Mr. Talmage writes:  “Feb. 8th.  On Monday night at twelve o’clock I was called up to receive the sad intelligence that our worst fears in reference to Pohlman were confirmed.  He perished on the morning of the 5th or 6th ult.  He embarked on the 2d ult. from Hongkong in the schooner Omega.  On the morning of probably the 5th, at about two o’clock, she struck near Breaker Point, one hundred and twenty miles from Hongkong.  A strong wind was blowing at the time, so that every effort to get the ship off was unavailing.  She was driven farther on the sand and fell over on her side.  Her long boat and one quarter boat were carried away, and her cabin filled with water.  The men on board clung to the vessel until morning.  The remaining boat was then lowered.  Those of the crew who were able to swim were directed to swim to the shore.  The captain, first and second officers, and Pohlman entered the boat end those of the crew who could not swim also received permission to enter.  But a general rush was made for the boat, by which it was overturned, and those who could not swim, Pohlman among the number, perished.  The captain attempted to reach the shore by swimming, and would have succeeded, but was met by the natives.  They were eager for plunder, and seized the captain to plunder him of his clothes.  While they were stripping him of his clothes they dragged him through the water with his head under, by which he was drowned.  About twenty-five of the crew succeeded in reaching the shore in safety.  After being stripped of their clothes, they were permitted to escape.  Afterwards, on arriving at a village they were furnished with some rags.  After suffering much from fatigue and hunger they arrived at Canton, overland, on the 17th ult.  This event has cast gloom again over our small circle.  But one month previous to his death, Pohlman with myself had closed the eyes of dear Lloyd.  Oh, how deeply we do feel, and shall for a long time feel this loss.”

“Feb. 11th.  On Sunday afternoon our new church was consecrated to the worship of the only true God, the first building built for this purpose in Amoy.  Mr. Young preached the sermon.  It was also a funeral sermon for Mr. Pohlman.  The house was crowded with people.  Very many could not get into the building.  There was some noise and confusion.  I think the majority, however, were desirous to hear.”

In a letter to Drs. Anderson (Dr. Anderson was one of the early Secretaries of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.) and De Witt, speaking of Pohlman’s death, he says: 

“Our hearts bleed.  God has seen fit to send upon us stroke after stroke.  Oh, when will He stay His hand?  But we will not murmur.  It is God who hath done this.  His ways are inscrutable.  We gaze upon them in mute astonishment.  We may quote as peculiarly applicable to our present circumstances the remarks which this brother made at the grave of him who was called away a month previous.  ‘Death,’