The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-30

Of the steamer. Mr. Peterson get hold Of the wreck o.
the boat did likewise three others, OF whom his
friend Randcr, and by swimming and hanging 10 what
could momcnaIy bear them up, they contrved to live in
the wake til picked up by the brig Maurice. Mr.. p
says tina, he understood from those who were on
board and witnessed It, that the chief engineer rushed
shut of the steam but was driven back BY the flames
Had he succeeded in stopping the ship no doubt many
Mr. r gives the name Of Swedish gentleman not men.
toned before, being board-Mr. Andrew Nelson
and likewise his brother Swan, and hissster Carolina
MIR. ALFRED VEINS STATEMENT
Mr.. Alfred Vein, of Philadelphia, cabin passen-
ger the unfortunate steamship Austria when she caught
re, and the following is his narrative of the disaster
was In the cabin about two O'Clock the afternoon Of
the 10th instant, when was startled by unusual noise
and excitement outside and hearing cries Of re !" he
ship on fire. aud other similar ones, rushed upon
deck. There a terrible presented TO my view.
Thick smoke and occasional bursts of fame COM
pletely envcloped the smoke stack and cut OF the
view Of the forward part OF the steamer. The
flames seemed to rise from around the smoke
stack itself and out OF the main hstchway. did
take examine IL however for the around
me, and the excitement Of the occasion, deprived Of
any opportunity for reflection The ships head the
wind, and there a breeze blowing and she was
sieaming onward, the rising flames not only well
famed, but blown towards the after part OF the
vessel with the most awful rspdy just after came
deck large number OF second class passengers
wards the cabin the flames pursuing them and almost
sccrching them they made their appearance Many of
them believe, shut up in the second cabin by the
lire and smoke Notwithstanding all their efforts rush
az u. The flames soon seemed TO be blown the
vessel and attempts made TO their progress
could ships officer the time but heard
that the captain had Just out excaimng ave
lost" and then jumped the side OF the steamer APP
pcaring 10 be in state of insanity. Before this boat
had been launched, and he il and reached it, and
Just he caught the fourth officer also jumped over
board on the quarterback and made for the object
The bnai drawn In towards the side OF the steamer
however, he not able catch hold Of after lac had
jumped into the What became OF him afterwards did
not hear l. believed he drawn in under the pro
Keller by the vacuum produced by the vessels notion and
that ne killed instantly While the ship lay with her
side TO tho wind some faint attempts were made 70 quench
least arrest the progress of the IRE Some got out
ter pen knives hacked away ropes to TX them
thai they could be fastened TO buckets, which in
tended 10 be- the SIDE 10 draw up water These
attempts. al useless however; the knives broke,
Of the buckets lost soon as they touched
The water The ERE attacked the rigging, burned tho
ropes and compelled those who were cndcayorng to OPP
pose their sscendeDcy 10 eslst On other parts Of the
vessel some slender opposition wa also offered 20 the nre
head again turned n tho wind tho flames came cracking
ait towards the quarter deck with terrible rapdty We
could scarcely bear the heat now except at the very
semity OF the steamers stern The scene around me
fearful 10 behold Many persons were caping, one
after another into the ocean, regardless Of everything
The ladies' fcl mysteries and sunk upon tho deck
Several boats launched but they were all drawn to-
yards the pscrcllor and broken into many pieces Poo
pie wrc 70 be graspng anything they could catch
hold q that would float, and others throwing them
into the SEA TO those who were drowning, OF leap
n9 overheard with them IN their hands. Everything was
confuscnladcs shrickinc, children cryn ard running
70 te after part Of the ship, while tho cries and
looks Of the dying the water were heartrcnng.
.iI on cafe the arc and could remain board
without being scorchcd. About this time young
CONC of uss-what will We dor replied 1--WE sIl
die, am afraid, aud she Immediately went into hys,e.
rios and commenced 10 laugh aud exhibit other symptoms
III having loel her aud become a maniac. The
crowd crushed me away, and saw 10 more Of her
Nearly evesy one was now leapng overheard, and The
heat was msuHerabe. was scorchcd myself, shoagh
leaning The ships stern They jumped In pairs,
thrces and tours; sometimes band in hand II
coming my turn, but determined 10 bold long
~ possible. prepared two ropes. ny which might let
myself down distance. tia, might jump the far
aher from tho reach of the screw. While was doing
ibis saw the Hungarian gentleman and his family
zap overheard; but that scene has been
fully and accurately described by NJ. Drew. n was
most horrsfyng 70 behold 4. Sotae jumped overheard
very deliberately after pausing and looking round, first
a the re then ~ the water sw one young lady whose
dress caught ere, and who must previously have been
almost by the heat leap into the water when her
clothes in blaze. I now lct myself down and
umprd on astcrn. then struck ont for life buoy, or
BAG with cork in II, that was footing Inc ttc dis
sance from where was when rose to The surface.
scon reached y and on ookns around sier caught bod
Streaming away and the passengers caping from her one
after snoshcr She looked like great Are on the ocean
water In two or three places which could discern
either fragments Of broken boats life buoys, mn
swimming was all immersed In water except my head
and remained 80 until relief Aner had been
IN this state for about two three hours, saw
sail approaching slowly and sailing in zigyag direction
About hour afterwards she along side Of me aud
picked up after had been four hours in the water
Che was the French brig Maurice and she had on board
several cf the messengers of the wreck which she Ia
cssed She continued searching for more passengers
VI dar but could not fall In With any more Her captain
Kind and generous. He all he could under the
circumstance Her crew as their dry clothes and
Al absolute wants attended 10 with the most
dtable pompttude and generosity. From the Maurice
was transferred 10 the lotus described by Mr.. Drew
account, which brought ue TO Halifax.
do know what the origin n tho nre was from my
awn persona, observation but heard originated in the
burning of tar for the purpose Of fangatng the ship
Mr. Drewp accoun OF u Just word for word as heard
~ and in short have nothing farther 70 add that h. has
not stated
Captain waters or,hc Prince Albert has treated us with
great Kindness and attention W. had cabin passage W
the vessel though crowded that We were Obliged
" have our beds In the second CABIN The bcrts o. which
were also Oiled with passengers
While the Ore ragged in the Austria feeling of indifer
ence possessed Even the around no my own
peril had much terror for and the kind of feel
Many were driven 70 despair however and became post
ayely reckless Of their lives or anything else.
The meeting Of Mr.. Vein with his brother from rhlla
pnm was ne most affecting circumstance that we ever
rNncescu MT Ncziu the rescued had been obligng q
Che press and was at the that his brother
on board the Prince Albert answering questions 10
numher q persons around him When he caught sight o.
hs brother they hew into each others arms anc
warmly embraced. Locked in each 9th as embrac.
fher cnRues refused 70 speak and their deep anguish
sent rth gsh o. tesrs down their manly cheeks whcl
sadly moved tho persons around them The spectator
turned from them with conscious feeling that the seem
was sacred The young men met for the first time sine
they bad lost their mother and two loved members O
their family. How sad was the reflection that this dee
Rlocm and misery should have been planted In ,e bosom,
ri thousands of friends and relatives OF the lost by IA
utter careiessness q those 70 whom conains public