STRIKING CONTRAST. 291 



The London was a first-class passenger steamship of her day. She was nearly new, 

 of 1,700 tons, and valued at 80,000. She belonged to a distinguished firm, and had been 

 constructed on the most approved principles. Her commander, Captain Martin, was an 

 officer of ripe experience, and this was her third voyage. She had acquired a first-class 

 reputation ; and for months before the time * of sailing, berths were so eagerly engaged 

 that it would have been difficult to accommodate, in the roughest manner, many more, 

 while in the saloon there were no vacancies. One lady who was desirous of proceeding 

 with her family from Plymouth to Melbourne had made repeated applications to the 

 owners' agents, and the captain had been consulted, but, fortunately for the applicant, 

 had declared that the cabins were so full that he could' not possibly accommodate her a 

 result that, at the time, caused her much disappointment; afterwards she had reason to 

 thank her good fortune. A second-class male passenger was so alarmed at the rough, 

 weather which the London encountered on her way from the Thames to Plymouth, that oil 

 arrival at the latter he went ashore, resigned his passage, and returned to his home, thus 

 unwittingly saving his life. A young man, as the result of some family quarrel, had left 

 his home, and taken a passage by the London. He was advertised for in the Times, and 

 importuned to return, his friends being at first unaware of his whereabouts. Messengers 

 were sent down to Plymouth, his friends having later acquired some clue to his move- 

 ments, and an influential ship-broker in the town was employed to intercept his flight 

 should he attempt to sail thence. Fortunately, he was detected among the passengers of the 

 London, and the fact communicated to his family by the broker, the result of which was that 

 a brother of the young man went down to Plymouth, and persuaded the would-be emigrant 

 to forego his voyage. 



The London left the East India Docks on December 29th, and on account of the 

 severity of the weather remained at anchor at the Nore during part of the 30th and the 

 whole of the 31st. This fact alone would indicate that Captain John Martin, her com- 

 mander, was a careful seaman. The weather remained boisterous, and after getting out into 

 the Channel the pilot decided to take the vessel for shelter to Spithead. When the 

 weather had abated she proceeded to Plymouth, arriving there on the 5th of January. Here 

 an incident occurred, ominous in its nature, and particularly distressing at the commencement 

 of a voyage, more especially as many passengers at such a time are nervous and fearful. The 

 small boat from a Plymouth pilot cutter, which had on board the pilot and his assistant, 

 was swamped. The latter was rescued by a boat from the London, but the pilot was drowned. 

 The remainder of the day was occupied in shipping an additional number of passengers 

 and filling up with coal. She sailed the same evening. The weather is described as 

 having been then moderate. 



On the 6th and 7th of January the wind rose, accompanied by strong squalls and a 

 high sea, which caused the ship to roll considerably. Still the weather was not so boisterous 

 but that Divine service was held on the 7th, it being the Sabbath. On Monday, the 8th, the 



* This is common enough in all the great steamship lines, where certain vessels acquire a name for speed and 

 accommodation, and where the captain is known as a first-class commander. Passengers who can afford to wait often 

 delay their trips for weeks for the opportunity of sailing on a favourite ship. 



