The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-08 00:00:00

DESTRUCTION OF THE

AM AZON.

FRIGHTFUL LOSS (W LIFE.

The inters-al of • &Iy has added • few particulars
to the h:story oftels appalling catastrophe, which
hay tamed* sensation more profound and general
am any that the experieuce of nautical disasters can
farnish since the destruction by fire of the Kent
Ir Inman. Great, however, as was the destruction
of life and property on that occa.,ion, tho present
calamity exhibits many features of surpassing sud-
denness and horror. On Friday afternoon, the noblest
ship that ever flouted on Southampton Water sailed
milk' away, a triumph of mechanical and engj-
neeriag .kill. and full freighted with upwards of still
hunch beings, full of life and hope, and feeling
almost a+ secure in their " castle on the deep
as "
if sojourning in some great hotel on land.
cot Seoul ty morning, the gallant vessel, while
made' a.-citing her super iarity to wind and
by
.making eight knot+ an hour against
a g•
ale
•of wind, was seized by a destroyer to which,
in such n situation, she must fall a helpless prey.
Vi.l* twenty titillates the Hamel rushed and roarid
over her spatiou+ decks, and then, to use the expres-
site language of the young sailor who survives to
tell the dismal tale. she went " bodily " down wi: h
the major part of her human freight, and leaving
the remainder to struggle in a few frail boats against
a razia.; tempest. So sudden was the alarm, and so
ahattes,,l the conflagration, that even the few sur-
vivors who have reached town can say hut little
&haat the harrowing scene. The jutowilgers, must
(f ham were in bed. were suddenly aroused be the
dr, a‘ltul cry of " Fire;" and immediately a asimul.
laments owls was made for the gangways. The
sarong and alert reached the deck. but numbers mast
hove been anti:seated below. On dole the whole
mid-fart" was, one masts of fire, and all were endea.
aurn, g tort aft, where the greatest chance of safety
lay from the vicinity of the boats, One lady was
seen rushing frantically about with her baby in her
arms, seeking ooh a mother's instinct only to pro-
tect it limn the death that was too surely awaiting
both. The captain was soon at his post. ordering
the ship to be put about and the proper measure's for ,
the suppression of the tire, but the roaring of the
dames and of the tempest together drowned his
voice. The crew thought of walling but lowering
the boats, and the engine-room being of neeesaity
eleaertt Jolty mighty paddles kept urging on the
vessel with ungoverned speed ; mid, by the rate at
which they drove her madly through the water.
adding every moment to the volume and intensity of
the tl.mits. it appears that the .Auutzon was pro-
vilkal with nine boats, four being lifedsotts, a num-
ber quite sufficient, if time had been allowed, to take
tat all the crew and pasisengers. The mail boat was
the tirst lowered, and was immediately crammed with
people. It floated but a moment, when the sea broke in
and she went loan with all and Loma The pinnace
me t with a similar fate, her destruction being preci-
pitated by an accident to the tackle, which caused
her to overturn almost the moment she touched the
water. Mr. Vineent, the young utticer whose account
appeared in the papers yesterday wonting, then sew-
caviled in letting go one end of the dingy which
hang from the stern, and here ocearred one of the
wat p t ohms episodes in the horrible history. Mr.
lament. a pawner, and one or two of the men got
into the little bout and clung to the thwarts, while
the Not hung in an almost vertical position, or
swung sae and fro with the last writhings of the im-
mense et owl to which she was attached, until at last
he succeeded in cutting the ientaining rope, when
she plunged into the sea, and cheering oaf at the
fa, rev of the waves was in a motaent almost filled
• water. At this critical juncture Mr. Vincent,
alio i+ a mere youth, showed all the coolness,
courage. and presence of mind which are
the traditional qualities of the British naval
officer. Undismayed by the terrors with which he
was surrounded. Le had the little cockle-shell of a
boat tailed, and steered her with safety until they
fell in with the life-boat, into a hielt he and his corn-
perilous were promptly taken. Here, again, he took
the command. and managed to keep her above water
until she was happily discovered and relieved of her
human freight by the Marsden. The escape of the
pasty was ..tort providential. They had been twelve
hours in the boat, without water or food, and many
of them without clothing, and must certainly, if not
relieved, have very soon perished from cold and
hunger. Six bouts remain yet to be accounted fur,
at A% hich two are life-boats, au that we are tempted
to hope, almost against hope, that a few more may
be 3et added to the be linty list of saved.
Of the immediate cause of the tire, no probable
account has. yet transpired. One fact only is clear,
that it originated an the engine-room, and at
• point totally apart from the coals. A feasT
ble conjecture is that the machinery got so heated
by friction as to ignite the woodwork, and this view
is strength, ned by the tact that on the vessel's expe-
rimental trip she had twice to bo stopped for the
purpewe of cooling it. We believe it will also be
fouad that she had twice to be stopped during her
passage from Soathampton to Scilly for the same
parpuse, the last time only a few hours before the
fire. If this should turn out to be the case, a heavy
naponaibility will rest with those who hurried a
vessel of that magnitude and power to sea, and with
such a vast number of human beings on board,
without having subjected the engines to every ima-
ginable test to establish their perfect security and
working order. Ono short experimental trip was
hardly sufficient for so vitally important a purpose.
There were some tarred coal sacks in the engine
room, and of course a considerable quantity of oil
cad other inflammable matter ; and, the tire once
gem rated, their presence, together with the trusses
of hay. would be quite sufficient to account 'for what
followed.

