Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-05
The Destruction OF the Steamship austria
and FrfghGfuI Loss OF Life.

r7,e Tsestructfou OF the Steamship Austria
and Frfgh1fuI Loss OF Life.
The destruction Of the steamship Austria, says
the New York Herald was the most appalling ealam-
itv which has ever befalen steamer on the Allan
tic and if the reports Of the loss Of life be rue,
will prove to have been the most destructive. Ae
oordiur TO the information in possession up to
the present writing four hundred and seventy one
souls must have persisted by food and fire.
The particulars which have reached us are of the
mast fearful nature Two attempts to escape by the
boats resulted in the loss Of the launch and the life
boat with all on board; while, the deVOurDg ele
ment gained strength and swept the decks, the
miserable passengers dropped off in twOs and threes
into the sea- many of them all in flames, trusting
themselves in the last extremity to the most merc
full Of the two elements. What horrible cOntem
platiOn
As 10 the origin Of the FIRE there is in this
mystery, and we are compelled to say that more
Aagraut instance Of oarelessness and apparent in
difference to human life is not upon record. In most
cases Of disasters at sea, whether by fire, storm or
collision certain degree Of disorder and confusion
among a crowd of passengers is inevitable; but IN
the cases of the Austria the most hopeless want of
order and discipline prevailed. No strenuous eff
forts seem to have been made to subdue the flames,
or to afford protection to the most helpless of the
passengers. The most lamentable feature in the
affair is, that out of all the board six only
were saved, and of the ffty-seven children not
Another incident also related in the reports re-
fleets discredit upon one of class of habitual-
" gallant and humane-namely, captains of vessels
It appears that two ships hove in sight while the
Austria was burning, and that one Of them bore
away from the wreck refusing to aid the sufferers.
The master Of that vessel-whatever she'was-de.
serves censure for his inhumanity. But it often
happens that shipmasters deferred from render
ing assistance in cases of this kind by fear of viii
ating their insurance policies if they devate from
their course, though doubtless there are some who
decline to succor the distressed through sheer indf
ference or iuhumanity. Some authoritative body
should see to it that the deviation Of vessel from
her regular for the purpose Of assisting other
vessels in distress should not be prejudical to her
! insurance Common humanity demands that such
! an alteration in the regulations governing marine
! insurance should be made, and at once.
After every disaster at sea a strict investigation
into the cause should be had, with a view to provide
AGAINST the recurrence of such cause in future 1t
is not possible guard absolutely against accidents
because man is still not perfect, but an insight into
! the particular origin of every calamity would fur
nish safeguards against others. Hitherto water
tight compartments have been regarded as security
against loss of life by shipwreck. After the Arctic
was lost, it will be remembered that every Out-go
ing steamship was announced as having Water-tight
compartments, so constructed that if she we're to
strike an iceberg or in collision with another
vessel life would still be Yet here is a
vessel built of iron, with water.tight compartments
and every appliance for safety, perishing by fire
with the most terrible results 10 human life Ii is
clear that some better protection from fire board
! ship is still required