Part Two West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. Friday 9th January, 1852 DESTRUCTION OF THE STEAM SHIP "AMAZON." DREADFUL LOSS OF LIFE - 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 one hundred and fifty-nine souls on board her when she left, it is feared twenty-one only have been saved. The "Amazon" left Southampton at half-past three o'clock on Friday afternoon, and in the channel experienced strong head winds and rain. At a quarter before one on Sunday morning, when the ship was about 110 miles south-west of Scilly, a fire broke out suddenly forward on the starboard side, between the steam-chest and the upper part of the galley, and shortly after the flames rushed up the gangway, which is in front of the foremost funnel. The cause of the fire is supposed to have been the heating of some coal-sacks. The discovery was first made by Mr. VINCENT the midshipman of the watch. The boats of the "Amazon" were fitted with iron cranes or crutches on which their keels rested; these fittings obstructed their clearance from the ship, and but for this fatal arrangement the serious loss of life would have been lessened. Captain Symons ordered no one to get into the boats; this order was obeyed until the people saw the flames overpowering the ship. He was last seen with the man at the wheel ordering the helm to be put up so as to keep the ship before the wind: his last words were "It is all over with her." The officer of the watch, Mr. TREWEEKE, (second officer) was walking the bridge when the accident was discovered. Mr. HENRY ROBERTS, chief officer, in his shirt only, was actively assisting the captain; he was last seen going through the companion, down to the main deck, and is supposed to have perished there. Mr. LEWIS, third officer, Mr. GOODRIDGE, fourth officer, and the two midshipmen, some of whose berths were forward, on the port side of the main-deck, were probably suffocated, as were also the chief engineer, Mr. GEORGE ANGUS, and Mr. ALLEN, superintending engineer, (under Mr. SEWARD), as they were seen in the engine room ten minutes before the fire broke out, going forward - there being no possibility of their return. The second engineer, Mr. WILLIAM ANGUS, was on the spar deck between the funnel and the crank-gratings pulling oars and throwing them out of the way of the fire, on the deck, near the boats. After the "Amazon" was put about she went at the rate of twelve or thirteen knots dead before the wind. The two best boats were stowed on the top of the sponsons, where the flames prevented approach. One boat on the starboard side, the second cutter, was full of people when the wash of the sea unhooked the foremost teakle and her stem falling into the sea, all except two were drowned. The pinnace was observed on the port side, towing by the fore teakle, behind the burning ship and as no one cut the tow rope, the miserable passengers, who were all huddled together, were one after the other, washed into the sea. The mail-boat, which was also full, having shipped a quantity of water went down alongside. The scene on deck is described as dreadful in the extreme; when the flames had approached the after companion, two male passengers came up from the saloon, all in flames and running aft, fell on the deck. A tall lady, supposed to be Mrs. MACLAREN, entreated some one to take care of her child, but she would not enter either of the boats. DINEFORD the quartermaster, placed one lady passenger in a boat, but she being extremely agitated, got out again, and although HENRY WILLIAMS, and another, used some force, and begged her to go in, she persisted in remaining on board. The stewardess, Mrs. SCOTT, with her bonnet and shawl on, and something in her hand, first asked Steer to put her in the dingey, and then left for a larger boat; at the time of quitting some of those who yet lived were kneeling on the deck praying to God for mercy, whilst others, almost in a state of nudity, were running about screaming with horror. The survivors escaped in the starboard second lifeboat aft, in which was Mr. NEILSON; one of occupants, MAYLIN, in leaving, pressed his foot through the burning deck, and injured it; two others, WILLIAMS and PASSMORE, had to climb the starboard paddle-box through the flames and smoke - they succeeded after three attempts, and then slid down, hands and face, over the paddle-box into the boat, several went down by the teakles. Two of the watch below, Williams and Foster, had their hair burnt while coming on deck. When the life-boat left there were sixteen on board of her; they heard some one shouting in the water, and threw over a keg and some oars. They then endeavoured to approach, but a sea curried the boat off. They then too Mr. Vincent, Mr. Williamson, Mr. Sisley, and