A court of proprietors was held yesterday, at the
i.flicvs, in Aloorgate-street, when Mr. Vincent read
the f.l:ouing statement, confirming his hasty
account of the previous day, and in which it will be
perceived that he mentions the fact of the Towel
being stopped to cool the bearings:

STATEMENT OF MR. VINCENT.
the AMOVICI was at noon of the 3rd January, 1852, in
liti!udt 1412 N., and longitude 1:57 W., from which time
sl,e steered W. by 8. 14. till 9.30 p.m. same day, when 111 e
wo shipped mead the bearings. At 11 p.m. she proceeded
.teeing in the name course, steaming about 8! knots
per hour, wind and see increasing. At 12.44) a.m. on the
4th smoke was observed coming through the hatchway on
foreside of the foremost fennel, and immediately after-
lifeels the flames burst through. 't he alarm was immediately
Oise, and the captain and chief officer came on deck. The
ire lure and buckets of water were brought to play on the
lit, but that. together with the attempt to stop the engine,
were ineffeetoul. The helm was put hard a starboard to
pat b-r before the wind, but it was some time before
es- payed etr. The mail-brut, when lowered, was imme-
diately swamped, with about 24 people in hi r, all of whom
to re lot. 1 he pinnace, when lowered, sheered across the
in before the people in her could unhook the fore tackle.
Th. y were t.ii retry washed out, and the boat remained
Itss ging by the how. While clearing away the second
rater, a -sa struck her, and raised off the craves, unhooked
the. bow the tore-end immediately fell down, slid
the jeo;.l- in her, with the exception of two, who hung
doubled over the thwarts, were precipitated into the sea and
Unused. Sateen men, including two passengers, sue-
ceded in clearing away and lowering the life-boat on the
thrbisard idle. They used every endeavour to .ave those
iS the water, but were swept past so rapidly, that their
tuitions wore without avail. At about the same
time I, with the chief steward, one passenger,
and tern seamen, rot into and lowered the clingy
sad were pinked up by the life-boat about half-an-hour at-
trrsards, when we immediately took the small boat in tow,
and 'heel down for the ship, but the wind and sea inerees-
tee, and the dingy being upset and ourvelvee being nearly
ow,ate d, we WI re obliged to let the small boat go, ond
a h it p the life•boat with her head to the sea. While lying-to,
astena of us, nod was accordingly hailed,
std dui. I heve, answer, hut lid nothing of kind to
a... as, but stood down to leeward of the ship, hauled on a
wind ,rid went away. There was now nn our Illll3lt, r •
"t with, live- mi a in her, supposed to be the gig; but
we robd iris from the severity of the weather render
abe aoistanee. About half-an hour afterwards
we suddenly hot sight of her. About four a.m.,
rue .1 heavily wind shifted to the northward, decree,. I
The. sr confused hut going down. Put the boat about and
lept hefore it. At 3 the migorine exploded, and about
half an hone afterwards the funnels went over the
Son niter which the ship went down Andily. At neon we
wtre picked up by the Marsden of London ; stood in for
tie curt of Femur. sod afterwards, wind shifting tu the
weehmust lie Valninnth, and lastly for Plymouth. at I
w.:"th place we arrived on Monday, at II p.m.. 48.3 N.L.,
hem picked up 3 :81 W.L.
(Signed) W. VDU FAT.
Toth' Riordan. Royal WWI Steam Packet Compisny.
7.13 p.m.wing J., a correct lint of the passengers,
t jiving the few who were sattd. It will cost the
world of taste and letters a pang to find among the

