Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-10-21
Loss of the Atlantic.

The following touching description of the
fearful scene on Lake Erie, at the collision Of
the Atlantic and Ogdensburgh, is from the pen
of Rev. Samuel Haskell, Of Detroit, one of the
survivors. 1t appeared in the Michigan Chris
tan Herald.
Mr. EDIroR The following is in compi
ance with your request that | should furnish
your readers with narrative Of the fearful de
struction of the Atlantic, and Of human life upon
her, on The morning Of August 10Th. The SOL
emn event hope to be able to survey from
stand point above the wraDglng, selfish and sec
ular interests, into which no man with the heart
of man can be found descending. when such
an over awing providence is the subject in con-
temptation - .y.2.it e
The number of human souls with which we
left Buffalo seems now coming to be fixed at be-
tween four and FIVE hundred. While the BRIDE
groom tarried, we all slunlbered and slept. Be-
tween two and three O'clock in the morning,
when off Long Point, and four or six miles from
the northern shore, we were awakened by ter
rife concussion, which took place directly oppo'
site my state room, little forward Of the centre
of the forward cabin. The noise Of massive
timbers successfully and continuously pounding
against and crushing through each other with
shivering force, was like that Of thunder in ones
own dwelling to our startled ears. Myself and
room mates Immediately sprang from our berths,
commended ourselves to God, and commenced
dressing. The bell struck for moment, giving
as we interpreted it. the signal Of distress. The
boat lurched slightly upon her side, and we felt
that she was rapidly sinking under our feet. Ia
king the stools from our room in our hands, two
of which were supplied with air vessels attached
designed to make them serve as buOys, we
went from our room. The sounds which imme-
diately struck upon our ears were such as had
not expected to hear till the great day Of God
Almighty. Every kind Of cry and shrek, wall
and prayer, made our sinking vesael terrilically
vocal One of our rooms company disappearing
myself and the other, a Christian man, agreed
that we would keep together, and went out upon
the guards of the after cabin. The first things
that struck our attention were struggling men
and women, and gurgling groans in the DARK
, waters around us. We looked around, and could
discover nothing near US but the persons and
fragments which were scattering off from oul
boat These We could see at number o.
rods distance FROM Us, though light mist lay
upon the surface of the water, through which
the stars looked clearly down from above. Con
cluding that if we had struck another vessel
: we had run her down, we supposed ourselves ta
beyond the sight or knowledge Of any human
being but ourselves, and sinking rapidly into tina
benighted sea.
We returned into The cabin, and endeavoret
f to force door from its hinges, but were unable
= and almost Immediately were driven from ou
effort by the water rolling over our feet across
the cabin hom We returned upon the guards
and with our little stools threw ourselves from
8 the railing up upon the hurricane deck. TIL
, small boats had been launched by the crew, and
d filed by themselves and such others as happene
t to be near the point Of launching OF had bse
g taken from the water, and were floating off q