The republic., 1851-02-17
SAFETY OF the Atlantic.

Our community were electrified on Saturday
night, at late hour, by the intelligence that
the Atlantic was safe that she had arrived at
Liverpool, and was now in dock at that port,
without having sustained other injury or loss
than the breaking of her shaft, on account of
which, after having been nine days out, she had
been obliged to put back.
The following are some of the particulars of
the accident and of her detention, as commune
Gated to us by telegraph:
AT halfpast six o'clock, P. M. on the 9th of
January, the Atlantic's shaft broke completely
through, and one part Tapped over the other,
thus rendering her machinery useless. The
vessel was hove to under strong canvas, and
all hands were employed during the night and
following day in sending up her square-yards,
strapping wheels, SC. There was strong
gale at the time. She still lay to on the 7th
and 8th, hoping to make the American shore, but
the wind proved adverse. On the lth large
ship passed, but took no notice of the steamer
or her signal Of distress. Finally the captains
crew and passengers determined to return to
Europe, and, after making an average of one
hundred and fifty miles perday, at three O'Clock
on the afternoon of the 22d January she an
chored in Cork harbor, with all her passengers
well, and without further accident. The At
lantic had on board five hundred and fifty tons
of freight, and large quantity of specie. The
Africa brings her mails and all her passengers.
The following, giving the opinion Of Capt.
HARRIsoN, of the steamship Canada, relative
to the Atlantic, we take from late number Of
the Boston Atlas. 1t shows how much reason
there was to be hopeful for the safety Of the At
lantic ere this last news reached US:
"In the course of fconversation with Captain Har-
rson, of the steamer Canada and several of his Of
ficers, we supposed number of cases which had
formed the topics of remark among nautical men
since her absence.
First, the strength of her hull To this Cap
tain Harrison replied that he had seen her on the
stocks, and he was at loss to conceive how any
vessel could be more strongly constructed. Upon
this point, therefore, he apprehended nothing for
her safety.
"Second, breaking down in the ice, and being
frozen in. The ice, he said, she would have to
counter, consisted of floating felds and, though she
should break down among it, the strong northerly
WINDS would soon Orllt neE 10 kne sOutnWarQ clear
ofit He did not believe that she could be detained
among the ice more than week.
"Third, in the event of her breaking down in a
gale when she fell off into the trough Of the sea,
was there any danger of her being capsized Capt.
West, he knew, was too good sailor to allow her
to fall off, fthcre were any danger, especially as
he could set aftersai enough to keep.her to the
wind; but admitting that she fell of, he considered
it a physical impossbity for her to be capsized.
The sen might tear of her paddle boxes, but could
not, he thought, make any dangerous impression
upon her hull.
Fourth. was il possible to run her under, carry
ing heavy pressure of steam against head sea
The idea he said was absurd. When the wind
blows a gale, steamer cannot be forced against
it; to keep steerageway on her is all that s ever
attempted. Several other questions we're asked to
all Of which answers were returned, strongly i'm
pressed with the belief that she still aoat and
safe. Shortness Of Goals, accident TO her ma
chinery, were the only Capt. Harrison, or his
principal officers, supposed to be the cause of her
absence. Ia