two sailors, from the dingey, and making her fast to the stern, towed after the burning wreck, thinking to save more lives, but the dingey having filled, they were obliged to cut her adrift, and fearing that they themselves would be swamped, their boat's ahead was put to face the sea. Twelve oars were at work, the wind was increasing, and heavy squalls coming on. They saw the ship's gig, full of people, shouting as if for assistance, and at the same time descried a sail standing apparently to the southward: the vessel appeared to pass between the two boats, and after this the gig was not seen; whether she was swamped, or was taken up by the stranger is unknown. The strange vessel came pretty close under the life boat's stern, when all shouted together, and thought they were answered on board, she was a barque, under close reefed topsails, foresail, and foretopmast staysail; her spanker was hanging in the brails as if she was in the act of wearing. Soon after, her helm was put up, and she bore right down towards the wreck, behind which she disappeared. The masts of the steamer went over before four o'clock in the morning, the foremast on the port, and the mainmast on the starboard side; some one appeared at the jib-boom end - the jib was cut loose and was blowing away; her mizzen-mast was still standing, while she was in flames from stem to stern. About five o'clock, when the life boat was passing in a leewardly direction, the gunpowder in the two magazines aft, exploded, and in about twenty minutes, the mizzen having first gone by the board, she made a heavy lurch and went down - her funnels being red hot and still standing. The boat now pulled before the sea and wind, thinking to make the French coast, which was, as they thought, the nearest. Mr. Vincent's monkey jacket being mounted on an oar, was their only sail, and the boat was kept dry by bailing her with a southwester. At half-past ten on Sunday morning they saw a brig, and taking down the jacket they hoisted handkerchiefs fore and aft, for signals of distress; and at twelve o'clock in lat. 48.5 N., long. 5.30 W., they boarded the "Marsden," of London, Captain EVANS, from Cardiff, with railway iron for North Carolina. The brig took the boat in tow with a new 7-inch hawser, but this having got chafed, it broke at 4 p.m. on Monday, during half a gale of wind and the boat was lost. On board the brig every humane attention was exhibited, and affording them as much clothing and comfort as could be produced. Captain Evans landed them safely at Plymouth, from when they were sent to their homes by the Shipwrecked Mariner's Society. The "Amazon" is described as being a splendid vessel, and answered her helm admirably; her machinery is also spoken of in high terms. From the deck up she is said to have been built of pine fir, which, when once ignited, speedily carried the flames fore and aft, and thus led the more quickly to the destruction of this fine ship, and the fearful loss of life among her passengers and crew. The brig "Marsden," Captain EVANS, picked up from the lifeboat the following persons - viz., Mr. R. NEILSON, for Demerara; Mr. T. SISELY, for Chagres; JOHN HAWKE, second class passenger, Vera Cruz; Mr. VINCENT, jun., midshipman; JAMES WILLIAMSON, chief steward; Mr. JOHN DUNFORD, quartermaster; W. FOSTER, AB.; THOMAS CARNEY, AB.; JAMES MAYLIN, AB.; JAMES MOWATT, AB.; WILLIAM STEARS, AB.; J. H. PASSMORE, AB.; H. WILLIAMS, AB.; WILLIAM STEVENSON, AB.; JOHN NERINK, AB.; WILLIAM NUTMAN, water tender; JAMES WHITE, fireman; JOHN SHEARING, fireman; CHARLES THORN, fireman; W. DUMMER, GEORGE KING, Coulterman. The following extract of a letter from a gentleman at Plymouth, to a lady resident at Falmouth, has been handed to us:- "The "Amazon" steamer of Southampton 2,300 tons and 842 horse power, sailed from Southampton for the West Indies, on Friday the 2nd of January with fifty passengers, and a crew of one hundred and nine, and proceeded on her voyage all well, until about one o'clock on Sunday morning the 4th, when she took fire about eighty miles west of Ushant, in the fore part of the vessel between the steam chest and the galley; the flames shot up above the deck and in twenty minutes from the breaking out of the fire she was in a blaze fore and aft, and in about five hours blew up and sunk. The persons on board immediately did all they could to save themselves in the boats of which there were nine. One life boat while being lowered, by the lift of the sea had the stern tackle unhooked, and all the persons in her were washed into the sea and drowned, the second cutter was swamped alongside, full of people and all drowned. Sixteen persons got into the second life boat, under the command of Midshipman