Amphion
Thetis / Amazon class 1771, Williams design
Blown up 22 Sept 1796
While lashed alongside the sheer hulk YARMOUTH in the Hamoaze, to refit a damaged bowsprit, was blown apart in a massive explosion. The ship was lifted clear of the water by the blast, her masts flying upwards, befo re she settled and rapidly sank. Captain Pellew was in his cabin with his 1st Lieut and Captain Swaffield, commanding officer of the OVERIJSSEL. They were thrown violently against the deckhead, Captai n Swaffield being killed outright, the other officers jumping through the stern windows into the sea. The YARMOUTH, although alongside, suffered hardly any damage, but was covered in wreckage and the gruesome remains of shattered bodies. Casualties included many wives and friends of the crew, allowed on board prior to her sailing. The cause of the explosion was never established, but assumed to have been the fault of the gunner, since he had drawn the keys to the magazine that morning without permission. The remains were dragged ashore and broken up.
The AMPHION frigate had been obliged to put into Plymouth for repairs, and, on the 22nd Sept., 1796, was lying alongside of a sheer-hulk taking in her bowsprit, within a few yards of the dockyard jetty. The ship, being on the eve of sailing, was crowded with more than an hundred men, women, and children, above her usual complement. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon that a violent shock, like an earthquake, was felt at Stonehouse and Plymouth. The sky towards the dock appeared red, as if from fire, and in a moment the streets were crowded with the inhabitants, each asking his neighbour what had occurred. When the confusion had somewhat abated, it was announced that the Amphion had blown up, and then every one hastened to the dock, where a most heartrending scene presented itself. Strewed in all directions were pieces of broken timber, spars, and rigging, whilst the deck of the hulk, to which the frigate had been lashed was red with blood, and covered with mangled limbs and lifeless trunks, all blackened with powder. The frigate had been originally manned from Plymouth; and as the mutilated forms were collected together and carried to the hospital, fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters flocked to the gates, in their anxiety to discover if their relatives were numbered amongst the dying or the dead.
From the suddenness of the catastrophe, no accurate account can of course be given; but the following particulars were collected from the survivors.
The captain, Israel Pellew, was at dinner in his cabin, with Captain Swaffield of the Overyssel, a Dutch 64, and the first lieutenant of the Amphion, when in an instant they were all violently thrown against the carlings of the upper deck. Captain Pellew had sufficient presence of mind to rush to the cabin window before a second explosion followed, by which he was blown into the water; he was soon, however, picked up by a boat, and was found to have sustained but little injury.
The first lieutenant, who followed his example, escaped in a similar manner. Unfortunately, Captain Swaffield perished, in all probability having been stunned either by the first blow he received against the carlings, or by coming in contact with some part of the hulk. His body was found a month afterwards, with the skull fractured, apparently crushed between the sides of the two vessels.
At the moment of the explosion, the sentinel at the cabin door was looking at his watch, when it was dashed from his hands and he was stunned: he knew nothing more until he found himself safe on shore, and comparatively unhurt. The escape of the boatswain was also very remarkable; he was standing on the cathead, directing the men in rigging out the jib-boom, when he felt himself suddenly carried off his feet into the air: he then fell into the sea senseless; and on recovering his consciousness, he found that he had got entangled amongst the rigging, and that his arm was broken. He contrived to extricate himself, though with some difficulty, and he was soon picked up by a boat, without further injury.
The preservation of a child was no less singular: in the terror of the moment, the mother had grasped it in her arms, but, horrible to relate, the lower part of her body was blown to pieces, whilst the upper part remained unhurt, and it was discovered with the arms still clasping the living child to the lifeless bosom. The exact complement of the Amphion was 215, but from the crowded state of her decks at the time of the accident, it is supposed that 300, out of 310 or 312 persons, perished with the ship. The captain, two lieutenants, a boatswain, three or four seamen, a marine, one woman, and the child were all that were saved.
The cause of this unfortunate event was never clearly known; but it was conjectured that the gunner might have let fall some powder near the fore-magazine, which accidentally igniting, had communicated with the magazine itself. The gunner had been suspected of stealing the powder, and on that day he is said to have been intoxicated, and was probably less careful than usual. He was amongst the numbers who perished.
Images
References
Larn R. & Larn B., 1995, Shipwreck Index of the British Isles Vol. 1, Lloyds Register of Shipping, ISBN 0 900528 88 5
Colledge J., 1969,Ships of the Royal Navy Vols 1 & 2,David and Charles,ISBN 71534353X,
Lyon, David,1993,The Sailing Navy List,Conway Maritime Press,ISBN 0 85177 864 X,
Hepper, David,1994,British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail,Jean Boudriot Publications,ISBN 0948864303,
Gosset W.P.,1986,The Lost Ships of the Royal Navy 1793-1900,Mansell Publishing Ltd,ISBN 0720118166
