he could not say. He remained on deck till 12. The wind was increasing. He went below at 12, and came on deck again at 4. The ship was still on the starboard tack, and was then labouring very hard. At 8 o'clock on Tuesday the ship was pitching. The flying jib had been washed away, and he and others went out and restored it. He then went below, and at 12 came on deck again, when the jibboom was pitched away and the head of the foretopmast and the mainroyalmast were gone. During the time he was on deck on Tuesday the lifeboat was washed away. The ship was at that time labouring hard, and the coals on deck were drifting about. No water had then been made. He was on watch from 6 to 8 on the evening of Tuesday, and then a green sea came over the bow of the ship, and the water ran down the main hatch. The wind was at this time a very hard gale, and a cross sea. He went below at 10, came up at 12, and remained till 4 on Wednesday morning. The captain was then on the quarterdeck. During his middle watch the ship was steamed round on the port tack. He was employed at the time in baling water out of one of the saloons. The ship appeared to him to lie easier on the port tack than on the starboard tack; she did not ship so much water over to leeward. He was on deck again at 8, when the wind was blowing almost a hurricane. The watch were then called to get the jibboom in. They got it up and fastened it to the forerigging on the port side; but at 12, when he went below, the flying jibboom was hanging overboard on the port side. The boom had been broken. He came on deck again at 4 p.m., when a heavy sea came and swept everything before it. This happened just as witness was lashing one of the broken parts of the jibboom to the side of the vessel. The water knocked him against a cask, which injured his leg, and he was obliged to be taken below. The two midship ports were knocked away altogether. About half-past 11 that night he crept on deck on his hands and knees, when another dangerous sea swept over the ship, and he was then taken down into the forecastle, where he remained till 8 o'clock in the morning of Thursday. Reports then came that the ship was sinking fast, when he again crawled out and got on deck. He could at once see that she was going and settling hard. He helped to lash some of the gear that was floating about the deck to the forecastle. The ship was taking the water clean across over all; she was clearing herself as well as she could through her ports. At that time they had no command of the ship; her helm was half down. She was laid to the best advantage. Orders were given by Captain MARTIN to get out the boats that were remaining, the starboard lifeboat and the port lifeboat and the cutter having all gone. About 9 or half-past 9 o'clock in the morning they got the starboard iron boat out, when Mr. HARRIS told the men to get into her. Witness was the last man out of six who did so. While the boat was being lowered the bow fall went too quickly, and the boat went down under the ship. Ropes were hanging from the ship, and the men got on board again. They then took the port boat and prepared it. It was impossible to get the iron boat out; the ship continuing to heave so much the boat could not be got clear of her side. Witness then went into the aft saloon, where there were several ladies, and assisted Mr. G. V. BROOKE in baling out the water. He and three or four others went to the port cutter and got bread and two bottles of brandy in her, when Captain MARTIN said, "Hold a bit, men, don't leave yet." About that time the ship took a heavy sea forward. They immediately flew to the wheel and heaved her up, cut the braces, and then let her go. This was done in pursuance of orders given by Mr. HARRIS. The ship immediately rode round to the other tack, the foresail being then standing. She flew right round before the wind; he never thought a ship could do anything like it. The ship had never been before the wind till that time since she left Plymouth. As soon as the ship had gone about on her starboard tack Captain MARTIN said, "Go into the boat, some of you." They did so, witness being one of them. Eleven lowered themselves down. One man asked Captain MARTIN if he would come into the boat. The captain, who was standing close by the mizen rigging, said, "No, my men, I will not come into the boat; I will go with the ship, and passengers, and crew." KING then asked the captain the course and distance to the nearest point of land. The captain told him E.N.E. for Brest. Witness then heard the captain shout, "Good bye! God speed you!" Eight more jumped into the boat, making 19 altogether. The boat was then pushed off, and the ship was sinking fast. The witness then corroborated the evidence which had been already given as to the skylight of the engine-room being completely smashed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This article to continue with the examination of a passenger..... Petra