" missing" the name of Eliot Warburton, OM gifted
author of "The Crescent and the Cross."
LIST OF PASSRNOEItS ON BOAtf) THE
AMAZON.
Mews. De rasa and Delgado,
',
Lient. 0 sylls, Mr. Fellows,
Rev. Mr. and Mrs, Winton, Mr. Joel Mr. Won!, Mr. An-
thony, and Mr. II nuilton. Jamsi'-a; Mr. Best sal ser-
vial, Mr. Kilkelly, Nloin., 4. Allender and Stirling, and
Mr. Alleyne, Barb ohs"; slr. Johnston
Mr. Burnett,
and Mr. and Mrs. Ssatland, Trinidad; Mr. Hick, Mr.
and Mr.. MeClinn•w, and Mr. Neilson (saved), De-
merara; Mr. E. Warburton (the passage round) ; Messrs.
Tialry (usveo and Gerand, Mons. and Matra. Lacombe and
Chil, Mon. 'KCl‘llllO4`, Mr. Ciao, Mr. Ilarinomise, and Mr.
Dellimaie, Chaves; Mr. M. Del Rio, Maigotet Pus-!
geralil, Mon. Fevrier, Mr. Gianni., Messrs. 11 is's. (snail)
and Ferrear, Grace Hoare, Mr. St Dos, and Mr. Grimier,
Vera l'rus ; Iglu Smyth, Porto Rico; Mr. Ciitnining,
Mr. Evans, and Mr. Crevecowst, St. Thomas; Mr. Car-
denas, Santa Martha; Mr. Le Faye. finsslslouPe•
NAMES OF 'IIIE LOST OR MIS4IN t 1 CREW.
William Symons, commander; Henry Itoberts, 31, chief
officer, Gosport ; Charles Treoweeke, 29. second officer,
Saunas ; John Lewis, 25, thin! officer, Kingston, Jamaica ;
George D. tioodri.lge, 21, fourth officer, Paisniton; James
W. Fullerton. 37, surgeon, county of Donegal; 11. 11.
Strutt, 31, purser, Middlesex ; Friallei% Stainforth, 16, irid-
..' lonian, Ern Indies; William K. Stuart, 13, mithihrimman,
'falls hier ; Thames Walt.•r Shapeutt, 25, purser's ammistant,
Soathanipton ; Ihivid Davis, 40, boatswain, ('ardigan •
Jams Nlurehis, 31, carpenti r, Ayr; James Bryant. 26
carpenter's to rte and joiner, Dogmas, Wilts ; Joseph Kay,
41, master-at-arras, Bolton ; ti. orge IKal, 26, quarter-
awash r, heliport ; Alexander King, 33. quartermaster,
Strt11111111111; %Villiam Martin, 33, quartermaster, Filreharn ;
Iticiiard l'orter, 20, A. 8., l'oplar ; Peter Kt Ily, 111, A. 8.,
Aberdeen; Daniel Brown, 27, A. 8., Yarmouth; George
Webb, 34, A.ll. Southampton; KIMUCI Perry, 20, A. 8.,
Harbin; Riehar4 L. TIIIIIIII.ItIire, 31, A. 8., Iliblea ; Henry
Wright, 24, A. 8., Gosport; John M. W. Korn, 211, A. 8.,
Loudon; Joseph Welamaa,2o, A. 8., Ikvonport; William
Foy. 21. A. 8., Althorp ; I. hem. Hart, 33, AB., Kent;
Squire Glen, 31. AB., Greetekh ; John Clark, 39, A. 11.,
Burnham; Winton' Stevenson, 2:3, A. 11., Ayr; James
Dove, 36, A.ll, Isle of Wight; George Holah, 2i, ship's
rook, Mile-eint ; John Furor, 36. officers' servant, Exeter;
Richard Ilarris. 16, dispensary boy, Isle of Wight ; William
Fox, 17, boy, I almouth ; 1) noel Trimming, IN, boy, Koyel ;
F. S. Wall, 13. boy, Southampton; Charles Lehlra, 17,
boy, St. Ives; George Angus, 31. chief engineer, Dunbar;
William Angus. 31, second engineer, Dunbar; William
Bamnin, 40, third engineer, Alphtaton; William Stone, 37
fourth engineer, Ludgram; Andrew Fere.uson, 25, fifth
engineer, lirecuosi; Frederick Davey, 26, null engineer,
Exeter; Isaac Roberts, 36, boilor-maker, Holyhead ; John
Lamont, 22. fireman, Jersey; charley Flemington, 'Z.), fire-
man, Morton; George &VW., 2!, fireman, Bratling; Charles
L,111;, 11, tin man, Alverstoke ; Michael Fox, 36, fireaus,
Marti, y 1 John Fowler, 35, Item iu, Oil Fonl ; Gorge
Ilaniing, 26, fireman, Crayfort ; Nathan Wigley, 32, fire-
man, Paul'.-eray ; Thomas Att tad, 30, fireman, at tea;
Peter 31•Kinly, 34, fireman, It..thgt • ; John Rich int*, 29,
fireman, Milloraiise ; Itlfiert Furl, 3;, fireman. Portsea ;
William Paint, 3.4, fireman. Southampton; Julio W.
Watts, 2:1, fireman, Southampton; William Scott, 29, fir.-
mast, liars-reit ; Williams J. lane, 31, firm in,Souttrampton;
Henry Day 22, fireman. Walton; George Tucker, 21. coal-
triainu r, iValtou ; W. Jarman, $O, coal-triuimer, PorSea ;
W. t ;Joanna, 32. coal.trimmer, Lomita , Charles Dentlney,
2,1, coal-tiiittaacr, Hastings; W. Limas, 20, coal-trimmer,
Ihsrsetshin• ; Henry Carter, 21,c0a1-trimmer, Southampton ;
Abraham Bantle 33, coal-trimmer, Leap ; W. Wall, 2:1,
coal-trimmer, Wiekhatu ; John Potter, 23, eal.trimmer,
