The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-29
FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.
NEW York, Monday night,)
September az, 1851

Unhappy, my conjecture that the burning steamer
would prove be the Austria from Hamburg and South
ampton has proved to be true The barque Lotus from
Liverpool arrived at Halifax this morning with twelve of
the sixtyseven surviving passengers of the lted ship
and brings partial details the ghtful catastrophe by
which five hundred human beings persisted in the most
frightful manner
The fire was first discovered bursting from the seerage
on the I3th nst when the ship in latitude As deg
oil min, and longitude Al deg. 80 min. Immediately
afterwards the flames discovered amdships burst
ing through the skylights and burning aft with awful
rapidity An attempt was then made to lower boat
from the quarter deck which lost immediately be-
ing il is supposed crushed under the screw /; and a
second boat was launched and swamped from the crowd
of people which rushed into it in their frantic haste to
escape from the fire. Numbers, unable to escape from
the cabins suocated by the smoke and those who
had succeeded in gaining the deck crowded the poop
where the devouring elements consumed many and
drove others into the sen to escape from the
flames. In half an hour from the time the af-
ghted passengers rushed to tho poop not soul was to
be seen there With the exception of picked
up by the French barque Maurice Capt Ernest Renaud
all had persisted in the flames found watery grave.
OF the saved there only six females The first and
third officers escaped both badly burnt. The Office of
the Hamburg Steamship Company has been thronged
since morning with painfully anxious and excited crowd
Of the friends and relatives of the Austas passengers
am happy after giving such painful detail the fore
going to be able give the readers of the Union piece
Of intelligence which will prove gratifying to oil of them
General Scott the venerable and respected commander
inchef of the army is rapidly recovering from his
cent accident and is now able to sit the greater
part of the day He hopes confidently to be able to
turn to the city from West Point in day or two.
The great four-mile the Fashion course,
which was postponed Friday in consequence of tho
rain storm, off to-day. The weather all that
could be desired The crowded with specta-
tors of every class and degree Shortly after two clock
three horses to the post to compete for the great
prze-namely, Nicholas T. Sue Washington, called
Lizzie Macdonald, and Tar Biver. The first heat
won by the last mentioned horse ably ridden by the we'll
known jockey Fitzpatrick. The heat very closely
contested Nicholas being second and the mare third
Time 7 min. 500 The second heat a still
more exciting race than the first The North Carolina
horse and his imperial rival went off at from the
post closely followed by the voe Sue and resulted in
favor of Nicholas, after struggle the post the
mare being dsanced, owing to strange mistake the
part of the rider of Sue Washington who pulled her up
at the end Of the third me believing that he had
the four miles. Time of second heat min. 35 sec
The race being narrowed down to match be-
tween Tar River and Nicholas the excitement was in
tense and the friends of the two horses betted freely
their favorite The deciding heat by Nicholas
after neck and neck during the four miles Time
min. so sec. Tar River was much admired for his
speed and bottom and Gparcks riding universally
appauded
with the committee of the chamber of commerce the
removal of the post Office The meeting held with
closed doors but understand that nothing but in
formal conversation took place. and nothing like defn
lite decision arrived at. The Postmaster heard the
monstrance of the merchants against the Broadway the
atre location and will consider it.
The money market is very dull and rates are perhaps
shade easier both call and for short paper Foreign
exchange is very firm with fair demand for the Persia
Leading drawers are asking ll0t for sterling drafts
Francs are steady. at 5l2a 5.1l&
The cash transactions for the week ending to day at
the and sub treasury have been follows