The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-10-02

/ Sept, 49, lU LATITUDE 10 W. inHb'tNH''
The twelve passengers on b9Alu thp
we're taken from tie barque MAullpVi on wv
! 18th inst
The agent Of the associated press immodl-
-aielg hnarded tho Lotus, and obtained lNe
following parucul~si
/ CHARTREs BREW's STATEMENT
Tool. passage at Southampton, 4th instp
/ in the steamship Austria Capt Heydimhnh,
which lch Hamburg on the I'd inst halled
at q, evening. ln consequence Of the YEA
/ Their boing little mistyi the vessel was an
chared between lsle Of Wight and mainland
/ Sailed again at 4 O'Clock the following morn
ing ln weighing the nRehOr an unfortunate
accident occurred. by which one Of the crew
/ lost his lite, Owing 90 some miamanagr-
mont, the anchor ran out whirling the eapalan
round with terrific force, hurling the men ~
| all directions two were severely Injured, Que
was thrown eyfrbnaTd, aud II ID supposed he
was instantly billed, 40 he never rose 70 the
surface,
From the time the ship was laid on her
course We experienced strong westerly
Ainda.
l2th--lhe weather was more favorable,
] iJth-Elcyon knots had been attained, all
/ IN high hopes Of reaching New York by the
! 18Th A little after 2 T., NJ, / was on the
quarter deck saw donse volume Of smoke
| burst from the after entrance Of the steerage'
Some women ran ait eNclaImlng "Ihe ship
/ Is on fire what will become Of rs"
The shin WAS instantly put a. half speed,
az which she continued until the magazine
exploded, from which ! infer tie engineers
were instantly suhocltcd,
/ / only walked from whore ] was on the
quarter deck TO the waist Of the ship, when
saw flames breaking through the lights amid
ships. As the shi was head on 90 the wind,
/ the irc travelled an with fearful rapidly,
! Wont 10 the man ut the wheel, aud told him
/ a. put the vessel side 10 the wind. lie hcsi-
tatcd, as be- was n native Of Hamburg.
/ Got q German gentleman 20 speak TO him.
At this time saw some persons letting
down the boat from the port side Of the quar-
/ ter DECK what became Of her do not know,
/ but think she was crushed under the screw,
Went with some others To get out the
boat from the starboird side Of the quarter
| deck. The moment We laid hands on the
ropes, 40 many crowded Into il that we could
/ not M il of the blocks, Ltn il for few
moments until the people got out, then re-
turned and put il over the side Of the ship.
/ They all rushed in again. II descended with
violence into the water and was instantly
swampcd, and all tho people were washed
out bat three who held on We let down
rope and pulled up one, who proved 10 be
/ the steward another IN the act " being haul
| cd up, was strangCd los the rope. The fire
came on too icrccly TO attempt TO get UP the
third
| All the first cabin passengers were on the
poop, with the exception Of few gentlemen
who must have smothcrcd IN the smoking
room. Many Of the second cabin passengers
were also on the poop, but number OF them
] got shut into their cabin by the fire some 81
/ them wcrr pulled up through the vcntilator,
but the greater number could not bc cNtrica-
ted. The last womuu drawn up said there
were six already suilucatcd.
I Now perceived that the ship had got her
head 90 the wind again, so that the flames
came over the quarter deck. In consequence
OF the crowd, could not get to the wheel.
/ house 10 ascertain the reason, but wug IN.
/ formed that the hcmsmau had deserted his
post, and the vessel being len 20 herself
headed 10 the wind.
At this time the scene on the quarter deck
was indrscribablc and yuly heart rcrdng.
/ Passengers were rushing TO aud fro, hus.
bands seeking wives, wives ia search Of hus-
bands, relatives looking after relatives, moth
crs lamcntmg their children, some wholly
poraliIcd by fear, others crying to be- saved,
but few perfectly calm aud collected The
tTT11S=- ffft.=-'-t.- e!aGcly- upnu- them that
many Jumped into the sea. Relatives clasp
ed in each others arms, leoped over aud met
u
jumped over and sank kissing each other. 4
missionary and wife lcapcd into the sea to-
gcthcr, and the stcwaydcss and assistant stew
ard, arm IN arm followed
One Hungarian gentleman, with seven fine
. children, tour girlsl made his wife jump in,
then blessed the six oldest children. made
them jump in one after the other, and follow
cd them, with an infant in his own arms.
About this time was standing outside the
l.. IL. u.
out 10 avoid the flames which were lcaping
towards me. Saw swampcd boat under
me spinning 10y rope still attached TO the
ship. As the oars were tied in her, thought
/ If | got To hcrFl would be enabled to save
myself and some others. Let myself down
by the rope passing over a man who was
clinging TO il, but who refused to come with
me. Took out my pcnkniie to cut the tack
lc, when the large blade broke; then severed
it with the small blade. Tho ship passed
ahead, As | approached the screw found
the boat drawn towards IT, tried to keep the
boat off but the screw caught and capsizod
her over me. Owed away from the ship
and came TO the surface near the boat, which
was keel uppcrmosL Got on hor, and by
pressing on one side. with the assistance Of a
wave she riGhted, but was still swompcd.
The oars had been knocked out 10y the screw.
7 The only Thing | could find in her 10 paddle
win was soRe laths nailed to gethor as
shoathing for sides, When looked around
\ the ship was n quarter of mile from me.
B Could sec Indies and gentlemen jumping off
the poop into the water in twos and thrces--
some ladies' in flames.
Several hesitatcd to leap from the burning
ship until the last moment as the height was
% feet, and only at length, when compelled
threw themselves off to avoid u more painful
death
In half an hour not soul was to be seen
on the poop, Pulled after the ship and
picked up German who was swimming
strongly. Got him beside me on the boat