The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-13 00:00:00

BURNING OF THE AMAZON

ARRIVAL AT SOUTIIAMPTON OF THE
PASSENGERS CARRIED TO BREST.

(By Elect/le Telegraph.)

►ROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

SOUTHAMPTON, TUMMY, NOON._

•
The crow and passengers who escaped from the
Amason, and landed at Brest, have just arrived here iu the
Grand Turk steamer, from Havre. They were sent on from
Brest to Morlsis, and from thence to Havre, where they
embarked on board the Southampton steamer. The crew
of the Pottinger met the Grand Turk down the river, and
cheered the wrecked crew and passengers immensely. A
large concoune of persons were in the Southampton Docks
to witness their arrival, and heartily cheered them.

PUBLIC MEETING AT SOUTHAMPTON ON
BEHALF OF THE SURVIVORS.

SOUTHAMPTON, MONDAY Hyman°,
To-day, at 12 o'clock, one or the moat numerous
and influential meetings ever held in Southampton assem-
bled at the Guildhall, in response to an invitation promptly
issued by the respected Mayor of the borough (Richard
Andrews, E 9.), to organise a coinenittee, and take other
measures for the promotion of the subscription on behalf of
the surviving sufferers. The Mayor presided, and was
supported by a large number of the clergy and dissenting
ministers of the town, magistrates, members of the Town
Council, gentlemen connected with the various steam com-
panies of the port, the leading tradesmen of the town, &c.
The MAYOIt opened the proceedings with a few appro-
printe remarks, expressing the deep interest he felt in this
unfortunate and melancholy occurrence, and the pleasuru
which it gave him to witness the sympathy manifested
towards the sufferers by the influential and wealthy gentle-
men by whom ho was surrounded, and by the large number
of persons of all classes who were that afternoon met on so
melancholy an occasion. Perhaps there bad never !teen an
occasion when that sympathy waa so strongly required as
this. The awful calamity which had visited so many
of their fellow countrymen had already aroused the feel-
ings of philanthropy, charity, and benteolence, to an
extent that mode one feel proud of being an
Englishman. They would Ire gratified to hear the
reception the appeal hail already met with in every
part of the country, from their gracious Queen and
her beloved consort downwards. This unfortunate catas-
trophe read them a lesson which they should all remember
—that they were all in the hands el God, on whom they
depended for everything connected with their existence,
RIO to whose inscrutable decrees they should bow with
humble submission.

The TOWN RK (C. E. Deacon, Evi.) next read
the comtuunications which the Mayor had already re-
ceived, the first of which was from her gracious Majesty
the Queen—via.: _ _

"Windsor Castle, Jan. 10, Ift.:2.
" Dear Sir,—Before receiving your letter of yesteiday's
date, I had been commanded by her Majesty the Queen to
make inquiries with respect to any assistance that it was
proposed to extend to the unfortunate widows and orphans
of the sufferers in the lute most awful destruction of the
Amazon. I have this morning had the honour to
submit your letter to the Queen and the Prince,
and I have received the commands of her Majesty
and his Royal highness, to acquaint you that, in the
event of a public subscription being opened fur the
relief of the families reduced to distress by this fearful
calamity, you are authorised to announce a subscription of
Via upon the part of her Majesty and his Royal Highness.
Any infiirmation that you can give me as to the position in
life and particular eircumstanecsof any of those who have
unfortunately perished, I shall be obliged to you if you will
communicate. Can you tell rue anything of Mr. Vincent,
whose conduct has been so highly spoken of ?—Believe me,
dear sir. your truly, C. B. nitres. It. Andrews, Esq."
The reading of this kind letter elicited h arty applause,
as did many of those which followed. Upwards of fifty
letters Mall were read, each enclosing a contribution, and
the amount announced as having been received made up a
total of 1,000/. before tho proceedings closed.
The meeting was briefly but impressively addressed by
several gentlemen; and vat ions suggestions were made fur
the purpose of enlarging the subscription list.
During the proceedings Mr. ril.Vincent—the young mid-
shipman who behaved with so much courageous gallantry
in the life-boat during the memorable night which wit-
nessed the destruction of the Amazon—entered the hall, and
wsa welcomed with several rounds of enthusiastic cheering.
A similar expression of sympathy was also manifested
towards Mr. Williamson, the chief steward, and use of the
surviving firemen, both of whom were in the hall.
Amongst the resolutions adopted was one expressing the
approbation of the meeting at the conduct of the surviving
members of the crew, and especially that of Mr. Vincent.
This resolution was carried with acclamations, and three
hearty rounds of cheering were given for Mr. Vincent and
three for Mr. Williamson and the other survivors.
Mr. VINCENT said ho deeply felt the compliments they
' were pleased to bestow upon him for any humble services
he might have been providentially enabled to render for
the saving of his own and his fellow•ereatures lives. The
memory of that awful night would never be effaced from
his Mind. In whatever situation he might hereafter be
Ilplaced, he hoped he should always remember, and be able
to act upon, the words of the immortal Nelson, " England
expects that every man will this day do his duty." (Great
cheering.)
A vote of thanks to the Mayor closed the proceedings.
The commit ec will sit at the Audit-house every day to
receive sabscrintions, and on other business connected with
their important and interesting duties.
In our advertising columns will be found the resolutions
adopted at the meeting, the names of the committee ap-
pointed, and a list of the subscriptions already received, and
we earnestly hope that the appeal which has been thus lilies
rally responded to at the outset may receive universal sup-
port and attention.

The following details of the hair-breadth escape of the
two ladies who were saved, are given in a letter from a lady
at Brest :
" They (the two ladies) are anxious to get away as mos
as passable, but the lady (Mrs. M.) has bet nso much
I bruised knocking against the vessel, and by the men walk-
ing over her, that she can hardly move. Miss Smith (the
governess), when the sailors wanted to give up rowing,
I stood up in her night-gown and mid, ' Now my lads, cheer
up a little; keep up, or I, a feeble woman, will take an
oar.' So she took one, and when she was dipping it they
jumped up and began again. She seems a very quiet nice
person, and very kind to the lady, with whom she was not
acquainted till they met on board, and they had only been
there 34 hours. The lady's child (19 months old) was
thrown twice out of her arras in the scramble. She was in
the boat on the side of the vessel, and two of the ropes
holding it were cut, so the boat was hanging, only held by
one end. She was obliged to hold on with one arm, and
she just caught her child by the end of his night gown ; and
I she thought she would have been burnt in the boat. She
I was in the boat from one o'clock Sunday morning till eight
Sunday evening, and Miss Smith till seven o'clock Monday
morning."
It is too opinion of Mr. Mills, the company's engineer
that the fire broke out in the fore hold among the cargo, as
the flames were first seen coming up the fore hatchway, and
this has been confounded with the fore hatchway leading
to the forward boilers, a totally distinct portion of the vessel,
although not a great distance from the boilers and forward
funnel. If the fire originated amongst the cargo, it is to be
feared that some portion of the merchandise stowed there
consisted of combustible materials, or that some description
of gas was generated, which in process of time ignited, and
spread with fearful and uncontrolled rapidity. Whether
this supposition be correct or not, it is impossible
towy, hut it is hoped that some of the survivors at Brest
be will able to give their testimony and opinion, so that a
reliable conjecture may br formed of the cause of the
catastrophe.