The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-10-05
The Burnt Ste am er-C onduct Of Her
Officers.

and passenger ON board the Austria, has pub.
lished a correction Of the statements Of Mr.. Ber.
ry, which he believes to bs incorrect Professor
Glaubeuskie says:
''As far a. am able to indse. never 10 MY life
met with better set OF officers than met on the
Austria As fhr As could see, the discipline Of
the vessel was excellent. The only fault that
/ could lind, was that some of the food was lad.
s'Mr. Hahn left tho Austria soon after the fire
broke cut, falling into the water while engaged in
lowering the first boat on the port side. When be
arrived, after sunset, on the Maurice, lie imme-
dately wanted to 90 back after more, but WAS
prevented by the Captain, who, through Eie, as
interpreter, pointed out the impossibilhy of saw
ing any more in tho darkness- The Captain per-
emptorily refused to let any more men go. 1t was
80 DARK be consider ed it impossible to do any
good, aud said he wouldrisk moro lives.
II did not hear any cries in the water during
the night, except about eight o'clock, being those
OF the secord officer, who was rescued.
81 never saw a better set of men than the cap
tain, officers and crew Of the Maurice, and never
expect to-"
The Boston Traveller is informed by persons who
have conversed with Mr.. Chartres Brew and Mr.
J. +. Cox, the two rescued passengers who have
arrived there, that
When the alarm cf fire was given on board the
Austria, the pas ssngers and crew, who rushed on
deck, seemed 10 pause for a moment aud look aft,
instinctiyely expecting order from the captain or
officers, that would restore discipline, but
no orders having been given, no oae vested
with authority making his appearance to
calm the tumuit--the msb rushed towards the
boats. few only, who saw the utter folly of
such course, tried to collect their friends around
them and wait the issue.
From the time the ALAN was given until the
flames obtained the mastery. by tudicious manage
ment, every boat might have been lowered The
vessel for five minutes was under con.rol-time
enough TO change her course 30 that the hre could
have been kept clear Of her siees. But the boats
fhaY oil nlr rtaIo a Johoot
that under ordinary circumstances much time
would have been required 10 clear them. Besides
the crew were slow in all their incvements-there
was no regular discipline beyond the maee watch.
aud-~atcl o common merchant vessels.
The men had never been stationed TO the boats,
and consequently in the hour of peri, each ran
towards the boat that was nearest. One or two
boats were, therefore, in possession CT the crew.
and the rest were left to the mercy of the passen-
gers: hence the terrible mismausem3nt Of lower.
ing them.
In most steamers, particularly those of the
CuDard line, there Is always quarternaster stand.
ing near the helmsman TO direct the course of the
vessel! but there was no such officer in the Austria:
the hsmsman theref had to rely for oiders upon
the captain or tsates. aud when these were out Of
the way, was left to his own discretion. This was
bad oversight, for the Quarteruasters arc gene
rally the best sailors in the ship aud in the absence
of superior officers are fully qualified TO take
charge. Had there lesn quarterniasier at the
wheel Of the Austria, he could not only have
altered her COURSE but could have stopped her if he
had seen fit when be saw that snch was the only
hope of saving the boats and the lives of those
board.
Some Of the crew, without orders, seemed to
mprehend the danger, and tried 10 restore con-
fidence among the passengers: hut no one liked
to take the responsibility OF assuming command.
Two men actually seized axes to cut away the
rrasie, and some oftbe passengers unbent the head
sails for the purpose OF sniothering the fire. but
want of decision was manifest in every movement
hnr haal and ttla in
few moments that it was the old game Of "every
man for himself"
Tho Austria amply supplied with fire en-
gines, force pumps, hose. ire buckets, &C. but all
Jnquired.
Although the discipline of having a station for
every man, and compelling every man to t his
station. was not the rule on board this illfated
steamer, yet there system OF discipline
that wss never relaxed, viz: securing brass work,
pointing rcpes-eLds, grating and other small
work The men were we'll worked, but not we'll
trained. Naturally slow, they we're permitted to
almost crawl along their duties, instead of being
compelled TO move rapidly as is the custom IN
American aud British ships The captain himself
evidently man Of ability in the ordinary
navigation of the ship; but neither he noraDy OF
his officers appeared to have the experience neces
sary 10 take care of such ship; her details were
too extensive for any ofthen to comprehend at a
glance, and hence the miserable pats they played
in the terrible tragedy.
The boats might have been lowered, the masts
and spare spars could have been cnt away and
thrown overheard, the chip herself could have
been stopped, and no doubt hundreds of lives
saved.
A purse of S51 has been made u New York for
Charles +. Y. Rosen. OF the survivors OF the
Austria catastrophe. OF this sum SIS were con
trouted by the Hamburg Steamship Company. 4
free pass by steamer has been offered him frcm
New York to Richmond, Va, where he resides.