Transcriber’s Note: Italics are enclosed in _underscores_. Additional notes will be found near the end of this ebook. [Illustration: THE LAST OF THE “LONDON.”] WRECK OF THE “LONDON.” [Illustration] _Second Edition--Revised._ LONDON: S. W. PARTRIDGE, 9, PATERNOSTER ROW. The Publisher will be glad to receive any additional information from those who had friends or relatives on board. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY P. 1 CHAPTER II. THE IRON BEAUTY 5 CHAPTER III. CAPTAIN MARTIN. 12 CHAPTER IV. REV. DANIEL JAMES DRAPER 21 CHAPTER V. THE LIST OF PASSENGERS 36 CHAPTER VI. THREE DAYS AND NIGHTS OF DANGER ON THE DEEP 48 CHAPTER VII. LAST STRUGGLES 57 CHAPTER VIII. THE ANCHOR WITHIN THE VEIL 63 CHAPTER IX. LAST WORDS 71 CHAPTER X. THE LIGHT BEHIND THE CLOUD 84 CHAPTER XI. THE ESCAPE 90 CHAPTER XII. THINGS REMEMBERED IN THE STORM 97 APPENDIX 101 [Illustration] WRECK OF THE “LONDON.” CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. [Illustration] The opening of the year 1866 will long be memorable for that dismal series of disasters at sea, which it ushered in with a frequency and fatality that were truly appalling. The New Year was scarcely fourteen days old when, from every part of the coast, from north to south, from east to west, the telegraph flashed the melancholy tidings of ruin and havoc among the shipping. We heard of ships being dismantled by the storm, and obliged to put back to port; of others being beaten to pieces, while their crews, escaping by the lifeboats, performed such acts of heroism that the seaman’s name was covered with fresh renown. Since the year 1859 never had such tempests raged, and such deeds of gallantry been performed.