SS Austria was a steamship of the Hamburg America Line

Hamburg America Line

The Hamburg Amerikanische Packetfahrt Actien Gesellschaft was a transatlantic shipping enterprise established in Hamburg, Germany during...

 which sank on 13 September 1858, in one of the worst transatlantic maritime disasters of the nineteenth century, claiming the lives of 449 passengers and crew. The Austria was built by Caird & Co. of Greenock

Greenock

Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...

, Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

 and was launched on 23 June 1857. She was 318 ft and 2,684 BRT

Tonnage

Tonnage is a measure of the size or cargo carrying capacity of a ship. The term derives from the taxation paid on tuns or casks of wine, and was later used in reference to the weight of a ship's cargo; however, in modern maritime usage, "tonnage" specifically refers to a calculation of the volume...

, with three masts

Mast (sailing)

The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall, vertical, or near vertical, spar, or arrangement of spars, which supports the sails. Large ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship...

 and single screw propeller propulsion.

After a cancelled British Government charter, she went into service with the Hamburg America Line

Hamburg America Line

The Hamburg Amerikanische Packetfahrt Actien Gesellschaft was a transatlantic shipping enterprise established in Hamburg, Germany during...

 on 1 May 1858 on the Hamburg

Hamburg

-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...

-New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 route.

Tragedy at sea

On 1 September 1858, SS Austria captained by F. A. Heydtmann

F. A. Heydtmann

F.A. Heydtmann was captain of the Hamburg America Line’s ill-fated steamer Austria at the time of its sinking on September 13, 1858. As the Steamboat Austria disaster was caused by negligence of the crew, F.A. Heydtmann was ultimately considered responsible for the worst transatlantic steamer...

 sailed from Hamburg

Hamburg

-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...

 on her third voyage to New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. At approximately 12:00, on 13 September, at coordinates 45°01′N 41°30′W, a decision was made to fumigate

Fumigation

Fumigation is a method of pest control that completely fills an area with gaseous pesticides—or fumigants—to suffocate or poison the pests within. It is utilized for control of pests in buildings , soil, grain, and produce, and is also used during processing of goods to be imported or...

 steerage

Steerage

Steerage is the act of steering a ship. "Steerage" also refers to the lowest decks of a ship.-Steerage and steerage way:The rudder of a vessel can only steer the ship when water is passing over it...

 by dipping a red-hot chain into a bucket of tar; the chain became too hot for the boatswain

Boatswain

A boatswain , bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The boatswain supervises the other unlicensed members of the ship's deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews...

 to hold, and it was dropped onto the deck, which immediately burst into flames; although the ship was traveling at only half speed it was impossible to stop the engines as the engine crew had become asphyxiated. When the helmsman abandoned the wheel, the ship swung into the wind, spreading the flames down the length of the ship, racing through the mahogany veneer and varnished bulkheads, as passengers jumped into the sea. The passing barque

Barque

A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...

, Maurice of France rescued most of the survivors, and the Catarina of Norway picked up more the next morning. As the blackened hulk was left to sink, all but 65 of 538 passengers were lost.

Survivors

SURVIVORS OF THE AUSTRIA ON BOARD OF THE MAURICE.

• OFFICERS OF L'AUSTRIA.

L. Hahn, first officier, B.-W. Heitmann, 2e officer.
J. Bernitt, 3e officer.
C. Michachi, bootsmann.
C. Plate, quartermaster.

• FEMALES SAVED.

Maria Friederich, Prag.
Rosalia Itzig, Lobsenz-Posen.
Bettig Ergwurm, Lemberg-Lali.
Kalhorina Ginkel, New-York.
Becca Bovendamn, Schambick.
Finna Jenschild, Sedorfun.

• MENS SAVED.

Franz Chismer, New-York.
Charl Tras, Chiers-Insperton of civil Breschat.
Théodore Eisfeld, New-York.New York Philharmonic

New York Philharmonic

The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...

 music director
Richard de Dunfeld, Dresde.
Jean Polekrwska, New-York.
David Cohn, Breslaw.
Wilhelm Folker, Liéchen.
Fried Reinlander, Rh. P.
Jacob Rill, Ragern.
Franz Litz, Mainz.
Emil Sasse, Engar.
Dort Scheck, Coln, Gymnasium of Coln professor
Wilh Becker, Solingen.
Joseph Wepfer, Ellenville.
Carl Lemerknuk, Brauwneig.
Leopold Fiteller, Pochlow.
George Huhlmann, Lincinati.
Fritz Thompson, Cappeln.
Fidje Hohirloo, Rulones-Mildins.
Edward Avindoph, Stewart.
Fried Betke, Lenzen.
Gust Wollussen, Cappeln.
Philhiph Berry, Hakensork.
Fried Stabner, Preusnen.
Ferd Stabner, Preusnen.
Heinrich Osbahz, Bremenbek.
Carl Becker, Blomberg.
Hermann Randet, Sihweden.
Iwen Peterson, Schweden.
Clauss Hogguist, Schweden.
Olivier Pool, Asmiant.
John Friebold, Bremenbek.
Niclans Surgensen, Matros.
Herman Richter, Finge.
August Lass, Cappeln.
Nicolaïn Jicks, Hwendel.
Christian Buchholss,Berzberg.
Samuel Hess, Hotzesen.
Hein Herase, Berlin.
Peter Wagner, Worms.
Wulf Milhaw, Worms.
Levy Rock, Tudorf.
Samuel Pallack, Rutden.
Philipp Müller, Hamen.
Ernst Witte, Moden.
Adolf Brinskel, Mannheim.
Charles Wersfin, Richmond.
Edward Winphmann, Ligge.
Henry Smith, Chelsea Mss.
John-F. Cox, Boston.
Lyonwolf, New-York.
Fridlieb Wagner, Cassel.
F.-G. Glaubensklee, New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

German Professor A. Wezin, Philadelphie.
James Smith, New-York.
Alexandre Virz New-York.

Drowned

• Henriette Wulff, friend and frequent correspondent of Hans Christian Andersen
  Hans Christian Andersen
  Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
  
  

Paints

• Josef Puttner, Untergang der Austria, DHM, BERLIN, GERMANY.
• Eugene Isabey, L'incendie de l'Austria, Museum of Fine Arts, BORDEAUX, FRANCE.
• Eugène Isabey, L'incendie de l'Austria, National Maritime Museum, PARIS, FRANCE.
• Anonyme, Burning of the Austria, National Maritime Museum, GREENWITCH, GB.
• Le duc Charles, l'Incendie de l'Austria, Chateau des ducs de Bretagne, Musée d'Histoire de Nantes, NANTES, FRANCE.