The Times, Thursday, Jan 18, 1866; pg. 9; Issue 25398; col C THE LOSS OF THE STEAMSHIP LONDON. [continued] ---------------------- (From the Western News.) It was 10 o'clock on the morning of that fatal Thursday that Captain MARTIN had the terrible task of making known to the 200 passengers that the ship was sinking, and that they must prepare for the worst. She was then as low in the water as the main chains. 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 was no hope left, a remarkable and unanimous spirit of resignation came over them at once. There was no screaming or shrieking by women or men, no rushing on deck, or frantic cries. All calmly resorted to the saloon, where the Rev. Mr. DRAPER, 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 over the little ones about with them to be engulphed, and the children, ignorant of their coming death, were pitifully inquiring the cause of so much woe. Friends were taking leave of friends, as if preparing for a long journey; others were crouched down with Bibles in their hands, endeavouring to snatch consolation from passages long known or long neglected. Incredible, we are told, was the composure which, under such circumstances, reigned around. Captain MARTIN stationed himself in the poop, going occasionally forward or into the saloon; but to none could he offere 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 devotions, but his place to the last was on the deck. About 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the water gaining fast on the ship and no signs of the storm subsiding being apparent, a small band of men determined to trust themselves to the mercy of the waves in a boat rather than go down without a struggle. Leaving the saloon, therefore, they got out and lowered away the port cutter, into which 16 of the crew and three of the passengers succeeded in getting and in launching her clear of the ship. These 19 men shouted for the captain to come with them, but with that heroic courage which was his chief characteristic, he declined to go with them, saying, "No, I will go down with the passengers; but I wish you God speed and safe to land." The boat then pulled away, tossing about helplessly on the crests of the gigantic waves. Scarcely had they gone 80 yards, or been five minutes off the deck, when the fine steamer went down stern foremost with her crowd of human beings, from whom one confused cry of helpless terror arose, and all was silent for ever. After the pinnace had got away from the London, and in the brief interval before she foundered, a rush was seen to be made to the two remaining boats, but the efforts to launch them were ineffectual, and the suddenness of the foundering at last - the London being an iron ship - prevented what might have been a successful second attempt to save a few more lives. Some hairbreadth escapes in connexion with the disaster are already known. A lady who was desirous of proceeding from Plymouth with her family to Melbourne by the London had made repeated pressing applications to the owners' agents at Plymouth, and the captain had been consulted, but, fortunately for the applicant, had declared that his cabins were so full that he could not possibly accommodate her, a result that, at that time, caused her much disappointment. A second-class male passenger was so alarmed at the rough weather which the London encountered on her way down to Plymouth, that immediately on her arrival at that port he came ashore, resigned his passage, and went back to his home, thus unwittingly saving his life. A young man, as the result of some family quarrel, left his home and took a passage by the London. He was advertised for in The Times, and importuned to return, his friends being unaware of his whereabouts. Messengers were sent down to Plymouth, and an influential shipbroker in the town was employed to intercept him should he attempt to sail thence. Fortunately he was detected among the passengers of the London, and his family communicated with by the broker, the result of which was that a brother of the young man came down to Plymouth and persuaded the would-be emigrant to forego his voyage. The following is the list of those saved: - John GREENHILL, engineer; John JONES, second engineer; John ARMOUR, third engineer; Thomas BROWN, fireman; W. M. EDWARDS, midshipman; D. T. SMITH, boatswain's mate; Wm. DANIELS, quartermaster; John KING, A.B.; Benjamin SHIELD, A.B.; Richard LEWIS, A.B.; James GOUGH, A.B.; Edward QUIN, A.B.; William CRIMES, O.S.; A. G. WHITE, boatswain's boy; William HART, carpenter's mate; Edward GARDNER, second-class steward; D. G. MAIN, passenger; John MUNRO, passenger; J. E. WILSON, passenger. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ End of this article. 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