Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-03
Dreadful Calamity.
Loss of the new Steamer Atlantic,
With forty or fifty lives,

With forty or fifty lives.
The gale OF the last week has produced
another terrible calamity, in addition TO the
many which have transprcd during the past
season. The magnificent steamer Atlantic
is lost, with forty or fifty Of her passengers
and crew, among whom are Captain Dustan,
of the Atlantic, Rev. DR.. Armstrong G ores
pondDg Secretary of the American Board Of
Foreign Missions, Or. Haslin, Of the Navy,
Lieut., Norton, Of the Army. From the va
rious accounts OF this sad catastrophe we
gather The subjoined particulars:
From statement made by Mr.. Steison,
the second captain, we copy the following -
About midnight, the Atlantic loft New
London; and when about nine miles outside
Of The light house, the steam pipe running in
to the steam chimney burst, rendering the
engine entirely useless.
The anchors were Immediately hove over.
at which the steamer rode through that night, ),
which was very dark and stormy.
At daylight she was abreast Of the New
London light, drifting all the while toward
the shore.
The steam pipes were first cut away, next
the pilot house, and then the bulk-hcads, so
as 10 give the wind a clear sweep through
the vessel, and expose less surface to its at
tack.
The colors were hos,ed half-mast, but on
the Mohegan's attempting some measures to
30 to her assistance, were hauled down by
orders Of Capt. Duslan, who knew that her e.
forts would be Intellectual. Thus the steam
or remained all day, TIL toward five in the
afternoon of Thursday, the wind lulled, and
hopes were raised that oil danger was over
but not long aiter,the wind shifted two points,
md blew with more than previous violence.
The Atlantic gradually driited nearer and
nearer to the shore all Thursday night, and
for two hours, from 2 I'LL 4 o'clock on Friday
morning, lay within a cables length of the
breakers, held by her two anchors. AT about
half past the stern touched, and both cables
Instantancously parted, and she broached to,
lying broadsde to the shore, IN a heavy surf.
The coas, was bold and rocky inside of
rocky reef, had she broached to the other
way, so that her bow would have touched
The breakers, perhaps not life would have
been saved. The vessel went to pieces i'm
medla,ely within five minutes of her striking,
nothing was left Of her entire, but her en-.
gines. The frei ght had mostly been thrown
overheard some time previous.
Captain Dustan was last seen by Mr. Stet
son, when he received orders from him to go
forward and at the proper moment let go the
chains. At that time the captain stood upon
the after promenade deck, giving his orders
as calmly and with as little apparent emotion
as if upon shore. All his efforts seemed to
be for the preservation of his passengers
his own fate was joined with that of the ves-
sci he commanded.
Mr.. Steison went forward with Mr. Kings.
ton, first mate, Mr.. Boyle the clerk, and
Charles Christian, deck hand the latter was
Iashed to long rope and low cred, so that a
communion lion could be had with the shore,
but the violence of the waves tore him from
the line and he himself was saved with great
difficulty. The others mentioned were when
she struck washed overheard and all reached
the land in safety.
Mr.. Stetsor says that to every passenger
was gi ven one or rs many life preservcrs as
he might choose to take, and they were the
means of saving many lves.-By direction of
Capt. Dustan plants were also ashed togeth.
er and pointed ont 10 the passengers. In a
word every thing was done that could be.
The passengers, says Mr.. s., acted mob " ;I
there was no confusion, no selfish excite
ment each one seemed to regard more the
safety Of his neighbor than Of himself He
speaks in the strongest terms Of their conduc,
throughout.
Captain Vanpolt, Of the Mohegan, and
CAPTAIN Williams, of the Cleopatra, furnished
every assistance that lay in their power, to
the wants of The sutlcrers-clothes, provis
ions, every thing needed, in fact, was given
with an unspering hand, Mr.. Tarbox, Of Nor.
wlch. also lavished his hospitality upon each
and every sufferer that he met his kindness
is most highly spoken OF by many who were
the subjects Of 1t.
Mr.. Boyle, the Clerk Of the boat, relates
he following incidents:
"As soon as the works stopped, the Allan
tic commenced drifting. All three of her
anchors were let go. The gale continued
increasing. and the boat kept drifting towards
Fishers Island. Thursday morning came
and the gale continued, The passengers
were greatly alarmed, and during the day re.
| peated prayer meetings were held IN the
cabin, where all resortcd except the officers
and crew. Captain Dustan was ut his pos,
the whole time. MS calm aud self possessed
as If he had been on shore. His presence Of
mind ond encouraging language, gave the
utmost confidence to all on board.
The boat had on board over a thousand
life preservcrs. Every person had two and
some three around their bodies F; and had
Il not been for these, not soul would have
been saved On Thursday night. the toa,
had dnited so near to Fishers Island thai II
was gate certain she must strike the rocks
before morning. unless the wind changed
Their only hope left was IN a change OF
NwInd.