Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-19
Loss of tEle Stea mler Atlantic.
Great loss OF life.

ing account OF the loss OF the mag
nidcent steamer Atlantic, plying be-
tween Allyn's Point, on the river
Thames. in Connecticut, and New
York, and the loss of one half of her
passengers. The Atlantic was owned
by the Norwich and Worcester Rail
road Company, and was thought to be
one of the safest and most magnificent
steamers plying on cur waters. She
was commanded by Captain Dustan,
an old and experienced navigator, and
was thoroughly furnished with life
preservers, and everything that was
deemed necessary for the preservation
Of life in case of accident.
The particularS--A passenger on
the Atlantic, gives the following ac-
count of the disaster:-Thc boat left
Allyn's Point between IL and | o.
clock, Thursday morning. She got
well under way, and was running a.
long finely, when the stcam-chest ex-
ploLcd, and almost at the same mo-
ment the wind shifted from the north.
east to the northwest, and blew almost
perfect hurricane. The steamer was
thrown into the midst Of darkness and
confusion, and the air resounded with
the cries of the scalded.
1t was a frightfnl scene to behold.
/ Captain Dustin instantly called all
hands to the fore deck and ordered
them to heave over the anchors, but
it was found almost impossible for
man to stand on deck, in consequence
of the violence of the gale, the sea
constantly making breach over her
bows. Owing to this, it took nearly
an hour to got over the three anchors.
The steamer worked heavily, plung
ing her bows under at every lurch, and
dragging her anchors, between the
time of anchoring and daylight. 1t
is thought that she dragged about IL
miles. The fires were all put out at
daylight on Thursday morning, and
from that period to the time of going
ashore. the passengers and crew suf-
fered from intense cold, the only means
OF keeping warm being to wrap them
selves in blankets and walk brisklv a
round the steamer. All at this time
began to look to their own personal
safety. All put on the life prescrvers
that the steamer was SO plentifuIy sup
piled with, and prepared themselves
for an emergency. The doors and set
tees were detached and cut away for
RATS to drift ashore upon whenever
she should strike. The gale increas-
ing 10 violence, Captain Dustan, who
preserved bis self-posscssion through
out the perilous time, ordered forty
tons of coal to be thrown overheard,
in order to Tighten the vessel.
About noon on Thursday, the smoke
pipes, which were very large and
heavy. were ordered to be thrown
overheard. This was done, the Capt.
assisting. and the steamer was eased
for short time. The steamer contin-
ued to drift, however, and everything
looked terrible. and the danger in
creased so rapidly, that between 2and 8
O'Clock Capt. DusIan ordered the decks
to be cleared Of all merchandise, and
every thing that was in the way
Cases Of boots, shoes, barrels Of flour,
stoves. &c, including one package
said to contain seven thousand dollars
worth Of plate were thrown o'erboard.
There were from six to eight thousand
dollars worth of lace on board, belong
ing to one of the passengers, who had
p eviously said that he would give it
to any one who would put him ashore
in safety. The lace was afterwards
seen strcwn along the shore.
All these efforts, however, to save
the steamer were unayailing. No
person worked harder than Captain
Dustan, and his passengers and crew.
After these repeated and united ef-
forts had failed, all hopes of saving
life we're over, and all were anxious
and DESTROYS that she should strike the
beach The feelings Of those on
board had been wrought up to such a
pitch that a reaction came over them,
and they resigned themselves to their
fate. About midnight she parted one
Of her cables, there being four out, one
attached to three thousand weight Of
furnace bars, and the others to anchors.
After this the gale continued to in
crease, and blow a perfect hurricane.
She dragged still nearer shore, but
passed point that all expected she
would strike, until she dragged eleven