The Boatswain of the SS Austria dipped the hot metal chain into a bucket of tar that had been set aside for the purpose of fumigating the steerage class of the ship. As often happened on immigrant ships of the mid 1800s, the 2,684 ton ship had 450 people in steerage alone, fumigation was often needed. As he dipped his chain in the bucket though, disaster was only minutes away.

Ship Name: SS Austria

Nationality: Germany

Ship Type: Three Masted Metal Hulled Screw Steamer

Built: 1857

Tonnage: 2386

Year Sank: 1858

Reason For Sinking: Fire

Location Sank:  Mid Atlantic

Lives Lost: Estimated between 450 and 550

Sources:

https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1858/09/28/78876794.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0

https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1858/10/05/78877157.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0

https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1858/09/30/78876849.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0

https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-herald-sep-28-1858-p-1/

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2465772?searchTerm=austria%20ship%20burn

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66332749?searchTerm=austria%20ship%20burn

https://books.google.com/books?id=iGBKAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA85&dq=shipwreck+austria+1858+hamburg+line&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi3w6GitKD9AhUZg4kEHXOHDGUQ6AF6BAgDEAI#v=onepage&q=shipwreck%20austria%201858%20hamburg%20line&f=false

https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1406&context=swensonsag

https://oceanlinersmagazine.com/2020/09/13/inferno-at-sea/

https://digital.libraries.psu.edu/digital/collection/pabooknews/id/761

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=3729&vessel=AUSTRIA#v