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


Unhappily, my conjecture that the burning steamer
would prove to 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 sxtyseven surviving passengers Of the .ted ship
aud brings partial details of the ghtful catastrophe by
which five hundred human beings persisted in the most
frghtful manner.
The fire was first discovered bursting from the storage
the l3th inst when the ship was in latitude As deg
OIL min, and longitude Al deg 30 min. Immediately
afterwards the flames discovered amidshps burst
ing through the skyghts, and burning aft with awful
rapidity. An attempt was then made to lower boat
from the quarter deck, which was lost immediately, be-
ing, it is supposed, crushed under the and
second boat launched and swamped from the crowd
of people which rushed into it in their frantic haste
escape from the fire. Numbers unable to escape from
the cabins suocatcd by the smoke and those who
had succeeded in gaining the deck crowded on the poop
where the devouring elements consumed many and
drove others into the sea to escape from the
flames In half an hour from the time the at
ghted passengers rushed to the poop not soul was to
be seen there With the exception of sxyseven picked
up by the French barque Maurice Capt Ernest Renaud
all had persisted In the flames found waery 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
lam happy after giving such panuldetail the fore
going to be abet give the readers Of the Union piece
Of intelligence which will prove gratifying to oil of them
General Scott, the venerable and respected commander
in-chief of the army, is rapidly recovering from his
cent accident and is 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 postponed on Friday in consequence Of tho
rain storm, off to-day. The weather all that
could be desired. The crowded with specta-
of every class and degree Shortly after o'clock
three horses to the post to compete for the great
prize-namely, Nicholas /, Sue Washington, called
Lizzie Macdonald and Tar Biver. The first heat was
by the aforementioned horse ably ridden by the well
known jockey Fitzpatrick The heat very closely
contested. Nicholas being second and the third.
Time: min. 500 sec The second heat still
exciting than the FIRST. The North Carolina
horse and his imperial rival went off at score from the
post closely followed by the favote Sue and resulted in
favor Of Nicholas, after struggle the post the
being dsanced, owing to strange mistake the
part of the rider of Sue Washington who pulled her up
at tho end of the third MILE believing that he had run
the four miles. Time of second heat min. 35 sec.
The being narrowed down to a 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 Tar River much admired for his
speed and bottom and fitzpatrick riding was universally
appauded
Postmaster General Brown In consultation to-day
with the committee of the chamber of on the
removal of the post Office The meeting held with
closed doors but we understand that nothing but in
formal conversation took place. and nothing like defn
lite decision arrived at. The Postmaster heard the
onstrance 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 m with fair demand for the Persia
Leading drawers asking ll0t for sterling drafts
Francs steady, at 8. l2a a 5.ll&.
The cash transactions for the week ending to day at
the custom house and subtreasury have been follows