Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-08-28
ANOTHER TERRIBLE CALAMITY.


ERIE, Pa, August 2o.--The steamer At
lanic last night came in collision with Inc
Propeller Ogdensburg, on the Lake, and sunk
in about half an hour with nearly $50 OF her
passengers.
The Propeller was damaged, but succeeded
in getting into port with portion o' lne az
lantic's passengers. The steamer Clayton
has been despatched from here to The scene
of the wreck
The accident occurred during the prevail s
ence of dense fog
AT the time of the collision, the passeh-
gers were all in bed. When the steamers
s,rnck. the utmos, CONSERVATION ensued, par
ticularly among the steerage and deck, pas
sengers, who were chiefly Norwegian emf
grants Many of these, in their fright, jump
ed overheard.
The water gained FAST and the fires in the
furnaces were soon extinguished. 1t was
quickly apparent that the boat was rapidly
sinking.
The scene which followed was terrible
women and children cried for succor from
their husbands and fathers, whilst the terror
the stoutcst heart of that presence OF mind
which was so necessary. The confusion
which followed was such that even those
who had sufficient self possession, could do
but little either in aid of themselves or others.
The emigrants, who could not understand
a word of what was spoken to them, added
10 the horror of the occasion by cries of
1
others who could understand the exhortations
of the Captain, were comparatively calm, and
provided themselves with chairs, settees,
beds, &C., and all the patent life preservers
on board. Many were thus saved who would
otherwise have been drowned. Great NAM
bers of the emigrants jumped overheard, and
rushed to certain death without making an
effort to save themselves.
Amid the widest shrieks of the hundreds
of human beings struggling in the water,
or clngng 10 the boat the noble steamer
rapidly settled and in few brief moments
the dark waters of the Lake closed over her,
The Captain of the Ogdenshurg did all in
his power TO save the lives of those who were
struggling in the water, and $50 passengers
were picked up, ana TAKEN 10 Erie
The emgrants were Norwegans, who
came through by Lake Ontario steamers from
Quebec About rs or so of these emierants
were left on the dock by the agent of the
boat, who refused to suffer them TO go on
board. These have now TO re joce over their
own preservation, and mourn the loss of ma
ny of their friends.
There is reason 10 hope that many of the
unfortunate passengers may have been saved
on the lfe-pieservers, with which the boat
was well furnished.
Immediately on the receipt of the mean-
choly disaster, the steamers "Norhern In
diana,n the "Louisianna" and the propeller
"Plnceton'' offered their services to go to
the wreck. The 'Lousianua" was fired up
Immediately, dscharging her load for that
purpose.
The Cleveland, boat belonging to the
Company. however, arrived in the interim,
from the Lake, and was instantly despatched
to the scene of the calamity. The Cleveland
had seen nothing of the wreck, during her
down trip, owing to the prevailing fog.
Erie, Pa, August 22.-Among the many
incidents related by the survivors of the re-
cent dreadful calamity which be(el the steam
boat Atlantic, on Lake Eric the following are
worthy of mention -
MIR. Aaron Sutton, of New York, who was
provided with two life preservers, states that
whilst he was fastening one on his wife, a
ruiian approached and snatched the other
from him, but, notwithstanding this, he man
aged TO save himself and his two children.
A young woman, who jumped overheard
on the first alarm, would have drowned, but
for the noble eXerions of all unknown man,
supposed to have been one of the emigrants,
who eaped after her, and, after great diff
Guilty, succeeded in getting her on board the
steamer again, from which she was taken in
safety by the Ogdeusburg. Her preserver UNI
fortunately, after seeing her safe, sunk from
exhaustion, and was drowned.
Three men saved themselves by clngne
to the binnacle-boX, which was thrown over
board, and enabled them to sustain themselves
until picked up. While cnging TO it, they
were compelled, for their own preservation,
to kick from them the drowning wretches
who endeavored TO reach the pinnacle, as
their last hope, 1t is said that at that awful
momentthere was no respect paid 10 either
sex or age, and women were rudely repulsed
and perished
Dr. Crippen, of Michigan, saved two la
dies by breaking through the deck into the
state-rooms, which were rapidly filling with
water.
Capl. Petty, of the Atlantic, still remains
in dangerous condition
The lights of the propeller were also seer
mile off. This being the case on both sides
the accident must have been the result of in
excusable neglect, carelessness or ignorance
The consequences of which have been a mos
deplorable loss of life, with which, for ia
tality, the calamity caused by the desuuc
lion of the Henry Clay will bear no compar
ison.
The greater part of the sufferers are Nor