New-York daily tribune., 1858-09-30

three officers and some OF the seanen Of the Austria
They reported that when they left the steamer there
were from fifty to sky per-Ons hanging in the chains
about her bows. The first officer Hahn was asked "a
return with the boat to the steamer 10 rescue Of
them lie reported alive about the bow.
lie seemed indifferent 10 their fate, and finally
declined To return under the excuse that he had
sent bis boat adrift. The Maurice continued IA
sail about the steamer during the night, and IN
tie morning ran near 10 the Austria. There were
none then remaining on the bows The body OF one
man was hanging by the neck over the bows and the
body Of a woman was a-O suspended By the neck
over the stern. They had probably placed the ropes
about their bodies 10 escape the heat by lowering
Themselves over the side and the ropes slipping hai
caught about their necks and stranget them.
Mr.. Vein states that the number OF boats even Il
all had been lowered safely and filed nadeq uate
10 rescue the passengers There were only eght-iCur
of them metallic hfeboats in the bow, and four wooden
boats in the stern. The utter inetclency o the OIL
GERS too. the want Of hfepreservers and any means
available 10 save life were such as to render the
wholesale slaughter Inevitable. The Kindness oi the
cautaiu of the Maurice il highly spoken OF by Mr.
Vein. He did everything in bis power to alleviate
their suerngs, which, in the case oi those who were
burned were great.
Mr.. Vein has furnished the names Of the follow
ing passengers the Austria who probably lost
Dr. SELDOM of Philadelphia.
Mr.. HoxIE If New-York.
Mr.. CHARLES BASDT of Chicago.
Mr.. MAsURY Of Salem, Massachusetts,.
her dock in the North River Mr. VEINS elder brother
came board and the brothers met they fell upon
each others necks and mingled their tears together.
Their mother and two sisters among the lost. The
elder Mr.. VEIN recently arrived from Europe on
board the Vanderbilt. lie had not seen his mother
and sisters for three years past
STATEMENT OF MR.. PHILLIP BERRY.
Mr.. Berry is resident Of Haokensack, New jersey,
and hes been for two years past student Of Theology
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 familiar. He states that
after leaving Hamburg the inefhclency OF the
appointments of the steamer for the safety
of passengers, and incapacity of both officer
and became apparent to him soon after leaving
Hamburg. There was no discipline and no order
manifest in the working of the vessel and on inquring
he learned that most of the had shipped to work
their passage to New-Yorh. The contrast between
the Austria and the Sa1onia of the same ne in which
vessel he had gone to Europe, was 80 great that he
determined 10 leave her at Southampton and take pas
sage by another steamer. A friend, Mr. Shiebe, who
accomp panied him land who was among the lost, re-
fused TO acquiesce in the proposition, and Mr. Berry re-
luctantly changed bis mind and continued theAusta
When the steamer took fire, Mr.. Berry was reclining
on sofa in the second cabin, in conversation with
Mr.. Shebe. Hearing an alarm, Mr.. Shiebe ran rap
jdly I'D the hatchway TO ascertain the cause OF the
alarm followed by Mr.. Berry On reaching the cabin
they discovered the smoke driving the passengers aft
into the cabin. They run thence TO the skyhght IN
the back part Of the cabin ard climbed through it to
the quarter rdeck IL WAS through this skylight that
the secondcsbn passengers made their escape. Word
was sent below to have the steampumps set to work
but the engineers being snohered below, this was i'm
pCssible Mr. Berry, with other passengers, then en-
deavored to have, the ships course altered that the
smoke and heat bedrven from the quarter deck which
would enable them to use the pumps employed to
wash the deck. Failing in this, they gave up al
hopes Of saving the vessel and at once they proceed
cd to the second boat the port side, and with two
or three nfrcra tried TO lower it. They Ind just got
it from the chocks. when the Captain ran to them,
csngh hold Of The tackle in the stern of the boat and
let il down. while the boat was still suspended Inc
Captain then attempted to descend into the boat ny
rope over the side Of the steamer, but missing ms
hold, he fell into tho water He caught, however, ny
another rope that dragged from the stern OF the
lfeboat. He clung 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 so ms
hold. sank immediately. The fourth officer
then attempted 10 get into the boat by the
front falls. While this was proceeding, Mr. Berry
went to the starboard side and moment or TWO SUP
seauently he observed the boat Heating astern, kee
upward with the fourth officer and some sailors cling
ing to it. These all picked up by the Maurice
ON the starboard quarter, Mr. Berry found the passen
gers and others trying to lower boat which was
already filed. The stern fall gave way, and those in
the boat were precptated into the sea. Over score
of others then sprang the boat, in their haste tn
secure place of safety; they, too, were lost, when
the boat WAS broken to pieces by being struck ny
the screw. Major Brew subsequently discovered one o
the fragments of this boat, wnichiwere dragging bya
rope alongside and floating away upon 1t, was provi'
dentially saved MIR. Berry and MIR. Shiebe then
sought for life preservers, and they each were Tor
l., I,.x. pgtrsil illar
tunae in securing one OF less than dozen ciicuiaI
canvas life buoys filed with cork, which were in the
steamer In the midst of the terrible ordeal under
which they were passing, they determined 10 remain
on the deck as long rs possible. When they MADE
their egress from the cabin they codlu pass o .lo
windward side of the steamer its entire length,
but within two or three minutes the flames and smoke
had closed this passage, and all communication pc
tween the bows aud quarter was cut on "A momen,
more, and the flames were bursting our o, thc caon
skylghts. Mr. Berry was forced to take his position
an and hardly twenty minutes elapsed before the
flames below in front and above from port-hoes ana
skylghts and rigging made taeir position one oi IN
tense psin When this became great as to render
impossible to endure it longer, passengers threw
Themselves overheard. and met with certain
death. The scene had become one OF
fearful terror. The passengers on board were
made up Of most al the European nations. lhere
were English, Irish, French, Germans, Jews, Poles
Hungalians and Italians and few Americans. Abait
of the wheel-house the Jews were kneeln9 together
uttering the prayers of their peculiar religion. lne
Catholics were invoking their saints 10 save 'neii,
others rent the cir with their wild shreks some sank
down in quiet despair, indifferent to all that was soing
on about them; many rushed about in wild confusion
seeking some means OF rescue, anu le"
remained quiet and serene. A small party
resolved to remain together as long as possi-
hle, and If the leap into the ocean bccame newt
able they determined make i together. They were
the Rev. Mr.. Stamm, missionary, Mrs Stainin, M.
Shiebe Mr.. S;rauh, Baptist minister, Mrs. Straub,
Miss Becker, goveness a family Of tins city, Mr.
Berry and two or three others. Ii soon became evil
dent that the alternative inevitable Taking their
positions on the edge Of the quarter deck, Mr.. Shebe
gave the word - Let's go, and Immediately Mr. Ber-