Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-09-29


terrible calamity is made by one of the res
cued passengers, gentleman of the British
civil service on his way to British Columbia
He is the only subject of that nation that was
saved. His narrative possesses deep and sad
interest
CHARLES BREw's STATEMENT.
81 took passage a: Southampton on the 4th
inst, in the steamship Austria, Capt. Heydt-
mann, which left Hamburg on the I'd inst
Sept. 18th eleven knots had been attained ;
all were in high hopes of reaching New York
by the 18th.
A little after P. NJ, while was on the
quarter deck, l saw dense volume of smoke
burst from the after entrance of the steerage,
and just then some women ran aft, exclaim-
ing, 'Ihe ship Is on fire What aoW become of
ass?
The ship was instantly put at half speed, at
which she continued until the magazine ex-
ploded, from which 1 infer the engineers were
instantly suffocated.
l only walked from where l was on the
quarter deck to the waist of the ship, when
L saw flames breaking through the lights
amidships. As the ship was head to the
wind, the fire travelled aft with fearful rapid
lty. l went to the man at the wheel and told
hun to put the vessels side to the wind-he
hesltated as he was a native of Hamburg,
got German gentleman to speak TO him.
AT this time [ some persons letting
down the boat from the port side OF the quar-
ter deck what became of the boat l do not
know, but think she was crushed under the
screw.
went with some others to get out the
boat from the starboard side of the quarter
deck. The moment we laid hands on the
ropes, so many crowded into it that we could
not lift 1t off the blocks l left it for few
moments until the people got out; then re-
turned and put it over the side of the ship !;
they all rushed in again-lt descended with
violence into the water and was instantly
swamped, and all the people were washed out
but three, who held on. We let down rope,
and pulled up one, who proved to be the
steward another in the act of being hauled
up was strangled by the rope The fire came
on too hercely TO attempt to get up the third
person.
All the first cabin passengers were on the
poop, with the exception of a few gentlemen,
who must have smothered in the smoking
room Many of the second cabin passengers
were also on the poop. but number of them
got shut into their cabin by the fire some eff
them were pulled up through the ventilator,
Hhb WIG SlOdlSI nuuOST COuIu HOT De 6XtTlCa-
ted. The last woman drawn up said there
were six already suffocated
l now perceived that the ship had got her
head to the wind again, so that the flames
came over the quarter deck In consequence
OF the crowd, l could not get to the wheel
house to ascertain the reason but was inform
ed that the helmsman had deserted his post,
and the vessel was left to herself, headed to
the wind.
at this time the scene on the quarter deck
was understandable and truly attending.
Passengers were rushing to and fro-hus-
bands seeking wives-wives in search of hus-
bands-relatlyes looking after relatives
mothers lamenting then children-some
wholly paralyzed by fear-others mady cry
ing to be saved but few perfectly calm and
collected. The flames pressed SO closely up
on them that many jumped into the sea-
Relatives, clasped IN each others arms, leap
ed over and met a watery grave. Two girls,
supposed sisters, jumped over and sank,
kissing each other.
A missionary and wife leaped into the sea
together, and the stewardess and assistant
steward, arm in-arm, followed.
One Hungarian gentleman, with seven
fine children, (four girls,) made his wife
jump in, then blessed the six oldest children,
'aH"NN NAASAA III Oil0 dttSI TIE OliibTt ana
followed them, with an infant in his own
arms.
About this time I was standing outside the
bulwarks, holding on by the dsvits leaning
out to avoid the flames, which were leapng
towards me. l saw a swamped boat under
me, spinning by a rope still attached to the
ship. AS the oars were tied in her, thought
that if l got to her l would be enabled to
save myself and some others. let myself
down by the rope, passing over man who
was clinging to it, but who refused to come
with me. took out my penknife to cut the
tackle, when the large blade broke then sew
cred 1t with the small blade. The ship pass
ed ahead. AS L approached the screw, l
found the boat drawn towards it; l tried to
keep the boat off, but the screw caught and
cspsized her over me. l dived away from
the ship, and came to the surface near the
boat, which was keel uppermost. 1 got on
her, and by pressing on one side, with the
assistance of wave. she righted, but was
still full of water. The oars had been knock
ed out by the screw. The only thing could
find in her to paddle with, was some laths
nailed together as sheathing for her sides.-
When looked round, the ship was a quar-
ter of mile from me. l could see ladies
and gentlemen jumping off the poop into the
water, in twos and threes-some ladies in
flames. Several hesitated to leap from the
burning ship until the last moment, as the
height was twenty-t two feet, and only at last,
when compelled to throw themselves off to
avoid a more fearful DEATH
In half an hour not a soul was to be seen
on the poop pulled after the ship-picked
up seaman who was swimming strongly,
and got him beside me on the boat and pad
died after the ship with laths.
saw vessel under sail approaching she
reached the steamer about Ave P. M. We
continued pulling towards them, and, about
half past seven clock, after being five hours
in the water, got within hail of the sailing
vessel, which put of boat and took us on
board.
She proved to be the French barque Maui
rice, Captain Ernest Remand, 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 bowsprit, but
few were picked up floating around.
About z. M. one of the metallic boats
came up with about twenty. three persons, in
Guiding the first and third officers. After
wards three or four more were picked up
floating on piece Of broken boat The Sec
ond officer was taken up, having been swim
ming with nothing to float upon, for six hours.
The second and third officers were severely
burned. One male passenger was burned
frightfully, and some other male passengers
slightly.
There were but six women saved, three Of
whom were burned, one of them in shock
lug manner.