The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-12-10
Further particulars of the loss of
the Steamer Atlantic,

Further particulars of the loss of
the Steamer Atlantic.
We copy the following passages from a
statement furnished the N. Y. Herald by Mr.
Marsh, one Of the passengers.
The passengers left Boston at half past five
o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. They pro-
ceedcd over the Worcester and Norwich roads
and reached Allyns Point at half past eleven
on that night. There they went on board the
Atlantic. She left for New York between
twelve and one o'clock ON Thursday morn
ing.
There were between seventy and eighty
persons on board in all, including passengers,
officers, crew and servants.
The Atlantic got well under way, and was
running along finely, when the steam chest
exploded, and almost at the same moment the
wind shifted from the north east to the north
west and blew almost a perfect hurricane.
The steamer was thrown into the midst of
darkness and confusion, and the air resound-
ed with the cries of the scalded. 1t was
frightful scene to behold Capt. Dustan in
stantly called all hands to the foredeck, and
ordered them to heave over the anchors but
it was found almost impossible for a man to
stand on deck, in consequence of the vio-
lencc of the gale, the sea continually making
a breach over her bows Owing to this, it
took nearly an hour to get out the three an
chors
The steamer worked heavily, plunging her
bows under at every lurch, and dragging her
anchors Between the time of anchoring and
daylight, it is thought that she dragged about
miles.
The fires we're all put out at daylight on
Thursday, and from that time to the period
of her going ashore, the passengers and crew
suffered from the intense cold. The only
means of keeping warm was to wrap them
selves in blankets, and walk briskly around
the steamer.
All, at this time, began to look to their own
personal safety. All put on the life preserv-
ers that the ship was SO plentifully supplied
with, and prepared themselves for any cmer-
gcncy. The doors, shutters, settees, &c. &C.,
were detached and cut away, for RATS to drift
ashore upon whenever she should strike.
The gale increasingly violence, Capt Dus-
tan, who had preserved his self possession
throughout the perilous time, ordered about
forty tons of coal to be thrown overload, in
order to Tighten the vessel.
About noon on Thursday the smoke pipes,
which were very large and heavy, we're or
dercd to be thrown overheard. This was done,
the captain assisting and the steamer was
eased for short time. There was less offer
ed to the force of the wind
The steamer continued to drift howe yer,
and everything looked terrible and hopeless.
The danger increased so rapidly that be-
tween and 8 o'clock Capt Dustan ordered
the decks to be cleared Of all the merchandise
of every thing that was in the way. Cases of
boots, shoes, barrels of flour, stoves, &C. in
Guiding one package said to contain $1,000
worth of plate, were thrown overheard
There were 6 or $4,000 worth of lace on
board, belonging to one of the passengers,
who had previously said that he would give
the whole to any one who would put him safe
ly ashore. This lace was afterwards seen
strcwn along the beach.
All these efforts, however, to save the steam
err, were unavailing, Noperson worked hard
er than Capt Dustan, and his passengers and
crew. After these repeated and united efforts
had failed, all hopes of safety were over, and
all felt DESTROYS and anxious that the steamer
should strike the beach. 1t was q frightlul
sight, but the feelings Of those on board had
been wrought to such pitch, that reaction
came over them, and they were resigned to
their fate.
About midnight she parted one of her ca
bes, there being four out, one attached toI
thirty hundred weight of furnace bars, and
the others to anchors After this the gale
continued to increase and blew a perfect hur-
ricane.
She was driven still nearer the shore, but
passed point that all expected she would
strike upon. She then drifted miles more,
making in all twenty-five miles, which occu-
pied about fortyeight hours Of terrible unccr-
tainty and suffering. She then struck stern
first, on a ledge of rocks on Fishers Island.
A tremendous sea threw her up to the very
top of the ledge. This was the crisis in the
disaster. In fOe minutes after she struck she
acds in pieces
In these five minutes at least one half of
those on board the Atlantic were taken from
fine into eternity The screams, the crash,
the roar of the sea were dreadful.
There were six females four children and
two infants among the passengers. All the
females we're drowned or crushed to death.
Only ole of the children was saved, and he
was the only one of the family of which he
was member. His father, mother, married
sister, and a younger sister, and two young
brothers, we're on board. The poor little or