Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-11-21

n tbs Csrsaaa En.slFoeassr Phillip Berry, enc
q the survivors Of the nl-fatea steamer Austria,
Gives some incidents of the torribls cstasEcphe.
which rsosntIy bsfsl her, from which We take the
fslloviue extract. What lessbn does i teach g
ali the living;
now Ak uFrDRL DID.
On board Of the Austria there we're but Sew
s-hrise;aus probably not more than twenty i've
There we're some bold Wretohed infcels cav
~ boldest and most Heaven.defying Of them al
nerish. The day before the disaster, tracts we're
distributed among the passengers and were kind
Ii received By the most Of them but this msns De-
Vysviv vas not satisfied to receive one and destroy
ID before our faces, but hessalthily gathered as
many as be could fromihe PASSENGERS, sndfeasted on
his shsme that heheddsslroted them HeYas as
bold Is lion when there was no danger neari
bur, when God spoke the following day, be trem>
bled al the slarn and he was scarcely able o move
saw him 20 overheard He threw out his
armies Sc be lay upon his back on the wave, his
eyes seemed as If they would start from their SOCK
eis the writings Of sgony were seen in bis fea-
tues; and as he vas sinking, ihe last saW Of him
was, he olenohed his hands, Wfinging them in ag-
ony, and he stleaving the earth for, Oh for
what m
A moment mere, and could We have stood on the
other side Of the river Of death, We might haVe
heard the despRirins cry Of 'foh thsta had been
wiser ! Wept when saw this
Though SO subdued IS he seemed in that hour,
aud with VotaiFe, would have given all that he was
worth for short reprieve yet had ne been rescued
he would probably like some others that we're hum.
bIed when death threatened be the same heaFtless
monster WheR the rescue came. Some who prayed
when the flames we're rushing on them, cursed when
they we're delivered. How mysterious What IN
ssaFchsble mercy is mingled with Gods judgment
May We not hope that, by their deAtn the 0ooless
and wicked on that steamer will be the means OF
Quiekening others into life We must believe It!
Hovv A CHRISTIAN Did! --f lH.,
From behind the rsgings OF those flames, there
comes the ssstill small voice" Of consolation. Al
low me briefly to nsrrate the Christian scene. AT
the time Of the alarm my travelling companion, II.
sehiebe Of our Theological Seminary, and myself,
were converting IN the cabin and found cur means
Of escape through the skylight. When We reached
the deck be vas exhausted, and while attempt
Ing to find out Of safety, left him Civ
ing consolation to those who so much needed it,
When found al hope Of relief for The vessel gon9.
returned to him for life-buoy for each Ct Us As
approached him, the following beautiful incident
occurred; forlorn female came 10 him IN the
greatest agony, Wringing her hands, and blrdensd
with fear, and asked him, "What can l dor he
replied, Trust in the Savior-He is merciful and
kind-He viii hear you" ''Oh, can't pray" she
answered. Then said he, 81 will pray with yon,
and be did 90. BE then left her and came TO me.
We bsde each other farewell, and stood converting
daring the few moments that remained TO rs on
the wreck. We delivered our farewell messages,
each to the other, 50 if either we're saved
friends would know they we're not forgotten By us
In bidding adieu 70 earIh--And will repeat 70 the
Christian world some Of the testimonies that be
left behind him. As he looked around at the hasta
enins flames and then ct the distant SAIL he said,
s'If IL is Gods will we viii be saVed-We may be;
but think not. He knows what is best Broth
err" said he, ''my only hope is the savior-hoW
precious he is Tell my friends if you are saved,
4 die bgPPy. Oh, my poor father and mother write
70 them, will you mott" At that moment We heard
fearful shrek a. our feet, and, looking down,
saw poor creature screaming wildly, with his head
from port HE, and the flames encirelIng it. ave
must soon 60" he said; precious brother farewell;
. few moments, and we shall meet In heaven" As
We had before agreed, we lesped into the oeesn al
the sane time. That leap parted US. He has gone
to higher service but left here 70 Plod on in this
"yals Of tears" q lille while longer.
Our small Christian company on the qusrter deck
was composed Of six brethren ard two sistersi and
amer giving each our last earthly embrace and fare
well Ne went to the side of the vessel resolved TO
cling 70 it IS long as possible What contrast be-
tween our band and those who knew not the pre-
ciousness Of having Jesus as their best frendl We
we're sustained II Lhat hour by our sa7lours pres
auee We we're COmpOsed-nOt fearing death,
though it met us 10 a fearful shape. We thought
not OF the merciless ocean beneath but Of God and
heaven overhead The calmness that reigned in our
lille circle is another instance Of the reality OF the
CHRISTIANS hope and the certainty that II Will not
fail when needed. There was nc such tranquil
scene as this among those who had placed their
trust outside of Christ and his Righteousness.
During these twenty minutes tbstI remained on
the vessel, were crowded pictures Of misery that
can ell a lifetime's contemplatVe hoursi but above
them towering in Eubime grandeur, the christian
heFoism of q few pIOus sOuls The fearefol Tragedy
could not daunt or smother that