LOSS OF THE AMAZON. FURTHER PARTICULARS. [From the Bristol Mercury, Jan. 17.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 719, 23 June 1852, Page 4

LOSS OF THE AMAZON. FURTHER PARTICULARS. [From the Bristol Mercury, Jan. 17.]

Mr, Glennie, one of the passengers by the Amazon, and cne of the party who were saved

by the Gertruida, and carried Into Brest, and who arrived in London late on Saturday night, has addressed a. letter to the Morning Chronicle, from which the following is an extract : — . " I was the last person, I should think., to arrive on deck. At that time tbey were attempting to lowersome of the starboard boats, and some of the larboard, I fancy, were already in the | water.- I remained for some time looking round and seeing boats lowered from both sides in th c greatest confusion. Just then I saw the onl y remaining boat, except the two life-boats reported to be burning, being lowered. I heaved a rope over and slid down by it, with the intention of dropping into the boat as" she cleared away from the vessel. I did not succeed in this attempt, and fell into the water. Happily the next wave brought her within reach of my arm, and I got'in. As- the steamer, at ibis time, was proceeding before the wind very rapidly, we wjere immediately swept behind. At the time I slipped down the captain and another man were •at the wheel, and I saw Mr. Warburton, with whom I was acquainted, but whom I had not perceived Before, completely dressed and walking quickly towards tbe starboard life-boat. In. two or three minutes from the time 1 reached the boat I again looked at the wreck ; I- saw the captain and man still at the wheel, and Mr. Warburton had returned and was standing beside them, That was the last I saw of them. From my own observation, and information that I collected from those who effected their escape in the same boat with myself, it appears beyond a goubt that, besides the three boats already saved, other three got well off from the vessel. Their several crews would probably act as we did, viz , run before the wind: but perhaps they would not observe that at about three o'clock in the morning the wind got round to the north. In this case the said boals running always before the wind, would be driven to tbe south-ward, and if not picked up by some vessel would in all probability make the' north coast of Spain. It also appeared to me that the captain and others left on deck were collecting materials for making a raft, or had devised some plan for their escape, should the starboard life-boat not be available." A painfully interesting account, in connexion with this sad occurrence, was given in the Times of Saturday, from the pen of Mr. Neilson, one of those who fortunately escaped from the burning of the Amazon. 'He says — " Between eight and nine o'clock I was walking the deck with Mr. Best, of Baibadoes, speaking of the state oHhe engines, on which they were then pumping. 1 You appear very anxious about those engines,' said he ;' is there any danger 1 ' ' None,' said I, ' as long as there is plenty of sea-room ; but with our engines stopped, on a lee shore, 1 would not give much for our chance of escape ia such a night as we are likely to have from the appearance of the weather.' ' I hope, 1 said he, * there is iro chance of fire, as we should have two elements to contend with.' ' I hope not,' I replied, • for we should have three, as it is evidently gaing to blow a gale, and we must then look to the fourth for our refuge.- 1 ' God forbid ! ' said he, ' three to one are fearful odds. Good night ; ' and he went below. I thpn proceeded to tbe engine-room, and found tbe bearings very hot. I mentioned to one of the engineers my apprehension for the night, and recommended to slacken speed. While we were yet speaking tbe bearings became so hot that tbe contents of the grease-cup burst off like so much steam. Mr. Angus, the chief .engineer, who had been most constant in his attentions, was immediately on the spot, stopped the engines, slacked the caps, and applied the pumps for two hours before we could proceed. I had several times during the day conversed with Mr. Angus on the siqte of the engines, which he told me he did not expect would get settled to their bearings ior at least a week. At about half past eleven the engines were again put about, and I went on deck and joined Captain Symons, who stated his apprehension of a heavy gale before morning, when be expected rain and a change of wind to the northward.- -We conversed till midnight, when he went below. *I felt anxious about. the state of the engines, and walked the deck until halfpast twelve, when I again w x ent to the engineroom, leaving Mr. Vincent, midshipman of tbe watch, on deck. The engines were then going three quarters' speed, and the engineer in attendance, putting his hand on the bearings, told me all was going quite comfortable, and I retired to rest. I had not. been in bed for five minutes when first I heard the alarm-bell and cries of 'fire,! which were accompanied by the shrieks of several female cabin passengers, and rushing from my herth I saw the sparks and flames ascending tbe iriajn hatchway above the engines, and many of the passengers hurrying on deck in their night-clothes." Mr. Neilson having assisted in the lowering some of the boats, betook himself to the last by jumping from the vessel. He proceeds — " From a moment of deep and heartfelt gratitude to Providence wewere roused by the cries of our drowning fellow-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 oars that bad been thrown into the boat we 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** • • • • ••Behind us the burning ship shed a light which illumined tbe sky and sea for miles round. Before us the sky and sea seemed to meet in one dark and undistinguishable 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 reflecting the light of the burning ship behind us. During this time we were drifting towards the ship, which was burning broadside on to tbe wind? The mainmast went first, and then the * foremast, and a considerable time elapsed before her mizenmast went; directly after which I noticed a slight explosion of gunpowder* • ••••• »We accordingly put the boat's bead doivn to the wind, and pulled away astern of tbe burning ship. Her chimneys were red hot, and as we 'crossed her stern at the distance of about half a mile her magazine exploded, discharging a considerable number of rockets, and in -about half an hour after her funnel went over her side, she sank beneath the waves, and the red lurid light which for the last five hours had illumined the dreary expanse of ocean, and formed the strong ground of hope for the attraction of succour, was' succeeded by a gloomy