Wylie; Samuel Lees, 33, coil-trimmer, Wolverhampton ;
Thomas Foriler, W. coal-tram r, Sutton ; Angus NPEnnis,
27, lamp-trimmer, Fortwilliain ; W. Norris, IS, engineers'
.errant, Southampton; Michael Gould, 41, bead-waiter,
Kingsland ; W. U. Lambert, 21, waiter, Chatham; W.
Adams 21, waiter, Shirley ; John Banco, 20, waiter,
Southampton; John Blake, 34, bedroom steward, Horton;
Thomas I'h Ilpott, :;1, foreroom steward, Itamsgate ; Robert
Daniel, 23, saloon c mak, Bethmiall-green; Ifebray Theophile,
40, Freneli cook, Frnitt e ; t'harles Mills• 23, second cook
and scullion, Hurley ; Joseph Kirby, 36. baker, Somitanip-
ton ; John Watson, 22, boots, Southampton ; James E.
Stnnid, 16, hotelier ril stock-keeper, Thatch tin ; Fr:-
I:rick Falkner. 31, store-ke per, 31n1 beset ; E. Scott. 41,
• stewardess, Banff; George Herrin, 17, boy, II :lin ; James
Brown, IS, able s. amen. Hants.
• 'the surviving portion of the crew, who had been
' landed at l'lyinoutli, were inimidiately sent on to
Southampton by the Shipwrecked Manners Society.
'Die director; have determined on proceeding to the
latter port this day, to hold an investigation us to
' the cause of the disaster, when all these men will of
course be examined. The following gentlemen will
conduct the investigation : -Mr. Thomas Baring,
NI.P., deputrehairman of the company ; Captain
• Shepherd, chairman E. I. Company ; Capt. Nelson,
elder brother of the Trinity-house ; Capt. Mangles,
M.l'., manager It. M. S. P. Company; Mr. Master-
man, M.l'. ; t'olonel Short, a director ; ('apt. Chappell,
It. N.. secretary to the company ; and ('apt. Barton,
It.N., company s superintendent at Southampton.
FURTHER PARTICULARB FROM SOCTII.tNIPTON
Our Southampton correspondent writes as
follows :
The most disastrous intelligence of the destruction
of the ma4nificent steamer, Amazon, by fire,
reached Southampton early yesterday morning by ,
electric telegraph from London. Such a shock has
scarcely ever before been felt in this town. Only
last Friday afternoon she left this port, with every
prosiwet of a favourable and successful voyage. It
appears to he but a few hours since that nearly the
whole of the 159 persons on hoard were standing'
' on her deck as she was steaming down Snuthamp- '
' ton water, and with waving hats and handkerchiefs
were bidding good bye to friends and relatives. The
Amazon was the largest mail packet afloat; she was
the first of the gigantic fleet of steamers building for i
the Royal West India Mail Packet Company which '
was got ready. Most of the crew and officers were
picked men from the company's service, and it was
considered promotion to be transferred from any of
the West India packets to the Amazon. Among the
pamengers who were lost in the Amazon was the ac-
complished Eliot Warburton, the author of the" Cres-
cent and the Cross," " liochelagu," " Darien," &c.
Captain Symons, the unfortunate commander of the
Amazon, was a most experienced officer. He was
formerly in the Peninsular and Oriental Company's
service. During all the time he commanded the
West India packets ho was enabled to boast that
notwithstanding the intricate and difficult navigation
of the West Indies, the Gulf of Mexico, and the cen•
tral American coast, he never met with the slightest
accident. He had not long been married. Had
Captain Chapman, the commander of the Tay,
' been in England he would have taken out
the Amazon. Lieutenant Brady, the Admi-
ralty agent, was for many years the Admiralty
agent on the Alexandrian line. He was a highly
intelligent and most amiable man. He was called
on by the Admiralty authorities, almost at the last
moment, to tako charge of the mails on board the
Amazon, in consequence of the illness of a brother'
officer. Mr. Roberts, the chief officer of the Amazon,
was first in the company's service for promotion to
a command. Mr. Wm. Angus, the second engineer,
was wrecked in the Acteon and Forth, two of the
West India packets. Most of the officers
and crew of the Amazon have left families
_ . .