WILLIAM VINCENT, and to his extraordinary presence of mind and cool conduct, they (by the good providence of God) owed their final safety; in about half an hour afterwards, the life boat picked up the Steward and four others, who had lowered themselves down in the "Dingey," making in all twenty-one persons saved. They remained near the burning vessel about four hours, (that is till about five o'clock in the morning), and then put the life boat before the wind and rowed about thirty miles. At noon on Sunday they were picked up by the brig "Marsden," of London, and landed at Plymouth." We understand that Mr. TREWEEKE, the second officer of the "Amazon," was a son of the late Rev. GEORGE TREWEEKE, of Illogan. Captain WILLIAM HENRY SYMONS, late of the "Tagus" steamer, was the son of Mr. F. SYMONS, of the Bar House, Falmouth. JOHN HAWKE one of those who has escaped destruction belonged to St. Day, and has lost of course every farthing of his property. Among the names of passengers who have been lost, we observe that of Lieut. CHARLES GRYLLS, a son as we are informed of the Rev. HENRY GRYLLS, of St. Neot, in this county. The death of another son of this respected clergyman occurred, as appears from our obituary this week, on the 1st instant. It is also stated that Mr. ELIOT WARBURTON, the author of the "Crescent and the Cross," was among the passengers who were lost. CHRISTMAS BOUNTY - On Tuesday last, the Early of Falmouth's usual distribution of beef was made at Tregothnan, to upwards of 130 families of labourers residing principally in the parishes of St. Michael Penkivel, Lamorran, and Merther. The meant was apportioned according to the number in family, some receiving as much as 18, none less than 3 lbs., and was distributed by the Rev. J. TOWNSHEND BOSCAWEN and the Rev. F. WEBBER, in the absence of the noble Earl. THE CALIFORNIA GOLD REGION - A letter from Mr. JOHN ROBERTS, a Cornish miner in California, has been forwarded to us, from which we make extracts containing information that will prove interesting to many of our readers. The letter is addressed to his brother, Mr. THOMAS ROBERTS, of Camborne, and is dated August 1851, written from Shone Flat, near Sonora, in California, the locality of the "diggings" where the writer is working for gold. It appears that he had emigrated to Wisconsin, in the United States, and thence went to California, arriving at San Francisco about the middle of April last. He remained there two or three days, and then went to the mines, which are about 220 miles from San Francisco. He says the part of the country in which the mines are situate "presents a rather romantic appearance, it being a very abrupt mountainous country, generally covered with scattered timber, some of which is very large. There are a variety of kinds, but the tall pines seem to predominate both in number and size; the oak is pretty plentiful, but of small bulk, and rather scrubby. The country is rough and its inhabitants also. The civil laws cannot govern the people as yet; they are too impatient to wait for the decision of civil government; so they set Judge Lynch on the throne, and produce all the testimony possible on both sides of the question, after which the impartial judge gives a hasty but generally correct decision; therefore sometimes in one hour after the committal of a murder, the culprit receives his punishment by being hanged to a tree. He speaks of the people being much addicted to gambling; in Sonora, the nearest town of any size, there are dozens of houses entirely for such practices, and Sunday is the principal day in the week for such business. Also for all sorts of tradesmen's business, Sunday is the busiest day, for then the miners go to town to have their jobs done, and buy provisions for the ensuing week. Sunday is the day for the exhibition of circuses, bull-fights, horse races, concerts, fandangos, for drunkenness and all sorts of licentiousness. Scarcely a Sunday passes but some man is killed, and sometimes two or three; this day week he says, there were two shot dead; during the time I have been her, I suppose there have been thirty either killed or hung, but they are generally worthless characters such as the community considers it a blessing to be without. Gold seems to be the object of all; talk with whomsoever I may on the motives which brought them to California, there is the same answer with one and all, that is, to get a pile of gold, and return to their families and friends in better circumstances than they were in before they left their homes. Men in this country attend to their own business, and let others alone, more than in any country that I have seen. Every one is digging and working like so many men fighting for prizes. I never worked so