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

=AMU _NI, TUESDAY.

The caw of the dcgtruction of the Amaz )n is on-
known; she was und2r steam from the time of her de-
parturc to the period of the accident. As is usual with
new machinery, water Was kept almost eonzinually play-
ing on the bearings of the cligim-s. On account of the
heat of these ber).rings the shin was stopped off the Bill
of Portland en Friday night, between the hours of eight
and twelve, and about the same period on Saturday night
she was stopped for two hours cod a half; however, the
necessity for the operation of wetting these parts was
decreasing, as the main centre bearings were getting
more suent and the engine altogether in bettor order.
John Shearing, an intelligent fireman, states that in
playing the water on the cranks a quantity fell on the
wood and felt of the boilers, and he conceives thr.t these
substances, when the water was dried from them, would
ignite the quicker for the operation, and hence the
accident,

The boats of the Amazon ware fitted with iron cranes
or crutches on which their keels rested; these fittings
obstructed their clearance from the ship, and but for
this fatal arrangement the serious loss of life would have
hem lessened. Captaic Symonds ordered eo one to get
into the boats. Tills order was obeyed until tie? people
saw the flames Overpowering the ship. He was last seen
wits the man at the wheel, ordering the helm to be put
up, so as to keep toe ship before the wind. Fits last
words were—" It is all over with her." The officer of
the watch, Mr. Treweelte (s( cone! officer), was wonting
the bridge when the accident WIIS discovered. Mr.
Henry Roberts, chief officer, in his shirt only, was ac-
tively assisting the captain; he aas last seen going
through the companion down to the mein deck, and is
supposed to have perished there. Mr. Lewis (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 probsbly suffocated, as
were also the chief engineer, Mr. George Angus, and
Mr. Allen, superintending engineer under Mr. Seward,
as they were seen in the engine-room ten minutes before
the fire broke out going forward, there being no possi-
bility of their re turn through the flames. The second
engineer, Mr. William Angus, was on the spar deck,
between the funnel and the crank gratings, pulling oars,
and throwing them out of the way of the fire on
the deck near the boats. The two best boats
were stowed on the top of the sponsons,
where the flames prevented approach. After the
Amazon was put about she went at the rate of 12 or 13
knots, dead before the wind. One boat on the starboard-
side, the second cutter, was full of people when the wash
of the sea unhooked the foremast tackle; she held on by
the stern tackle, and her stem failing into the sea, all
except two were drowned in consequence of the ship's
speed. The pinnace was observed on the port side, tow-
ing by the fore tackle, behind the burning ship, and as
no one cut the towrope the miserable passengers, who
were all huddled together, were, one after the other,
washed into the sea. The mail-boat, which was also full
of people, having shipped a quantity of water, went down
alongside.
The scene on deck is described as dreadful in the ex-
treme. When the flames had approached the after com-
panion, two male passengers came up from the saloon ail
in flames, and running aft, fell on the deck. A tall
lady, supposed to be Mrs. Maclaren, entreated some one
to take care of her child, but she would not enter either
of the boats. Dineford, the quartermaster, placed one
lady passeeger in a boat, but she, being extremely agi-
tated, 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.
Soott, with her bonnet and shawl on, and something in
her hand, first asked Steer to put her into the dingy and
then left for a larger boat. At the time of leaving
some of those who yet lived were kneeling on the deck
praying to God for mercy, while others, almost in a
state of nudity, were running about screaming with
horror.
The survivors escaped in the after starboard second
life-boat, in which was Mr. Neilson. One of her occu-
pants (Maybe), in leaving, pressed his foot through the
burning deck and injured it; two others (Williams and
Passmore) had to climb the starboard paddle-box through
the flames and smoke. They succeeded atter three at-
tempts, and then slid down hands and face over the
paddle-box into the boat; several went down by the
tackles. Two of the watch below (William and Foster)
had their hair burnt while coming on deck. When the
life-boat left there were sixteen on board; they heard
some one shouting in the water, and threw over a keg
and some oars. They endeavoured to approach, but a
sea carried the boat off. They then took Mr. Vincent,
Mr. Williamson, Mr. Sisley, and two sailors from the
dingy, and, making her fast to the stern, towed after the
burning wreck, thinking to save more lives, but the
dingy having filled, they were obliged to cut her adrift,
and, fearing that they themselves should be swamped,
their boat's head was put to face the sea. Twelve oars
were at work, the wind was increasing, and heavy
squalls coming on. They saw the ship's gig full of
people, shouting as if for assistance, and at the same
time descried a sail standing apparently to the south-
ward. The vessel appeared to pass between the
two boats, and after this the gig was not
seen ; whether she was swamped or was taken up
by the stranger is unknown. The strange vessel
came pretty close under the life-boat's stern, when all
shouted together, and thought they were answered on
board; she was a barque, under closereefed topsails,
foresail, and foretopmast staysail; her spanker was hang-
ing in the broils as if she was in the act of wearing.
Soon after her helm was put up, and she bore right down
towards the wreck, behind which she disappeared. The
masts of the steamer went over before four o'clock in

