The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-29

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE STEAMSHIP Aus
rRA AND FIICITFuI Loss or LIFE.-
The destruction of the steamship Austria, the
confirmation Of which was received here on Mon
day, was the most appalling calamity which has
ever befalcn a steamer on the Atlantic, and if
the reports of the loss Of life be true will prove
to have been the most destructive. According
TO the information in our possession up TO the
present writing. four hundred and scvcnty-one
souls must have persisted by Hood and fire.
The particulars which have reached rs
are Of the most fearful nature. Two attempts
to escape by the boats resulted in the loss Of the
launch and the life boat with all on board; while,
a. the devourng element gained strength and
swept The decks, the miserable passengers
dropped of in twos and tllrecs into the sea.
many Of them all in flames, trusting themselves
in the last extremity to the most merciful of the
two elements. What a horrible contemplation!
As TO the origin of the fire there is in this
case no mystery. and we are compelled to say
that Il more fragrant instance Of carelessness and
apparent Indifference to human life is not upon
record. In most eases ofdisaslcrs al sea. whether
disorder and confusion among crowd Of pas
sengers is inevitable; but in the ease of the Aus
tria the most hopeless want Of order and disc-
pline prevailed. No strenuous efforts seem to
have been made 10 suhduc the flames or to afford
protection TO the most helpless of the passengers
The most lamen,ahle feature in the affair j. that
out Of all the women on board six only were
saved. and Of the liily-seyrn children. not one.
Another incident also related in the reports
reflects discrcdii upon Of u class Of men hit
htnally gallant and humane namely captains
Of vessels II appears that two ships hove in
sight while the Austria was burning, and that
one Of them bore away from the wreck, refusing
Ia aid the sufferers The master of that vessel -
whatever she deserves ccnsurc for his in
humanity. But il often happens that shpmasters
are deferred from rendering assistance in cases
Of this kind by fear Of vitating their insurance
policies If they deviste from their course, though
doubtless there are some who decline b. succor
the distressed through sheer Indifference or in
humanity. The Chamber Of Commerce. OF some
authoritative body should 10 IL that the dcvia
ton Of vessel from her regular course for the
purpose of assisting other vessels in distress
should not he prciudicial to her insurance. Com
mon humanity demands that such an alteration
In the regulations governing marine insurance
rhn,iu b. made. and NJ once
After every disaster ai sra n strict iuvcstga
ton into the cause should H. had, with a view to
provide against the recurrence Of such cause in
thc future. II Is not possible to guard abso-
lutely against accidents. because man Is still not
perfect. bat an insight into the particular origin
Of every calamity would furnish safeguards
against others Hitherto water-tight compart-
mcnts have been regarded "a security against
los Of life by shpwreck. After the Arctic wa
lost. II will H. remembered that every
outgoing steamship was announced &c hav-
ing watcr-tight compartments. 30 constructed
that IL she were e. strike al iceberg or come In
collision with another vessel, life would still h.
secure. Yet here l. a vessel built Of iron. with
waicr-tight compartments and every appliance
for safety. perishing by fire with the most terri
bic results to human life. II i clear that some
better protection from IRE on board ~hip l. sin
required