or friends; in Southampton. The task of revealing
tie terrible calamity which has befallen most of
them has been of the most painful and affecting kind.
It was a long time before the news of the loss of the li
ship was generally credited by the inhabitants of;
Southampton. On the receipt of the London morn-
ing papers, however, the truth of the disastrous
intelligence could no longer be doubted. The
utmost sympathy is felt for the West "India
Company. They have experienced unparalleled
disasters, owing principally to the difficult
and extensive duties they undertook to perform;
such disasters would have broken the spirits and
ruined the fortunes of almost any body of men: but
by the exercise of great skill, the submission to great
sacrifices, and the display of indomitable persever-
ance, they had recovered from their misfortunes, and
were equalling nearly all public companies, and sur-
passing most, in splendid success. They have again
had:their hopes temporarily blighted by the most cruel
and heart-rending misfortune. Thecompanydespatched
the Amazon in the most perfect andadmirable manner.
No attention or expense was spared, to see that in
her construction and fittings up, everything was
possibly done which could be suggested by the moat
proved experience and advanced science to contribute
to the comfort and health of the passengers and
crew, and the safety of the ship. Up to the last
i moment of her departure, the most experienced
officers of the company were examining and testing
I the Amazon. But the most laborious efforts
of man are sometimes frustrated by the
mysterious dispensations of Providence, and
! all human contrivances are ofttimes vain in pre-
' viding against nr controlling the furious elements of
nature. The tire on board the Amazon broke out, it
appears, in the galley. The galley, it is stated, was
coastructed fore and aft, different from abut it is in
most ships. It was situated over the engine-room.
When operations were going on in the galley before
the Amazon left Southampton, the heat was most in-
tense there.
The property sacrificed by the lass of the Amazon
cannot be less than a quarter of a million sterling.
By none of the West India pnekets which have been
loat has there been such a frightful loss of life as
has happened by the burning of the Amazon. In

