RECOVERY OF THE LOST BOAT OF THE LONDON.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 220, 30 January 1865, Page 3

RECOVERY OF THE LOST BOAT OF THE LONDON.

THE CREW SAVED, About; 7 o’clock on Tuesday night, the Aberdeen clipper John Bunyan, Captain Allen, arrived at Port Phillip Heads, having on board Mr Harris the sailing-master, and the five seamen of the steamship London, who, according to the reports received by that vessel, on her arrival, nine days ago, were drowned in their endeavour to save a man who fell overboard on the 21st of November. The arrival of the John Bunyan was at once communicated by the following telegram:— •j-d ~ t , _ QffßESscLiFf, Tuesday. By the John Bunyan have arrived the boat and crew which were lost by the London. Captain Martin, r

“They were picked up by the whaler Henry Tabor, of INe\v Bedford, off Triuidada, after being m the boat thirty-two hours, and were put on board the John Bunyan nest day. The drowned man’s cap was picked up.” The John Bunyan arrived in Hobson’s Bay about midnight, when Mr. Harris, who appeared in remarkable good health, was at once taken on board the London. In the course of the evening several gentlemen who were passengers by the r n J,° Q - v * s i the John Bunyan, for the purpose ot offering their congratulations to Mr Harris on his safety. It will be remembered that, according to the account which we published on the arrival of the London, a seaman of that vessel, while engaged on the jib-boom on the 21st of November, fell overboard j that, although the weather was very squally at the time, Mr. Harris at once called for volunteers; that Mr. Harris and five men Jumped into a quater-boat which was lowered; that the boat, after pulling some distance, suddenly disappeared ; that the ship wore round, and that the captain instuted a search, and that, as nothing could be seen, the vessel was put upon her course.

irom the following narrative, gathered from the lips of Mr. Harris himself, it appears that alter leaving the London, ho pulled in the directjoii of the man who had fallen overboard, but did not succeed in finding him, although the hat the unfortunate man wore was secured. The ship was then several miles to windward, and the boat, being painted white, assimilated so closely to the crest of the wave that it was not easily discernible from the ship. However, Mr. Harris with his crew continued to pull towards the ship, and did not lose sight of her until night set in. Previously he hoisted some “ railway ” rugs which happened to be in the boat, on oars and a boat-hook, as sails. Mr. Harris then shaped a course for the Island of Trinidads, wbichi ho could liavo reached early on the following day, but in the mean time ho was picked up by the American whaling barque Henry Tabor, of New Bedford, Captain Bartlett receiving him and his crew on board, where they were treated with kindness. On the following day the ship John Bunyan, which had been in sight on the previous day, received Mr. Harris and his crew and boat on board ; to Captain Allen, his officers, and crew, Mr. Harris and his boat’s crew beg to return their sincere thanks for their kindness.

We learn from Captain Allen that the John Bunyan left London on the 9th of October; that about the middle of November he was in company for several days with the whaler Henry Tabor, Capt. Bartlett, of New Bedford, TJ.S.; that on the 21st of the whaler was on the west side of Trinidada while the John Bunyan was on the east of the island ; that the ship sighted the boat about seven o’clock p.m. on the day named; that Mr. Harris and the crew were taken on board the whaler; and that, on the following day (Nov. 22), when about twenty miles south of Trinidada, they were transferred to the John Bunyan. The men were thirty-two hours in the boat before they were rescued by the whaler, and, as may be supposed, were in a very exhausted condition. Capt. Allen says he was given to understand that the boat went far to leeward of the ship, and that the crew were unable to pull her up to windward again. There is no doubt this is oue of the most remarkable instances of the rescue of a boat’s crew from a fearful death.— Australasian , Jan. 13.

An inquiry -with respect to the case of Mr. Hams, chief officer'of the London, and the crew ■who -went with him in search of the man who fell overboard, was commenced by the acting shipping master, on Wednesday last. Mr. Harris and several witnesses were examined. The evidence, so far taken, together with the report of the shipping master, has, we understand, been forwarded to the hon. the Attorney- General for advice as to what further proceedings, if any, shotdd ho adopted.—Age, Jan. 14.