The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-08-31
The Late Dislstcr on Lake

The Late DEsal,tcr on Lake
Erie.
We find in the Baltimore Sun some
further details of the late disaster Oh
Lake Erie, caused by the sinking Of
the steamboat atlantic in consequences
Of coming i'll collision with the propcl-
Ter Oydensburg. The -1Huntic BE-
longed to Mcssrs. Ward, and was val
ued at $4,000. 1t is said she was in
surcd. Thr7yVsa;s much Indignation cx-
pressed againstt aiiccrs Of both
boats for their apPa want Of care,
as it is believed ,heWplli>ion could
easily have been prevented. The fol-
lowing evidence was given b. ;Ae mate
of the Cgdsnsburg:
At the inquest held ON Friday night
ut Erie on the body Of little girl,
name unknown, the following evidence
was given:
De Grass Mcneil, mate of the pro-
peller Oglcns5urg sworn. Commenc-
cd my watch ut midnight; abou,
lialt-l.ast one saw the steamer; she had
a red light aloit and two lights bclbw;
we had two lights at the cross trees.
and another signal light in front; when
| saw her, three miles distant, we were
steering for.thc We!land Canal, and |
Judged, from her course, we Should
/ PASS hal mile north of her; Upon
nearing her, she appeared to have
changed her course, and to be making
across our bows; now ordered the en-
gincs to be stopped; this was about
ten minutes before the collision; seeing
that we were likely to strike together,
| ordered the engine to back, and the
wheel put hard a-starhoard; shouted as
hard IS well could; our whistle was
out of order; in about two minutes We
struck; the bow Of our vessel strikinn
he. between the forward gangway and
wheel house, OH the larbourd side: did
not see or hear any person on board
the steamer when we struck; we had
nearly stopped; the Atlantic was under
full hcadway; af.cr ascertaining that
our vessel would not sink, we went to
her relief, although we did not see
any signal Of distress or hear her bell
ring; upon nearing we heard the cries
Of persons on board and in the water:
came up to her in about an hour; her
lights had disappeared and her bow
was under water, though her stern WAS
in sight and all three Of her decks;
came alongside and took of all The
persons who had remained on her till
now; our boats were engaged in picking
up those in the water; al aitcrwarLs made
Il circle OF Il mile III circumference
around the wreck, keeping boats inside
the circle, and think We got ON board
all living persons who were in The wa
ter and on the steamer; took probably
two hundred of the steamer and one
hundred from the lake: the Atlantic
remained in the same position when
we left her.
Question by Juror.-If you had
given All order to starboard tic helm
five minutes sooner, woald tho coils
ion have taken place
Answer.-lt unloubt, dly would not.
The following is the statement Of
James Carney, the second mate OF the
Atlantic, who was Oh watch at the
time of the collision.
Mr.. Carney sworn.--I was second
mate of the Atlantic OH the night Of
the collision; it was my watch on the
deck; the weather was smoky from the
time Of leaving; saw Long Point abou,
two miles off; think could have seen
q steamers light one mile; fifteen min.
utcs after leaving Long Point, made
the propcllcr's light nearly point on
the iarboard bow; were steering south.
west by west. our usual course, when
! saw tile propcllcr's light, which was
dim; put the wheel aport, and kept her
off west southwest; two minutes after,
the propeller struck us twenty feet
forward of the wheel, on the larboard
side; heard the engine bell Of the pro.
pcll, r ing about this time; Us soon. as
we struck gave orders to tie helm
man to steer her for the shore, which |
was within four miles; then ran down
on the main deck to sec if | could di. :
cover the extent Of the injury, aud re-
turned immediately to the upper d, Ok;
Mr.. blodgctt, first mate, was then nj |
The pilot house, and | told him sho was
sinking, and he ordered me to run be-
low and see if she was filling; then
went into the Storage, which is Tor.