TIT EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 8, 1852.

fact, the leas of life in the latter, consisting of 128
persons, is nearly as great as that of all the other
wrecks put together. Ihe following are the names
of the principal West India packets which have been
lost, viz. :—The Tweed, Forth, Solway, lids,and the
Medina. The Amazon is the first birlongiog to the
company which has been destroyed by fire.
A subscription has been entered into at South-
ampton to assist the numerous widows and father-
less children who have been rendered so by the loss
of the unfortunate Amazon. The Mayor has
headed it with a subscription of 10f. 'fwelvo of
the ercw of the Amazon that wino NI% ed arched at
Southampton last evening. Mr. Vincent, the
midshipman who was steed, is the son of
Captain Vincent, an old officer of the West India
Company, and who is now on the Br.tzil station in
command of the Severn. In addition to the heavy
mail for the West Indies and Mexico, which was on
board the Amazon, she had 1,100 tons of coal, specie
to the value of 20,0001., quicksilver to the value of
3,0001., and 100 tons of cargo. There is not much
doubt but what Lieut. Brady was bwainpvd in the
first boat that was let down from the ship, and which
contained Btu mail.

SOUTILkMPTON, WEDNESDAY \IOIIT, Jtm. 7.
Thu water tender on board the Amazon, who was
saved, has just reached Southampton. Ile states
th it the chief and fourth engineers went the
rounds of the engine-room after midnight on
Saturday, and found everything right; within a
quarter of un hour after the?• kit the water
tender saw bits of something on fire fall
into the engine-room; he had only just time
to get assistance before ho was driven out of the
engine-room, owing to tho intensity of the heat
arising from the tire. Ile describes the fire as must
rapid and intense. lie is confident that many of
those forward never could have got oat of their beds
before the fire overtook them ; he only recollected
distinguishing Captain Symms and Mr. Roberts,
the first officer, amongst those who perished.

We take the following particulars from the Weal
of England Conserratire respecting the conduct of
the officers, and the settle on deck at the time of the
calamity.

SAFETY OF TWENTY-FIVE MORE OF
THE PASSENGERS AND CREW.

(BY SUBMARINE

PARIS, THURSDAY, 1110 AIL
Letters from Bred announce the arrival, on tho
sth of January, by a Dutch vessel, of six passengers
and nineteen of the crew of tho English packet
Aniscou, which was destroyed by the.

The hosts of the Amazon were fitted with iron cranes or'
crutahe• ow which their keels rev, d ; these fittings ob-
structed their clearance from the ship, and but for this fatal
arrangement the Sl`riolls lose of life would have been
lessened. Captain Symonds ordered no one to get into
the boots; this order was obeyed until the people saw the
Homes overpowering the ship. Ile was last seen with the
man at the wheel on:wring the in Ins to be put up so as to
keep the ship before the wind: his List words were, "It is
all over with her." The officer of the watch, Mr. Treweek
(second officer), was walking the bridge when the accident
was discovered. Mr. Henry koherts, chief officer, in his
shirt ohly, was actively assisting the captain ; he was last
seen going through the companion, down to the main
deck, and is supposed to have ',embed there. Mr. Lew',
third officer, Mr. Goodridge, fourth officer, and the two
midshipmen, some of whose berths were forward, on the
port side of the main deck, were probably suffocated, as
I.:real,. the chief engineer, Mr. George Angus, and Mr.
Allen, superintending engineer (under Mr. Seward), as they
were even in the engine room ten minutes before the fire
broke out, going lorward—there being no possibility of
their return..

