The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-10 00:00:00

T 11 P,

S N,

of the (Bars and men of the night watch, I was the only
one even partially clothed.
Whatever human exertion could effect was attempted by
Captain Symons, regardless of himself, to induce the assist •
ante of others to extinguish the flames ; butin vain, for solrapi I
was their progress that all communications fore and aft, was
already obstructed. The last order I heard him give was,
" For God's sake, Mr. Roberts, put her before the wind."
This Mr. Roberts immediately attempted, and young Vin-
cent, who was lowering down the dingy, jumped to the helm
and put it hard up until the ship paid off.
In the mean time the aftermost boat on the port side (I
think the mail boat) was lowered down, with probably 25
people in her; but the moment she touched the water she
swamped and all hands that were in her drifted astern, all
clinging together with dreadful shrieks.
The next boat forward (the pinnace) was also lowered
full, but by some accident the after tackle alone got un-
hooked, and she was dragged forward by the fore tackle with
such rapidity that the sea swept wend her sides and washed
every soul out of her.
The next boat on the same side was a No. 2 life-boat, at
which I observed several bands trying to get her into the
water, while the fire was rapidly coming aft, and on the
platform of the paddle-box was a White's life boat so
secured as to render it almost impossible under such circum-
stances to get her loose. In the meantime Mr. Vincent, with
three of the crew and one passenger, had got into the dingy,
which was hanging over the stern. A similar number of
boats were on the starboard side. The atterniost boat
(which I think was the gig) was lowered only half full, and
got away. A second cutter was lowering full of people. In
the next boat (a Green's life-boat) were about 12 of the
crew, most of them dressed, trying to get her launched,
which, however, they could not effect, owing to her keel
being socketed in the keel-crane, which projected from the
ship's side.
My first intention on coming on deck in my life-belt, and
seeing the confusion that prevailed, was to wait until a lout
had got clear and then jump overboard and swim to it; but,
on observing the coolness with which the men in the life-
boat were working, I determined to share their fate, and
accordingly got into the boat to assist in launching her.
Our united of proved ineffectual; the fire bad reached
the companion, when one of the men, seizing my arm, said,
" Jump on deck, and haul away that tackle fall." We both
did so at the after tackle, two other men being at the fore
tackle. We raised the boat, with the men in her, out of the
gripe of the crane, and one of the men loosing the bolt, I got
over the ship's side and shoved the crane in, and the boat
began to lower.
At this time the second cutter had reached the water, when
a sea struck her bow, and as the ship rose from the swell of
the waves she lifted the boat perpendicularly by the stern
tackle and discharged all the unfortunate inmates but two,
who hung, shrieking, across the thwarts.
The flames were now rushing up the companion with
such fury that they caught the two men who were lowering
the fore tackle dour life-boat and burnt the hair off the face
cf one of them, who immediately jumped into the boat, fol-
lowed by the man at the after tackle. I sprang from the side,
and slid down the tackle into the boat as she reached the
water, and as the other man at the fore tackle did the same, I
gave the word to cut away. " Hold hard !" said one of the
sailors, who had far more presence of mind. " Fend her
off! if we drift under the cutter, she'll stave through
us. Now cut away," said he, and we drifted clear, the
doomed ship rushing madly forward, the sport of the com-
bined fury of the three elements, so sadly alluded to in my
remark to Mr. Best. But far above the roaring crash of
wind and wave and fire rang the shrieks of the helpless suf-
ferers on board the ill-fated Amazon.

From a moment of deep and heartfelt gratitude to Pro-
vidence we were roused by the cries of our drowning fel-
low-creatures around us, to whom, alas ! we could render no
instant assistance, for the oars were lashed amidships, and
the rudder was stowed away. Of two loose cars that had
been thrown into tLe boat N;e pushed one to a poor creature
who was within five yards of us, but the shrill bubbling cry
which accompanied his effort to reach it told too sadly it was
in vain.

We were now hailed by the dingy, which had left the
vessel about the same time as we ourselves. She was fast
tilling with water, which Vincent was baling out with his
boots, having cut the tops off. We called them to come
alongside, and took them into the life-boat, laying Mr. Sisley,
the passenger, who was more dead than alive, at the bottom
of the boat.

We took the dingy in tow, and got our rudder shipped,
threw the masts overboard (for we had no sails), got the
oars out into their crutches, which we had not been able to
find till then, and pulled away for the burning ship, to try
to save some more lives. The fire gave us plenty of light,
though the moon was obscured by clouds. The wind, how-
ever, had now increased to a severe gale, and before we had
proceeded far on our mission a heavy sea struck the dingy
snd capsized her, drove her on our stern, broke away our
rudder, and nearly half filled us with water.
I was in the bow, and sang out to cut away the dingy, and
get her head to wind, which Mr. Vincent, who was in the
stern, bad already commenced doing, and scarcely was this
accomplished ere the approach of a tremendous sea through
the surf, and over the top of which our boat gallantly rode,
gave us ground for hope that we might still live through
that awful night. It was, however, vain to attempt
the rescue of those who were drowning round us. The
slightest deviation from the wind's eye, in such a sea, would
have swamped our boat. Bahind us tue burning ship shed
a light which illumined the sky and sea for miles round.
Before us the sky and sea seemed to meet in one dark un-
distinguishable mass, the immediate approach of the waves
being indicated by a rushing sound as their crests broke far
above our heads in a long white line of foam, glaringly re-
flecting the light of the burning ship behind us. In this po-
sition, without food or water (for we staved our only small
water-cask to bale the boat when nearly swamped), without
compass or rudder, and several only half-clothed, we re-
mained for about three hours, Vincent in the stern and I in
the bow, watching the approach of the waves and giving the
orders to the men to pull starboard or pull port, so as to keep
her head dead to windward.

