The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-10-05
STEAMER BURNT AT SEA,
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.

whom were saved.
The Austria sailed from Bremen on SaturdaiE
the 4th, with total number of passengers and crew
estimated at between $50 and 600
Passengers report that on Monday, the 18th,
little after two o'clock in the afternoon dense
volume OF smoke burst from the after entrance of
the steerage The speed of the vessel was Instant
~ checked one half at which speed she continued,
until the magazine exploded, when the engineers
IL is supposed, were instantly suffocated.
Inc hre next burst through the headlights amid
sblps, travelling aft with fearful and alarming
rapidity
The ship was provided with eight of Francis
metallic life boats, each capable of holding fifty
persons. One of these was now let down on the
port side, but it was instantly crushed Another
which was lowered the starboard side, was
swamped from the numbers rushing into it.
All the first cabin passengers were aft on the
poop deck excepting few gentlemen, who must
have been smothcred in the smoking room.
Many of the second cabin passengers were
on the poop, but large number were shut up in
the cabin BY the flames.
Some were pulled up through the ventilators,
but the greater number could not be rescued, and
were left to their appalling fate. The last woman
drawn up said six had already sufocated.
Several men and women on the poop jumped
into the by twos and threes, preterrng to drown
rather than be roasted alive.
Some of the women who lcaped into the sea
were already in flames, and others hcsitated, till
driven at last to the terrible alternative by the adj
vancing flames and intoerable heat. In thirty
minutes from the breaking out of the fire, not
soul was left on the poop.
The French bark Maurice, Capt. Ernest Renard,
came alongside about 5 O'clock p. NJ, and rescued
forty passengers, who were chiefly taken off the
bowsprit, but some struggling in the water.
At o'clock, 7. NJ one Of the metallic life boats
Of the AUSTRIA came up with twenty-five persons
on board, including the first and second officers
Subsequently four men were picked up floating
piece of broken boat.
Both the second and third officers arc horribly
burnt.
Many of the male passengers saved are fright
fully burnt.
Only six women were saved, and three of those
shockingly burnt.
A Norwegian Bark went alongside the steamer
next morning. and sent Il boat out. She may have
picked up few persons.
The Austria was new vessel and one of the
most magnificent On the ocean
Her passengers chiefly wealthy German
merchants, returning from the Continent after
spending the summer The Austria's cargo
very valuable-being made up almost entirely of
costly silk and velvet fabrics.
4 passenger stays that when the Captain Of the
Austria heard of the fire he exclaimed, 1--WE arc
which was swampcd. He fell into it and was left
far behind.
The fire arose from cul pable negligence in fumi
eating the steerage with burning tar, under the
superintendent Of the fourth officer.
Narrotire Of Rescued Passenger.
The following is the statement of Mr. Drew the
only Englishman saved:
From the time the ship was laid on her course
cod rly md I'm tho
18th the weather more favorable and on the
18th 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 quarter deck, and [ saw dense volume
of smoke burst from the after entrance to the steer
age. Some women ran aft, exclaiming, "the ship
is on fire what will become of ?' The ship
was instantly put at half speed, at which she con
tinued until the magazine exploded from which
infer that the engineers were instantly snfocated
I only walked from where [ was on the quarter
deck to the waist of the ship, when the flames
breaking through the lights amidship. AS the
ship was head to the wind, the flames travelled with
fearful rapidity.
then went to the man at the wheel, and told
him to put the vessel with her side to the wind
He hesitated-probably did not understand me, as
he was native of Hamburg. ] then got German
gentleman to speak to him. At this time | saw
some person letting down the boat on the port
side of the quarter deck. What became of the
boat don't know, but think she crushed I'M
der the screw. | then went to get boat over on
the starboard side of the quarter deck, but the
moment we laid our hands on the rores, there
were so many people who crowded into it that We
could not lift it off the blocks. We therefore left
it for few minutes, until the people got out, when
we returned, and launched it over the side of the
ship when the people rushing into it again, it de-
scended with great violence into the water, and
was instantly swampod, all the people being
washed out, excepting three, who held on to the
sides We then let down rope, and pulled up
one person who proved to be the Steward. Ano-
Their in the act of being hauled up, strangled
by the rope
The fire now came on too fercely to attemIt to
get up any more from the swamped boat All the
first cabin passengers the poop, with the
exception Of few gentlemen, who must have been
smothered in the smoking room. Many of the
second cabin passengers also the poop,
but number Of them got shut into their cabin
by the fire; some of them pulled up through
the ventilator, but the greater number could not
be extricated. The last who drawn
up, said there were six already sufocated. We
now perceived that the ship had got her head to
the wind again; so that the flames the
quarter deck. In consequence Of the crowd |
could not get to the wheel-house to ascertain the
reason but | was informed that the helmsmau
had deserted his post, and that the vessel being
left to herself headed to the wind Of her own ac-
cord.
At this time the scene on the quarter deck was
indiscribable. and truly heart rending. Passen-
gers were rushing frantically to and fro-husbands
+bair uives-WiVeS in search of their