The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-10-02
T HE DISPATC II,
SATURDAY MORNING ............. OCTOBER 2 1854
THE BURNT STEAM
er Austria.

|
FURTHER LNTERRS1ING PARTICULARS
| IND OrHERS-ADDfT7ONAL NAMES OF
| PASSEaGER&
| 1t was briefly stated yesterday, that the passsn.
gers saved from the Austria, had arrived l., New
York on the Prince Albert. A very brief synop-
sis Of some OF their statements were also given
In tho New York papers Of Thursday, fuller state
ments are made, which are very interesting. The
! first 10 that OF . sou of we'll known musician Of
| this city
| STATEMENT OF Ma. RosKN.
My pame is Charles Y. v. Resen. am a native
OF Virginia. My mother and my two sisters at
present reside in Richmond Of that State, where
our family has resided for the last thirteen or
| fourteen years. My father, whom have lost by
this dreadful catastrophe. was professor Of music
| ia Richmond and was we'll known there. Ma fatf.
| or and left New York on the 10th Of June, fol
| Bremen, by the Ariel Of the Vanderbilt line. My
| father was a native Of Sweden, and our visit to
Europe was to bis parents. Having resolved to re-
turn about the commencement of September, our
| passage were taken in the Austria. Nothing oc
| CURED of importance from the time of our leaving
| till the vessel was on fire. When the flames
| irst seen my father and were together on deck.
We kept together and ran to the boat on the port
bow, the only boat that clear of the fire that
we could see, because of the sudden dense smoke
that soon covered the ship. This boat was soon
filled. as the rush was general to the port side of
| the ship. The boat was then suspended to the da
Wits, when IL was found impossible to lower her
with the load of passengers that had crowded into
her The first mate came to the boat and ordered
every person to leap on the deck, to enable him to
| lower the boat; but few Of the passengers needed
\ his orders. Notwithstanding the excitement
| around the mate was cool and collected and would
have accomplished what he said had bis orders
| been respected. On their not complying with bis
orders he leaped into the boat among the crowd
| and took the passengers 10 any manner he could
| and threw them ont of the heat O the deck In
| this he was assisted by stout gentleman, one of
| the passengers; but more rushing upon and into
the boat than they could throw out, the task was
| hopeless. The fire rushing upon them the mate
| took knife and cut the tackle from the dsvts,
| and let the boat down into the water, upon reach
ing which the great weig ght of the passengers sunk
her some feet. On going into the water there were
probably forty persons in the boat, all jammed
together "like herring. ias barrel" The cries of
the passengers were of every description of fear,
consequent from such psr0us position, and were
terrible to hear The general cry that all
would be lost, while some wsre crying to God to
| save them The passengers we're all washed out of
this boat as she entered the water. As she rghted
| up again the passengers we're rising on to the sur
face and scrsmblng as best they could to get hold
| of her. When was rising up l came against the
keel of the boat and then struck out little aud
| ultimately got hold of the buwarks. At that
tune there were probably only ten persons in the
| boat and hanging on to her; but in few minutes
after wards the boat again filled with her for
mer occupants, who weighed her down to twelve
| or eighteen inches underneath the surface. In
| this position We were upwards of FIVE hours-the
cork around the life boat and air tight box con-
&ected with IL preventing her from sinking though
| 10 this position In the water.
| My father never got into the boat after it irst
| filled and We were all swept out. Five or six oars
| belonging to the boat had been lasbed together so
that on his first coming to the surface he cauebt
| hold of them. He wonld undoubtedly have reached
the boat, but five or six persons took bold of the
oars, which prevented them fl ON moving only as
the water drifted them. Our boat was in the same
unmausseable position, we could only keep still
and be drtfed by the water. Once they were so
near on the oars that got hold of the ends, and
with the assistance Of q gentleman tried to pull
them to US, but their weight and wet clothes rem
dered 1t beyond our strength. During four hours
they drfted alongsde of us. At last was told
| that my father bad got hold of the stern of the
| boat; could not get to him; it impos sbe to
| move, at last, being exhausted, after hanging on
| only few minutes, he sank and never saw him
more.
