Wreck of the "London. " by Anonymous

It will be long before Britons will hear the name of John Bohun Martin without tears, as they think of his noble heroism amid circumstances sufficiently appalling to rob the bravest of his self-possession; of his disregard for his own personal safety while duty commanded him to remain at a post of imminent danger; of his resolute perseverance in doing all that the most skilful seaman could, to ride out the furious gale. He was not new to the sea, for from his boyhood he had been accustomed to cope with its storms and dangers, and had not risen to the post of Master without passing through years of the most careful training and discipline. He was born at Brompton, April 27th, 1819. When yet young, having a love for the sea, he was entered as midshipman in the East India ship _True Briton_, and made several voyages to Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta. He remained in this ship four years, and during this time he diligently studied navigation, particularly in its scientific branches. In 1840, he was appointed third officer of the _Southampton_, a vessel trading to the East Indies, and having in those days some celebrity as a fast-sailing ship. He passed through twelve additional years of service before he was entrusted with the command of a vessel, but all who knew him spoke very highly of his diligence and general character. He enjoyed the esteem and friendship of the Captains under whom he served: among them were the well-known names of Beach, and Wimble, and Nash.

In the year 1852 he was appointed to the command of the _Essex_, and continued her Master four years; at the end of which period he took the command of the _Suffolk_. There is no doubt that he owed this appointment entirely to his own merits as a navigator, and to the confidence which his general character inspired. The post which the Captain of the _Suffolk_ was expected creditably to fill, was in every way an honourable, but, at the same time, a most responsible one. The ship was one of Messrs. Wigram's best and fastest-sailing clippers, and was expressly designed for the Australian trade. In 1856 the gold-digging mania in Australia was attracting great numbers of people from our shores, and there was a sharp competition amongst ship-owners, both for passengers and cargo. Fast vessels were much in demand, for, to the travellers athirst for gold, a single day was deemed of the greatest importance; and safe ships were of course sought after, because of the precious cargo entrusted to their keeping.

Accordingly, during that period a number of fine vessels were built and launched, and their owners were accustomed to start them at the same time and for the same destination. The _Suffolk_, however, could successfully compare with any vessel of her class, as she had been expressly built for the Australian trade, and, regardless of cost, had been fitted by her wealthy owners with all the equipments necessary to render her one of the fastest and, at the same time, safest ships afloat.

From a host of able and experienced navigators, who would have counted it an honour to have assumed the command, Messrs. Wigram selected John Bohun Martin to be Captain of the _Suffolk_, and never did owners make a better choice. Many are still living who crossed the seas with him during those days of well-nigh angry competition, and who will recall with pleasure his practised skill, his genial, open disposition, his gentlemanly bearing, and his studious care for the comfort of his passengers in all the little details which have so much to do with the making or marring of the pleasure of a long voyage. He was one of the kindliest and most simple-hearted of men, pleased with very simple things, delighting in riddles in which a very child would have seen no mystery, and with all a sailor's superstition about him; fond of cats, and a great partiality for absolutely doing nothing at all when he was not on board. With his attached relatives in Highbury Park he would always spend his time when ashore, and go about with them here and there; but he was perhaps never happier than when he could throw himself back in the large easy chair, and read the advertisements of the _Times_ and the advertisement especially of his own ship. Not tall, and not short, and every inch the gentleman; with a fresh-coloured face, light hair and blue eyes, and ambling motion, as if in any place he wanted sea-room and must have it; with a fine cheery voice, and a laugh of sterling quality; with a woman's heart of tenderness within the strength that seemed equal to any danger -- as such, John Bohun Martin will long be remembered.

One who knew him well, and who could not speak of his loss without deep emotion, told the writer of many little acts of attention, which, although too trivial to appear in print, are not without importance when measured by the comfort they imparted, and by the void which their absence would have created. His heart was truly in his profession, and he had all the genuine sailor's enthusiasm, and, we might almost say, affection, for his ship, of whose equipments, beauty, and good qualities he spoke with glowing pride. As he was never married, some used laughingly to say that the Captain had no bride but his ship; and certainly he had reason to be proud of the _Suffolk_ during the eight years she was under his command.