hard in my life as I have since I have been in this country. For the first nine weeks after I arrived, all I made over my expenses was seven dollars, (the American dollar is about 4s. 2d.) then my partner and myself went into another speculation; we bought two mules, two carts, with the privilege of a stream of water to wash with, and a "long tom" for seven hundred dollars. Six weeks have elapsed since we entered into that business, in which time I have cleared three hundred dollars after all expenses have been paid, and the claim we have been working on looks just the same as before. I think this is the best country for making money under the sun, and as far as I have seen and experienced, it is very healthy, we very seldom hear of any one being sick. The climate seems to be adapted to every constitution, for there are people here from every nation under heaven. It is surprising to see what multitudes of people have found their way to this golden country in so short a time after it was explored. It is also surprising to see how the surface of the ground is dug over for gold; there is not a river, or valley, or ravine, that has not been explored and worked over where there was any gold, and most of the men that are mining are working it over the second and third time, and make from five to eight dollars per day. The place where I am working is on the side of a hill; we take away from one to two feet in depth of the surface of the ground (just like the farmers carry away a stope of Camborne town earth for dressing their land, and wash it in a "long tom," for that is the name it has here, but it is nothing but a washing strake such as we use in the lead mines of Wisconsin, with a sieve at the end of it, under which is fixed a box called the rifle-box, set in a diagonal position. It is about four feet long and two feet wide, and four inches deep; on the inside of the rifle-box there are placed two bars, about two inches high, across the bottom, called the rifle-bars, which catch all the gold and the poor stuff washes over them. This is all the machinery necessary for washing gold; the cost of it is from twenty-five to fifty dollars, depending on the quality and size. There are many rich lodes found here, which are generally called quartz veins, and out of some of them they take many thousand dollars' worth of gold per day; were it not for these quartz veins, I should have but a very slight opinion of the country. I intend to speculate a little on them myself next winter. If any man strikes a rich vein, his fortune is secure. They are formed exactly like the copper lodes in Cornwall, only they lie very flat as near diagonal as possible what I have seen of them. There is one close by where we are working; we frequently find pieces of gold and quartz mixed together, which proves evidently enough that it must have come from the vein above us. It is only two days ago we found a piece weighing eighteen dollars, and the party working adjoining our claim found a piece weighing sixty-four dollars, in which there were forty-three dollars of gold; the whole piece was not larger than a small hen's egg. He next gives a statement of the prices of provisions in California, flour being 10 cents (about 5d.) per pound; beef, 15 to 20 cents per lb.; butter, 50 cents per pound; tea, one dollar a pound, &c., hogs are scarce; chickens, eggs, and milk are very dear, clothing is cheap, men's wages are 6 dollars per day, boarding, 8 to 10 dollars a week, liquor 1 dollar per quart; charges for labour, 10 dollars for shoeing a horse, 25 cents. For sharpening the point of a pick, 1 dollar for steeling it, 1 dollar for a pick-handle. Other prices are also given, and in conclusion he writes to his relative, I cannot advise you either to come here or stay at home, but weigh the matter well before you leave; of course you will think of returning again some time. It will cost GBP60 to come here, besides the time in coming and returning, four months at least, so it will take a man a good while to be as well off as he was before he left; there is also the sacrifice of home and family, for any person coming to California should stop at least three years. FALMOUTH QUARTER SESSIONS - These sessions were held on Friday the 2nd inst., before the Recorder and the usual bench of magistrates. There was only one prisoner for trial, who was out on bail. The Recorder said he was happy to find the calendar so light, and he hoped the beginning of the year would be a sample of the remainder. He regretted however, to find the case to be gone into before the grand jury, was for so serious an offence as that of obstructing a constable in the discharge of his duty. He said he had no further remarks to offer, as he had addressed them at