During this time we were drifting towards the ship, which
was burning broadside on to the wind. Her mainmast went
first, and then the foremast, and a considerable time elapsed
before her mizeumast went ; directly after which I noticed a
slight explosion of gunpowder. Previous to this a barque
hove in sight, and passed between the stern of our boat and
the burning ship. We judged her to be outward-bound,
from her being under close-reefed topsails. As she passed,
between 300 and 400 yards distant, we several times hailed
her with our united voices, strengthened by all the energy of
despair. She answered us, and bridled her spanker, and we
thought was preparing to bear up to our rescue.
I shall never forget the deep sob of hope with which I
noticed these preparations, or the bitterness of feeling with
which I saw him spread his canvaes to the wind and wear
round past the stern of the burning vessel as he left us to our
fate.

For some short time past I bad noticed a boat a short dis-
tance from our starboard beam, which I believe was the gig,
with apparently about half a dozen hands in her. She now
began to call for assistance, which also we could not attempt
to offer, the sea was running so high.
This continued for some time, when the hailing suddenly
ceased, and as I never saw her afterwards, though I often
looked most anxiously in that direction, I cannot resist the
sad conviction that she shared the fate of the other boats.

About 4 o'clock it began to rain heavily, which beat down
the sea, and as the wind, which bad hitherto been S.W., got
round to the N., it blew more steadily and with less violence.
We according'y put the boat's head down the wind and
pulled away astern of the burning ship. ifler chimneys were
red hot, and as wo crossed her stern at the distance of about
half a mile, her magazine exploded, discharging a consider-
able number of rockets, and in about half an hour after her
funnels went over her side she sank beneath the waves, and
the red lurid light which for the laA five hours had illumined
the dreary expanse of ocean, and formed the strong ground
of hope tor the attraction of succour, was succeeded by a
gloomy darkness.
Remembering Captain Symons's observation as to the
change of wind in the event of rain, and having
frequently
noted our course by the compass during the previous day, I
was enabled to form some notion, though a vague one, of the
position of the coast of France and the British Channel, and
we pulled away in that direction during the remainder of
the night.
The morning broke bright and clear, and never was a
rising sun hailed by an eastern devotee with more fervent
gratitude than that with which we blessed Almighty Pro-
vidence for having preserved us from the complicated dangers
of such a night. And though our position and prospects
were by no means those which would have been selected
from choice, the buoyancy of hope induced us to think only
of the chance of being picked up by a passing vessel.
I joined Vincent in the stern, and we proceeded to con
over our probable distance from land, and as we knew that
unless picked up we could not make it for five or six days,
even with a favourable wind, we arranged for a division of
the men into watches, taking one each.

The wind considerably ahtated,ile we pulled steadily on
for about three hours longer, when
forward cried out that he saw a sad. luta i
leaston a the look-out
s tter of
an hour elapsed before it could be again sighted, and still
longer ere it showed by its increased size that it was outward-
bouud. We immediately altered our course, and commenced
pulling dead to windward, so as to intercept her, which with
a couple of hours' hard pulling we managed to accomplish,
and hailed her before she was aware of our approach. She
was an outward-bound brig, and from her white sails and
green caboose we took her for a foreigner, and one of our men
hailed her in the Dutch language.
As we had been approaching her, thinking of the barque
that had left us during the night, we were speculating on
our chance of obtaining assistance, but we little expected
that our first hail would be followed by every exertion to get
away from us. The wind had, however, completely lulled ;
I saw that we had the speed of her, and I shouted to the men
his berth
to give way and we would board her by force.
This was unnecessary,
alongside,
wcaessantdad
for the captain, whom the gale had
kept on deck all.the previous night, and had been asleep in
his
mainsail when we first hailed, now came on deck, backed
it a difficultr
emain-topsail,fastand
te e callingur boat. us t o comeT hThough
gu
hp
were thrown
the wind
nwn, there was so much sea on as to s render
llyonseecuorfed
omatter to board the brig. Several ropes
its only being Pavrteir; wlhteicllhevlerbseeeizredd,,bubtuwtasfirmom.
mediately picked
ceeded in getting up,Onbnoot a bit the worse, and we all suc-
bound to Carolina. Nothing the brig Marsden from London,
which Captain Evans treatnegd could exceed the kindness with
providing the best resourcesui'l- all, giving up his beds and
first tried to land us on the is vessel could afford. Ile
shifting, lie was obliged to coaststaniteof France, but the wind
falling in with an inward-bound salt' to see in the hope of
be determined to land us on the coast of Thiste not occurring,
for Falmouth The weather became hazy, the
and tried
blow, and as he had not been able to get% i' wind began to
at noon on Tuesday, and the weather thickeningst of the sun
in the di-
rection of the English coast, towards evening tfe
stoChannel, made the Eddystone Lighthouse about eleven,
up
and anchored in Plymouth Harbour between twelveaennj

