New-York daily tribune., 1858-10-05

s,o.,,r F-ster Civ Capt Kiliam, frorl Hall
fax via Yarmouth \. y, arrived NJ ms pvt' 1asI
night and among her passengers were aiI. - NO1
ot Ko,tou and arrcs Drew Of LnglaHd VINO eSc'le'
- tl. vrrecl If lhc steamer Austria. Although we
M seen either of them, yet we learn from others,
10 whom passengers at Halifax communicate 'ne par
tcuars oi the tcrrlble disaster, lew iNtiHee ho'
before pubhrhcd'
and crew who rushed ON deck seemed to pause Tor %
moment and look eft, instncu1 ciy expecting orlels
lrom the captain officers that would restore dsc.-
phue; but 10 orders having been giVenno one vcse
with authority making il5 appearance 10 caim lAe
iunult--the mob rushed toward the boats. lew
only, who the utter folly Of such course tried TO
collect their friends around them and wait the --ue
IRON the time the alarm given until the hunes
obtained the mastery, by iuocious management every
boat might have been lowered. The Yesseilor "mhi'
WAS under C0utroi-tue enough 10 change hef course
SO that the fire could have been ko pt clear of the r r.
But tic boats themselves 80 securely hsicd and
chuCked, that under ordinary circumstances ma %
time would have been required 20 c.eai them. Be
sdes, the crew were slow IN all their movement
there 10 regular discipline beyond the mere
YatCL-and-watch oi a common merchant vessel.
The men had never been stationed to the boats, aud
Consequently in the hour peril cach ran toward the
Loet that was nearest One or two boats were there
fore possession OF the crew, ANA the ret were e't
10 the mercy of the passengers hence the terrible MS
mangC emeut of lowering them.
In most steamers, particularly those of the Cunlrd
line, there s always quarcrm8st-r standing near tie
bcmsInan to direct the course of the vessel; but there
Therefore, had to rely for orders upon the captain or
matef and when these were out OF the way, was LIFT
to his Own discretion. This was n bad oversight, Cor
the Quatterm6sters are generally the best sailors u
tine ship, and, IN the absence Of superior oii, el
fully qualified TO take charge. Had there been
qugrtermGstcr ~ the wheel Of the Austla, he could
not only have altered her course, but could have
stoIped heri he had ft, when he that such
was the only hope Of saving tle boats and the lives
Of those ON board.
Some of the crew. without orders seemed 90 COM
mud. ri4lf ga
among the passengers, but none liked to TAKE the
responsibility Of assuming commaul.
Two actually seized axes 70 cut away the lnasis
and of the pn-et gers AMBIENT the head sails for
the purpose Of snOth,rug tire FIRE, but want of drr'.
ion was Inanii,st m every movement. Ircrc Wa 40
head, and thc passengers saw IN ew moments lAAl
il was the old game of " every mau ior himself.
The Austria was amply supplied with hre englues
force pumps hose, fre-buoketa Nc., but all O.. tl
seen ed to have been out n the way wacn required.
Although tie discipline Of having station every
man and con pclp. every man o. G his station,
moi the rule on board this Inflated steamer yet There
wrl one sv-iCm OF discipline that never relaxed
ND securing brots-wolk, pointing ropes -ent., graft
iul0ud other small work. TIE 1A.L were Wcil W'f~~
cd ibut not well trained. Naturally slow, They were
pe!nittcd to almost crawl about tn"ir duties, ust-a
oi !cmg compelled 10 move rapidly as is the custom
IN american aud British ships. Ihe Captain himself
WA; evidently man Ot ability in the ordinary n.yi iga-
tioi the slip; bat neither he noT any of lis officers
APPEARED to have the experience ne cessHiN to take
case Of such ship; her details were too extensive for
ant one of them 60 comprehend at glance Nut hence
tEtscrabc parts they played IA the terrible tragedy.
Ihe boats n. gt have been lowered, the mas. and
su}rc spars could have been cui away and thrown
ov.rboard, the slip herself could have been stopped
aus no doubt hundreds of lives saved. some Of the
passengers say tina, the fire itself could have been
smiressed by common pTomptuess on the pGIt of the
ohi{ers for the men never appeared tc move without
ortrs. The hoTid details o the loss Of lie We shall
uot'lwcl upoi-thcy have been already spread before
the,puhhc; but from all learn, 10 appears that
th, noble vessel and her priceless freight ot human
Ee the victims OF thc Ae.ience oi her captain
an,. OliceTs.