The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-10-14

were the Rev. Mr.. Hamm, 1 n s.
ary, Mrs. Hamm, Mr. Shie6e -.
Straub, a Baptist minister, Mrs. 66i1b,
Miss Becker, a governess in . faui)Yof
this city, Mr.. Berry and two or three
others. Itsoon became evident t|iSt
the alternative was inevitable. Taking
their positions on the edge of the quar-
ter deck Mr.. Shiebe gave the word
!" Let's co." and Immediately Mr.. Ber.
ry leaped overheard in advance oftks
others with his life buoy in his hand.
and as be reached the water he wss
compelled to let go his hold of It. while
he was carried under the waves. On
rising, he. discovered the life-buoy q
short distance from him, he swan to It.
adjusted it to his person and looked
about for Mrs. Hamm, whom he had
intended to assist after she leaped ipto
the water. None of the party were in
sight, and probably all were lost He
subsequently, saw the body of Mr.. Shi-
ebe floating on the surface, sustained
by his life-buoy. In a few moments
the Austria was Ions. distance away.
Bodies of men and women f1oated by
him frequently. He had seen the bark
Maurice toward the horizon before he
threw himself overheard, and knowing
her to be standing toward the steamer,
he swan in her wake for over an hour.
During this time, as he rose on the,
waves, he could see the bark, and after
about two hours struggle in the water,
believing himself to be within hailinc
distance, he called out to the bark
Soon boat from the bark neared him
and took him. He was the first per
son rescued at the time. Mr.. Berry
was quite exhausted, and he thinks
that half an hour longer. in the water
would have resulted in his death.
When taken on board, he was helpless
and unable to move. E -
Mr.. Berry was witness to MANY
scenes of thrilling interest that -fxaHs-
pired Oh the steamer He saw the
Hungarian family spoken of by Mr..
Brew, in his statement telegraphed
from Halifax. When death awaited
them by burning, if they remained on
the steamer, or by drowning if they
threw themselves into the water. he
gathered his wife and little ones around
him, first kissed and embracedhis wife.
in whose love their offspring had been
begotten, and then taking up each of
his little ones in their turn, he kissed it.
gave it a fathers blessing, and then
threw it into the foam that was TO re-
ceive it. At last, with their infant in
his arms, himself and wife made the
terrible leap into the vortex of surginp
waters, and in a moment the whole
were engulphed. Hearing a loud cry
of anguish, Mr.. Berry loolsod zoxsr-4i,o
steamers side. He discovered mans
head protruding from the port hole be-
low, seemingly making efforts to force
his way ont of the narrow aperture.
and on either side Of his head the
flames were streaming forth, leavinv-
the inference that his body was al
ready wrapped in flames. A lady ap-
preached Mr.. Berry and begged him to
cut her thIoat to put an end to her
sufferlngs. A Mrs. Dormitzer was
walking the deck, enduring alike great
physical agony in addition to mental
anguish. She asked Mr.. Berry if there
was any help. He only said to her, to
put her faith in Jesus Her reply, in
the despair that seemed to peryade her
whole being, was, I" Oh, God have
no strength no hope!" and she sank
down on the deck overcome. She was
still IN that position when Mr.. Berry
last saw her. For sometime, a LADY
friend of Miss Becker's was observed
by Mr.. Berry raising water and throw
ing it on the flames. During the first
period of the excitement, the Rev. Mr..
Hamm tried to organize force to get
water, but his efforts were unavailino.
Even set of buckets filed with water
about the capstan stand, were chained
and locked, so that when wanted thev
were unavailable. sli' }si
Mr.. Berry conversed with passen-
ger who was present at the time
when the preparations were made for
the steerage. The passen-
ger was afterwards lost. He stated to
Mr.. Berry that the fourth officer came
below and ordered the steerage to be
cleared. He then took wooden
bucket filed with tar and placed it in
The forward steerage. BY it was q
bucket of water. In the mean time
he portfolios and doors in the bulk
heads were thrown open, and the
steamer being headed to the wind a
strong draft played through the vessel
Everything was thus arranged for the
'apid spread of the flames the moment
he accident occurred, and they-j}.er-
out to catch to be famed by the dr:
nto confiagration.
Mr.. Berry confirms the statement =
'ther passengers, as to the utter indif
erence displayed by varisus officers
# the Austria as to the fate of the pas.
engers- The fourth officer, on ar1ivt
ng on board the Maurice, coDgratu-s
ated himself on being one of the first
Q leave the steamer. When Hahn.
he first officer arrived, he promised to
eturn soon with the Iife-boat on which
he had been saved, and rescue from
TO thirty whom he reported
IS clinging'to the bowsprit and chains
vhen be left. Subsequently,, on beinr
sked why he did not return, said that
he life boat had been cut loose from,
he bark hv u+bor,, - - -