The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-02 00:00:00

1

Six rim.
HURDLE CUP.

Diana
Sailor
Idiot
Four ran
MAIDEN STEEPLECHASE.

1

Nevis
Stiletto
Bess

l'our rau.

Wreck of a Steamship.—Great Loss of Life.

(From the New York Herald.)

The steamship Atlanta, of the Atlantic Coast
Mail Steamship line, running between New Orleans
and this city, was wrecked on Sunday morning last,
from the springing a leak while in a very heavy
Sea, about 300 miles south of Sandy Hook. There
were 17 passengers, including four ladies and one
child, and 35 officers and crew on board at the time,
of whom only one passenger and four of the crew
have been saved. The ill-fated vessel started from
New Orleans on the 7th October, with a full cargo
of cotton and 17 passengers and crew. Up to Thurs-
day, the 12th inst., the weather was all that could
be desired, there only being just enough wind to
fill the sails. The passengers were all in the highest
spirits, expecting soon to be released from the
tedium of a sea voyage, but were doomed to a sad
and bitter disappointment. On Thursday night,
the 12th instant, a stiff breeze commenced blow-
ing from the west, together with a consider-
able sea running, which continued, to in-
crease in violence as the night wore on. Thursday
night was a night of some anxiety to every one on
board, and all hoped that the storm would abate in
the morning. Friday morning came, but with it
the storm had not abated, and yet no fears were ap-
prehended for the real safety of the Atlanta until on
that day, when it was discovered she had sprung a
leak, and was making water freely. The cry went
immediately through the ship ; and the captain,
with commendable firmess, entered the cabin, and
told the passengers to keep calm and to prepare for
the worst. Every one took it with great coolness,
the ladies immediately commencing to dress and put
on life-belts. In the meantime the pumps were set
to work, and throughout Friday night and Satur-
day were steadily pumping, with the hope that the
steamer might be kept afloat until some friendly
sail should appear ; but the water steadily gained,
until on Saturday night it had reached the
furnaces and covered the coal bunkers, ex-
tinguishing the fires, thus depriving the
pumps of the power necessary to keep them
in operation. It was evident that the vessel could
not last long, with the heavy seas dashing and sur-
ging around ; and the captain, seeing there was no
hope of saving the vessel, turned his attention to the
passengers, who had up to this time preserved the
greatest good order through the terrible ordeal. The
gale still continued, and with the loss of the engines
by the putting out of the fires the vessel could not
get steerage way, and fell off into the trough of the
sea, each succeeding wave making a clear breach
over her, sweeping the decks with terrific force.
land every one began to give himself up to God.
Throughout the whole of Saturday night the ves-
sel still kept above water, when at 8 o'clock on the
morning of Sunday, the vessel smashed up into
three distinct pieces, leaving only one portion of
the amidships, about 30 feet long, afloat. The
scene was now heartrending and perfectly indescrib-
able, every one striving to save himself on some
spar or other floating object. Numbers got on the
amidships, but were immediately washed over-
board, only five escaping by clinging to the wreck
with all their might. The last time the captain
was seen he was struggling in the water, and ma-
naged to get hold of a cotton bale, but was imme-
diately obliged to let go on account of the rolling
around of the bale. He then caught hold of a
platform which was floating about, and nothing,
further is known respecting him. The fire sur-
vivors found themselves on the raft, or amidships,
without a single_ mouthful to eat or a drop of water,
and were exposed to the inclement weather, having
very little clothing upon them. On discovering
their situation they placed a small white hand-
kerchief on a stick, in order to attract the atten-
tion of any vessel which might happen to
pass within sight, and which, most fortu-
nately for them, served the desired purpose.
During the two and a half days they were on the
raft they suffered greatly from hunger and the
intense thirst to which they were subjected. Each
day they eagerly scanned the horizon for the signs
of approaching sails, and were at last rewarded by
the appearance of sails in the distance, which proved
to be the barque William E. Anderson, from
Mobile.

They immediately began to wave the white hand-
kerchief to attract the attention of the vessel, and
the captain noticing it at once directed his course
towards the wreck, bearing up as near as the rough
sea would permit. The boats were then•lowered,
and soon reached the wreck, and secured them from
impending death. They were then transferred to
the William E. Anderson from the boat. They
offered their most sincere thanks to their preserver,
Capt. Pierce, who did all in his power to render
thein as comfortable as possible, giving them nou-
rishing food and medicine, and landing them in
New York yesterday morning.

NEW QUEEN'S COUNSEL.—Mr. John Shapland
Edmonds Stock, of the Middle Temple, has been nomi-
nated by the Lord Chancellor to be one of her Majesty's
counsel, and will be entitled to take his seat within the bar
at the meeting of the various courts of Law and Equity
this morning.