one o'clock.
It seemed as if every vestige of the unfortunate Amazon
was destined to destruction, tor the lite-boat in which we had
been saved—and a better boat never was built—after being
towed to within thirty miles of the British coast, wore
through the rope and went adrift. We all bewailed her loss
for the moment like that of a true friend.
We landed at Plymouth, and found our way to the Globe
Hotel, where we were received by Mr. Radmore, notwith-
standing our very questionable appearance, with the most
hospitable attention. Supper, beds, and money were at once
offered to us, and the following morning he received our 18
fellow-travellers with the same kindness.
The Mayor of Plymouth also called the following morning
with offers of every assistance, and I take the opportunity
through your columns of acknowledging the grateful sense I
entertain of the kindness we have received. But a far deeper
debt of gratitude than can be thus acknowledged is due to
that Almighty Power who by His mercy has thus preserved
us from the perils which that awful night saw so fearfully
combined against us.
I cannot close my narrative of this event without ad-
verting in the strongest terms of nraise and admiration to the
conduct of young Vincent. Throughout the whole of the
dreadful scenes through which we passed, he never showed
the slightest symptom of fear or hesitation, or uttered a sin-
gle murmur or complaint.
His whole care seemed for the men, of whom he took the
command with the calmness of an old officer, and having on
him, as Otte of the officers of the Watch When ho 'moped, the

; .

full complement of cljthes, he give his pea jacket to one of
Cie men who had only ,a shirt on, a flannel shirt to another,
and his handkerchief to a third.
I have been in scenes which have tried the nerves of
hardened men, but never in any more calculated to try them
than those through which this young officer passed unruffled.
I must speak also in the highest terms of the steadiness,
firmnes9, and unwearied exertions of our boat's crew, who,
notwithstanding the heavy sea and the crowded state of the
boat, with 21 in her, were most eager to brave every danger
for the chance of offering still further aid to their drowning
comrades, while the possibility of a chance still remained.
There are two or three points to which I wish to call atten-
tion in connexion with all steam-vessels.
There ought to be some means available on the upper
deck of opening the feed-cock of the boilers (the man who
did it on board the Amazon gave me a fearful account of his
narrow escape), and also of working the fire hose from the
upper deck, but still more the means of being able to stop
the engines. Had this last been done, and half the energy
displayed by the gallant commander in lowering the boats
that was ineffectually expended in attempting to check the
progress of the fire, there was ample boat accommodation,
and of first-rate quality, to have saved all hands.
There were two of White's life- boats on the platforms be-
hind the paddle-boxes, capable of holding thirty-five men
each, but they were so stowed away as to render it difficult
for any ship's company to have lowered them under ten
minutes each even in broad daylight; two other life-boats,
in one of which we were saved,which would carry safely twenty-
five lima each, a mail beat, pinnace, and cutter twenty men
each, a gig fifteen men, and the dingy. Seven of these at
least, and perhaps the gig if well managed, would have lived
through that night if proper crews had been appropriated to
each so as to lower and take charge of them ; yet of all these,
as far as I can judge, only one survived the wreck.
Though I know little or nothing of nautical affairs, I can-
not help thinking that the two best lifeboats might have '
been sufficiently secured and more available when wanted.
Of the origin of the fire I can say but little. There was a
number of new coal sacks very much tarred lying between
the steam chest and the oil store, above the grated pathway
over the coals; but at half-past twelve I stood opposite to
this, and all was safe, and at that time the engines were
quite cool.
No blame can attach to the engineers, who were particu-
larly attentive, and Mr. Angus, the chief engineer, was
almost constantly on duty. All the lights abaft the en-
gine-room were out when I retired to rest, and I had bid
good night to the officers of the watch and several of the
men on deck when I went below, at half-past twelve.
The fire first appeared coining up the fore hatchway, and
within two minutes of the first cry, before the bell was
sounded (for I was wide awake), I saw the fire rushing up
the main engine hatchway.
When on deck the second time I had intended to leap
overboard and swim to the first boat that got clear
of the ship, and I stood there for a short tima before
turning to the life-boat in which I escaped, and had there-
fore au opportunity of watching the heroic conduct of Cap-
tain Symons and several of his officers and men in attempt-
ing to suppress the flames, in which, if human exertions could
have availed anything, he would have succeeded.
Fate, however, had decreed otherwise, and unless the other
life-boat was got away, or the gig escaped, I have too much
reason to fear that our party of twenty-one who were landed
at Plymouth on Tuesday morning, are all that are left of
those who had sailed from England on Friday afternoon in
the ill-fated Amazon.—l am Sir, your obedient servant,
Halewood, Jan. 8. ROBE= NEILSON.