The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-02-26
Safety Of the Steamer Atlantic.

ca at New York on the l4th instant, intelli.
gence has at last been received Of the safety
Of the American Steamer Atlantic. This
news will be received with joy as the great
length of time she was missing, being nearly
two months instead of one, was sufficient to
destroy every hope Of her ultimate safety.
We give below the Card of the first officer,
which furnishes full and correct account Of
the situation Of the Steamer from the time of
her sailing from Liverpool until her return TO
Cork harb after he accident. This shows
by what slight tenure our lives are held. and
the imminent dangers the passengers and
crew have escaped by the merciul iuterpo.
siiion Of kind Providence.
To the Editor IF the Ner York Herald:
In order to prevent garbled statements Of
the recent accident to the Atlantic from oh
tanning publicity, take the liberty OF send
ing GU correct narrative OF facts, compiled
from her log, aud for which | can personal y
vouch.
The Atlantic left Liverpool on the 2sth
! December, in fine siesming condition, and
without any apprehension on The part OF her
officers in regard TO the voyage. II was blow
ing strong gale at the time Of departure,
from W. S. W, so much so as TO render il
/, impossible to land her piot. On tie 29th
Dec, at 9 80 P. NJ. she passed Cape Clear
and fairly commenced her homewaId passage
by Plunging al once into heavy head sea,
: aud stemmlng strong westerly gales, which
continued without inleimission for the time
, following up to the day Of the codenl Ga
r the h OF jan, al noon, she was in lat. As
, II, long. al W., it blowing strong gales from
W. n. W. At 80 P. NJ, the engines
were stopped, as il was first supposed by The
engineers on account of The breaking OF the
eccentric strap to the stsrboaid engine aud,
5 on examination, 1t was determined 10 go al head
, again, working tina, engine by hand; bnt an
other revolution Of the wheels proved that
The sccIdeni was of a much more serious ia.
ure- the main shat, was found (broken CON.
pe.ely through, in diagonal direction the
bearing Of the star board pillar block and he
additional turn after The first s,oPpsge caused
one part OF the shaft TO lap over the oher-
thus fTacturiDg both pillar blocks and render,
ing the engines perfectly useless. The ship
was at once hove.io under storm canvass, the
wheels ashed, and all hands empIoyed during
the night, and for the following day, IN send
ing up her square yards. and stripping her
wheels al the foals-a task at once d,fficui,
aud dangerous in gale Of wind, and The decks
covered with ice, but fortunately accomplish.
ed without accident. o. the 9Th and sih
laying 10, with the hope of an abatement Of
the gale and change Of wind as the captain
and all hands were extremely anxious to reach
some por, on our own coast. On the 9th
the wind hauled to the north west, and be.
came quite moderate. Immediately made
SAIL aud shaped course for Halifax e97
! miles distant, and N. Y. 400. thus ~cs.
! Their continued until meridian oft e 10Th When
an observation placed The ship so mites south
and 20 miles west Of her position a, The time
Of tie accident, A gale now sprung up agalr
from he southwest and it became necessary
to heave The ship 10 for even with muderal,
/ weather IT was evident to all that she coulc
S do nothing by the wind under canvass. A
8 A. NJ, of the llth, large ship passed
bound TO the eastward but she either do
not see or took no notice Of our signal Of dts
: tress. AT 10 P. NJ, after taking an 'accu
: rate account Of stores on board, and conslde
ring the apparent inposslbility Of reschir,
home with the ship IN her disabled condition
the captain determined, with the assent OF hi
- officers and passengers 10 bear up for th'
re coast OF Europe which was accordingly done
Q From this time to the twenty second day no
:. thing OF importance occurred. We had fol
: loving gales and high seas and the ship mad
= an average distance Of 80 miles per dav. an
re 10 that interval ran 400 miles. At3P. VI
&c OF the 22d she anchored IN Cork ha Dor, whlc
-, fact alone, when considering the immens
szs OF the ship, her small spars light canvas
VI and heavy machinery, is sufficient to prov
m her splendid sea boat, and must add, IN n
to small degree, TO the reputation already &C
he qnired by her commander for prudence a,
.eamanshp. la regard 10 the conduct Of he
"e passengers under such trying circumstance
n, too much could not scarcely be said. Sufhc
m, II that they bore the misfortune with becon
T.. ing for,itude aud cheerfuness, and testifie
on leaving her al Cork, as much sympath
y" as those who had a more permanent In,ere
as 10 the good old Atlantic. The Atlantic ia
an on board $50 tons OF freight and cousld
ell rabe quantity Of specie, which The Camnr
was chartered to bring over, and probsb
sailed from Cork on the 4,h INST. dirrc; f
New York. Before the Africa lett arrsng
&C. ments we're making to tow the A'lanuc
his Liverpool, for the purpose Of being repaIre
me Thi- will possibly require three months.
The Afiica briggs her mails aud passe
gers.
'inI r. w. SHUFELDT, Chief Officer.
icy
Of Benificcnt Act