Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-04-07
THE ATLANTIC DISAS-
TER.
BETWEEN FIVE AND SIX HUNDRED LIVES
LOST.

BETWEEN FIVE AND SIX HUNDRED LIVES
LOST.
HALIFAX, April 2.-Eaiy this morning the
Dominion Government steamer Lady Head,
Captain Mottson, Cunard steamer Delta, Cap
tain Shaw, and steam tug Goliath, Captain
Jones, left this city for the scene of the wreck
OF the "White Star" steamer Atlantic, at Pros
pect, to render such assistance as they could
The Lady Head had on board q humber of GUS
toms officers, and tho Deltp's party included
several newspaper reporters. The start was
made aboat three O'clock so that the steamers
might reach the scene immediately after day
light.
As morning broke the steamers approached
Prospect, and those on board quickly learned
the Whereabouts Of the Inflated Atlantic from
tile presence around her or a large neet of fish
ing schooners and small boats.
The locality is one that u mariner wonld be
disposed to give widc berth To, 1 possible the
| shOal being succession of large beds OF rock,
with dangerous shoals running out for some
distance, while the bay is studded with innu-
merable islands, large and small all of solid rock
with scarcely sign OF vegetation. Yet, iiown-
| ing and dangerous place as it was, there was
grandeur and beauty in the scene on this bright
morning, when the Angry waves w1rn beating
/ against the rocks and enyeOpciug the sho;ll
almost continually In clouds of offering spray.
| The Delta and Lady Head. being unable To
VcIturd near shore, came 10 anchor, and the
| shipwrecked people.
| No time was lost. The Goliath and boats
soon returned filled with men, who proceeded
| to get on board The Delta. English Irish,
Scotdli, Welsh, Germln, Dutch. Nurwegia
| Swedes, Swiss, indeed representatives of every
| country in Europe and of the United States
| were biddled together talking, laughing, crying,
praying and thanksgiving, producing u cuniiI-
| sion OF tongues. Scarcely One-halr had a COM
plete and respecifully-ooking snit of clohes.-
The wealthy merchant of New Tuik and Lon-
| don, the high-toned professional gentle man and
poorest Of foreign emigrants appered in clothing
much OF which had been given To them by the
good people OF Prospect Some We're without
| coats, many without hats, others without boots,
&c.
All were warmly welcomed on board the Delta
by Captain Smith and his officers, who spared
| no pans 10 make them as comfortable as pos
sble.
The Goliath returned TO shore, and was soon
back again with just such a crowd rs the pre-
vious ono. There we've several affecting scenes
| OH the Delta aS the passengers were collecting
| in her from points where they had been stop
| ping. Friends whc had separated from each
other after the Atlantic struck and never expect
| cd to meet again in this world were brought
! face to face In the Deltas cabin, where they
| grasped hands and wept for joy, and returned
thanks 10 Him whose mercy had spared them
| to eternity. by IL o'clock all those who had
! reached the shore safely Were, excepting an of
| ticer and four men, who remained, and those
who had walked inland, taken on board the
steamers Delta AMI Lady Head, thu former
having about $50 and the latter II.
NUMBER OF LOST AND SAWED.
| A calculation was now made by Captain
Williams, showing that the loss of life, though
| immense, was not so large as had been report
ed. The Atlantic had on board 33 cabin pas
sengers, 800 steerage passengers and crew, Of
/ cers included, Of 143 men, total 97G souls leav-
| ing the number lost 546 This may not be pre-
cisey correct, but 1t is nearly so.
! There had been two births during the voy-
| age.
! The wreck remained in the same position as
before reported, the bow and masts only above
water, and the sea breaking so rough that
boats could not approach with safety. She was
broken in some places, aud a few packages had
washed out and drifted to sea. bat the bulk OF
the cargo appeared TO be undisturbcd.
Divers have begun operation for the remova