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

LOSS OF THE AMAZON.

OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION BY THE DIRECTORS-

EXAMINATION OF THE SURVIVORS.

SOUidAMP lON, TIIURSDAY EVENING, 7 o'Cnocx
The painful sensation which has been produced at this
port by the melancholy intelligence of the destruction of
the Royal Mail Company's steam-ship Amazon, attended
with so fearful a loss of lite, was in some degree alle-
viated by the 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 ship, who were at first supposed to have met with
a watery grave in their attempts to escape from the
conflegration. Great anxiety is still felt to have these
welcome tidings confirmed by the publication of a list of
the names of the feriunete passengers and seamen in
quesiion, together with the narrative of the circumstances
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, es, near the
Esplanade, for the purpose of instituting an inquiryinto
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, the
deputy-chairman; Captain Nelson, one of the Elder
Brethren of the Trinity; Mr. Masterman and Colonel
Short, directors; Captain Corrie, R.N., the Admiralty,
Invpector of the Mail Service of the Port; Captain Chap-
ple, R N., the manager of the company ; Captain Barton,
R.N. Captain Rivett 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 bad met with. They were desirous
that the public should be put in possession of all the facts
that could be gleaned. That portion of the crow who bad
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 catastrophe.
The investigation then proceeded. 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. He noticed
flakes of fire dropping like as if from the loss of the
boilers. He procured 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; not
a light was left in the place, and ho 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, pulling 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 fire gradually
extended over the ship, and he escaped by getting into
the second boat (life-boat on starboard quarter).
Notburn was questioned as to the iron crane orcrutches,
on which the keels of the steamer's boats rested, and
whether as fitted they were as easily to be 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. He then
went up and got through the gratings to the spar deck,
where he saw the captain, who directed him to throw
overboard 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 herr' 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.
He said, about twenty minutes to one on Sunday
morning, he was aloft on the quarter deck of
of the Amazon. He was on watch with the second
office:, Mr. Sreweeke. The vessel was in lat. 49.12
N., long. 4.57 W., steering W. by S. half S.,
steaming about 8i 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 immech
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 fire-engine and buckets of water
were brought io 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 lowered; 25 peo-
ple got into her, all in confusion, bat 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 thee got the starboard-side 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 bad 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 were picked up by the Marsdens, of Cardiff. The
last time we 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 raw fire issuing up the fore-part of
the engine-room. Made for the saloon door, to unhook
soma of the fire-buckets. In doing so was nearly suffo-
cated, the smoke was tremendous. The first person he
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, " She 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 on the quarter-deck. Then made for
the dingy.
The Chairman inquired what time transpired from
the
period cf 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
wereai
nearly suffocated. In getting from the saloon he nearly
perished. It was
The any one to imegine the
difficulties they
The Chairman—What is your opinion as to the way
the boats were secured ? Steers thought that if they
had not had the cranss 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 male to the boats.
There were nine boats altogether. The flames played
round them. Many got into them before they were

lowered.
The Chairman asked him if he saw the barque ?
Steers said he did. They all vied 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
said he thought it possible.
Johnd Henry Pasamore, able seaman of the Amazon,
sai
that it was his watch on deer. His attention was
drawn to a man coming upthehatchway, calling out
calling
F ti
hr ee,
fifi
rree: 'b'eaund afterwards flames torushed up. He ran
drove him a, , and it. pt ringing it until the Names
paddle•box; there After four attempts, he got over the
tunnel with only ehissaw Captain Symonds by the after-
in tears, and tseharsrila_g•
trousers on; he was almost frantic,
his, hair. Heard him exclaim,
" She is lo:t!
life-boat. '"' Jost!' Witness then got into the
a li t e
John Neerink, a native
Hamburgh, who was on
watch at the time, and
cor-
roborative statements. They e otter survivors, gave cor-
generally in adverse
terms of the employment of eraPnaes‘l.rpstowing the boats.
The Chairman then called Air.
i, the superintend-
Lanswer
.to his
ent engineer of the company, wllion
which protected
distance
questions, said that round the funnels
protected the
about the decks was iron air casing
deck from the overheating of the tunnels.
Captain Wilson, of the company's ,h,_qp, 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 some delay in gettirg them out, but they
Were easily to be got off. They did not rt quire so
much gear.
Captain Rivett, of the Teviot, also spoke to the value
of the cranes. He should say that they could be got out
in three minutes; but he doubted whither a sail could be
got out to the windward.
Mr. Mills having expressed an opinion doubtful of the
steam-chest from the nature of it having 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 au
opinion at present on the unfortunate occurrence. It was
possible that others might be saved who would be ea-
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 them by the hand, and warmly L con-
gratulated them upon their meritorious conduct and
marvellous escape.