Story of the Wreck of the Australian Steamship the "London"
Philadelphia: American Sunday School Union, 1866. Hardcover. The story of the loss of the British steamship SS 'London', overloaded and bound for Melbourne, which sank in the Bay of Biscay in 1866, with only 19 survivors, and a loss of 220. "The London was built in pursuance of the plan for steaming to Australia round the Southern Cape. She made two very rapid voyages to Australia and back ..." (p39).
The ship was under the command of Captain Martin, an experienced Australian navigator, however she was overloaded with railway iron and coal which was stored in such a way as to prevent drainage of sea water from the storm. Her loss lead to the drive to reform maritime safety regulation.
Small 8vo, 166pp. Orig. green gilt stamped cloth, covers dusty, and little discolored, spine ends rubbed. Internally, a bit of scattered foxing. Libraries Australia ID 40337573. Good + overall. Item #19693
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