The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-15

u
capsized and from the rolling Of the ship tbs bi-nng
spread the deck the flames comnuni-
eating with the bedding as lay about, Owing 70 tho
strong dfaught Of air through the scutes the deck
tho are spread with great rapidty towards the main
Pathways, and filed the engine with smoke
and flame, sufocaLng the engineers and stokers who
we're prevented working the engines stopping them.
From the main hatchways the flames soon caught tho
ght and dry buiiheadng Of the officers cabins, from
thence, like lightning, tsprcai aft towards tho grand
oons and up deck, setting nre 70 the mnnast rigging
aud the two boats on each sle Of the rggas, thus
peely cutting on the fore om the after pa OF the ship
that the officers who wefe all in the fore part could
ret aft to render assistance To ge orders for tho
disposal Of the boats The engineer deck seeing tho
moke the rst, telcgraphed down the engine
put the engines at haf speed, which, is behevei
done but the ship continued to at tho Of four
hve miles hour for half quarters Of hour
when they ceased to work Of themselves Tue Captain
who sleeping at the time when the tire broke out and
was awakened by the smoke and flame coming into ha
cabr-immedlatey rushed deck, and was seen speak
ing or giving some orders which either wcre not under
stood or not carried out Seeing the flames bursting
over the mdship Part Of the upper deck in all direc-
TONS the captain became completely confused and lost
his presence of mind for when tho arst officer asked
him the question, "Can do anything in Hamburg,
should esclpef' ne no but exclaimed,
my Godl my Godi" and rushed away and not seen
again. 1t Is supposed he OF The first throw
himself overheard. From the ships gong ahead tho
flames spread aft and up the rigging with gsM fury, pre-
venting any OF the fire engine gear, hosa or
an axe, to be got at. The also " Sc
cured that Of TIE passengers knew lo~ lower
them The two foremost boats either sdl beng before
the fire. were lowered by the officers and crew
safely placed in the water but the other destroyed.
The midship boats either side flames and
the three after enve.opcd with and
heat that few dared To go them. Some attempts
made to lower them which did not succeed, and tho
great rush Of persons towards them and them caused
them TO turn over and many repeatedly thrown out
OF them into the sea by this The tackle Of
boat so let go that II hung up and down by tho
other end and dragged throagh tho wi,r lirning
and by the number Of persons trying 10 got
into It, Many OF the passengers chung - tho boat
long they could, but swept away
others, dropping down by the tackle upon thoss
hanging underneath obliged them ', let others again,
trying the same method shared the same fate. Rop1
hanging the side, and u thoso tho passengers
cung but the numbers increased tho upper part Of
the ropes and 70 slide down tan kcp cear of
the smoke aud amc the pressure became great foe
those underneath, who, becoming exhausted by being
dragged through the water, let their hois and sank
" rafe no more. couiusiou
caly the after part Of tho ship, where the mes and
smt poured in volumes. Many ladies' and
gentlemen at the very appearance Of the
deck jumped overheard and of atrn
by the vesses progression through the water. Onc gen
tlcman threw all his children overb larJ then ne wCe,
and afterwards followed hmsaf This not tho only
Of a similar nature Two beautiful girls (sisters),
embraced each other on deck and then hand ~ hand,
lcaped INTO the water, and were " rsa hscthcr
harr Of he younger Of them having become oosa l
her face, wLca the elder s.st,r, aovas With
her hand gave her ewe,. kiss, and closely locked in
eaeh o,hers arms they sgrs y rsc more. Another
With one hand, being ifwca by tho ship, in tho oth,r
holding ~ his Only ohd, with his VITO
cIpgng rounl his neck TIL nature cxhAaea ana
:he Nifo and child sw"r. aSay, se, poor ms .ea
held on gncoHscas, and yet slyci u ocmoAn thr
loss bcar the marks of the rope his ws.st his
Ic's end. IL, bowsprt and fore part u us ship
crowded, aud numbers were hanging outside BY ropes
female, Who had rope around hor wa4sl, veiy
mro burned by tha great heat of the ships -,ic 81,
could net free hers.f from the rope &c, any T.
so, and she might have ben roasted alive, hal tho
rope burnt through and stc fell tho wator was
saved Her wounds nearly hcalci. From Tho
flames nclnng aft the nrst, tho doprs of ths grand
saloon and companion ladders IN bazc,
hauled deck through the skynshts. between AMI
O'Clock T. VI. great rush made 10 the of
the ship consequence of tho a,n.cG bursting through
the skylighis Of the saloon By tbs rush great many
who already al the stern were os.rborne by Tho
numbers who pressed on them, and fell into tho wl1r
aud those bo held th. and part
ship were blown overheard by the cxyomon Of Tho
powder, which was kept underneath tho wbcc.noose.
Not moro than four ave perssns saved of
who had been In tho after part cf the ship rho-i in
the fore part had better chance u yes, from tho
bowsprt and fore ehans, crowded with pcoplc. Nun
bcrs hanging 70 ropes outside obs 4 u Iet ~
by the pressure of those above them, AM mny tho
water who could SWIM drowned by o,he-s who
chung IA tbcu, their agcoies The sscrls. a hle
frsh,fu. All those who had jump-d 0sesl-oari tho
first cft far as,ern by the ships progress through
the waior and made watry Noet u ihoss Who
saved had managed ret pcoc q pans or
something to bear themselves up Fortunately, at tho
the nre broke out there three ycsscs sight
two side and one tho o,hcr-but distant from
sslt 10 twelve miles. oue cny of the taree made any
attempt 10 steer for the ~ faied Arslria sbe
French bark Maurice, Capt Rcnaud from New
oupdand bound the ble ~ Barbon. Unfortunately,
this ship had 10 beat vind~sd ani could not get 70 tho
Austria til about 30 NJ and while nearing her hal
plcs up seycia persons ~ho the water, and who
must have been from and hiatt 70 miles from
the burning ship. As the French bark had como
closo 10 the Austria as she oonvencnuy could shs
lowered her two toats and them IN tas rescue.
Great caution, however, necessary 70 svosi To,
flames and also TO prevent overwhelming nurnb.sr
striving 10 get into them, this only have creatoi
greater confusion, and probably have sacrci ta hyas
Of ALL The boats therefore, kept al sho, is.ce anl
sook in those from tho bowsprt vho - thsm.
These boat kept going backwards AM icr~us ~ nnJ
O'Clock r. NJ when became toO darS :, ssni ta'm
again. Several who still clung the bowspr AMI
afraid 10 jump the water ct there On, boat
only belonging the Austria reached The French yssri
with about twenty persons The whole number SUPPOSED
70 have saved es Of accut &C., ten Of thcss
we're Part of the crew, three a wpm wcrc cfnccrs,
the remainder passengers, incuing rx females
aud three children. The othr two vessels that