A GEEAT ACTOE LOST. 295 



tragedian, who was bound for the country which had been the scene of a reverse of fortune 

 for him, but previously of many successes. He was a tall man, of powerful build, and 

 he is stated by the rescued passengers to have exerted himself to the utmost in trying to 

 keep the ship afloat. The Dutch portion of the crew, twenty-one in number, refused to 

 work, and, according to the English sailors who were saved, these men went to their berths 

 and remained there, so that the passengers had to work at the pumps for many hours 

 with the English seamen. Mr. G. V. Brooke exerted himself incessantly; attired only in 

 a red Crimean shirt and trousers, with no hat on, and barefooted, he went backwards and 

 forwards to the pumps, until working at them was found to be useless, and when last seen, 

 about four hours before the steamer went down, he was leaning with grave composure 

 upon one of the half -doors of the companion; his chin was resting upon both hands, and 

 his hands were on the top of the door, which he gently swayed to and fro, while he calmly 

 watched the scene. One of the passengers who saw him said, ' he had worked wonderfully 

 in fact, more than any man on board the ship/ To the steward, to whom Mr. Brooke 

 made himself known, he said, ( If you succeed in saving yourself, give my farewell to 

 the people of Melbourne/ '' 



The last trace of the gifted tragedian is found in the following episode. In the Times 

 of March 20, 1866, appeared the following letter from Mrs. Brooke (Avonia) : 



"To the Editor of the Times. 



" Sir, On Friday night I received the last written words of my dear husband. They 

 were found in a bottle on the Brighton beach, and forwarded to me by Mr. C. A. Elliott, 

 of Trinity College, Cambridge. They are written in pencil on a torn envelope, and read 

 as follows: 'llth January, on board the London. We are just going down. No chance 

 of safety. Please give this to Avonia Jones, Surrey Theatre. Gustavus Vaughan Brooke/ 



"Will you be kind enough to insert this fact in your valuable journal, for, sad as 

 the message is, he has many friends who will be glad once more to hear from him, even 

 though his words have come from his very grave. 



" With respect, &c., 



" AVONIA BROOKE." 



"36, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly/' 



At p.m. there could not be a doubt the vessel was sinking rapidly. The captain 

 then directed Greenhill that, as the port cutter was ready for lowering, he had some chance 

 of saving himself, and that he had better get into her. The captain shook hands with 

 him, and said, " There's not much chance for the boat ; there's none for the ship. Your 

 duty is done, mine is to remain here/' The boat was lowered, and four men, followed by 

 others of the crew, got into her. When asked to come into the boat, the captain answered 

 in the true spirit of a sailor-hero, "No, I will go down with the passengers, but I 

 wish you God speed, and safe to land!" Noble John Bohun Martin!* But not, thank 



* It is a fact that Captain Martin had an interest in the London to the extent of 5,000. Hard to lose life and 

 property so valuable may be, so important to others at home at one and the same time ! 



