Southern shield., 1858-10-09
LOSS OF THE AUSTRIA. FULL PARTICULARS. Statement of one of the Pas
 sengers.
CONFIRMATION OF FORMER ACCOUNTS.


 We are in receipt of our New York files of the 18th ult., and learn that on the arri- val of the Lotus at Halifax she was imme- diately boarded by the Agent of the Asso- ciated Press, who obtained the following statement from one of the surviving pas sengers:
 STATEMENT OF CHARTERS BREWS.
 I took passage at Southampton, on the 4th, in the steamship Austria, Captain Heydtmann, which left Hamburg on the 2d. We sailed at P. M, the evening being q little misty; we, in consequence, anchored between the Isle of Wight and the main land; sailed again at o'clock on the following morning. In weighing anchor an unfortu- nate accident occurred by which one of the crew lost his life. Owing to some misman- agement the anchor ran out. whirlng the | capstan round with terrific force and hurl- ing the men in all directions. Two were severely injured, and one thrown overheard; be is supposed to have been instantly killed, as he never rose to the surface.
 From the time the ship was laid on her | winds On the l2th the weather was more favorable, and on 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., | was on the quarter-deck. l saw dense volume of smoke burst from the after en- trance of the steerage. Some women ran aft, exclaiming, ''The ship is on fire, what what will become of us P The ship was instantly put at half speed, at which she continued until the magazine exploded, from which 1 infer the engineers were instantly sull'ocated. l only walked from where l was on the quarterback to the waist of the ship. when saw the flames breaking through the lights amdships. As the ship was head to the wind, the fire travelled with fearful rapidity.
 then went to the man at the wheel, and told him to put the vessel with her side to wind. He hesitatcd-probably did not un- derstand ne, as he was a native of Hamburg. I then got German gentleman to speak to him. At this time I saw some persons putting down the Do t on the port side of the quarter -deck What became of the boat don't know, but think she was crushed 1 l over from the starboard side of the quarter deck. but the moment we laid our hands on the ropes. there were so many people who crowded into it that we could not lift it off the blocks We, therefore, left it for a few minutes. until the people got out, when we returned. and launched it over tho side of the ship, when, the people all rushing in to it again, it descended with great violence into the water. and was instantly swamned, all the people being washed out excepting. three. who held on to the sides. We then let down a 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.
 The fire now came on too fercelv to at- tempt to get up any more from the swamp ed boat. All the first cabin passengers were on the poop. with the exception of q few gentlemen. who must have been smothered in the smoking room. Many of the second cabin passengers were also on the poop, but q number of them got shut into their cabin bv the fire. Some of them were pull ed up through the ventilator, but the great CT number could not be extricated. The last woman who was drawn up said there were six already suhfocated. We now perceived that the ship had got her head to the wind again. so the flames came over the quarter deck.
 In consequence of the crowd, could not get to the wheel-house to ascertain the req son. but was informed that the helmsman had deserted his post. and that the vessel, :, 1 being left to herself, headed to the wind of her own accord. At this time the scene on the quarter deck was indescribable and tru- lv heart-rending. Passengers were rushing l franticallg to and fro-husbands seeking their wives, wives in search of their hus- bands. relatives looking after relatives, mothers lamenting the loss of their children, some wholly paralyzed by fear, others mad | lv crying to be saved but few perfectly calm and collected The flames pressed so closely upon them that may jumped into the sea- Relatives clasped in each others arms, leaped over and met a watery grave; two girls, supposed to be sisters, jumped over and sank kissing each other. A missionary and wife leaped into the sea together, ana the stewardess and assistant steward, arm in arm. followed One Hungarian gentle man, with seven fine children, four of them girls, made his wife jump in, then blest hls six eldest children. mado them jump m one after the other. and followed them with an infant in his own arms. I, about this tune, was standing outside the bulWarks holdlng 1 on by the davits, leaning out to avolo the flames, which were leapng toward me. saw a swamped boat under me, splnnlng oy rope still attached to the ship. As the oars were tied in her I thought, if l could get to her, would be enabled to save my self and some others. l let myself down by rope, passing over man who was ciing- ing to it, but who refused to come with me. I took out penknife to cut the tackle; the large blade broke, and then severed 1t with the small blade. The ship passed ahead As the screw approached found the boat drawn towards it. tried to keep the boat off, but the screw caught and capszed her over me. dived away from the ship and came to the surface near boat which was keel upwards. got on her, and by press ing on one side with the assistance of a wave she righted, but was still swamped. The oars had been knocked out by the screw.-- The only thing could find in her<to pad dle with was some laths nailed together as sheathing for the sides. When l iooKeu around, the ship was quarter ot a mll5 away from me- I could see ladies ana gentlemen jumping off the poop m t"os 7, anu threes. some of the ladies in flames. oev- eral hesitated to leap from the burning ship l. = Il. two