Part of the
Acorn Archive
Hearts of Oak
SS Amazon
Destruction of
the Steamship by Fire
with Great
Loss of Life
The Times 6th January 1852
It becomes our painful duty to report the particulars of
a most appalling accident. The new Royal Mail steam ship AMAZON, Captain
Symons, which left Southampton on Friday for the West Indies and the Gulf of
Mexico, has been totally consumed by fire, and of 153 persons who were on board
her when she left it is feared only 21 have been saved.
The Amazon left Southampton at half-past 3 o clock on
Friday afternoon, and in the Channel experienced strong head winds and rain. At
a quarter before 1 on Sunday morning, when the ship was about 110 miles
west-south-west of Scilly, a fire broke out suddenly, forward on the starboard
side, between the steam chest and the under part of the galley, and shortly
after the flames rushed up the gangway which is in front of the foremost
funnel. The alarm bell was rung, and Captain Symons rushed on deck in his shirt
and trousers. Wet swabs and other loose tilings were placed on the gratings of
the spar deck hatch, and a hose was brought to play on the main deck, but
quickly abandoned in consequence of the excessive heat. The dock pump was also
kept at work until the men were forced to retire. The wind was blowing half a
gale from south-west, and the vessel was going 8.5 knots, which was her average
rate from the time of departure. Captain Symons ordered some hay, between the
engine-room crank gratings, to be thrown overboard; two trusses were hove over
the ship's side, but the fire soon ignited the main body, the hencoops on each
side, and the paddleboxes, the men were obliged to abandon the deck, and those
who could leave were all finally driven from the ship. Many were burnt in their
berths, others suffocated, and a great number were drowned in the lowering of
the boats.
The secretary of the company has informed us that the
crew and engine people on board the Amazon were about 112 in number, and that
there were 50 passengers on board. He has also supplied us with the following
list of the ship's officers, who are missing :—Captain Symons; Mr. Roberts,
chief officer; Mr. Treweeke, second officer ; Mr. Lewis, third officer ; Mr.
Goodridge, fourth officer; Mr, Stuart, midshipman ; Mr. Stainforth, midshipman;
Mr. Angus, chief engineer ; Mr. Angus, jun., second engineer.
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