The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-04-12 00:00:00

THE WRECK OF THE "ATLANTIC."

A Renter's telegram (from Ilalife:, April 5) to the
papers gays that the customs' Collectz here will begin
to-day an official investigation on the eubject of the
wreck of the Atlantic.
The City Council have resolved to provide for the
burial of the recovered bodies.

The isquiry ordered by the Dominion Parliament
into the disaster has commenced. .

Captain Williams detailed the rules and regulations
observed by the White Star Line steamships, and ex-
plained the miscalculations made with regard to the
position of the ship. Her eatimated speed was 11
knots, but it had increased from seven to 12 knots on
bearing up to Halifax. He stated that he was not
anxious to economize coaL He considered that
he should pass five miles east of the Sambro lights.
He was satisfied now that when he went to his cabin
he was mistaken as to the locality of the ship. He
knew the nowt was ironbound and dangerous. If
the officers on board had been energetic, had seen
something ahead, and reversed the engines, the
calamity would have been averted. The captain, in
his statement to day, corroborates that made yester-
day, adding that jn consequence of the shortness of
coals, stores, and pr 'visions, and the ship making only
seven knot., with a westerly swell, it was decided to
put into Halifax. The distance to Sambro Island,
which was then to the north, was 170 miles. The cap-
tain ad led, "My intentions were to run the ship until
three o'clock in the morning, and then heave to and
wait for daylight. The night was cloudy but clear.
I was asleep when the ship struck, but the officers
and quartermasters were quickly at their sta-
tions. The first sea swept away the port boats.
On the ship heeling over the terror which arose de-
feated all efforts to send the people forward. After
placing two ladies in the rigging I found the ship was
going over further, and called to the second officer to
heave the lifeboat, which rolled over, carry ing away
the officer and 30 or 40 men into the sea. On returning
to the rigging I found that the ladies were gone. The
Chief Officer, Frith, was in the mizzen rigging help-
less; the Third Officer had established communication
1y rope with a email outlying rock 40 yards off. A
large number of persons, including several saloon pas-
asagess, ley there sad died. Fire ropes wen braught

Into requisition, and 200 men were got over nearly
exhausted; 50 others reached a larger Leland
by means of a line; but many were drowned
in the attempt to get there, among them the
chief steward. I and the Fourth Officer encouraged
the 459 remaining people to keep moving in order
to avoid falling asleep. Many, however, gave in and
died an apparently painless death. Twelve men de-
spite all efforts to rouse them died in this manner, and
slipped into the sea. A 5.30 a.m, the first boat was
tried, and found useless; twenty minutes later the first
first large boat was launched."
Two or three hundred vessels are cruising rotutd-the
wreck of the Atlantic to pick up wreckage and cargo.
The crew are considered innocent of plundering, but
eight stowaways on reaching the shore systematically
plundered every corpse. The crew are using the gar-
ments and boots found on the bodies!, at the suggestion
of the magistrates,
BOSTON, April 6.
Three hundred and twelve steerage passengers of
the steamship Atlantic have arrived here. They were
conducted by the citizens and an escort of police to the
Faneuil•hall, where • bountiful breakfast was provided
for them.

JIALIFAX, April 7.
Forty additional bodies have been recovered from the
Atlanttc, including Mrs. Davidson and her daughter.
Ac cording to indications on some of them it would seem
that several died of suffocation, and were not drowned.

The investigation into the loss of the Atlantic was
continued to-day. Mr. Brady, the third officer, cop
roborated the evidence previously given respecting the
state of the weather, the position and speed of the ship
before bearing up for Halifax, and the increase in her
speed afterwards. He did not look at the chart to as-
certain the new position of the ship. He used the
common log fine every two hours. He had been twice to
Halifax, but was unacquainted with the coast. The
course shaped was taken to reunteract the current.
He was ordered to call the captain when any change
occurred in the weather or position of the .hip.
Gave the captain's order to the fourth officer. When
the ship struck he hurried to clear the captain's life-
boat. The ship fell over six minutes after
striking. The witness detailed his carrying the
rope to the rock. He communicated with the island,
and encouraged the people on board. Nothing pre-
vented the steerage passengers from reaching the deck.
He was positive no orders were given to keep the
passengers below. He bore witness to the captain's
exertions to save life. In cross-examination the wit-
ness stated that no observations were obtained for
two days during the first watch, while going north.
The ship's speed was twelve knots. According to the
Aim ratty directions, the Sambro Light should be
visible twenty.one miles off. He had been twice to
the wreck, and maw the Sambro Light, but from
• qoarter of a mile farther mouth it WIWI hidden
by .1 Conan Point. In spite of all modern appliances,
landing in boats was impossible. The captain, whom
he described as a most efficient officer, could cot hold
out any longer, and had to be supported in climbing
the rocks. The crew were above the average; did not,
know the deviation in the course, or the force of the
current. He swore that the reported robbing of the
dead was true.