Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-10-09

Wilt thou come! We are waiting thy gentle crossing
1or spirits kneeling, to ask that blessing,
May rest evermore upon thee. thine and ours.
BURNING OF THE STEAMER AUSTRIA.
STATEMENT Mr.. PHILLIP BERRY.
Mr.. Berry is . resident Of Hackensack, New Jer-
sey and has been for two years . student OF Theol-
osy in the Union Theological Seminary Of this city.
he went to Europe in July last, and embarked in
the Austria at Hamburg on his return. He has
furnished clear and intelligent statement Of the
facts of the calamity with which he was familiar
Re states that after leaving Hamburg the ineficen-
cy of the appointments of the steamer for the safety
Of passengers, and incapacity of both officers and
crew became apparent to him soon after leaving
Hamburg. There no discipline and no order
manifest in the working of the vessel, and on in
quiring he learned that most of the crew had ship.
bed to work their passage to New York. The con-
trast between the Austria and the Saxonia of the
same line, in which vessel he had gone to Europe was
20 great that he determined to leave her at South
smpton, and take passage by another steamer. A
friend, Mr.. Shiebe, who accompanied him (and who
was among the lost refused to acquiesce in the
proposition, and Mr.. Berry reluctantly changed his
mind and continued on the Austris.
When the steamer took fire, Mr.. Berry re-
clining on . sofa in the second cabin, in converse
ton with Mr.. Shiebe. Hearing an alarm, Mr. Shi-
ebe ran rapidly up the hatchway to ascertain the
cause Of the ALARM followed by Mr.. Berry. On
reaching the cabin they discovered the smoke driv
ing the passengers aft, into the cabin. They ran
thence to the skyght in the back part of the cabin
and climbed through it to the quarter deck. It
through the skylight that the second-cabin passen
gers made their escape. Word was sent below to
have the steam'pumPs set to work, but the eng'n-
GERS being smothered below, this was impossible
Mr.. Berry, with other passengers, then endeavored
to have the ships altered that the smoke and
heat nigh: be driven from the quarterback which
would enable them to the pumps employed to wash
the deck. Failing in this they gave up all hopes
Of saving the vessel and at once they proceeded to
the second boat on the port side, and with two or
three officers tried to lower it. They had just got
it from the checks, when the Captain ran to them,
caught hold of the tackle in the stern of the boat
and let il down. while the boat still suspended
The Captain then attempted to descend into the
missing bis hold, he fell into the water He caught,
however, by another rope that was dragged from
the stern of the lifeboat He chung to this for some
time and being drawn through the water at the rate
of eight knots an hour he was soon exhausted and,
letting 20 his hold. sank Immediately. The fourth
officer then attempted to get into the boat by the
front falls. While this was proceeding, Mr.. Berry
went to the starboard side, and . moment or two
subsequently he observed the boat floating astern,
keel upward with the fourth officer and some sailors
clinging to it. These were al picked up by the
Maurice. On the starboard quarter, Mr. Berry
found the passengers and others irving to lower =
boat which already filled. The stern fall gave
way, and those in the boat were precipitated into
the sea- Over . score of others then sprang on the
boat, in their haste to secure place of safety;
they, too, were lost, when the boat was broken to
pieces by being struck by the screw. Major Brew
subsequently discovered one of the fragments Of
this, boat. which dragging by rope alongside,
and floating away upon it, providentally saved.
Mr.. Berry and Mr. Shiebe then sought for life pre-
servers, and they each were fortunate in securing
e Al
filled with cork, which were in the steamer. In the
midst of the terrible ordeal under which they were
passing, they determined to remain on the deck as
long as possible When they made their egrees
from the cabin, they could pass on the xindward
soe Of the steamer it's entire length but within two
or three minutes the flames and smoke had closed
this passage, and all communication between the
bows and quarter was cut of. A moment more
and the flames were bursting out of the cabin sky.
lights. Mr.. Berry was forced to take his position
sft, and hardly twenty minutes elapsed before the
flames below, in front and above from PORTFOLIOS
and skyghts and rigging made their position one
Of intense pain When this became 50 great as to
render it impossible to endure it longer passengers
threw themselves overheard, and met with . certain
death. The scene had now become one of fearful
terror. The passengers on board were made up of
most al the European nations. There were Eng
isb, Irish, French, Germans, Jews, Poles Hungari-
ans and Italians and few Americans. Abaft of the
wheel-house the Jews were kneeing together utter
ing the prayers of their peculiar religion. The
Catholics were invoking their saints to save them :
others rent the air with their wild shrieks; some
sank down in quiet despair Indifferent to all that
was going on about them many rushed about in
wild confusion, seeking some means of rescue, and
q few remained quiet and serene. A small party
resolved to remain together as long possible, AND
II the leap into the ocean became inevitable they
determined to make It together. They were the
Rev. Mr.. Stamm, missionary, Mrs. Stamm, Mr.
Shiebe, Mr. Straub, Baptist minister, Mrs. Straub
Miss Becker, . governess in . family of this city
Mr.. Berry and two or three Others It soon became
their positions on the edge Of the quarter deck Mr.
Shiebe gave the word Let's Co." and immsdiatel,
Mr.. Berry leaped overheard in advance Of the 9th
ers with his life buoy in his hand and as he reached
the water he Was compelled to let 60 his hold Of it
while he was carried under the waves On risin,
he discovered the iife-buoy short distance frou,
him, he SWAN to it. adjusted it to his person IN,
looked about for Mrs.. Stamm whom he had intende
to assist after she leaped into the water. None q
the party were in sight and probably al are lost
ing on the surface sustained by his life.buoy. In
lev snonsofs the Austria was . long distance away
Bodies Of men and women hoated 6y him freouen
y re had seen the bark Maurice toward the no,
ing her to be standing toward the steamer he go,
in her wake for over An hour. During this time
BE rose on the waves he could see the bark. and !.
ter about two hours struggle in the water belle,
out to the bark. Soon boat from the Is,I ns.r:
Lin and took him in. He was the frst $500 ~
ened ne the time Mr.. Berry was quit. e,hs'... -
ssd hs thinks that hs q. acu: in the vat
bosrd b MS helpless and unable to move. s"
r. Berry was witness Of many scenes oe tn;
:n, interest that trsuspired on the steamer i
~. ia Hunxsrisn family spoken Of by Mr. Rr,
!, IL ytassnsnt tsasCsphsd from HALIFAX WI