the morning, the foremast on the port, and the mainmast
on the starboard side. One poor fellow appeared at the
jibboom end; the jib was cut loose, and was blowing
away. Her mizsnmast was still standing while she was in
flames from stem to stern. About five o'clock, when the
lifeboat was passing the ship in a leewardly direction,
the gunpowder in her two magazines aft exploded, and
in about twenty minutes, the rumen having gone by the
board, she made a heavy lurch and went down, her fun-
nels being red hot and still standing.
Those in the boat now pulled before the sea and wind,
thinking to make the French coast, which was, as they
thought, the nearest. Mr. Vincent's monkey jacket,
being mounted on an oar, was their only sail, and the
boat was kept dry by baling her with his boots. At
half-past ten on Sunday morning they saw a brig, and
taking down the jacket, they hoisted handkerchiefs, fore
and att, for signals of distress; and at twelve o'clock, in
lat. 48 5 N., long. 5 30 W., they boarded theMarsden, of
London, Captai❑ Evans, from Cardiff, with railway iron
for North Carolina. The brig took the boat in tow with
a new 7-inch hawser, but this having got chafed,it broke
at four P.M. on Monday during half a gale of wind, and
the boat was lost. On board this brig every humane
attention was exhibited, and after giving the shipwrecked
crew as much clothing and comfort as could be produced,
Captain Evans landed them safely at Plymouth, whence
they were sent to their homes by the Shipwrecked
Mariners' Society.

The ADMIZ9II is described as having been a splendid
vessel; her machinery is also spoken of in high terms.
From the main deck up she is said to have been built of
pine fir, which, when once ignited, speedily carried the
flames in all directions, and thus led the more quickly
to her destruction, and the fearful loss of life among her
passengers and crew.

SOUTHAMPTON, JAN. 7.

The sudden and appalling account of the total de.
struction by fire of the Royal Mail steam-ship Amazon
at the entrance of the Bay of Biscay, and the loss of the
majority of her passengers, officers, and crew, has
caused the most wide - spread sorrow iu South-
ampton among the numerous persons having
friends or relatives on board the ill-fated ship. The
Amazon was commanded by Captain William Symons,
a gentleman of known and tried courage and abilities.
He was only provisionally appointed to the Amazon
in consequence of the absence from England of
Captain Chapman, of the Tay, who was destined to be
her permanent commander, the directors having intended
Captain Symons to assume the command of the new
steamer Oronoco, now in the Thames and nearly ready
to take her station on the main line of the West India
mail service. Captain Symons has recently distinguished
himself by great bravery in the Isthmus of anama,
where, by his intrepidity and coolness, he prevented the
slaughter of a great number of American passengers by
the infuriated natives, and where, under a heavy fire of
musketry and cannon, he succeeded in conveying gold
dust to the value of upwards of 2,000,000 dolls. in the
boats of the Medway on board the United States' mail
steam-ship Cherokee; and, further, in rescuing the
passengers under circumstances of imminent danger, and
placing them safely on board the steamer. Just prior
to the sailing of the Amazon, Captain Symons received
the subjoined letter from the United States' Mail Steam-
ship Company, of New York, accompanied by a magni-
ficent silver speaking trumpet:—
Office of the United States' Mail
"Steam Ship Company, New York, Nov. 4, 185].
"To Captain Symons, commanding the Royal Mail
Packet Company's steam-ship Medway.
" Sir,—Captain Windle, of the Cherokee, one of this
company's steamers, has reported to us the prompt and
efficient aid rendered by yourself and the officers which
your command, in the recent affray at Chagree, by,
y and
'
the mails, treasure, and passengers, were prop*
securely placed on board the Cherokee.
" I beg you to accept, in behalf of this companY, mY
best acknowledgments for this high act of courtesy,
characteristic alike of British honour and humanq, and
officers, human men.
honourable to your flag, yourself, your
Allow me also the pleasure to tender
you the
slight toter
testimonial of
companying speaking trumpet, au rcter and ser-
the company's appreciation of y
vices.—l am, with great respect, oy. osu.r. 0. obedientiTh It servant
-4 OBERTS,"
Admiralty agent of the
Amazon, Brady, R.N., the
take charge
ieutenoani the
Amazon, was sent on board to
at the last moment, in the el e,
ate from emba 1: in-
was Pdrewvhna:e life has thus beenringp rboyv ia-
son, R.N., who
pense of that of Lieutenant
sudden indisposition, an-
dentially preserved at tbe
Brady, who is an officer well known and highly respected
here.
gwienrene
selectedr s ,
It may be added tutuioickndmee7B,anedn
crew of the Amazon r ,
for appointment to the new ship from their previously
known abilities and intelligence.
The value of the Amazon when ready for sea was
about 100,000"., arid she is understood to have cost the
Royal steam-packet Company fully that sum. We
are informed that she is not insured, and the loss will
consequently fall entirely upon the insurance fund of the
--a fund exclusively devoted from annual grants
companyderived from the profits of the company towards casual-
ties of shipwrecks and loss of their vessels. The value
of the specie, quicksilver, cargo, when added to the
value of the ship, will give a total loss of property by
this melancholy occurrence of little less than 200,0001.
sterling.
The destruction of the Amazon following so quickly
upon the stranding of the Demerara at Bristol will be
seriously detrimental to the interests of the company, as
two out of the five new ships are thus withdrawn, leav-