The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-09 00:00:00

THE SUN,

LOSS OF THE AMAZON.

OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION BY THE DIRECTORS—
EXArdINATION OF THE SURVIVORS.
. _

SOUTLIAMP lON, THURSDAY EVENING:iO'CLOCK
The painlui sensation wnteri has been producod at this
part by the melancholy int,lligcncti of the destruction of
the Royal Mail Company's steam-ship Amazon, attended
with so fearful a loss of lire, was in some degree alle-
viated by tha arrival here of the news of a Dutch vessel
having put into Brest on the sth instant, having on
board six passengers and nineteen of the crew of the ill-
fated t;hip, who were at first supposed to have met with
a watery grave in their attempts to escape from the
conflagration. Great anxiety is still felt to have these
welcome tiding; confirmed by the publication of a list of
the names of the fortunate passengers and seamen in
question, togethf r with the narrative of the cirenmstanc.!s
under which they were picked up by the Dutch vessel
alluded to; and an eager expectation prevails to see this
additional information connected with so all-absorbing a
catastrophe afforded.
This afternoon, at two o'clock, the chairman and di-
rectors of the company assembled at their offices, near the
Esplanade, for the purpose of instituting an inquiry into
the melancholy facts attending the loss of the vessel.
There were present Mr. T. Baring, M.P., the chair-
man of the company; Captain Mangles, M.P., the
deputy-cliai!man•' Cap::ain Nelson, one of the Elder
Brethren of the Trinity; Mr. Masterman and Colonel
Short, directors; Captain Corrie, R-.N., the Admiralty
Inspector of the Mail Service of the Port; Captain Chap-
;,le, it N., the manager of the company; Captain Barton,
R.N. Captain Riven of the Teviot; and Captain Wilson,
of the Dee. _

