The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-10-14
BURNING OF THE AUSTRIA.
Narrowing Expericnces of Pusveugeres.
STATEMENT ny Mr.. PALICRuscA.


MI. John Palicrusca is native Of Turkey
but has resided in this country for some time;
last October he left New York to visit his rela-
tons in Trieste, and was on his return to this
country. lie took steerage passage in the
Austria from Hamburg. From the time they
left Hamburg they had heavy westerly winds
ahead till the 18Th, which was beautiful day,
and the passengers had all gathered on the deck
to enjoy themselves. The sterrage had been
cleaned every day with lime and yinngar on this
day at about two O'clock, one Of the crew came TO
him and told him he must bring his bed Sc,
from his birth out on deck as they were going
to smoke the s,ecrage.' lie Immediately went
down and got his bed and blankets and brought
them on deck. few minutes uftcr he observed
some smoke issuing from the hatchwHy, and the
people soon began o scream fire. lie endeavored
to quiet them, saying he thought it was only
smoke and there could be no danger, aud they
need not be frightened, but directly he saw the
blaze OF the fire, and al the same tim4 the people
again began TO cry and scream fire and help. -
Just at this moment the Captain came rushing
up from below with "his face as whit, as snow,
and very much frightened and confused. One
of the passengers asked him what he was going
TO do, when he threw wup both his hands ia dis
pair and said "we are lost
The captain appeared perfectly wild, and did
not know what to do, aud gave no ordels TO any
one. Mr. Palicrusca Immediately began to look
about him for some means OF safety. lie saw on
the side of the steamer one OF the life boats was
ready to be launched, but the fire now came
bursting up through the deck, driving The pas
sengers from the boa', and forcing them part TO
the front and part to the rear Of the vessel. lie
was driven TO the bow with many Others; he
then got plank about eight feet long, which he
placed on his head, and took piece of rope to
fssten himself to it, and prepared to jump over
board. As he went TO the side of the vessel, he
saw enc Of the life boats there with no one IN it.
He dropped his plank, jumped into the BOAT and
began TO cut away the ropes in order 10 drop il
into the water. Before he could get the rope cut
in two with his small pocketknfc, the flames
came in his face aud scorchvd him 81 that he WIS
obliged to leave the boat aud 20 to the front
The passengers then cut away some OF the rig.
ging from the foremast, aud let down into the
water blankets aud ladies' clothing, and then
put them on the fire to try to quench the flames;
but il was of no avail; the flames increased and
drove them further forward. He saw the second
cook fall into the water end drown almost inn
mediavely; he also saw two men IN the water
trying to turn over one Of the boats; he thinks
those two men were savol Then the powder
exploded, which caused terrible fright among
the passengers, though it did not make a great
deal of noise.
At this time he saw the French ship in the
distance, whose captain, as he saw them INN d.
Liatey made all sail to reach them. Soon sftet
the foremost fell with terrible crash, aud hong
over the side, beating sgainst the vessel with
heavy ows. The second mast followed, and
as the ship tnrned little the flimrs swept the
length of the deck. forcing the passtnBers for
war !, over the sides and out on the bowsprit
| He saw one gentleman and laly jump overheard
with their clothes all in q hlaze. In orde' to
get out Of the reach Of the flames, which were