darkness One of tbe passengers, Mr. Allen, of the ' West* Indies, was observed pacing the deck with his hands in the altitude of prayer,"patiently waiting the inevitable fate from which he knew there was no escape. A gentleman and- lady, in their night-dresses only, both on fire, came on deck, and with their arras round each other walked over to one of the ships' hatches, and fell together into the flames. After getting possession .of the life-boat no rowlocks could be found ; but Mr. Vincent, the young midshipman, who retained his self-possession throughout, coolly took,, a spar, and with his knife soon cut sufficient for their purpose."

Southampton, Jan, 13 — This morning, soon after eleven o'clock, the Grand Turk steamer, arrived from Havre, with 18 of the crew and two ladies — Miss Smith and Mrs. Maclennan and child — who after leaving the wreck of the Amazon. had been picked up at sea and conveyed \o Brest, There was a very large concourse of people' assembled in the docks to witness their landing, and on their coming o.n shore the excitement was immense, the relatives and friends crowding rowid and clinging to them with the greatest affection, and it was with difficulty that some could escape from the crowd that surrounded them. The ladies appeared much depressed and weather-bea-ten;.but, considering what they had endured, were better than might have b.een expected. Mr. 1 Allen, ihe foreman of the engineers at Messrs. Seaward's^who fitted the machinery to the Amazon, and went out in her to render assistance, should it be required, has made a statement, feut it is shorn of interest by that of Miss Smith, which we subjoin :—: — Miss Ann Maria Smith, of 9, Dawson-street, Dublin, states — "As near as I can recollect, it was half-past twelve o'clock on Sunday morning when I first heard the alarm of fire. I was in my berth. • I hastily jumped out of it, and ran to the seats at the foot of the companion stairs, and went forward to a gentleman and asked him if he knew the cause of the alarm. He told me that the ship was on fire, but that there was not the least occasion for alarm, and advised me to return to my berth to dress. On refusing, he carried me to my berth, and called the stewardess to attend me ; she came out of her room quite dressed, but being much frightened, she went forward without assisting me. Being alarmed at | seeing so much in others, I immediately took up a blanket and two petticoats and rushed up the companion stairs aft. The flames at that time were rushing through the after bulk head. I stopped for a moment to observe if there was any chance of the fire being extinguished, and observed Capt. Symonds undressed with a bucket in his hand, surrounded by his officers. Everything then was much confused, consequent upon the fire breaking out so suddenly. I immediately ran aft towards the wheel, where I saw a gentleman standing undressed, whom I believe to be Mr. Warburton. I went towards the side of the ship and seised arope, and on looking Tounrl I saw an officer running towards me in flames. He threw himself down, and rolled over towards me, with the endeavour, no doubt, to extinguish the fire. I then asked Mrs. Scott, the stewardess, who was close behind me, if there was any place I could put my foot on outside? Mrs. Scott said, ' Oh yes ; there !' and ran to the other side, crying ' Save me ! save me !' Observing a boat alongside, I swung out, holding by the rope for some time, the boat under me having capsized twice. At last, seeing a favourable opportunity, as the boat righted, and was again under me, I let go my hold and dropped into the boat, a sailor at the same time endeavouring *to catch me ; the fall was at least 15 feet. I was not much hurt. I fell into the bottom of the boat. I found there I a M. Jean Strylus, a Belgian, and one sailor. The former told me he was the only one saved when the boat capsized the second time. Four other sailors soon after reached the boat, and got in, but by what means 1 cannot tell, as I was so much exhausted. One of them called out, 'cut the rope, or we shall be lost.' It was quickly done by one of the parties in the boat. It immediately drifted astern, when soon after we observed a person in