Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-29
Bu,niux Of n S]tea,uship Austria.

pob5SbSSto y
Austria, which was burnt at sea on the lotn
instant. A passenger reports nat a h'ue
after 2 o'clock on the afternoon OF the l3th'
q dense volume Of smoke burst from the alter
entrance to the Storage. The speed OF the
steamer was instantly slackeued to one-haIt,
AT which rate she continued until the maya
zine exploded, when the engineers are sup
posed to have been instantly sufocated. The
FIRE next burst through the lights amldship,
spreadiog with fearful rapidity. y boat was
let down on the port side, and instantly
crushed. Another on the starboard side was
swamped from the number Of people rushing
into it. All the first cabin passengers were
90 the poop, excepting a few gentlemen, who
must have been sufocated 10 the smoking
room. Many Of the second cabin passengers
were also on the poop, but a number were
shut up 10 the cabin by the fire. Some OF
these were pulled up through the ventllatnrs,
but the greater portion persisted. lhe last
woman VITO was drawn up, said that SIX we're
ALREADY suff seated Several men and women
on the poop Jumped into the sea by twos hu1
threes. Slme OF the women were already IN
flames. Others besitated till they were driven
to the step by TIE advancing flames, and IN
half an hour not a soul was lett m the poop.
The French barque Maurice, Capt. Ernest
Renoud, came alongside 81 D O'Clock, and res
cued forty OF the passengers, WHO were Chiefly
taken off the bowsprit, bur sons who were
struggling in the water. At 5 o'clock, one
of the metallic life boats came up VITA tSea-
TWO persons, including the first and second
officers. Subsequently,, four men were picked
10 on a fl ,ating piece OF a broken BOAT. toe
second officer was afterwards rescued from
the water, and both he and the third oflce!
were severely burnt. Many of the male pas
sensers were lrigh:fully burnt. Oily Fix
women we're saved, and three of these were
shockingIy burnt.
A Norwegian barque went alCnS-lde the
wreck the next morning. aud NAV have PICK
ed up O few persons. The Maurice had n
communication with her, but proceeded with
the Aus,ria's passengers to fayal.
Tue passenger irom whum the formation
is derived, says that when the c~artsin OF the
Austria heard Of the FIRE, he rushed on the
deck, exolaiming, I'VE are all LOST lie then
let down Que OF the beats, which was lmme-
diately lost, and be fell into the sea aud was
lett far behind. The same Passenger say
that tine fire arose from c~ulpahle negligence,
while iumigating the steerare With burning
tar, under the superintendent OF the 40
officer. TIE only British subject on board
was Mr.. Brew, an officer In the British civil
service, Oh his way IL Columbia.
Out of Sir Hundred souls, only ~Sirty-Sercn
are known to have been rescued from an aw-
ful death. The eight me'allic life boats, and
three or four launches, which the Inflated
steamer bad on board, seem to have been OF
little avail amidst the terrible panic that
doubtless Immediately ensucd on the break
ing cut Of the fire, followed, as it was, soon
after, by the explosion of the magazine.
On board the Austria were many we'll
known and wealthy citizens Of New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and 81.
Louis, returning from summer tours IN Eu-
rope. Among them are the Rev. } In Wen.
mann, Theodore Gvroh, Mrs. u. Wach.
mann, MIR. Meyenberg, Mrs. R"ichart, with
her three children, all Of Baltimore. Mrs.
william, wife Of Mr.. william, proprietor
Of a fancy store III Washington city and
two children. T.. Eisield, the well-knoWD
musician and conductor of the Philharmoni IL
concerts in New York; Theodore Glanhens-
ker, Professor of German 10 the New 1orB
Free Academy; Herman Thornbecka. n we'll
known German Of Pni!adelphia; MIS-. + allie
Vein, and three children, also ct PaiIadel-
phia; Miss Mary l~lcrken, and Mrs. Anna
Paypers, and three children, of 81. Louis,
and Wu. Slcbel, OF Cincinnati.
The number OF souls on board when she
lief, Hamburg, Was As follows:
FIRST cabin, including IL children, 6S
Second cabin, incluGing 8 children, Ill
Storage, including 80 children, al
Officers aud crew. abost 100
Total. 500
As GOO souls are reported to have been on
board at the time of the calamity, 81 must
have embarked at Southamp ton.
Speaking of the cabin passengers, the New
York Times remark:
Theodore Eisfeld has been a resident IN
America about ten years. lie has been well
known AZ a leader Of the harmonic concerts,
as a popular composer, and a musical celeb.
rity of this city. Ia his private life, be Is
beloved by troops OF friends" Mr.. rbeo.
dore Ersfeld went cot t. Germany, on = visit
TO his relatives, about three months ngc--Jnst
after the great musical festival held IN J"nes'
woods, at which he was the leader. Mr..
Eisleld stated in his last letter & his friends
here, which was written four weeks Stree,
that be should return in the Austria. His
acuuaintauces in the city, ~ well may be
supposed, are in great anxiety az 70 hls late,
ard speak OF him as being lii-caiculated,
from his nervous temperament, and not over
strong physical powers, to pass safely through
sach scenes as were likely TO have attended
the catastrophe.
Hermann Sondheim. who, with his vile
and five children, was on board, Is a large
importer OF German goods, ut NJ. ll3 Liber-
ty street. He had been on a visit, with his
family, to his relatives in Germany, and also
Oh business for the purchase OF goods.
W. Essential, importer Of isncy goods at
NJ. lO3 Liberty street, also had bis wife and
FIVE children with him 90 'oard the Austria.
lie has his residence ia Europe, but was re-
turning with his family TO spend tho winter
in New Y,rk.
The next LARGEST fimi!y Among the cabin
passengers, was Mr.. Al. llermanl, OF igelo,
who was epigratirg t. this country with his
wife and seven children.
These three families make up an aggregate
Of tweuty-.hree reisons. There were also
some fifteen otner persons hai!ing from New
York.
n:-..Io, r;,o n IL, nf thu sorr1 Same