New-York tribune., 1873-04-07
TIE CABIN PASSENGERS.
STATEMENTS or THREE OF THE sURvIvoIs-GRAPmC
ICCoIrNTs OF THE WRECK.


STATEMENTS or THREE OF THE sURyIYoEs-GRAPHnC
ACCOUNTS OF THE WRECK.
The first of the passengers and crew OF the
wrecked steamer Atlantic reached this city at p M on
Saturday They are W. Wick OF North Carolina, Simon
CamachO OF this city, cabin passengers, snd Thom<
Dunn, steward OF the Atlantic. They came on by rai
from Boston. Mr.. Camacho's feet were badly
frozen during his seven hours exposure
on the wreck. Both he and Mr.. Vick are
feeble and show plainly the hardships 10 wnch
they yere subjected during the terrible scene through
which they passed They came charge of Mr.
Dunn The latter was of the first to reach the shore
in company with the quartermasers and aided materi-
ally in saving life The two were objects OF interest all
the way from Boston They were questioned OCCASION
ally and answered all inquiries briefly and conrteousy
Mr. Camacho was met at tho depot by Prof Bernard OF
No 225 West Twenty-third'st., and friend ana ater
the interchange Of greetings they entered carriage and
were driven to Prof. Bernards residence, wherc MIs
Camacho was waiting to receive her hubpahd, WHOM
she had not seen for four years Mr. Caacho mas nyeu
in the south of France during his absence. Mr. Cana
chos experiences are Of the same character aS nose
already chrOnicled. a., -.
Mr Vlck's wife and children met him at the depot
Mrs Vck was nearly overcome on meeting her husOana
and was borne half faDhng to carriage. The party
were driven 10 the St Nicholas Hotel, wnere they VIII
remain until Mr.. Wick shall have recovered from ms eh
hauston and fatigue Here Is the experience OF one Vi
MR.. cARMcHo's STATEMENT.
I went TO my berth at an early hour on the nght OF
Monday. slept soundy, when suddenly | was thrown
out Of my berth by terrific shock, which made the YES
se yibrate again and again. l rushed out, but found
that in the saloon the water already coming In In
great quantities and that II wanted TO save myself II
woud have to immediately. Just as was, therefore,
with nothing on me SroIa 6ro he oonspd cnt on the
deck though in the gangway all was crowded ana IL
was difficult to make ones way on 10 the deck Two or
tbree Women came around me and asked me TO save
them said didn't know how that was possible; OuI
icond hear the captain giving orders in q calm, clear
Uhi ich
how the boats were, but found that already nearly All
smashed to pieces ana that there was nT % IKE
crew pushing away the passengers aud trying TO get 70
boat which think they sacceeaeu In IN oS 'Sau ha
got up the mZzenmast rigging, ana was sun getls
p when all at felt the vessel give great nrch
ana thou ght my end had come but clung ON to the
ropes with what strength had; and thought that I I
was under when suddenly felt the air and bresthed
freely again. got higher in the rigging and found
gan 10 appear sti holding on the rigging stradde-
wise and every now and then the vessel would give
anotner urch and then would disappear beneath the
waves again. do not even know now how clung on,
for would sometimes let 10 with my hands ana when
the vessel came up again in the place II was
a providence that saved more than anything else.
When asked what he thought OF Capt. Wliainss con-
duct Mr. Camacho replied As far as his conduct goes
alter the accident feel the sincerest admiration and
friendship toward him. OF his responsibility Tor the
accident know nothing not being nautical man. The
responsibility think, rests on the agents III Liver
pool -
MT. "a
details of the disaster the incidents that preceded
and followed it, The seerage Of the Atlantic, he saws,
was unusually crowded On March % 1so miles.
on that day IL was known TO all on board that the
ship was running short OF coal, and that there was
not sufficient TO carry her TO New,lOrk; AS soon as as
best Of feeling on board, and all hands expressed
their entire satisfaction with the arrangement Ihat
night we sat up until late hour and talked and Joked
over the escapes had from the severe weather
After short conversation with the oicer OF the deeh
i r0
o'clock In the morning, when was nung out %, OF
cause Before l had time to collect my scattered
senses, however, l heard the cry OF danger from
sbove and without waiting TO inquire about details
rnshed for the upper deck II would be impossible for
bnt 10 be candid had given up all hope and prayed to
God TO forgive my sins However, was endeayorng TO
make the best effort TO save my hfe ana as looKed
making for the upper Mrs. Fisher called upon her
husband TO save himself but he refused unless sne was
also saved ana thus both of them lost precious tune
she paralyzed with fear and almost frozen, ne 100
faithful leave her TO perish aud satisfied TO die with
her. A moment ended that, for an immense wave
dashed bulwarks aud the two disappeared from
sight BY my side at the time were Mrs David
and her daughter, both OF them III the greatest dls
tress and while holding hurried conversation
the wave on, and in an instant both ladies were
hurled the vessels side and instantly disappeared
very going with them, but was grasped by
man who was hanging 70 the rigging and who
kept firm hold OF until the effects OF the wave passed
away Those whom IL failed TO into the ocean II
almost smothered and added considerably to their suffer
ing. When had sufficiently recovered 10 look around
me saw living at my feet John Price, very fine fell
low and, believe, resident OF NewIOrk. tried TO
stir him. thinking he exhausted had given up all
hope Of rescue but fouDd on further examination that
dead About two hours after the vessel struck
Officer Brady, with a number OF others, at the leo
side OF the steamer, calling on those above them
to drop into the sea, and they would be picked
up. This was obeyed by many IN the rigging, myself
among the rest My limbs were 30 benunbed with cold
unable To move either up or down, and 1t ap-
peared though my fingers were frozen 10 the ropes.
however let go my mold and closing my eyes let myself
fall felt almost unconscious as did IT, and In second
knew was in the sea- but felt Immediately afterward
ne Of
brief with the matter az last reached shore aud
then for the first time wished that had perished with
the others. naturally nervous mdu and not
rugged and the dreadful ordeal had passed through
made me utterly regardless OF life.