Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-03
Err, THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 3, 1916.

During the night the gale increased until
about half past four o'clock on Friday morn
ing, when oil their hopes vanished. The
boat struck the rocks about mdshps, aud in
two minutes wos a perfect wreck. Most OF
the passengers were standing aft. All the
upper beribs were swept away, and it is be,
lleved that many were killed by the pieces OF
plank and timber. The boat heeled out,
swinging the bottom towards the rocks.
Every person was compelled to jump o.
verboard. The boat after she struck heeled
so much, that the distance from the boat To
the water was about l8 feet. Many were
swept among the rocks and saved, while
others were carried under the vessel by the
waves and drowned"
The particulars related by Mr.. Vornum
Marsh, OF Haverhll, Mass, as published in
the N. Y. Herald, are painfully thrilling:
"When the Atlantic struck, he was sitting
in the gangway; his first impression was
that heavy sea had struck the steamer. In
moment after, however, although every
moment was an age to those on board. the
sea stove IN the side OF the vessel at his back,
and swept him along, and dashed him against
the sound side OF the steamer. Before he
could recover himself, another tremendous
sea came and threw him aginst the upper
side OF the vessel. Thence he was thrown
IN among everything movable on deck, and
considerably bruised, as we have seen. hf
ter he was thrown up the third time, he sue
ceeded in catching hold of the sky.lght-
frame, and there remained for a fe W mOment
and the only person near him to be seen or
heard, was the small boy who was saved
llo was on the top OF the ledge, amongst the
wreck. Our informant here discovered that
he was made fast by an iron hook, ,on bar OF
IRON, which had become entangled IN one Of
his lie preservers after great exertions he
made out to throw one of the straps over his
head, which drew the other still tighter. He
then thought that all was over with him bot
by al almost superhnman effort he succeeded
in drawing that off. lie then found that the
other pair OF preservers, which he had on,
were entangled with those he had thrown off
To extrlcate himself from this difficulty, he
laid down and drew all off, over his feet, and
threw them away. All this had been done
IN very few minutes and what must have
been his feelings in that time.
During this time the sea was breaking up
the steamer, and dashiDg the pieces Of wreck
about, ot one time against Mr.. Marsh, and at
another crushing poor passenger or an un.
fortunate sailor to death.
After Mr.. Marsh had thrown away his life
preservers, he saw a CLEAN of light from the
upper side of the vessel. The Atlantic was
then lying on her beam ends, and her
decks covered with ice. BY some means,
wholly unaccountable at this time to Mr.. NJ,
he made his escape through the side Of the
vessel through which tins CLEAN Of light
~ Rafo bor baI hot bo,
he saw human being stand near the aper.
ture.
After reaching to within six feet Of the
outside, he called to the person. whom he
saw, and who proved to be the little boy, to
pass HIM piece Of board, or something else,
to enable him to get over the ice. The boy
thought that Mr., NJ. told him to leave the
place. THIS induced the boy to leave, and
MIR. NJ. crept out over what he supposed to
be dead body, 1t was to dark too tell with
certainty. Then he took hold of part OF the
wreck on the side Of the ladies saloon, and
walked on the edge Of the vessel. On look
ing up he saw the mast, with several pieces
of timber or spars attached, swinging to and
fro. AT this moment tremendous sea came
and washed Mr.. Marsh back into the sea -
Then he found 1t necessary TO swim as rapid
ly as his bruised limbs would permit hinf
through the swell Of the sea. ice, and broken
parts Of the vessel, to avoid the falling mast.
and escaped by few feet only. lie then
made for the shore as quickly as possible,
which he finally reached in safety, after be.
ing driven back several times.
After Mr.. Marsh turned towards the shore
he heard some one cry "Oh what shall
do. shan't get ashore" Mr. Marsh en-.
couroged hun to strike out through the surf
and he had the pleasure, in the midst of his
pain, to sec the little fellow land on the
beach.
As Mr.. Marsh was thrown up for the las,
time he caught hold of n small sharp rock and
held on I'LL the sea left him. Then he crept
on his hands and knees from the beach over
rocks till he reached large rock, which
sheltered him from the wind. Ii was very
dark and intensely cold at this time. Short
y after this, Mr.. NJ. heard man speak. and
enquire WHO is there p Mr.. NJ. made an
cxerilon to speak, and probably made some
SOFT of noise, for the man told him so hold
on to his Dress to be led to his house.
Finding himself very weak and cold he could
not walk without falling. Just then, two
other men came up,and conveyed Mr.. Marsh
to the house. This was about five o'clock
in the morning. and from that time to eight
O'Clock, he was insensblc. Several others
were picked up in the same way, and were
nsensible for great length Of time"
Mr.. Marsh further states that 10 five mi
nutes after the Atlantic struck, she was in
pieces. In these five minutes at least one
half of those on board the Atlantic were
taken from time into eternity. The screams,
the crash, the rour Of the sea, were dreadful
There were six females, four children, and
two infants among the passengers. All the
females were drowned or crushed to death.
Only one Of the children was saved, and he
was the only one Of the family of which he
was member. Ills father, John Walton
mother, married sister, and younger sister,
and two young brothers, were on board
The poor little orphan thus saved. and thus
thrown alone upon the world, is only twelve
years of age. The two infants were drown.
ed, frozen, or crushed to death.
The list Of passengers was saved from the
L -. e.