New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-08-24
The Late Steamboat Disaster.
Mr.. BLAKE, passenger on the steamer
Atlantic, writes a. follows:

MI. bLAkE, a passenger on the steamer
Atlantic, writes a. follows:
NEw.YoRE, Aug -, 1852
have q, this moment the hrst opportunity snce the
fatal disaster on Lake Erle 10 give descnpuon Of the
awful scene, as II then occurred which 10 sd vivid be-
fore me, In all in horrors as far as had an opportunity
10 viewh
You are aware that the calamity happened abou. ?
o'clock on Friday morning. Aug 20, at ~hich dine vas
sleeping In my berth, Ia stseroom No. /, with two
other gentlemen whom have not seen since, and fear
they are lost) which room was on the lArooard nfe
and within from four six feet from where the pro
peller struck tne Atlantic and AZ can judge
about midway between the paddle wheel and the stern
OF the vessel
At the m nent she struck US and while the tlmbers
adj moving and crushing me do wn 10 my bsrsh
struggled and succeeded 10 extncat myself aud 10
moment upon the forward part Of the hurricane
deck alongside u the pilts wheel feeling assured that
from that position couc gain more Information in re-
gard 10 danger than from any other lot the
orders would be given from thai quarter AT this ts
the propeller sow falling ssIern ofus
bad occupied that position but few moments before
the appalling cry was heard tns! she was sinkng.
All was confusion, and the next moment the com
maud given 10 very stihed and agitased voice. -
head her In for shore and ring the bell both Of which
com nsncs were coon obeyed and some exert ms we're
mace TO cs!ee her over her tsrbOard aide 70 keep
the water from rushing In, bur without mucn er-cs
All this tire her engine was In mOtioD, Il had been
all tue while. aud We were fast Leaving tue propeller
then thought IL time 10 make An efirt n save my
reach the ain deck found IL dark there, and no,
light 70 be ,een, and do cot believe there on
that part OF the boat however succeeded la getting
down and tried 20 find something 10 h1at upon.
Atths momsnt thought OF the lte.preierver stools,
and climbed over the railing upon the hurricane deck %
secure one, but did NOT like their APPEARANCE aud
made my way down again and secured the alter gang
way coor. placed over the rsiis on the guards out
side intending It for future use, concluding % ren
upon the wreck long ss | could giving myself
sufcien, tine 70 clear vessel when she saOuld 90
down.
But very the cry of FIRE was heard a. which tim.
the egis rants jumping OF the forward deck as
they had been doing previously, By dozens some sink
ing under the wheels and some passing aserD, ustsnng
such fearful cres for he In their OEa language, a. 10
render the scence which It Is impossible 10 describe,
doubly appalling
Some nlteen or twenty inmates after the collision the
main deck sunk; and then lanched my frsi sopoor',
and struck out 10 clear the vortex which supposed
would soon be made by the sinking vessel
When wss sufficiently clear from her and her wake,
and also without the resch Of VINO drown.
ipg around me, of whose cries | will no: attenp. 70
speak, Law st and watched the motion OF BOTH steam
eTs calculating my chance Of escape, which did MT
81 any time lose sight Of
II bss been raid went som. three miles after the
collision took place II then for 10 be able 20
that distance, one of two Kings must be sl.e-7ther
not very fOggy cid not run that distance Ii
10 did az tne almost loose sight OF the pro-
psler-l supposed she was leaving Us 20 perish t was
then, for the first time, lost my iorrtude-l gave
Tor lost bot yet hoped Tor h-lp from that quarter AMI
did not look Ia vain for soon her bsaridg do 20
toward and then God only knows my feelings of graz.
itu6e. made for Der as fs., my Strength would PER
nit and WAS soon taken n board
From my observations af the drowning persons
around me, fear the ois Of life Will prove greater than
can be Known
That il 70 the sill, calm, and almost clear night,
and the erpost of Divine Providence are in.
debted for the preservation Of So many lives, tnere c4n
be no doubt Had Il been dark or rough, God only
knows what would have been the result
And now. tha, such ~ accident should happen. nus'
remain matter Of speculation % those not Jre.en,;
but me- believe it 20 BE- deserving the stronge5t
censure That there a reckless spirit manifested.
fairly beieve-otberwise how. almost clear
night, could 1t have taken placei
JONI s BLAKE, Menden, Conn.