The Hon. Chairman opened the proceedings by re-
marking, that the directors felt it their duty, not only
to themselves, but to the public, to institute the earliest
possible inquiry regarding the unfortunate fate which
one of their ships had mar with. They were desirous
that the public should be put in possession of all the facts
that could be gleaned. That portion of the crew who had
been so mercifully preserved, at least those who were
known to have escaped. were in attendance, and it was
the directors' intention to call them in and hear the state-
ments relative to the unfortunate cetestrophe.
The investigation then procdded. The survivors were
called in one after another, and were requested to state
all that came under their observation.
William Notburn, water-tender on board the Amazon,
stated that he was below in the engine-room at the time
of the steamer's being found to be on fire. lie noticed
flakes of fire dropping like as if from the loss of the
boilers. He prcoured a bucket of water, and endeavoured
to extinguish the fire, but found it was of no service in
suppressing it. Endeavoured then to turn the feeders of
the boilers, and to ease the safety-valve, but found he
could not. He remained below as long as possible; cot
a light was left in the place, and he went up to the gang-
way and then to the spar deck. Mr. William Angus, the
second engineer, was there, between the funnel and crank
gratings, palling out oars, and throwing them out of the
way of the fire on deck. Saw the captain, Mr. Symonds,
as he was pulling away the oars. The fir© gradually
extended over the ship, and he escaped by getting into
the second boat (lite-boat on starboard quarter).
Notburn was questioned as to the iron crane orerutches,
on which the keels of the steamer's boats rested, and
whether so fitted they were as easily to he got out as
when they were what is called lashed. He thought they
were not, and preferred the lashing to the cranes.
James White fireman of the Amazon, was on watch at
twelve o'clock on Sunday night. Heard the alarm of
fire, and observed smoke and fire round the starboard
fourth boiler (the most forward) near the steam chest.
The flames gradually extended. The hose was got out
and laid along the deck, but was of no service. Ho then
went up and got through the gratings to the spar deck,
where he saw the captain, who directed him to throw
overheard several trusses of hay which they had for live
stock. He did so, but the flames gained round him, and
he heard the captain say, " Oh, she is gone, it is all
over with her!" He then got into the life-boat, and was
preserved.
This man also spoke in condemnatory terms of the
cranes used in launching the boats.
Mr. William Vincent, the young midshipman, was
next called in, and his appearance excited much interest.
Ile said, about twenty minutes to one on Sunday
morning, he was ulofn on the quarter deck of
of the Amazon. He was on watch with the second
officer, Mr. Sreweeke. The vessel was in lat. 49.12
N., long. 4.57 W., steering W. by S. half S.,
steaming about 8 knots per hour. It was blowing
almost a gale of wind, and the wind was increasing from
the windward. He saw smoke coming out from the
hatchway of the foremost funnel, and almost immedi
ately afterwards the flames burst through. The alarm
of the crew was instant, and he ran down and alarmed
the captain. Everything was done to extinguish the
fire. The hose of the firo-engine and buckets of water
were brought to play. The wind, however, increased
the fury of the fire, and all the means to stop the flames
were ineffectual. He made his way to the helm, and
assisted in putting it hard a-starboard, so as to put the
ship before the wind. It was some time before they
could pay her off. Saw the mail boat lowerel; 25 peo-
ple got into her, all in confusion, but the moment she
touched the water she went over and sunk. I saw
nothing of the people afterwards. Supposed they were
all drowned. Saw the pinnace also lowered full of
people. They were unable to unhook the foretackle,
and she sheered across the sea, when the people were
washed out of her, and the boat remained hanging by
the tackle. The people then rushed to the second cutter,
she was being unhooked, when a sea caught her and
threw her off the cranes. The bow tackling giving way,
the boat immediately fell, stern upwards, and those in
her, with the exception of two, who clung to the shafts,
were precipitated into the sea, and were drowned.
They then got the starboard-aide life-boat, which they
lowered, and attempts were made to save those struggling
in the water. The ship, however, was making so much
way, the engines were being stopped, that they were
swept away and never were seen again. Almost at the
same time the dingy at the stern was lowered. He got
into it along with the chief steward, one passenger, and
two seamen, and got clear of the steamer. They were
shortly picked up by the lifeboat. They then pulled
away to the ship. She appeared almost enveloped in
flames. The wind, however, and the sea increasing,
prevented them making any way. They had taken the
dingy in tow, but were compelled to let her go, and keep
off the lifeboat with her head to the sea. The steamer
disappeared about five o'clock. The saw her blow up,
her magazines having ignited. At noon on the Monday
they picked up by the Marsdens, of Cardiff. The
last weretime vie saw Captain Symonds was near the main-
mast. The confusion that prevailed prevented the boats
being followed.
William Steers, an able seaman on board the Amazon,
said he was called up about twelve o'clock on Sunday
night. Went upon deck, and sat down upon the grating
near the fore funnel. Thought he was very hot, and
got up. Afterwards saw fire issuing up the fore-part of
the engine-room. Made for the saloon door, to unhook
some of the fire-buckets. In doing so was nearly suffo-
cated, the smoke was tremendous. The first person ho
saw there was Captain Symonds, who was coming up.
He then ran aft, and put the helm hard up. Captain
Symonds followed, and asked if she would " pay up ?"
He replied, " Sho is hard up." The fire raged aft
violently. Nothing could be done. All were in a state
of terror. Saw two passengers all in a blaze. They
ran up to the wheel, where they fell, calling to their
Maker to save them. Saw Mrs. Scott, the stewardess;
she was standing ou the quarter-deck. Then made for
the dingy.
The Chairman inquired what time transpired from
the
period of his discovering the fire to his getting into
the dingy ?—Steers replied that it was such a thing that
before they could get a turn of the air-pump they were
nearly suffocated. In getting from the saloon he nearly
perished. It was impossible for any one to imagine the
difficulties they were placed in.
The Chairman—What is your opinion as to the way
the boats were secured ? Steers thought that if they
had not had the crams or crutches, on which they were
supported, which obstructed their clearance, every pas-
senger would have been saved. It could not have been
eight minutes before the rush was made to the boats.
There were nine beats altogether. The flames played
round them. Many got into them before they were
lowered.
The Chairman atked him if he saw the barque ?
Steers said he did. They all cried out to her, and she
showed a light in return, and they thought she would
have hauled up, and they would have seen her in the
morning. They, however, saw nothing of her.
The Chairman inquired if she had brought up, whe-
ther she could have picked up those in the gig? Steers
Fire, n
said he thought it possible.
drawn
said
dohn Henry Pessmore, able seaman of the Amazon,
fire-bell
to
ththeat it was his watch on deck. His attention was
thorea,,man coming up the hatchway, calling out
drove him
peddle-box, and afterwards flames rushed up. He ran
$ and kept ringing it until the flames
funnel with
;away.ti eh
..eskafwt After four ut
Gain
attempts,sy
mends ebgyott
kover f
after-
fun trousers on; he was almost frantic,
in tears, and
She,
" Sho it lost!
7 and
ativ
life-heat. lost! ' Witness then got into the
the e
ef llamburgh, who was on
John Neeriek
otkher survivors, gave cor-
watch at the time,
inthae su
generally ifs adverse
rt
eorbmo rsaotiftsteh
es teemtepmi
oe3nnitse.aTt
of eyereapies in
‘stowing
the boats.
The Chairman then called eie.
perintend-
:loan
some
r to his
to
equestions, esearidetfhtahteroeuernaidptalntey,fun7ini
about the decks was iron air casing which distance
protected the
deck from the overheating cf the tunnels.
Captain Wilson, of the company's ship
Teviot, was,
called, and observed that the use of cranes to the boats
were a great support to the davits, and that he found
them preferable to the lashing.
In answer to the Chairman, Captain Wilson said the
use of cranes might, to those who did not understand
them, lead to eeme delay in getting them out, hut they
were easily to be got off. They did not require se
much gear.
Captain Rivett, of the Teviot, also spelt() to the value
of the cranes. He should say that they could be got out
in three minutes; but be doubted whether a sail could be
got out to the windward.
Mr. MiPs having expressed an opinion doubtful of the
steam-chest from the nature of it baying heated the coal
sacks,
The Chairman desired the room to be cleared of
strangers. After a brief delay, the Hon. Gentleman
stated that the Board were not in a position to offer an
opinion at present on the unfortunate occurrence. It was
possible that others might be saved who would be en-
abled to offer more important information concerning the
lamentable event; and the Board, therefore, deemed it
necessary to afford the fullest opportunity in furtherance
of that desirable object.
The Board accordingly broke up.
As each of the survivors were called in, the chairman
feelingly shook
the m by the hand, and warmly con-
gratulated them upon their meritorious conduct and
marvellous escape.