the water supporting himself upon two oars. The sailors rowed towards him, and fortunately -succeeded in getting him in ; it proved to be Mr. Evans. This was no sooner done than we saw another, and every human effort was made to save him, but just as we got within a length the poor creature sank. One of the men, Attwood, a very humane man, seemed most anxious- to approach the ship to do all he could to save more lives. Some objected, fearing the steamer's magazines would explode, and then all might be lost. We remained, however, within a short distance of the burning ship, in the hope of saving others, for, 1 should think, two hours, and although wo could distinctly observe the poor creatures huddled together aft, and many on the bows and bowsprit, we did not perceive any in the water. By this time the engines had ceased." When all hope was gone, the men prepared to pull towards land, if possible. There were, I think, five oars on bodrJ. We finally lost sight of the ship about 4 o'clock. I lay in the bottom of the boat in my night dress, covered with the blanket which I flung into the bqat previous to lowering myself; but hearing the men say a sail would be serviceable, I immediately volunteered to give it up, which was gladly accepted, and at once formed into a sail and hoisted. The Belgian, who was sitting forward, then offered me a part of his cloak, and two of the sailors carried me aft for .that purpose. During the whole of this night one of the sailors steered, as the sea wns running very high. In the morning, as we had but five hands, M. Strylus was requested to row, but he could not from weakness. I then proposed his taking the helm, and as 1 can speak French the orders were given by the men to me in English, and transferred in French to M. Strylus, to enable him to steer as they wished. About nine o'clock we discovered, to our great joy, a"sail, and immediately the men pulled with redoubled vigour towards" her. She, however, appeared not tD see us, and kept her course. The sea was tolerably calm on the Sonday, and the men continued to pu.ll towards the east, thereby hoping to reach the French coast. About eleven or twelve the same night the men observed -a brilliant revolving light and pulled towards it for six hours, but as the sea was increasing in violence, they feared to approach neareT; on account of the cross swells. By this time the poor fellows were completely exhausted, and nature could hold out no longer. .Seeing the condition we were in^ M. Strylus said lo me,

' you have- roused their energies on two occasions, try again.' I- then cheered them on, but as their hands*were almost scarified from laborious exertions, it was almost impossible to do so. They, however, used another effort, lmd soon afterwards we observed another light, in another direction ; we did not know what it was, but the men at once resolved to make a last push, and shortly afterwards their exertions were rewarded by reaching a Dutch galliot, the captain of which, who had previously fallen in with the other boat, kindly took us aboard, and at once made for Brest, where we arrived at 4 o'clock on Monday. Altogether we were thirty hours in the small boat, during the whole of which anxious time theie was nothing either to eat or drink-; but, notwithstanding, the gallant fejlows who had so laboriously exerted themselves to save our lives uttered not a murmur ;, they were all most kind and attentive to me throughout this drying and distressing scene, but the fireman, Attwood, particularlyso, he kindly bound up my feet in handkerchiefs and placed something round my head, to protect me as far-as he was able from the inclemency of the weather. Mr. Gould, who was saved in* the first boat, was-also very kind and .attentive to me after we bad got on board the galliot. Our obligation to the family of the consul at Brest, and many other ladies, are great indeed. Immediately it was known we were on board, clothing and every necessary was sent off iv, abundance, and after we had somewhat reco%*ered from exhaustion we were landed, and I and Mrs. Maclennan and child taken to the consul's house, where we were most hospitably received and attended to until our departure for Morlaix."

