The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-29
THE LOSS OF THE AUSTRIA.
FUR1HER PARTICULARS.
STATEMENT OF MIR. CHARLES BREW.

Austria made by Mr.. Charles Brew an English pas
senger
took passage at southampton the 4th, in the
steamship Austria, Capt Heydtmann which left Ham
burg on the I'd We sailed at 5, p. M the evening be-
ing little misty we in consequences, anchored between
the Isle of Wight and the main land sailed again at
o'clock the following morning. In weighing anchor
unfortunate accident occurred by which one OF the
crew lost his life owing to Encouragement the
anchor out wbring the oapstan round with terrific
force hung the men in all directions two severe
ly injured, and thrown overheard he supposed
to have been instantly killed. he rose to the sur
face From the time tho ship was laid on her course
experienced strong westerly winds. On the 18th the
weather favorable, and the 18th speed Of
eleven knots had been attained, and all were in high
hopes of reaching New York by the 18th.
At little after o'clock, p M, on the quarter
deck saw dense volume of smoke burst frvm the
after entrance of the seeragc. Some women ran aft
exclaiming, q the ship is fire what will become OF
r. The ship instantly put at half speed, at which
she continued until the magazine exploded, from which
infer the engineers instantly suffocated. only
walked from where the quarter deck to the waist
of the ship, when the flame breaking through the
lights amdships AS the ship was head to the wind the
fire travelled with fearful rapdity,
then went to the at the wheel, and told him to
put the vessel with her side to the wind. He hestated
probably did not understand me, he native Of
Hamburg / then got German gentleman to speak to
him At this time / saw some persons letting down the
boat the port side OF the quarter deck What became
of the boat don't know, but think she was crushed
under the then went to get boat over from
the starboad side of the quarter deck but the moment
we laid our hands the ropes there many peo
pie who crowded into it that could not lift it of the
blocks We therefore left it for few minutes until the
people got out when returned and launched it over
the side of the ship, when, the people a rushing into it
again. it descended with great violence into the water and
was Immediately swamped, all the people being washed
out except three who held to the sides We then let
down rope and pulled up one person. who proved to be
the steward. Another in the act of being hauled up,
was strangled by the rope. - aa
The fire now came too ercely to attempt to get up
any from the swamped boat. All the first cabin
passengers the poop with the exception OF flew
gentlemen, who must have been smohered in the smok
ing room. Many of the second cabin passengers were
also the poop but number of them got shut into
their cabin by the fire. Some of them pulled up
through the yentator but the greater number could not
be extricated The last woman who drawn up said
there six already suocaed We perceived that
the ship had got her head to the wind again. that the
flames the quarter deck. In consequence Of
the crowd could not get to the wheelhouse to ascertain
the reason but informed that the helmsnan had
deserted his post and that the vessel being left to herself
headed to the wind of her own accord. &
At this time the the quarter deck indies
cribabe and truly heartrending Passengers rush
ing francally to and husbands seeking their wives
wives in search Of their husbands relatives looking after
relatives mothers laenting the loss of their children,
some wholly parayzcd by fear Others mady crying to
be saved but few perfectly calm and collected. The
flames pressed SO closely upon them that many jumped
into the relatives, clasped in each others arms,
eaped and met watery Two girls, supposed
to be sisters jumped over and sunk kissing each other
missionary and wife eaped into the together and
the stewardess and assistant steward in arm follow
ed. One Hungarian gentleman with fine children,
four of them girls, made his wife jump in then blessed
his six eldest children, made them jump in after
the other, and followed them with the infant in his own
arms. .asae ga ss,s.
l. about this time, standing outside the buwarks,
holding by the davs leaning to avoid the flames
which were leaping towards me. saw swamped boat
al .l
the were tied in her. thought if could get to
her would be enabled to myself and Others
lot myself down, passing over man who cnging
to it, but who refused to come with me. took out
pennife to cut the tackle the large blade broke and
severed it with small blade The ship passed ahead
As the approached found the boat drawn towards
it, tried to keep the boat off, but the caught
and capsized her dived from the ship, and
to the surface boat which keel upwards
got her. and by pressing sde with the assist
of wave righted her, but she still swamped
and the had been knocked out by the screw. The
only thing could find in her to paddle with were some
laths nailed together as sheathing for the sides.
When looked around tho ship was quarter of a mile
away from I could the ladies and gentlemen
jumping off the poop into the water in twos and threes
some of the ladies in flames Several hesitaed To lean
from the burning ship until the last moment as the
height was twenty feet, and only at length com
pellcd to throw themselves off to avoid painful
DEATH .t... .. aar tl&A #t%# -
In half an hour not soul was to be seen on the poop
pulled after the ship and picked up German who was
swimming strongly. got him beside me on the boat,
and we padded after the ship with the laths saw
vessel under sail approaching She reached the steamer
at about 5, p We continued padding toward them
and about74 o'clock after being five hours in the water
got within hail Of the sailing vessel which put off
boat and took board She proved to be the French
barque Maurice, Captain Ernest Renaud, of Nantes,
bound from Newfoundland for the Isle of Bourbon with
fish, She had up to that time rescued forty passengers
of the burning steamer chiefly taken off the bowsprt
though few picked up floating around At about
8o'cock, Of the metallic boats up with about
twenty three persons including the second and third Off
Afterwards three four were picked up float
ing on piece Of the broken boat The second officer
taken up, having been swimming, with nothing to
float him, for six hours The second and third officers
we're severely burnt one male passenger was burnt
frightfully, and other male passengers slightly
There were but Elk women saved three of whom were
burnt--one In shocking manner. Captain Renaud
acted with the utmost kindness He gave clothes as far
he could furnish them to the suffering passengers and
acted nurse doctor and surgeon to the burnt people,
dressing the wounds of the females with delicacy and
tenderness that exhibited benevolent and amiable dis
position. did not officer Of the ship during the
fire, and am certain there not Of them or the
crew on the poop, except the at the wheel for
short time understood that when the captain heard of
the fire, he rushed deck without cap and when he
the flames exclaimed tive are all lost!"
He tried to get out boat which, when let down was
swamped, and he, whether accidentally or not do not
know, fell into the sea- and soon left far behind
The fourth officer in this boat He cut her loose
from the dayits she carried under the screw and
smashed, and several in her drowned Three or four
men escaped fragment, and picked up by the
Maurice as before stated About the same time one metallic
life boat wns let down from the port bow and swamped