the last sessions, on the acts of parliament which had passed. The grand jury having returned a true bill against JOHN BRADLEY for misdemeanour, the prisoner was put to the bar and pleaded not guilty. Mr. J. B. MOORMAN conducted the case for the prosecution. The complainant JOHN ALDRIDGE, a constable, said he was taking THOMAS CHANT, jun., to prison on the 24th of December last, when the prisoner Bradley snatched his staff or bat from his hand and threw it away, and together with the mob was the means of Chant escaping. The case being proved to the satisfaction of the jury, they returned a verdict of guilty. The Recorder said he fully concurred in the verdict and sentenced Bradley to fourteen days imprisonment. There was also a bill returned against Thomas Chant, the younger, but he not being in custody it stands over. OMNIBUS ACCIDENT - On Wednesday se'nnight as the Fairy Omnibus was entering the town of St. Austell, in descending the eastern hill just above the town, it came in contact with a donkey cart, which having caused the horses to start, they came against a wall on the side of the road, and the vehicle thus causing a severe jerk, the driver, a young man called BROAD of Probus, was thrown out of his seat, and fell on his head occasioning a concussion of the brain, from which and other injuries he now lies in a very precarious state. The omnibus being very heavily laden, the pole was broken, and the passengers had to be taken westward by another conveyance. Considering all the circumstances under which the accident occurred, it seems extraordinary that the consequences were not much more serious. CORONERS' INQUESTS - The following inquests have been held before Mr. JOHN CARLYON, county coroner; - On Thursday last, at Illogan, on the body of JOHN PEARCE MICHELL, aged 18 years. The deceased was a miner, and worked in Wheal Seton mine. On Saturday last he was standing on a plank trying to dislodge a rock from the side of the eighty fathoms level preparatory to putting in some timber work for a road, when the rock rolled against one of the runners on which the plank was resting and jerked the deceased off it into the gunness below. His comrades immediately descended to his assistance and got him removed to the surface and from thence to his home at Roscreggon, in Illogan, but although every attention was paid to him by the surgeon of the mine, he died from the injuries he had received by the fall, on the following Monday evening. Verdict, "accidental death." On Saturday last at St. Agnes, on the body of Amelia Row, aged about 7 weeks. The deceased belonged to some parties who get their living by going about the country singing and play acting, who came to the Victoria Inn, at Peterville, in St. Agnes last Thursday evening after dark, where they stopped for the night and early on the following morning the mother said she had found the deceased dead by her side when she awoke. It was ascertained that she had been giving it some medicine out of a bottle the evening before, and from the contradictory accounts she and her husband gave as to the contents of the bottle, and from other circumstances connected with the case, there were various reports in the neighbourhood as to how the child came by its death. At the inquest, however, it was proved by a post mortem examination of the body, that the child died of inflammation of the chest, and the jury returned a verdict to that effect. The following inquests have been held before Mr. GILBERT HAMLEY, deputy county coroner:- On Friday last, in the parish of Linkinhorne, on the body of ELIZABETH BROWNE, an elderly woman, who went to bed about five o'clock in the evening, apparently in her usual health, but shortly afterwards complained of pain in her side. Her daughter went down stairs to get something for her, and on returning in about five minutes, found her mother dead, verdict, "died from natural causes." On Tuesday last, at Fowey, on the body of Captain JOHN WARBURTON. Deceased had lately returned from America, and brought home a new American boat. He went on Monday last, with two of his apprentices, to try the boat, in the afternoon, and again in the evening, leaving Fowey about half-past four, when it was nearly dark. There was a strong sea running, and the boat getting on the lee shore, struck against a rock and was capsized. One of the apprentices swam ashore, and the other clung to the boat, but Captain Warburton was unfortunately drowned. He struck his head against a rock when the boat was capsized, and most likely was stunned, for being a good swimmer he would otherwise have probably saved himself. He was a man very much respected, and his untimely death has cast a gloom over the town of Fowey. Verdict, "accidentally drowned."