Thirteen More of the Passengers and Crew Saved. — It is with unfeigned pleasure we are enabled to communicate to our readers tbe fact that another boat of this ill-fated ship has been picked up, having on board nine of the crew and four of the passengers ; among the latter was, we are bappy to state, Mr. P. Kilkelly, one of the two agents of the firm of Gibbs, Bright, &f Co., of this city, who were on board at the time of the dr.eadful occurrence. The intelligence was received at the counter of Mr. Kilkelly's employers yesterday- morning, by a special parcel despatched from the electric telegraph office at Exeter, where it was received by electric telegraph from Plymouth. Besides Mr. Kilkelly, the Rev. Mr. Blood was among the saved, as also a foreigner, who is only described as having " a long foreign name." Immediately upon receipt of the message Messrs. Gibbs and Bright despatched a clerk to Plymouth to see their agent ; as he was about leaving the Bris-tol-station he had the satisfaction of seeing a letter in tbe possession .of the guard in Mr. Kilkelly's handwriting, and addiessed (to be forwarded at the earliest moment) to his brother in Barbadoes. We have since received the following as the names of the rescued :-•— Tbe Rev. William Blood, Mr. Kilkelly, Lieutenant Grylls, Senhor Juan de Cima, passengers ; Wm. Angus, second engineer ; Isaac Roberts, boiler maker ; M. Fox, Fireman ; Angus M/Innes, engineej's storekeeper; -C. Dewdney.W. WaH"stokers ; G. Webb, H. Wright, seamen ; R. Harris, doctor's . boy. • The statements made by the rescued parties agree with those already made as to tbe suddenness of the alarm and the rapidity with which the flames spread. The Rev. Mr. -Blood, from some cause which he could not explain, bad been idduced to* lie down- in his clothes, so that as soon as the alarm reached him he was on the deck. Mr. Kilkelly had time to partially dress himself, but others were less fortunate : and Senhor Juan de Cima bad to make.his Escape with nothing on but bis night clothes. Most of the men slid down the vessel's side by means of the ropes, and so got into the boat ; but Angus, who was the last to escape from the burning ship, had to jump a distance of twenty-five feet, and the violence of his descent occasioned him s.evere injury. The boat in which the escape was made was injured in lowering,, a hole being knocked in her ; but a seaman named Webb, who behaved -throughout with great heroism, pulled off his drawers and stockings, rolled them tightly together, and, forcing them into the aperture, made her, to some small extent, seaworthy. She made water, however, very fast, and but for the fortunate circumstance that someof her water-buckets were on hoard must have sunk. Even those vessels, incessantly applied, were found insufficient to keep her afloat, and Mr. Kilkelly and others were obliged to' employ their boots and shoes in bailing out tbe water. They describe the burning of the ship and blowing up of her magazine, which they witnessed from a distance, as having been an indescribably awful scene. At about three o'clock in the day they saw a vessel, which they hailed and signalled in tbe hope of arresting the attention of those on board, but they presume that they were not seen, as the ship held on her course. As they bad no food of any kind, and were ohliged to labour uninterruptedly in bailing out the water which the boat was making, they became faint and exhausted, and many of them were despairing of succour, when at the end of 15 hours they saw a Dutch galliot. They hailed her, were recognised, and she bore down upon and took them on board. Her master is spoken of by them as acting with great kindness and humanity. Happily for them they experienced while in the boar, comparatively tranquil weather ; had there been any elementary strife at work their -boat, in her leaky state, conld not have survived, and they must have gone to the bottom. After they hadboarded the Dutch vessel the weather underwent a change. For eight days they experienced, more or less, heavy gales, which retarded the progress of the galliot, which was outward bound, and much distressed them. At length, by undertaking to indemnify the captain to the extent of £60 (the estimate cf his freight losses), and to bear him harmless of tbe port charges, they induced him to rpverse his intentions, and make for an English port, which be at length happily reached. When they landed at Plymouth the survivors presented a haggard and careworn "appearance, their beards-, were long and" neglected, - and what articles of clothing they had were sadly torn and tattered. They are of opinion that there may be another boat, as they heard voices in the night, although -they could not descry «the vessel from which they proceeded.