The second engineer, Mr. William Angus, was on the spar
sleek h twcen the funnel and the crank gratings, pulling
OATS and throwing them out of the way of the tire, on the
deck, near the boats. After the Amazon was put shout the
went at the rate of 12 I.a. 13 knots dead before the wind.
The two best boats were stowed on the top of the vomits,
where the flames prevented approach. Ono boat on the'
starboard Fide, the second cutter, was full of people, when
the wash of the sea unhooked the foremost teakle, and her
stem falling into the sea, all except two were drowned.
The pinnace was uMersed on the port side, towing by the
fore ti akle, behind the burning ship, and as uo one cot the
tow rope, the miserable passengers, who were all huddled
together, were, one after the other, washed into the sea.
The mail-boat, which was also full, baring shipped a quan-
tity of water, went down alongside.
The scene ea deck is describe- d as dreadful la the extreme ;
when the flames had approached the after-companion, two
male passengers Caine up from the saloon, all in flames, and
running aft, fell on the deck. A tall lady, supposed to be
Mrs. Maclaren, entreated Rome one to take care of her
child, but she would not enter ci her of the boats. Dine-
ford, the quartermaster, placed one lady passenger in a
boat, hut she, being extremely agitated, got out again ;
and, although Henry 'Williams and another used some
force, and begged her to go in, she persisted in remaining
on board. The stewardess, Mrs. 9entt, with her bonnet
and shawl on, and something in her hand, first asked Steer
to put her in the dingey, and then left for a larger boat ;
at the time of quitting, some of those who yet lived were
kneeling on the deck praying to God fur mercy, whilst
others, almost in a state of nudity, were running about
screaming with horror.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENT BY MR. NEILSON.
Our Liverpool corresgtiudent writes as follows :
" Immediately upon the telegraphic news of the
loss of the Amazon, West India mail steamer, reach-
ing Liverpool this morning, the excitement and
anxiety to ascertain full and authentic particulars
became painfully apparent among all classes. On
the Exchange, in the various commercial markets,
and in mercantile circles generally, nothing else was
talked of, and the excitement at one time was in-
tense. It soon became known, however, that our
respected townsman, Mr. IL Neilson, of Dale-
street, who was on board the Amazon, in-
tending to proceed to Demerara, was one
of the few survivors of the melancholy
catastrophe, and that he had returned home this
morning. Crowds of eager friends immediately
assembled at Mr. Neilson's office to congratulate him
on his-providential deliverance; but that gentleman
had proceeded to his residence at Hale-wood, near
this town, and thither many of his more immediate
personal Mends repaired to welcome him, after his
escape from the terrible disaster in which he had
been so perilously involved. Notwithstanding Mr.
Neilson's numerous and pressing demands upon his
time, thatgentleman obligingly favoured us with the
following particulars attending the calamity, in
addition to those which ho had already made public :
" The fire broke out about ono o'clock on Sunday
morning the 4th instant, off the Bay of Biscay ; tt
was first discovered by Mr. Vincent, the mate, who
was afterwards picked up by the boat in which Mr.
Neilson was. Mr. Neilson was the last man but one
who got into the last boat, which was the starboard
life-boat, and he had to get into this boat by spring-
ing from the ship's side, and sliding down the tackle
fa. Soon after putting off from the burning ship,
they saw the second cutter struck by &heavy sea, and
the others had fallen astern or already sunk. Keep-
ing
clear of the ship, and at the same time desirous
to save as many as possible, they manned the
dingle, and picked up Mr. Vincent, Monsieur Sine-
let, and three others ; they then took their stations
in the dingie, Mr. Neilson in the bow, and Mr. Vin-
cent at the stern, directing the men according to the
seas they were likely to ship. After rounding the
Amazon, with her head down, they saw ono of the
other boats capsize, but could render no assistance.
At this time a barque stood between the dingle in
which were the survivors, and the burning ship;
they hailed the barque, which replied, put her
spanker aback for a moment, hove round, but sud-
denly disappeared, without rendering any assistance.
This was about 2 o'clock; by four the wind had in-
creased to a heavy gale ; the survivors, however,
bore away and passed the stern of the burning ship
about five o'clock, soon after which her magazines
exploded, and every vestige of the noble vessel
almost immediately disappeared. They were soon
afterwards picked up by Captain Evans, of the brig
Marsden, to whom the greatest praise is due, not only
for the humane and kind attention to all the survivors
of the Amazon, but for having taken upon himself
the responsibility of returning to Plymouth with
them, by which means the friends and relatives of
the unhappy sufferers, as well as the West India
Mail Steam-ship Company, have been made ac.
quainted with the catastrophe; whereas, had the
Marsden proceeded on her outward voyage, a lung
period of anxious suspense must have been the result
to all interested in the ill-fated vessel."

