The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-10-14

II T ~
it to a branch with a piece Of string or
by enclosing it in a small net. Flow
ers, such as dahlias or peonies, may also
be rendered much larger by the pdop-
ton Of this system.
-sop-
THE BURNING OF THE AUS
TRIAL
Full Particulars of the appalling Ca
lamiy-StQteBleat Of One of the Res
cued Passengers Explosion Of the
MagaziHe- Cawe Of the accident
STATEMENT OF CHARLES BREws.
I took passage at Southampton. ON
the 4th, in the steamship Austria,
Captain Heydtmann, which left Ham
burg on the ID We sailed at 8 p. NJ,
the evening being a little misty; we,
in consequence, anchored between the
Isle Of Wight and the main land;
sailed again at 4 o'clock on the fol-
lowing morning. In weighing anchor,
an unfortunate accident occurred, by
which one Of the crew lost his life
/ Owing to some mismanagement, the
anchor ran out, whirliDg the capstan
round with terrific force, and hurling
the men in all directions Two were
severely injured, and one thrown over
board; he is supposed to have been
Instantly killed, as he never rose to the
Surface.
From the time the ship was laid ON
/ her course, we experienced strong
westerly winds. On the 18th, the
weather was more favorable; on the
18th, a speed of eleven knots had
been attained, and all were in high
hopes Of reaching New York by the
18th. At little after o'clock, p. NJ,
/ was on the quarterback 1 saw
dense volume OF smoke burst from
/ the after entrance of the stecrage.-
Some women ran aft, ezclaiming, "the
/ ship is on fire! what will become Of us?'
The ship was instantly put at half
speed, at which she continued until
the magazine exploded, from which
/ infer the engineers were instantly sui-
located l only walked from where L
was on the quartor-deck to the waist
| Of the ship, when ] saw the flames
breaking thro' the lights amidships. As
/ the ship was head to the wind, the
/ FIRE travelled with fearful rapidity.
/ I then went to the man at the
wheel, and told him to put the vessel
with her side to the wind He hesita-
ted-probably did not understand me,
as he was a native Of Hamburg L
then got a German gentleman to speak
to him, At this time l saw some per-
sons letting down the boat on the
Iport side Of the quarterback. What
became Of the boat 1 don't know, but
tlrink she was crushed under the
screw. l then went to let a boat
over from the starboard side Of the
quarterback, but the moment we laid
our hands on the ropes there we're SO
many people crowded into it that We
could not lift it off the blocks. We
therefore left it for a few minutes, un-
til all the people got out, when we
returned, and launched itOver the side
Of the ship, when the people all rush
ing into it again, it descended with
great violence into the water, and was
Instantly swamped, all the people be-
ing washed out excepting three who
held on to the sides We then let
down a rope and pulled .up one per-
son, who proved to be the steward
Another in the act of being hauled
up, was stranglod by the rope.
The fire now came on too iercely to
attempt to get up any more from the
.swamped boat. All the first cabin
passengers were on the poop, with the
exception Of few gentlemen, who must
have been smothered in the smoking
room. Many Of the second cabin pas
sengers were also on the poop, but some
Of them got shut into their cabin by the
fire. Some Of them were pulled up
through the ventilatOr, but the greater
number could not be extricated The
. last woman that was drawn up said that
there were six already suGocated w,
now perceived that the ship had got hei
head to the wind again, so that the
flames came over the quarter deck.
In consequence of the crowd, i could
not get to the wheel house to ascertain
the reason, but i was informed that the
helmsman had deserted bis post, and
that the vessel being left to herself
AtdAtu 10 LiAG WlAA bA ANA Wv A eNNAA %
, At this time the scene on the quarter
deck was indescribable and truly heart
rending. Passengers we're frantically
rushing to and fro, husbands seeking
their wives, wives in search Of theiI
t husbands, relatives looking after rola-
/ tives, mothers lamenting the loss of
S their children, some wholly paralyzed
, by fear, others modly crying to be saw.
. ed but a few perfectly calm and col
. lected
% The flames pressed upon them SO
b closely, that many jumped into the sea
e Relatives, clasped in each others arms
r leaped over and met a watery grave
r two girls, supposed 30 be sisters, jump
- ed over and sank kissing each other-
e A missionary and wife leaped into Oh,
!, sea together and the stewardess and as
] sistant steward arm Go arm, followed
p One Hungariu gentlemen, with seyel
b fine children four of thom girls, mad
his wife jump In, then blessed his ell