From the movement Of some In the boat It was
capsized four times With the exception Of two
ladies and one child. the passengers of this boat
were all men. Tho first time that the boat was
capsZed, the lady lost her child the second time
she nigh lost herself and after the third time
| she died in the boat from exhaustion, while she
lay in her husbands arms. Ihelped her husband.
with another man. consign her to the deep, as !
vas close by. 1t Was trying time tor every body;
but the husband who was German, was very
much afflicted by the loss of his wife and child
During three times which the boat was capsized
| several persons were lost and once or twice was
appreheDsive that would give ont also.
As the sun went down. about half past seven
O'clock took leave of it, rful that it might
| be the last time we should it. About this
| time the mate stood up in the boat and asked us,
In English and in German, if we wanted to be saved,
and if so, should have to carry out his nstruc-
| tons. He told rs that we should all have to get
out of the boat, and hang to the bulwarks aud
the oars that they would place across the boat till
nh cot hoy hn
out. This was Immediately complied with by the
passengers, and We went all over into the water,
| except one woman and the two men who bailed
| out. At this time man was seen in the water.
| with large tin life buoy. He was hailed. and
| added to the number Of those who were clipyipg
| To the boat, while his buoy cut in two BY the
| mate and used to bail out the water The boat
cleared OF water the passengers were told to enter
again. taking with them as little water as possible
| Tue lashed oars we're detached, and with them we
| rowed to the French bark Maurice as soon as We
discovered her near, Oh which we we're taken about
| eight O'clock.
| Mr.. ALFRED WINS STATEMENT.
| Mr.. Alfred Vein, of Philadelphia, was a cabin
! passenger in the unfortunate steamship Austria
when she caught fire, and the following is his uar
rative Of the disaster:
was in the cabin about two o'clock on the after
noon of the 18th inst, when was startled by an
unusual noise and excitement outside, and hearing
cries of fre," ""the ship Is fire." and other sim
| liar ones, rushed upon deck. There terrible
scene was presented to my view. Thick smoke and
| occasional bursts Of flame completely enveloped
the smoke stack and off the view OF the forward
| part of the steamer. The flames seemed to rise
fir, around the smoke stack itself and out of the
main hatchway. did not take time to examine
| it, however, for the scene around ne, and the
| excitement of the occasion, deprived me of any
opportunity for reflection. The ships head was to
| the wind, and as there was a breeze blowing and
she was steamiDg onward, the rising flames were
l 10 hsrf
part Of the vessel with tho most awful rapidity-
Just after came on deck large number of second
class passengers ran towards the cabin, the flames
pursuing them and almost scorching them as they
| made their appearance. Many of them. believe,
were shut up in the second cabin by the FIRE and
smoke, notwithstanding all their efforts to rush
| out Cf il. The flames soon seemed to be blown
across the vessel, and attempts were made to ar
rest their progress. could not see ships officer
| near at the time, but heard that the captain had
just come out, exclaming: ave are all lost" and
then jumped over the side Of the steamer, appear
ing to be in state Of insanity. Before this boat
had been launched, and he SWAN to 1t and reached
IT, and just he caught it the fourth officer also
jumped overheard OF tho quarter deck and made
| FIR the same object The boat draw 10 to wards
the eide Of the steamer however aud be not able
to catch hold OF after be had jumped into the
| What became of him afterwards did not hear,
but it is believed he was drawn in under the pro-
pelier by the vacuum produced by the vessel 9
motion, aud that he was killed instantly. While
the ship lay with her side 10 the wind some faint
attempts were made to quench, or at least, arrest
the progress of the fire. Some got out their pen
| knives aud hacked away at ropes, to fix them 50
| that they could be fastened to buckets, which
| we're intended to he cast the aide to draw up
water. These attempts we're all useless, however;
the knives broke. of the buckets were lost as
| soon as they touched the water. The fire attacked
| the rigging, burned the ropes, and compelled
those who we're eDdeavoring TO oppose their ascen.
dehcy to desist. On other parts Of the vessel some
slender opposition was also offered to the nre, but
| Il rushed on with increased strength, and a. the
| ships head again turned 10 the wind, the flames
| came cracking aft towards the quarter deck with
terrible rapidity. Wecouid aicely bear the heat
now, except at the very extremity OF the steam.
er's stern. The scene around me Was fearful to
behold. Many persons were leaping, one after
| .oo.har insr ,ha ardieaa ot everV VthiuQ