Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-04-04
LOSS OF THE ATLANTIC.
Greatest W reck Of the Century.
mere Sad Details OF the Disaster.

UfeateSt W reck Oh the century.
mere Sad Details OF the Disaster.
Further particulars of the wreck of the steam
As, quartermaster of the ship, states that he
told second officer Metcalf to stand into land,
so that the ship might run her distance 10 make
Sambro light. Metcalf told Thomas he was
the man at the wheel. and shortly after tho ship
struck. Thomas put the helm hard-a-starboara
ana reversed the engines null speed astern and
lie the wheel-house and went to the after
wheel house and got axes out and distributed
them for the purpose Of cutting away the gear
about the boats. He says:
LITTLE BOY AND HIS MOTHER,
named Munney, (both steerage passengers and
her brother Alfred Munney, all from London,
were lost: She called to me when she came out
OF the after-steerage, and said Robert, where
are your" l said, al am here.n She said
"Save me-" i took the mother and child on
the saloon deck and told her to stay there until
i could get boats clear to put her and the boy
into The ship suddenly listed over, and they
lost their hold on the rail and were swept over
board and sunk to rise no more. I think they
have some friends or relations at Yonkers, n.
", as i received an address TO that effect the
night before. VIM. Purdy, quartermaster, was
the first to swim ashore, but when going he
said, Goodbye, Thomas. viii you come with
me?', L replied that L wanted to save the boy
and his mother. When 1 saw that they were
swept away Fswam on shore.
Two HUNDRED PEOPLE CRUSHED TO DEATH.
by the survivors are narrowing. At one time
during the weary watch before dawn, the fore
ocOm broke loose from its faStenings and surg
ing around instantly crushed 10 death two hum
dred persons who were gathered on the deck
Several Passengers are reported to have been
lost in the lte-boats. which, not being properly
managed, overturned and drowned the unfol to
mates before assistance could be rendered
Some of them who had ife-preServers and en-
deavored to reach the rock by means OF the lire
from the vessel, not having them properly ad-
I'll. thAir hnH ls~.
were fiOated with their heads down, and in this
way many were drowned before reaching the
rock.
A WHOLE FAMILY DROWNED.
one young man, with no clothing except a
shirt and vest and two life-buoys fastened
around his body, leaped into the water and at
tempted to reach the rock, but persisted in the
attempt. He had lately returned from America
TO England to bring his wife and five children
to ms new home. They were all on beard the
steamer and all persisted.
THE ONLY YOUTH SAVED
rom the wreck makes the following statement:
My name is John Henly. 1 am about ~ years
OF age. i got on bc lard the Atlantic at Liver
nool with my mother and father and young
brother, all from Ashton, Lar cashire. He wa,
asleep i'll his terth, when great noise aw AIKEN
ed him. Although he did not hear any voices
there seemed to be a great rush, and he STUN
bied out of his bed and into the crowd. The
greater portion passed him, but he followed
solie men who Tere crowdng into a top bertl
In the upper steerage. One of the men broke
through window and got out, and he did also
some X nd-heartCd person pushing him through.
He and bis companions, once outside, held on
by ropes and were Iescu ed by a life boat. He
did not know what bee NE OF his parents and
brother. The family were on their way to New
York on invitation of two married dau yhters
who had settled there.
AN CNRULY CREW.
The crew was one OF the hardest that was ever
gathered on any vessel. They were picked up
about the Liverpool docks, and were kept under
control during the voyage only with the greatest
difficulty. The storekeeper states lat one OF
them made an attempt to snatch his watch anu
chain one night, but was foiled. On another
occasion, during stOr m on the 18th of March,
he states that some of tde crew attempted to
break into the spirit-roOm, and ior awhile il
wasfeared that force would have to be used Ia
prevent them. When the boats came from the
shore to rescue the survivors the sailors repeat
ediy pushed the passengers aside or Knocked
them down and jumped into the boats them
selves. I
THE CREW RoBBING THE DEAD.
Capt. Williams is censlred by the people for
his conduct, and the feeling is general that
there should be a searching Investigation. He
went down to the scene Of the wreck yesterday,
to look after the property. Hopes are enter
tanned that the greater portion Of the cargo will
sitlon, her bow and masts berg out of water.
1t is stated that the crew plundered dead bodies.
One instance is related OF a wretch who mutt
lated the hand of a lady to obtain possession OF
a diamond ring on her finger. Her BODY and
those of Mrs. Fisher, of Vermont, and Mis-
Merritt, OF Chicago, washed ashore yesterday,
anu lay sfdc w siue among tne Other bodies
which are to be forwarded home. One woman
passenger was confined only six hours before
the disaster.y --- =-r ra.T
A schooner load Of collins was sent down from
Halifax. -
THE MERRITT FAMILY WIPED OUT.
Mr. james 5. Merritt and his wife and sister.
who resided In 18th street, New York, and Miss
Serimser, formerly living with her family in
10th street, were all lost together The tale of
this family is a peculiarly sad one. Mr.. Merritt
was bachelor of about forty years of age. He
was man OF means and frequented the best
society OF the city. He became acquainted with
Miss Mary Scrimser, and proposed marriage
and was accepted. On the I'd of April, 1872,
just one year ago, the couple were married. aud
for their wedding tour went to Europe i'm the
identical vessel in which they since met their
terrible death. While in Europe they visited
all the continental countries, and about six
months ago returned to Paris. where MIR. Mer-
rltt wrote, inviting his sister, Miss Merritt, and
Miss Annie Scrimser, q sister OF his wife, to
join them. The two yopng ladies started of
alone, also by vessel of the White Star line
and arrived in PARIS in safety. The family
consisting Of four persons, started out, together
again, visiting Italy, and finally arrived back
in London, writing to the family here their pro-
posed return by the Atlantic. They did as
they proposed and left Liverpool by that
steamer. They allmet death in the same man
ner, and by this sudden calamity the family of
the Merritts is wiped out 1t were, in one
blow.