Inscribed: "Burning of the steamship Austria Sept 13th 1858, on her voyage from Hamburg to New York, by which appaling disaster over 500 persons were suffocated or drowned."

The litograph depicts 'Austria' being consumed by the fire. Passengers and crew are shown in the sea and lining up aboard preparing to jump from the bow and stern of the ship. There is a second vessel approaching on the left hand side of the composition.

The publishers Currier & Ives (also engravers) were based on 152 Nassau Street, New York.

Hand-coloured; 602.