Smyrna times., 1858-10-07
NJ [ S C. e l. l. A NEOUS
The Burning of the Steamship Austria,


The statements of the rescued passengers o.
the Austria are of absorbing interest. Takina
them together, as they were seen from different
points of view, we get correct idea of the ca.
tastr0phe. The conduct of the CAPTAIN does
not appear TO have been of the discrediiabIe
character first reported lie exerted himself
to get out the boats and preserve something
like order among the distracted passengers. and
even lost his own lite while doing SO.
Mr.. Berry'S statement.
MIR. Phillip Berry, Of Hackcnsack, says: 81
procured llte-buoy, and remained upon the
quarter deck as long as the flames permitted
| saw another boat lowered in the meantime.
which was smashed, and about fifty lives were
lost IN an attempt to get into it. The scenes
on deck were heart-rending. A woman came
to me and begged me for Gods sake to cut her
| throat; she was running wildly about the deck,
ana very soon lost sight of her. Others were
crying and lmplorlDg for help from each other,
but there was none. In fact, each was look
ing out for himself and all discipline was lost
Not man of the crew was to be seen. Those
saved merely saved their watches and the
clothes they had on. Not particle of luz.
gage whatever was saved. Several of Us
Jumped over, intending to help each other
when IN the water, but were unable to do so
from the fact that the vessel moved so rapidly
away. We were four houIs on the buoy, and
was the hrst person picked up by the Maurice.
One OF those who came with me on a life buoy
was subsequently seen floating dead upon the
water.
Mr.. Tezin's Statement
MIR. Alfred Vein, of Philadelphia, lowered
himself over the stern by u rope into the water,
where he found several other persons sustain
ing themselves in the water in the same man.
ncr. lie remained there for nearly an hour.
While in this position Mr.. Ed. Boge, of Ba-
ton Rouge, La, clambcred over the stern, and
sustaining himself in the water by the aid of
rope which he had succeeded in obtaining DOS.
session of, he requested Mr.. Vein, in case he
should be lost, to state to Mr.. BIS wife that his
last and only thought was of her. At this time
they sPled what they supposed to be lfe-pre-
server, and Mr.. V. let 60 his hold of the rope
aud swan to the floating article, which he se-
cured, and found to be quantity OF corks, GOV.
cred with canvass. On turning his attention
to the vessel, which was still under steam, he
could not distinguish Mr.. Boge in the place
where he left him, and he thinks he must have !
Deen washed away, as he was complaining of
feeling weak when Mr.. V. left in pursuit of
the life-preserver. BY the aid of various float.
ing articles, Mr.. V. succeeded in forming a
small raft, on which he sustained himself until |
he was picked up by the French bark Maurice, |
about four hours after the fire was discovered. /
Mr.. Vein described the scene on board the ill.,
iated vessel, after the fire was discovered. as
terrib' y painful, especially among the steerage
ana second CABIN passengers. The ladies IN
the hrst cabin where, he says, very quiet, with
but u few exceptions. In one case, he saw the
clothes burnt off the person OF a lady before
she could be induced to take to the water A
number of the females became deranged from
fright, and their peals of insane laughter added
% the terror of the scene. Nor was this dis.
traction confined TO the ladies. Mr.. Vein saw
'ne gentleman running about the stern of the
BOAT wringing his hands in frenzy, while his
wife stood calmly by, awaiting the fate which
She could not avoid.
Mr.. Vein states that shortly after the fire
)roke out, one of the wooden boats was safely
owered, and left the steamship with four or
i've persons, among The fest a Mr.. IIoxie.-
There is no account of this boat having been
'icked up)
The insurance on the vessel is about 97O,-
no. aud will nearly cover her loss. She was
insured in Europe, chiefly in Hamburg and f
london. The Insurance on the cargo is un.
ertaIn. The total value was supposed to have :
een not less than 100000, and may have
cen S450,000 or $500,000.
The catastrophe has not had pprallel for {
many years, except perhaps in the wreck of
he President aud other cleaners never heard !
f. by the wreck of the Central America 422
we're lost, yet l70 were fortunately saved. In b
he loss Of ordinary ships, however, the loss of
fe has occasionally been exceeded. For in ,
tance, in the wreck of the Peruvian ship, Mer-
cdrs, lost May, 1854, 73l perished out of $50. I
The list of the lost comprises only one hum a
red and seven persons, making, with the 68 :
lved, one hundred and sevenly-fve persons ac- n
ounted for. There are supposed to have been il
gu persons on board, and they may be classed r.
S follows:
Known 10 be saved, 6S &
Lost, whose names are known, 107
Lost, whose names are unknown, 3S6