The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-03-04

left life-belt in my cabin, which Nigh
perhaps recover il had yet time. | look
ed toward the flames, which we're risin,
from the main and fore ha.chways in .
bright mass as TO convey the impression
that the fire had originated in or near lh
oil store-room, and that there might b
time to regain my cabin, which succeed
ed in doing, though tho windows were snnr
lping right and left with the heat Of tn
flames.
could not al first lay my hand on tn
belt, il being dark jus, as had found j.
tremendous crash Of the glass pannels O
the division at the end Of the cabins an
nounced the approach Of the fire aft.
| Ga leaving my cabin to regain the deck
several Of the cabin passengers, appalled,
at the approach Of the fire, dared not al
tempt the approach Of the companion
stairs; | urged them forward in vain, ant
drawing long breath, ! gained the uppe
deck unhurt.
No description could convey any ade
quate impression Of the scene which iher,
presented itself. With the exception 9th,
.iiicers and men Of the night. watch, wa
the only one even partially clothed.
Whatever human exertions could effec
was attempted by Captain S,mons, regard
less Of himself, TO induce the assistance o
others to extinguish the flames; but in vain
for so rapid was their progress that al
communication, fore rnd aft, was already
o5structed. The last order ! heard him
give was, 'For Gods sake, Mr. Robert.
pu, her before the wind"
This Mr. Roberts Immediately attempt
ed, and young Vincent, who was Iowerin.
!own the dingy, jumped to the helm ana
pat it hard UP, until the ship paid oft.
10 the meantime the astermost boat on
the port side Il think the mail boat) was
lowered down, with probably twenty five
people in her; but the moment she touched
The water she swamped, and all hands thai
we're in her drif,ed astern, all cinging TO-
geiher with dreadful shrieks.
The next boat forward (the pinnace) was
slso lowered fu!l, but by some accident the
,fier tacklc alone got unheoked, and she
was dragged forward BY the fore tackle
with such rapidity that the sea swep'
round her sides, aud wa>hed every soul ou
If her.
The next boat on the same side was a
No. . boat, at which observed severn
hands trying to get her into the water
while the fire wns rapidly coming aft, and
On the platform Of the paddle box wns q
Whites lifc.bosf so secured as 10 render il
almos, impossible under such crcumstan
ces 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 siarbonrd Q de
rhc aitermost boa, (which think was the
gie) was lowered only half full and go'
away. A second cutter was lowering full
Of people. ln,he mex, boat "a Green's life.
boai) were abou; IL Of the crew, most OF
them dressed. trying to get her launched
which, however, they could not effect owing
10 her keel being sockcted in the keel
crane, which projected from tho ships side
NV first intention on coming on deck In
my life belt, and seeing the confusion that
prevailed, was to wait until n boat had got
cienr and then jump overheard and swim TO
liz; bnt, on observing the GOODNESS with
which the men in the li(e-boat were work
ling, ] determined to share their fate, and
accordingly got into the boat TO assist in
launching her. Our united efforts proved
Intellectual; the fro had reached the COM
panon, when one Of the men, seizing my
arm, said, slump on deck and huui away
that tackle fall" We both did SO ai the al.
ter tackle, two other men being at the fore
tackle. We raised the boat, with the men
| in her, out Of the grippe of the crane, and
one Of the men lousing the bolt, ] got over
the ships side and showed the crane in, and
The boat began to lower.
At this time the second cniter had reach.
ed the water, when sea struck her bow,
and as the ship rose from the swell Of the
waves she lifted the boat perpendlcularly
by her stern tackle and discharged oil the
unfortunate inmates but two, who hung,
shrieking, across the thwarts.
The flames wero now rushing up the
compsnion with such fury that thcy caugh,
the two men who were lowering the fore
tackle of our e-boat. and burnt the hair
off the face Of one Of them, who immediate
lly Jumped into the boni, followed by the
man al the after-tackle. sprang from the
side, and sld down the tackle into the boa.
as she reached the water, and as the other
man at the foro-tackle did the same, J gave
the word to put away. "Hold hardy! said
one Of the sailors, who had far more pres
ence OF mind. "Fend her off! five drift
under the cutter she'll stave through us.
Now Gu, away" said he, and we drlted
clenr, the doomed ship rushed mndly for,
ward, the sport of the combined fury Of
three elements, so sadly alluded 10 in my
remarks TO Mr.. Best. But far above the
roaring crash Of wind aud wave an fire
rang the sbrieks ofthe helpless sufferers on
board the ill-fated Amazon.
From moment Of deep and heartfelt
gratitude to Providence, We were reused
by the cries Of our drowning fellow crca
lures around us, to whom, alas! VIC could
render no instant assistance, for the oars
were lashcd midshps, and the rudder was
slowed away. Oftwo loose oars tina, had
been thrown into the boat, we pushed one
to poor creature who was within five
yard of us, but The shril bubbling cry,
which accompanied his effort 10 reach il