Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-09-04
From the New York Express.
Heartrending CataStrOnhel

burgh at two o'clock this morning, and sunk in
about half an hour.
The loss of life from the Atlantic is estimated at
two hundred and fifty persons-while about like
number were taken on board the propeller which
was leaking badly, but they succeeded in reaching
this port with her.
The steamer kept on her course, the officers
hoping to be able to reach port, although the boat
was leaking badly-the water, however, gained
rapidly on them, despite the efforts Of the crew,
and the time they had proceeded about two miles
from the spot where the collision took place. it was
found that the vessel rapidly sinking, the fires
in the engine room being extinguished by the
water.
A very dense fog prevailed at the time of the
collision
The passengers were all in bed, and the first
mate on duty.
Immediately after the collision, which was very
severe, the utmost confusion prevailed amongst the
steerage and deck passengers, very large portion
OF whom were Norwegian emigrants, and several it
is thought in terror and darkness that prevailed
jumped overheard at once.
Capt Pettey, although seriously injured, with
the assistance of the crew, endeavored to calm the
fears of the passengers, assuring them that there
was no danger.
The cabin passengers and all who could be made
to understand were exhorted by the captain and
officers to remain calm and provide themselves with
chairs settees, beds, &c, all of which were pa
tent life preservers and would buoy them up in
the water. Numbers however, unheeding, and
not understanding the advice given them rushed
overheard to certain death.
At about half-past two O'Clock, amidst the wild
shrieks of the passengers the steamer settled and
sunk. The propeller had kept in the wake of the
Atlantic, and those on board her did all in their
power to preserve the lives of the hundreds of hui
ma hO VIC ctr in thaI
water.
The fog was a sad hindrance to their efforts, but
some $50 were rescued from the Lake, and taken
by the propeller to Erie. A large number left at
once on the Sutana for Cleveland others came
down in the this morning.
How many are lost it is impossible at present to
say but is thought the loss has been principally
confined to the poor emgrants, who, although life
was as precious to them the wealthiest of our
citizens, will not leave many amongst US to la
ment their untimely deaths.
From Mr.. Holman, of the Michigan Central
Railroad office, we learn that the following were
the number of tickets issued from his Office Steer
age passengers, (emigrants,) gil; deck do. 81 );
second class do. 10 ; cabin do. 48; making 1926.
Aside from these, Mr.. Homan thinks there may
have been 1875 persons board, including the crew,
making in all about $50, and reducing the proba-
bic loss to about 200, but this, we fear is little
below the mark.
The emigrants were Norwegians, who came
through by Lake Ontario steamers from Quebec,
and about 72 or 80 ofthem were left on the dock,
the agent refusing to suffer them to go on board.
They now mourn the loss of their friends. There
is reason to hope many may yet be saved on life
preservers, with which the boat was well supplied.
Immediately on the news being received in this
city, the steamers Northern Indiana, and Lousi-
ana and propeller Princeton offered their SER
! a. l.. r -
was fred up Immediately prepared to start, but the
Company's boat "Cleveland,'' arriving from up
the Lake, was instantly despatched to the scene
of the catastrophe. She saw nothing of the wreck
on her down trip, owing to the fog.
An Express Company had about $50, 900 in mo-
ney on board the boat.
BUFFALO, August 2Oth-9 a. MP to this
hour no further of cabin passengers, either
lost or saved, can be ascertained-nine of the crew
and about twenty five of the cabin passengers are
known to be lost.
Capt Petty of the Atlantic, while lowering
life boat, fell distance of IL feet into the boat
tstriking his head and cutting it badly. He was
preciptated into the water and supposed to be lost
but was picked up by boat from the propeller
after clinging for / 5 minutes to floating pieces of
timber he is much injured, and now lies in this
city in precarious state.
i Mr.. Dana, who was lost was very efficient in
saving the lives of passengers and exhorted them
to cling to the life preservers when in the water.
When the boat went down he took settee and
plunged overheard, but at the same moment some
90 or 80 emigrants leaped over on to him, and he
went under.
The last persons taken from the boat were Mr..
Gvan, clerk of the boat, and Mr.. Buell., first engi-
neer The steamer had then sunk all but her
stern, and they with some Illinois passengers, were
clinging to rope attached to a floating mast and
the wreck, being up to their shoulders in water
AS soon as the shrieks of the drowning passengers
| were hushed the voice of little boy was heard,
and it was then first discovered that child about
years old was also clingng to rope short dis
lance off. The little fellow, talking to himself was
saying "Oh l can't hold ON much longer eli
! papa. was here, he would hold me up"
The man from Illinois, fine, powerful fellow,
Immediately moved along rope and seized the
boy as he was about to sink. He held him fol
some time and called out to Givan to come to his
relief, as he was nearly exhausted by the weight
Givan made an attempt to reach him, but in vain
At that moment the boat of the propeller, loaded
to the waters edge with rescued passengers, pas
t sed and Givan hailed them and entreated them tc
# save the boy. Mr.. Blodgett first mate Of the At
lantic, who was on board, jumped out and swan
to the rope, took the boy off, and returned to the
/ boat with him. He was thus saved. The little
e fellow was from Massachusetts,, was with his
h uncle, who was drowned His name was not re
s collected by the clerk. The next boat from thu
propeller took off the clerk, first engineer, and thu
d Illinois passenger.
: The nassen0ers Eric LII !. ....4:.