Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-10-09
Burning of the Austria


We find in the Richmond papers further
accounts of the burning of this steamer
The Austria sailed from Bremen on the
ath instant, with total number of passen-
gers and crew estimated at between $50
and 6O0-upwards of 500 of whom have
been lost
HALIFAX, Sept. 27.-Thc bark Lotus
arrived here yesterday, with twelve of the
siNty-seven passengers that were saved from
the steamer Austria, which was burnt at
sea on the 18th. The passengers report
that little after 2 clock, on the afternoon
OF the 18th, dense volume of smoke burst
from the after-ontrancc of the steerage-
The speed of the steamer was instantly
slockened onc-half, at which speed she con
tlnued until the magazine exploded when
the engineers, it was supposed, were in.
stantly crushed, and another from the star
board side was swamped, from the number
OF passengers rushing into it. All the cab
In passengers were on the poop, excepting
few gentlemen, who must have been
smothcrcd in the smoking room. Many Of
thcsecond class passengers were Shut in
the cabin by fire. Some were pulled up
through the ventilators, but the greater
number persisted. Tho last woman drawn
up said that six had already suffocatcd.-
Several men and women who were ON the
poop jumped into the sea by twos and threcs.
Some OF the women were already in flames.
Others hesitatcd till driven at the last mo-
mcnt by the advancing flames. In haitian
hour, not soul was left on the poop. The
French bark Maurice, Captain Erncet Re-
maud, came alongside at 5 clock, and sue
cceded in rescuing forty passengers; they
were taken chiefly off the bowsprit, but
some of them we've picked up struggling in
thc water.
Ats o'clock, one of the metallic boats
came up with twenty-five persons, includ-
ing the first and second officers. Subse-
quently, four men were picked up floating
on piece of broken boat. The second off
Ger was afterwards rescued from the water.
Both himself and the third officer were Sc
vercly burnt. Many of the male passen-
gers were frightfully burnt. Only six VIC
men were saved, three of whom were shock
ingly burnt.
A Norwegian bark went alongside of the
steamer next morning, and sent boat,
which may have picked up Few persons.
The Maurice had no communication with
her The bark Maurice proceeded to Fay
al with the Austria's passengers, except
those on the Lotus.
passenger says that when the captain
OF the Austria heard of the fire, he oxclaim-
ed eve are all lost, let down the boat"
which was swamped. lie fell into the sea
and WAS left far behind
The fire arose from the cuIpable neeli-
gence in fumigating the steerage with burn
ing tar, which was under the superinten-
dence of the fourth officer.
The RESULT IN MAINE.--The Democ-
racy of Maine have every reason to be proud
of the result of the recent election. But
two years ago, the majority against us was
more than than 80,000 1t is now reduced
to less than $1,000 With all the bribery
and bollot-box stufing ofthe Black Repub
licans to contend against, we have won tho
victory in the sixthrcongessional district,
and pressed the enemy to the wall in the
third and first. Nothingis more certain
than thatwe shall carry the State next year;
yen can read this In the countonanoe of ev-
cry intelligent republican, Maine Is at
heart Democratic State, and cannot re-
main twelve months longer under the black
&ag of Abolitionism. Let no Democrat lay
aside his armor, but keepit ever on and
ever bright. Bango, Union, Sept 20.