LIST OF THE SURVIVORS.
Robert Neilson, Esq.
T. Sisley, Esq.
W. Vincent, Junior, midshipman
Mr. James ►Villiamson, steward
Mr. John Dineford, quartermastei
W. Foster, A.B.
Thomas Carney, A.D.
James tifaylin, A.D.
James Mowett, A.B.
William Steers, All.
William Stevenson, A.D.
henry Williams, A.D.
Henry Passinon
William Hummer
John N, reek
Willoom Koopman, water ter.der
Sentra White, fireman
John Shearing, fireman
O. “nee Kinr, trimmer
Charles Thorn, fireman
John Hawke, steerage passenger.

THE ENQINEERS AND THEIR EMPLOYERS.

COMMENCEMENT OF THE STRIKE.

The dispute became still further complicated yes-
terday by the closing of the establishment of Mr. Scott,
' machinist, King-street, Commereial.road East, in conse-
quence of the refusal of the men to submit toe new con-
dition in connexion with overtime, proposed to be carried
out by their employer, one of the masters who on Saturday
last gave notice that their establishments would be com-
pletely closed on the 10th instant.
It appears from the statements of the men that some of
their number had lost time from the commencement of
the week up to Wednesday night to the smoul,t of a qu tr.
ter of a day, in consequence of which Mr. liksatt demanded
that they should work overtime iu the evening, so u to
make up the time they had lest; and, further, Mr. Scott
intimated that in the event of their failing to comply with
this demand, it was his fixed intention to stop two hours'
pay fur every hour of time which they had lost, or might
lust•. The men remonstrated against the adoption of what
they conceived to be an unreasonable proposition, and,
after some further parley, refused to submit to it, upon
which Mr. Scott replied that in that ease they had better
quit their work at once, u he fully intended to close the
shop on Saturday, anti the two days intervening between
that time and the present could make little difference to
either party. The men acted upon Mr. Scott's suggestion
without communicating their intention to the general secre-
tary of the society, or the executive council, and not return-
ing to their work after the dinner hour, the establishment
was forthwith closed.

The establishment thus closed was a small concern, em-
ploying not more than about sixteen or eighteen members
of the Amalgamated Society. The following communica-
tion was received yesterday by Mr. Allan :
" London, Jan. 6,1662.
" Central Association of Employers of Operative
Engineer., :30, Itucklersbury.
" Sir,—Your letter of yesterday, stating that you had
been informed this committee were desirous of seeing a
deputation of workmen, having been considered, at the or-
dinery meeting this lay, lam directed to state that whilst
the individual members of this association are always ready
to receive any communication from their workmen, in their
respective establishments, they cannot recognise the exe-
cutive council of the Amalgamated Society as the proper
channel for effecting any arrangements between themselves
and those in their employment, this association having been
formed fur the express purpose of defending themselves
and their well-dispu.ed workmen front the dictation and
pernicious interference of the council you represent.
" I am, sir, your most obedient servant,
"SIDNEY SMITH, Secretary.
" Mr. Wm. Allan, Secretary Amalgamated
Society of Engineers, ike.•
The above letter aill be submitted to the executive
council at its sitting to-morrow.
A meeting of the London district committee took place
last night, when report. were given in by deputations from
various establishments unanimously in favour of maintain-
ing the position assumed by the executive council.
It is believed that work at the shops to be closed will
cease on the Friday night, the week's wages is many estab-
lishments being then due, owing to a prevalent practice of
keeping a day's pay in hand.