The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-08-31
PARTICULARS OF THE ATLANTIC.
STATEMENT OF PASSENGERS.

nected with the loss of the Steamer Atlantic,
from the passengers. 1t will be seen that they
condemn in strong terms, the conduct of tho
Captain and his crew, with the exception of
Mr.. Gvan 1t is due to the public ihat thor
ough investigation should be made.
We portion of the survivors of the unfor-
tunate steamer Atlantic, conveyed to our des-
tination by the kind liberalIty of Gen. Chas.
M. Reed, of Erie, who offered us passage on the
Key Stone State, Capt. Stone commanding.
which gentlemanly officer received us with the
warmth and sympathy of a true heart believ-
ing it to be duty which we owe to the public
to present to them tho facts that came under
our observation, take the opportunity afforded
| by your columns, of giving our opinion of the
| cause and subsequent events, connected with
| this disastrous calamity, knowing the many
conflicting statements that have been and will
be made, we the undersigned, after careful
examination ofeach others views, ,solemnly de-
clare the following statement to be correct to
the best of our belief:
At the time of our collision, with the Pro-
peller Ogdensburgh, we were all in our State
Rooms, and awaking, rushed out into the Cab
in, where all was soon i'm the most dreadful
confusion, the lights having all been put out
by the cabin boys and the cry of fire. and I'VE
are sinking screams of women and children
making the scene to heart rending to describe!
A largo portion of us remained in our berths
some moments after the collision, altho' ava
kened by the shock, yet hearing the engine
still in motion and no Bells being rung, or 9TH
er instruction being given whereby we might
have been apprized of. the calamity and the
awful struggle in which we were so soon to be
precipitated.
The total incapacity displayed by the officers
of the steamer, to direct any method for the
preservation of tho lives Of those placed under
their care, shows too clearly their unitness
for the positions they occupied suffering the
hands to seize the boats and capsizing the life
boat that was launched first by the captains
own hands, rendering her useless by the want
of GOODNESS and presence Of mind. Thus by
the incapacity of men holding the position that
these Individuals occupied, who il was expect
ed to be equal to any emergency, hundreds
were hurried in a moment into eternity. In
speaking of tho officers of the boat it is with
pleasure that We make an exception of Mr.. Gi-
van, the Clerk of the Boat, who, cool and col
lected, remained upon the wreck and was the
last man to leave it. To his noble exertions
in their behalf several are indebted for their
preservation from watery grave.
The boats were of no use. The first was
capsized by the caDtain in lowering it into the
water, portion of the crew seized the other
two, and amidst the piercing and agonizing
cut of, left the sinking steamer to her fate
The night was starlight, aad the lights of the
Propeller could be seen some two miles off;
which afforded faint hone to the few that
yet remained huddled together upon the stern
of the hurricane deck. The passengers were
divided into two groups-the stern mostly cab
in passengers. large portion of the emf
grants were forward and were thus drowed in
a body, as the bow of the Steamer sank in the
H. L.ak HI lx..k
twenty or thirty feet of the hurricane deck re-
manned above the water to support the survi-
wing few. Had she then sunk, probably
would have been the case in a hundred instan-
ces of the kind, some fifteen or twenty alone
would have been left to tell of the dreadful
catastrophe.
We would call the public attention particu-
larly 10 the fancied security which was offered
to the passengers by the so called Life-Proser-
vers-stools with tin pan under the seat
which unto many who trusted to them for pres
crva,ion proved Life -Destroyers.
We cannot speak out our indignation at the
owners of the boat, who thus would wantonly
tamper with human life. 1t was bad enough |
at least for helpless persons to be forced upon
the waves in the hour of darkness, even If they |
were assured Of safety by having a life-prescr
yer in their possession: but TO this foolish con- !
trivance many resorted, thereby neglecting to
secure floating material that would have sup
ported them.
We call it nothing but deliberate manslaugh-
ter for any man to suffer such useless things
to be put upon boat merely for the purpose
of giving nothing but a fancied security to pas
sengers.
Had Mr.. Ward taken five hundred dollars
from the gliding of the cabin, and purchased |
loose plank, which could have been piled upon
the deck, or life preservers that would have
been of some use. he would not have tho death |
of over two hundred persons weighing upon |
his soul. There can be no apologies offered |
for the neglect; and had il not been for the
kind and overwhelming Providence of GOO, who
held us all in the hollow ofhis hand, we should
now be in eternity.
Had the engine Of the Atlantic been stop
ped as it should have been, there would have
been but a few lost but such was not the case,
os we must have gone some two or three miles
from the Propeller before we stopped. We un-
derstand the Propeller had reversed her engine
which helped to widen the distance. To tho
decision of the Captain of the Propeller we
owe our lives, who, although his own boat was
leaking badly, Immediately returned to our
assistance. As the Atlantic did not stop, he
supposed she had received no injury He ac-
ted like man and true sailor, and we feel
that to his GOODNESS and decision we owe our
lives.
We suppose that there was rising Of two
hundred persons on the boat, and about one
hundred of whom got on board the steamer
Sultana. Our number making the balance of
those saved were thrown upon the kind hospi-
tality Of the citizens of Erie, to whom we feel
under boundless obligations. Their homes
and purses were rendered us, and no attention
was spared to contribute reliefto our distress
cd situation. We must mention the names of
Gen. Charles M. Reed, James ii. Taylor, of
Buffalo. Mr.. Lowry, Mr.. Wright, Dr. Wood of
the Navy, Rufus Reed: tho families of Mr..
Henrod, Capt Young, ,,Lieut Dove, May, Bates
VIM. ii. Treadway, and to Messrs. Brown &
Reeds Hotel, all of whom and numbers of 9th
ers threw open their doors ready to befriend