The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-31
Particulars Of the Loss Of the Amazon.
From the London Times, of the 18th inst we
have the following particulars of

painful duty to record this day the total loss o.
the Amazon. II is scarcely necessary to sa,
that this noble vessel was one Of the West Indis
Steam Packet Company's squadron. She haC
sailed from Southampton on the afternoon O.
Friday last the I'd of January. BY midnight or
Saturday size had got well clear Of the Scily
Islands, and had made about 10 miles in w
S.W. course from this point. At 30 minutes
before one on Sunday morning, the alarm of fire
was given. In few minutes the flames had
burst up the fore and main hatehways, and had
spread like wildiire along the decks There
was heavy sea on at the time, and the wind is
described as allowing half gale" from the
southwest The alarm bell was instantly rung
and the crew and passengers-as many of them
as were not sutfocated by the smoke in their
berths-rushed upon deck. From the accounts
we have received it would appear that Captain
Symons was at his post, and used his utmost
endeayors to direct the efforts of the crew
Alright. The attempt, of coursa, was at first to
extingnish the flames. The progress of the
destructive element was, however, so rapid as to
set all human struggles at defiance. The en-.
gne-room was untenable, and the hose could not
be brought to act. Something, indeed, appears
TO have been done in the way of heaving over
board stock Of hay, but the task was simply
HopciNoo loub viz SOIuIlitiCetleUL. ne Tragedy
then in progress was to begin and end in the
space of twenty minutes.
AS soon as the officers were convinced that
the fire had decisively gained the mastery, their
next effort was to get the boats cleared away.
From the information we have received il would
seem that there was sufhciency of boats--of
which, it is said, three We're life boats-on board
the Amazon when the conhagraiion broke out.
Co uld they have been lowered in safety, there
would have been ample accommodation for all
persons on board So happy result was not
obtained. la the midst of the confusion that
prevailed, and of the wild terror of the passen-
gers--Wlth raging sea and a gale of wind
order and unity of action We're no doubt lost
There appears to have been the greatest difficulty
in getting the boats clear of the ship; the time
allowed Tor the necessary arrangements was in.
finitey small. Whatever may have been the
cause, only one life. boat was available. At one
o'clock-Just twenty minutes after the fire broke
out-three boats had got clear of the burning
vessel. One Of these was almost instantly found
to be useless; but the persons in her were
picked Up by one Of the other boats--a Green's
,lfe.boat. II is from those who escaped in the
boat last mentioned that we have received the
tidings which we publish this day. Nothing is
known OF the fate of the remaining boat The
survivors and spectators of the scene consider it
most improbable that she could live long, in SO
stormy Il sea. Be this rs it may, at one o'clock
ON Sunday morning-just twenty minutes after
the fire had broken out-no man could remain
on the deck of the Amazon and live. Her mag.
lzine afterwards exploded, and by half.past 5
o'clock in the morning there was no vestige left
Of this noble ship.
The survivors in the life boat were picked up
he same day-Sunday-by homeward bound
brig, the Marsden, and brought into Plymouth
Enormous as the loss of property must inevita-
bly, be, the most di NAL portion of the story yet
remains untold We said there were 81 persons
saved in the life boat when the Amazon left
southampton. she bad on board 1876 men, wo
men, and children. The only hope of salvation,
md that only for few others, lies in the bare
that the gig has outlived the fury of
he gale, and that the persons on board Of her
may have been picked up by some passing ship.
We would not harrow up the feelings of those
who may have lost friends and relative on board
This Inflated vessel by dwelling upon the sad
particulars ofthe calamity. Nor is il justiiable
IN the absence of positive evidence or strong
to attach blame either to the own.
ers, the officers, or the crew. The full compile.
ment of boats appears to have been on board
Ii these were not lowered in safety, we are bound
10 take into account the wild confusion of the
moment and the impossibility of command
pr obedience. We regret 10 say that we
have it not in our power to give any intelli
gence OF the fate Of Captain Symons lie was
we'll known in the service as an officer of
skill and man Of the most unbend
ng resolution. lie Is the same Captain Symons
whose name was so recently before the public
n connexion with the troubles at Chagres By
lis energetic conduct there, this unfortunate
Gentleman succeeded in preventing a conflict
which must have been attended with much
Dloodshed and slaughter. We mention the fact |
n justice to Captain Symons' character, IL he be
yet alive, or TO his memory, If he has gone down
with the wreck of the Amazon.
IL may also be n satisfaction to the friends of
those unfortunate persons who persisted by so
amentable a death, TO know that imbecility or
neglect had no share in producing the sad catas.
rophe. As to its origin, all that is known is.
hat the fire broke out forward under the galley.
The survivors state that the usual rounds had
been made for the purpose Of ascertaining that
III lights had been duly extinguished. This.
however, is point which needs inve ,tigation. |
The loss Of such a ship is a national calamity,
Of the suffering il necessarily en-.
ails upon SO many families and individuals. She |
lad been freshly built and this was her first voy.
ge. This circumstance is said to have greatly |
dded 10 the facility with which the flames seized
ipon the timber Of the vessel She had, Of course.
,een constructed Of well.seasoned wood, which |
I'D mol, as yet imbibed any degree Of humidity |
~ exposure to the sea and to the weather. FL
would be needless for us TO point out TO general
Indignation the conduct Of the captain Of an ont |
ward bound bark, which passed close TO the blaz
ng wreck without making an effort 10 rescue
Multitude Of his fellow creatures from one OF |
wo agonizng deaths.
The officers, crew, and engine people, on board |
he Amazon numbered ll3 men and there were
- passengers. OF these, officer, 40 seamen.
nd 8 passengers, were the only persons rescued
Total number lost, Il3.
Oae Of the fremen saved. endeavors TO &C
cunt for tie origin Of the fire from the over
eating of the cranks and other portions of the
machinery, which IL was found necessary 10 play
pom with water frequently; but al the time the
re was discovered period of six or seven
ours bad elapsed without it, being cooled. lie
nagines that the great heat Of the same and the
oilers, ignited the felt and wood around the
iean-chest, and thus spread.
sC a