Three of the survivors of the Royal Mail steamer Douro, lost off Cape Finisterre on Saturday week last, landed at Plymouth yesterday, by the Castle steamer Hepzbah, which arrived early in the morning from Corunna. They were the following members of the crew:-- George Amrath, quartermaster, of Southampton; Jack Buckingham, lamp-trimmer, of Southampton; and James Stewart, quartermaster, of Portsmouth. They were forwarded to their homes by the South-Western Railway Companyís 3 p.m. train by Mr. T.W. Hopkins. hon. secretary of the Shipwrecked Mariners Society. An important statement as to the collision itself was made by George Amrath, who, in his capacity of quartermaster, was on deck on duty when the disaster took place. He said in the course of his statement: -- " I was quartermaster and acting boatswainís mate. I arrived on deck at 8 oíclock on the night of the disaster. I mustered the watch to receive the deck. The chief officer was on the bridge; the fourth officer was on the quarterdeck. We made sail about half-past 8 upon leaving Lisbon. Three quarters of an hour later sail was taken in, but we again made sail at a quarter to 10 oíclock. There was a nice breeze, and the night was clear. Mr. Tongen, the chief officer, called to me at about a quarter to 11 to lower the topsail. I looked up aloft and saw our sail all aback, and heard Mr. Tongen singing out, ëwhere are you going to ?í I strained my eyes and saw a steamer on our starboard bow. She was very close to us. Mr. Tongen cried to the other steamer, ëput your helm hard-a-port.í There was no answer from the other steamer. I then perceived a red light coming over the railing. Mr. Tongen said to me, ëSing out "hard-a-port" to the other steamer.í I ran abaft the bridge and did as directed. I could sea nobody on the bridge of the Spanish steamer nor anyone else forward. Mr. Tongen cried out, ëOh, my God, she is into us!í She struck us first about abreast the funnel on the on the starboard side, and again struck us the second time with more force, crashing into us in the forepart of the after rigging. Mr. Tongen then gave the order ëClear away the boats; we are sinking.í I ran forward and called the crew and got the port fore lifeboat ready for lowering, under the superintendence of the fourth officer. Captain Kemp, who had behaved with wonderful coolness, ordered every man to his boat. I called out to the fourth officer, ëCome along sharp,í and lowered the port fore lifeboat, taking off some ladies, children, and a few male passengers. At this time the passengers were in an awful panic, but the ladies did not lose themselves to as great an extent as the male passengers. One of the male passengers behaved in a most cowardly manner. He tried to prevent ladies from entering the boat. I foiled his efforts. He was selfish enough to imagine that they would overcrowd the boat. I hit him in the face, and he then kept quiet. I spoke to the fourth officer, who was onboard the Douro, and appealed to him to come with me into the boat; but he refused to quit the vessel, and gave me orders to clear away the boat, which, though touching the water, was yet attached to the davits. This I did. He next shouted to me to drop astern. A heavy sea was running and the Douro was rolling severely. While I was detaching our boat our rudder broke. I could not keep her alongside the steamer in consequence, but I did my best to remain as near her as I could. At this time the Douro was sinking fast, being down to the white moulding. I noticed Captain Kemp standing aft, watching the movements of the various rescue boats. The order was then issued by him, ëClear the way from alongside with your passengers, but keep as close as you can.í My impression was that he meant us to endeavour to pick up any persons who might be left on board. One of the passengers in my boat cried out to Captain Kemp, appealing to him to come into our boat. He waved his hand in response and walked away.

Read the next news report The Loss of the Douro - Monday, April 17, 1882

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