The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-10
RIIRNING OF THE AUSTRIA.

line steamship k1uotiint "hANA w.
sea Sept. 18th, left Hamburg for New YORK on
the 4tb. having on board 425 passengers, oil
whom s6s were adults and 81 children. The
officers and crew numbered 103 SO that there
were 52s souls on board, of whom 67 only are
known to have been saved, leaving the fearful
balance of 46l, who were either drowned, suiio-
Gated. or burned to death. The following ae-
count of the disaster is from the narrative OF
Mr.. Charles Brewer, one of the rescued passen-
gers:
In accordance with the regulations the cap
tain had ordered the boatswain's mate, under
the superintendence of the fourth officer, to fu-
migate the ship, and they were engaged IN THIS
process when the accident occurred by when
nearly Eve hundred persons lost their lives.
The operation was performed by dipping
heated iron chain into bucket of tar; but it
appears the other end of the chain was too hot
for the purpose, and letting it fall from his
hand it upset the bucket, scattering the tar all
around the deck. The heated iron set the tar
on FIRE. and the flames spread with fearful ra-
pidity before any attempt could be made to
cheek their progress Every door and window
and hatchway had been previously thrown open
to aid the process of fumgation, and the fresh
air rushing in from all sides only served to in
crease the FIRE, which in few minutes cut Oh
ALI communication between the forward and at-
ter part of the vessel.
All this time the ship was going at the rate
of ten knots an hour, against light westerly
breeze, and heading about west half west by
south. while the wind was from point west by
north. Hardly five minutes had elapsed after
the accident occurred before the flames spread
as far as the forward hatchway, and broke
through the upper deck. The cry of fire re-
sounded through all parts of the ship, and those
who could escape from below rushed upon deck
frantic with terror. The captain made his ap-
pearance on deck about this time, and endeav-
ored to have the second boat on the port side
lowered, but in the attempt to do so it is thought
he fell into the water.
Mr.. Morganstern, the first engineer, came up
less than minute after. and gave orders to
stop the engines and to set the steam pumps
working. He himself went away, probably for
the purpose of getting below to have his orders
executed, but was seen few minutes subse-
quently jumping into the water with his clothes
on fire. L.l
Mr. Brewer goes on to describe the horrible
state of confusion that reigned on board, and
thus proceeds: "The scene on the quarter deck
was indescribable and truly heart-rending.
Passengers were rushing frantically to and fro
husbands seeking their wives, wives in search
of their husbands, relatives looking after rela-
tiyes, mothers lament the loss of their children,
some wholly paralyZed by fear, others madly
CRYING 10 be saved; bnt q few perfectly calm
and collected. The flames pressed so closely
upon them that many jnmped into the sea; rel
atives, casped in each others arms, leaped
over and met a watery grave; two girls, sup
posed to be sisters, jumped over and eaDk KISS
Ing each other. A missionary ana wile ieaped
into the sea together. and the stewardess and
In fnII0Wpd. (0e
Hungarian gentleman, with seven fine children,
four of them girls, made his wife jump In, then
blessed his six eldest children, made them jump
in one after the other. aud followed them with
an infant in his own arms.
/, about this time, was standing outside the
bulwarks. holding on by the davts, leaning out
TO avoid the flames, which were leapng to-
wards me. l saw o swamped boat under me,
spinning by a rope still attached to the ship; as
the oars were tied in her, thought if could
get to her would be enabled to save myself
and others. l let myself down by rope, pass
ing over man who was clinging to it. but WAC
refused to come with me. L took out PEN
knife to cut the tackle; the large blade broke,
aud then severed it with the small blade.
The ship passed ah rad. AS the screw ap-
preached found the boat drawn towards it.
tried to keep the boat off, but the screw caught
and capsized her over me. | dived away from
the ship, and came 10 the surface near a boat
which was keel upwards got on her, and by
pressing on one side, with the assistance of
wave she righted, but was still swamped. The
oars had been knocked out by the screw; the
only thing could find in her to paddle with
was some lathes nailed together as a sheathing
for the sides.
When looked around, tie ship was a quar-
ter of mile away from me. l could see the
ladies and gentlemen jumping off the poop into
the water in twos and threes, some of the ladies
in flames. Several hesitated to leap from the
burning ship until the last moment, as the
height was twenty-five feet, aud were only at
length compelled to throw themselves off to
avoid more painful death. In half an hour
not a soul was to be seen on the poop. l pull
ed after the ship and picked up a German who
was swimming strongly; got him beside me on
the boat and we padded after the ship with
the aths. l now saw vessel under sail ap-
she reached the steamer about P.
M; 'we continued pulling towards them, and
about half past o'clock. after being five hours
in the water, got within hail of the sailing YES
sci, which put off boat and took us on board.
She proved to be the French barque Maurice.
Capt Ernest Renard, of Nantes, bound from
Newfoundland for Isle of Bourbon, with fish.
She had, up to that time, rescued forty passen-
gers of the burning steamer, chiefly taken off
tue DOWSpIib, tuOuSu u lOW WSiC up
floating around At about o clock one of the
metallic boats came up, with about twenty-three
persons, including the first and third officers;
afterwards three or four men were picked up,
floating on piece of the broken boat. The
second officer was taken up, having been swim
ming, with nothing to foat him, for six hours.
The second and third officers were severely
burned; one male passenger was burned fright
fully, and some other male passengers slightly.
There were bnt six women saved, three of
whom were burned, one in shocking manner.
did not see an officer of the ship during the
fire, aud am certain there was not one of them
or the crew on the poop, except man at the
wheel for short time. | understood that
when the Captain heard of the fire, he rushed
on the deck without cap, and when he saw
the flames, exclaimed eve are lost |" He tried
to get out boat, which, when let down, was
swamped, and he, whether accidentally or not,
did not know, fell into the sea, and was soon
eft behind. The fourth officer was in this boat.
Ie cut her loose from the davits; she was car
led under the screw and smashed, aud several