The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-11-04


Of the passengers on the chip Austria when
she was burned, gave an account OF that
scene at prayer meeting in New York.
lie conducted the services as follows:
He opened the exercises by reading a
hymn, Of which the two following stanzas
are part:
III. through unrufiied seas,
Toward Heaven we calmly sail,
With grateful hearts, . God to thee,
Wen own the fayoring gale.
But should the surges rise,
And fest delay 10 come,
Blest be the sorrow, kind the storm,
Which drives Us nearer home"
lie then read the goth Psalm, and offer.
ed prayer - especially remembering the
friends Of all who persisted in the recent dis
aster Of the steamship Austria.
As was expected, Mr.. Berry made a
most affecting statement OF his experience,
from the moment the alarm was given that
the vessel was on fire 10 the time when be
was picked up. lie said that 10 that dread.
ful hour it was terrifying 10 witness the
manifestations Of ingratitude TO God in the
oaths and dreadful imprecations which
pierced the air lie, with few Christians,
mustered on the quarter deck and there
consulted upon the course 10 be pursued in
case they were compelled 10 flee the ship to
escape the tortures Of the flames. One wo.
man declared that death was inevitable, and
she was unpreparsd To meet her tate she
asked what she should do? She was al.
vsed to pray to God that the blood of .Je-
sus, which was shed for sinners, might
cleanse her from her sins she said that she
could not pray he MIR. h.. prayed for
her, and trusted that she had made her
peace with God, and was now enjoying
those scenes 50 different from the suffering
and struggling peculiar TO this world. As
the flames spread rapidly, it became neces-
sary for the little group on the poop TO
separate, some OF them To meet no more I'M
III they should meet in heaven. His par.
ticular friend who had accompanied him on
the passage exchanged promises with him
that il one Of them should be saved, he
should inform the friends of the other that
he had yielded up his spirit reposing on the
arms Of Jesus. They separated TO meet
not again until all the saved in Jesus Christ
meet ia heaven amid il gories.
Alter leaving the ship, be swan for long
distance. During the time of this struggle
his ears were continually pierced with the
screams and waing OF the perishing. Al
ter having been in the water for consider.
abb time, he deserted life buoy in the
distance, toward which several parties seem.
ed to be eDdeayorlng to reach. lie swan
with ali his vigor to reach it; be gained it,
but soon became cold in every part Of his
body. lie was all this while engaged in
sweet communion with hls God lie had
such view Of Gods love as he never had
before, and he was rather anxious than other.
wise to glide into the possession Of the sweet
blessings which passed before him, and hov.
cred over him, seeming to invite him home.
Never before did he remember those beauti-
ml lines OF Wesley so wildly, and never
before did he use them with better intent
Jesus, lover of my soul.
Let me Ia Thy bosom fly,
While the pillows near me roll;
While the tempest still is high
Hide me, d my sweet Savior, hide
TIL the storm of life IL past,
sale into the haven guide;
o receive my soul at last.
After getting possession ol the life buoy,
he turned AMI went in search of bis friend.
but all WAS quiet, save the murmuring OF the
ocean; those walings and groanlngs which
but short time previous rcsOunded through
the air had been sonced. and many victims
were engulied in that same element through
whicc he was struggling. lie hesita,ed as
whether he should struggle longer; it seemed
to be OF little use TO prolong life, simply "
endure more pain in dying at last Every
limb was cold, the blood Ielt Us if circulation
had ceased. and the bliss Of dying was great.
lie was raised to the top OF wave, AMI
from that eminence he saw u sail in the dis
lance and almost simultaneously with the
glimpse oil the the possibility OF being saved,
his body became warm in every part the
blood c0ursei through his system with ~
ucwed vigor he made for the sail. and was
duly preserved ~ u witness To bear his
testimony OF Gods infinite mercy, long sui.
IerIng, and loving kindness. When he found
himself amonIthe saved he could no, explan
how he ielt, and even while addressing that
sNN''A ht u'bNNi st(hSh tiat uhu bt'-
vented the experience of these joys which
opened before him that awful moment when
he expected TO die. At the conclusion Of
his statement. he made . brief application
of the circumstances attendant upon the
great and terrible disaster warning sinners
to flee from the wrath to come. and To ac-
knowledge Gods goodness, his love and
tender mercy, in bes,owing bis boundless
blessings upon our ungra,eful human na-
ture.
How rug Pass Is AFFLICTED By DEAD
lls,ps. Railroads occasionally complain
OF deadheading. but no institution suffers 50
much from il a. the press. A sensible wri-
ter says;
The press eudurcs the infection OF dead.
hcailsm from the pulpit, the bar. and the
stage from corporations, societies aud in
divduals. II is expected to yield is inter.
,sts il is required Ia give strength TO weak