Litchfield enquirer., 1846-12-03
Nes.rSbSe C4uIans6syg
Wreck of the sAtlanticy
FORTY LIVESloST!
FrOm the NOrUich Courier, E<srG.

NeVer DeIOte naS " nren eur lAatntuI 0uly To snn"UHce sn event so Iull "f heart rending an- ] yuiSh as that which we publish this mUrnlhg Words are pOweuless tO describe the thrill Ut l horror and GOnsteInatiOn which ran thro' this community, upon the arrival uf ihe Steamer e MOhegan." al the Depot Wharf m this city, . little after o'clock yesterday afternoon. with the heavy tidIngs that |" The Atlantic" was a total wreck aud that 10 CT 50 pers0ns-pass- engers, officers and hands on bOard-had per ished with her. She went ashore on the East side 0f Fishers Island, about o'clock yester- day morning, in tremendous blow. and In few minutes was dashed literally to atoms So far as we have been able, after the most carttnI inquiry. to ascertain the facts connected with this most distressing event. we hasten to lay them before the public.
 On Wednesday night last, in consequence of Ihe late arrival of the Steamboat Train from Boston, the Atlantic did not leave Allyn's Point until near midnight. When the boat react ed New London, II was found that the wind was blowing strong and the sea was rough. So threatening was the prospect, that one "G the New Londun passengers refused tO go, aud ac- c"rdingy quilted the boat. Captain Dusian, however, dee med il safe, and therefore his duty, to proceed, which he coI seGuenily dld, having on bnard. as Is believed. about 5U paSSe ngers. Just as the Atlantic was nearing or passing. the light boa: which lies some or miles cut of New London Harbor. the wind aud waves beating powerfully against her, the boat was struck by two heavy seas in quick successinn- and almost simultaneously. though little af- ter. was heard an explosion which gentleman on board described to Us as more deatenihg and terrific than any thing he ever bei"re heard This explusion, by which, however. no lives were lost, was csNs. 6 by the breaking off or bursting of the Steam pipe or Chest. at once disabling the boat and rendering her unrnana. gable. The Captain immediately gave orders tor casting "ut both anchors, and il was done. But such was the force of the wlnd and Il e sea that the hoai dr: gged her anchuls constant. lV. and about 10 o'clock Thursday morning it was found that she was rapidly approaching Fishers island. the head of which we should judge to be not far from eight miles from New London.
 It was then that the lveliest apprehension of an awiul fate awaiting them, took possession of the minds of all on board At this stage ot things, the Rev. Dr. Armstrong. one ot the Secretaries ot the American BoaId ct C"mmis. sioners for Foreign Missions, proposed season ot prayer. | aving read short portion of scripture and briefly add,s ,sssed Inc passengers. he engaged in prayer-Others followed. Mean while the boat was nearing the fatal shore. Bv
 
 tha, in the event of her going ashore she might not strike. far out, the passengers and hands commenced throwing overheard coal. and freight uf all kinds. till they had :horoushl. cleared the buat.
 The ife preseruers were brought out aud passengers aud all others who chose adjusted ihem IO their persons. Each indiv idual too as far as p.ssibis, possessed himself or herseli of ab"ard, d"sr, or something of the sort ul.- on winch. if it were possible, they might get sAtely io land.
 But instead oi driving upon the Southern Doin, of Fishers Island. the Boat was burne in to Fishers Island sound Outing all hi. time .,ynals ot distress were kept fying. bu, ihe sea Was exceedlng! rough as to render II l,terly impossible fot any boat or sailing craf' 10 get alongside. Thus stood matters when Thursday night closed round the tated Steamer. for some time she continued to drag her an. thors but trom 10 o'clock till nearly two in he morning she remained almost stationary. But then ii came on to blow more powerfully, md presently tue anchors began iO drag again. a q this time more rapidly than ever. Ever. m neni was hearing the Sieainer upon rocky shore. All saw and kmsw that the hour arG
 he moment of life or death was come. All hose their stations "n the boat-such stations ,s they deemed most likely to facilitate them upon eseape-and for a few moments, in an ,gony of intense awful suspense. they stool waiting.
 The Boat struck, stem foremost. parting from her anchnrs as she did so. In a moment after, .he was lifted high up by huge sea. and her stern dashed with tremendous violence upon the rocks beneath. This was repeated, again and again. before the head of the Boat swung around, which it did, in about four or five minutes. and then by mountain wave the whole immense fabric was borne l.. and dash ed broadsde upon the rocky beach. But the rrtuvning wave washed over the Boat causing her 10 treen suddenly seaward. and sweeping from the deck irio the sea large number ot passengers aud others who were gathered on the side cfihe Boat next the land ready !n take the desperate plunge. At the satne momen, the Boat parted between ihe Ladies Saloon and the Clerks Office What followed. we at- tempt not io describe. Those from whom we derive our rint"rmalon-those who escaped from that wreck with li(e-are totally unable to give any coherent account of what followed.
 A correspondent of the N. York Herald says
 The danger increased 20 rapidly that between and 3o'clock. Capt. Dustan o,drred the decks to be cleared of all nlert handise. of everything that WE ih the way. Cases of boots. shoes barrels of hnuv. stoves. &c. &c.. including ene package said 10 contain $7.0OO worth of plate were thrown overheard. There were six to eight thousand dollars worth of lace on board | belonging to one of the passengers. who had | previously sad that he would give the whole to any one who would put him safely ashore This lace was siterward seen strewn along the | beach.
 ] All these efforts. however. Co rave the steam. CT. were unavsiling No person worked harder than Captain Dustan, and his passengers and crew She was diiven still nearer the shore but passed point that all expected she would strike upon She then dritrd about eleven miles more. making in all twenty-five miles occupied about f",ty-ei.ht hours. of terrible uncertainty and suffering. She then struck stern first "n ledge of rocks nn Fishers Island | A tremendous sea threw her up 10 the very tor of the ledge. This was the crisis in the disas. ter Ls .fue minuies etter she struck ste scG4 in pieces.
 in these five minutes at least one half of those l on board the Atlantic were taken from tune
 into eternity -The screams. the crash. the roar of the sea, were dreadful. There were siS i females, four children and two infants among | Ali thG faynalea STe drowned