The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-02-25
DESTRUCTION OF THE AMAZON.
Narrative of a Survivor.

/.
zon, has addressed letter, giving the fullest {
connected account of the calamity yet publish. {
ed to the editor of the London Times. We copy
the essential parts Of it
The wind was right ahead, but she proceeded
steadily on till about O'Clock, when the bear
ings of the cranks of the paddle shift became
so hot that she was stopped, until by pumping
water upon them for an hour she was enabled to
proceed.
This operation was repeated during the night
and following morning, and on Saturday, ut II
Of clock, our position was lat 40 II, long. t. 81.
Toward evening the wind increased, still ahead
our course west and by south halt-souih.
Between 5 and o'clock | was walking the
deck with Mr. Best Of Barbadnes, speaking of
the state OF engines, on which they were then
pumping.
"You appear very anxious about these en-
gincs, said he, sis there any danger. -
s.None,, said !, ''as long there is plenty OF
sra-room but, with our engines slapped on
lee shore, Il would not give much for our chance
of escape in such night as we likely to
have from the appearance of the weather., 81
hope said he, isthere is no chance OF FIRE, as
we should have two elements to contend with.
~ hope not | replied, s'tor should have |
three, as it is evidently going to blow a gale,
and we must then look to the fourth for our re.
tuce.'
.sGod forbid - said he, .sthree to one are fear
full odds Good night and he went below
then proceeded TO the engine room, and found
the bearings very hot. mentioned to one off
the engineers my apprehensions for the night
| and recommended to slacken speed; while we
were yet speaking, the bearings became so hot
that the cont nts of the grease cup burst Oft like
80 much steam.
Mr. Angus the chief engineer, who had been
most constant in his attentions, was immediate
| ~ IA the spot, stopped the engines, Stacked the
caps, and applied the pumps OR two hours be-
fore We could proceed had several times du-
ring the day convcrsed with Mr. Angus on the
state OF the engines, which, he told me, he did
not expect would get settled to their bearings
for at least week.
From the necessity of keeping the bearings
constantly lubricuted a very large vessel Of
grease stood at the door Of the storeroom, which
was under the gally At about Ii J, the engines
were again PIT about, and went on deck and
Joined Captain Synons, who stated his appre-
henSion of heavy gale before morning, when
he expected rain and change of wind to the
northward. We conversed till midnight, when
he went below
Being rialy conversant with machinery, |
felt anxious about the stnte of the engines, and
walked the deck until I2I, when | again went
= to the engnt-room, leaving MIR Vincent, mid
shipman of the watch, on deck.
The engines were tn n going at three quarters
speed, and the engineer in attendance, putting
his hand the bearings, told me all was gong
!, on comfortable, and | accordingly retired To
rest.
About 10 minutes after | had left the deck
Mr. Vincent proceeded below to set the time by
the captains directions, when he perceived
smoke and fire coming up the toreha'chway
past the ships galley He Immediately gave
the alarm 10 the officer of the watch, and RAJ
afte: to inform the captain, who instantly came
on deck and directed his whole energies to the
suppression Of the fire.
t had not been in bed for five minutes wher
g | first heard the alarm bell, and the cries o
Fire which were accompanied by the Shrek
IF several female passengers, and rushing from
( my berth saw the sparks ard flames asc end
d ing the main hatchway above the engines, ans
s. many Of the passengers hurrylng on deck il
:, | their nj gh'- cluthrs
: | retired to my cabin and put on part of m
T clothes, when the increasing confusion warne
IF me to lose no time reaching the deck
h The first person | saw reaching The dec
was Mr. lurnett, of Trinidad, standing in hi
10 night SHIRT, with, buoy round him. whc
ut brought to my mind that had left life belt j
ii nv catt;;ll, which might perhaps recover if
:, had yet time ! looked to;"ard the flame:
which were rising from the main x iGre hatch
- ways in so bright to convey the in
ID preston that the fire had originated in or nea
Id the oil store-room and that there might b
r. time to regain my cabin, which l succeeded
doing. though the windows were swapping rigl
III and left with the heat of the flames.
is could not at first lay my land on the belt,
a. being dark just as | had found it trelnen,
10 Gus crash of the glass pannels of the division
the end of the cabins announced the approac
" of the fire aft.
is On leaving my cabin to regain the deck, SCI
Ii eral Of the cabin passengers, appalled, at II
or approach of the companions stairs; | urged the
forward in vain, and drawInga long breath,
- gained the upper deck unhurt.
n No description could convey any adtqua
impression of the scene which there presente
itself With the exception of the officers az
~ men Of the nigh t-watch, was the only Oh
even partially clothed.
Whatever human exertion could effect WI
n attempted by Captain Symons, regardless
g himself, 10 induce the assistance of others
eli cxtinguish the flames, but in vain, for so rap
IS was their progress that all communication f.,
nd and after, already INSTRUCTED The la
IN order heard him give was, "For Gods SAX
all Mr. r berts, put her before the wind -
le- This Mr. Roberts immedatly attemted, a,
st, young Vincent, who was lowering down Il
VIC dngy, jumped to the helm and put it hard Il
IRIS until the ship paid off.
uk La th' meantime the aftermost b ,at on Il
on port side q think the mail boar was lower
lat down, with probably twenty-five people in he
,er but the moment she touched the mater 81
to swamped, and all hands that were in her drift
es' asternl, all clngng together with dreadf
les shricks.
Ter The next boat forward (the pinnace) was al
in lowered full, but by some accident tue aft
nix tackle alone rot unlocked, and she was dra
red forw ard by the fore tackle with such rapi
nd i.y that The swept round her sldes' a
,ar washed every soul out Of her.
BY The next boat on the same de was No
in lif. sat, at which observed several hands tr
in ing to get her into the water while the fire W
he rapidly coming after, and on the platform Of I
N. paddle box was a Whites life-b boat SO sccuf
n. as to render it almost impossible under such C
m cuns'ances to get her loose. In the meantir
IN Mr. Vincent, with three of The crew and o
re. passenger, had got into the dingy, which "
of hanging over the stern. A number Of bo;
20. were on the starboard side. The after M
Oh boat (Which think the gig) was lower
80 only half full, and rot away. A second cut
as was lowering foil Of people. In the next be
ga "a Green 5 lite-boat) were about ~ OF the Gre
ba most of them dressed, trying to get her !aunC
~ ed, which, however, they could not eff CT, o
in ing to her keel being socketed in the k.
we crane, which projt cted from the ships side
My first intention on coming on deck in II
r lie belt, and eng the Confusion that prevl
In. ed, was 10 wait until boat hid GO clear a
ira then jump overheard and swan t. it; huf,
49,, observing the GOODNESS with mh,cn the ,nen
h., the llf'a-b at were working, | determined
- share their fIte and accordingly got into {
boat t. assist in launching her. Our united
forts proved inetf~c'ull; the fire had reach
ief the conpan on, when one OF the men, seizi
his my arm, sad, ssJunp on Eek and haul aw
or that tackle fall We both did S, at the at