New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-08-25
Thr I.nsa of the Atlantic,

The following letter, giving some details
of the loss of the Atlantic. is from one of the pas
sengers, to his relatives in this City. The wife OF
the writer had brother and sister on board of the
Henry CLAY, both of whom were saved, unframed,
though on the stern after she was ashore, on the
18th July
STEAMER SULrANA LAKE ERIE, 5th mo. 20. 1852.
DEAR FRIENDS We lett Buffalo last evening a, %
o'clock in the illisted Atlantic, the loss OF
which you will lave learned before this reaches you
This morning about o'clock, when opposite Ere and
within six miles Of the Canada snore (of Long Poin,)
our boat came In collision with the propeller Ogdens
burRh, bound 10 Buffalo. Our bow was stove la, and
the boat nms dsey began 10 sink 80 rapidly that In
fife. EN- minutes the saloon or promenade deck was IN
der far back mdships. Tho after part being
sher went back and staid near the stern uus'
driven by the water to the railing wnere wa waited I'LL
The water came about feet then thought IL about
time to leave, AZ expected every moment ID see tns
boat 20 dow with plunge, as nearly all the WOODWORK
that could buoy the coal and engine was then under
water Accordingly my dear wife with the baby
and | with our dear little FrSnkey in my arms,
leff and pushed away from the wreck 10 avoid
beipg drawn under with IL. MARY had life pre-
server on) We therefore wholly dependent
on a single liie-preserver aud my deNterity as
swimmer, which last 10 all that saved our lives
Afer Iemslung In the wa;er some 10 or 10 minutes,
al seeing that the boa, had apparently ceased settling
we returned on beard and there sat and waited tor
change or relief which at last fortunately came
greatly disabled returned 10 our assistance, aud tor
prudential reasons probably very cautious about
approaching Us In way that would afford chancellor
more than very few to get on board at once. How
ever they came bows on directly to where VS. were
starding, and ] raised Frankey as high as | could
reach, and he taken safely on board. then
caught little Adpa and handed him up, bu'
TO one reaching for him, ard the propeller
moving oil, was obliged to hand him lack 70 Mary
and take nv chance at swimming assn, ~ | had
one loot on the propeller aud her moving OF let me
COW into the water and was drawn away by tho cur
rent after the propeller to some distance IRON the
wreck; but as couls &c; clear of that, swan
bach again and once with Mary and the baby,
much relieved feeling that Frankly was safe We no"
waited some - or 20 minutes before the propeller
aesin returned 10 During this lapse OF time those
who were still IN the wreck Quoted By report
that the boat the bottom aud they were In no
danger, 90 athoms found no botom) This feeiog OF
security fnsbled the propeller 70 come a0Dgs!de Ia
safety ard by good management we we're soon all on
board and 10 comparative safety During all this time
the boats Of both sesrneTs employed IN picKng up
those tho ia the water aud s,il alive. The dead
could not claim attention whea life was Ia peril,
ard consequently only one body "a chids) was
brought away We could not feel altogether safe
yet, as the propeller wac badly stove In at the
bows, and leaked ga that the pumps were iuD. She
row started for Erie and at 9l O'Clock met ,hs Sui
tana coming out Of Erie H.rbor bound for Detroit.
We thought best to take it Snd 20 immediately on our
journey. We have lost everything except the things
we had OF our packs and my watch and purse go that
We nave money enough 10 IVY tue uNCrs-Ny Clppllu.
to ush our journey and other necessary expense. As
IL was only through what believe 10 have been gross
caTeessness that this calamity has happened i pre-
shall recover for our BAGGAGE, which at the
present moment seems OF buiittle account Accordng
to the best information have been able to get,
there could not have been less than $50 lives lost
| presume need not call upon you 70 Imagine any.
thing Of the avuness Of the scene OUT or sight OF land
Qt was quite dark In deep water, and at one time
with hardly hope of assistance To be there
no fire. but We had no land, az in the case OF those on
the Henry Clay TO look to- We were altogether abb
hour and ha with scarcelys hope-desth staring
Us in the face, and numbers drowned aud drowning
around U.s. felt anxiety for my own fate, but the
dear ones who OF course clupg to me were all thought
OF saving. felt no fear OF death for myself, sdll
! fully expected H. not on y for myself but for Mary
and the dear children. We hardly hoped but perseveed
ard were saved. While we were away from the wreck
in the water Isaw several dead bodies u.s. aud
OF man came so near that was under the painful ne
cessity of pushing Il away with my foot fearing, life
not being extinct entirely should be caught hold Of
My hands of cOurse ted--Franky In one, with his
lIe arms around my neck, and Mary in the otuer.
obliged to proIel eniireiy With ny feet, easy
matter for even the best swimmer. believe ware
II only company who eft the boat and got back safely
There were few sing gle meu who went when we did,
ard for TIE same reasons. Nary was perfectly cal n
II fear for the baby than herself Frsnkey, when
Ia the water erica some. ard sad, FranEey wants 70
go In the boat again and" rankey don't want 20 20 In
the water any more and many other things which |
cannot BOW mention. | lind tnat the propeller struck
the Atlantic near rnidshlps the arbOart eide We
have been provided Sh dry clothes by the passengers
on this boat and ST has been done by the captain and
ohcers that vss in their power 70 ms % Us cOutJrtabe
very few only their way In the boat, prefer
rrg take the stages around the lake. shall mali this
at Cleveland, at which place the b'at ~l touch for
coal We shall probsoIy get 20 Detroit. 70 morrow morn.
ing. A,