The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-08
THE ATLANTIC CRIME.
Scenes at Meagher's Head and
at the. Wreck.
THE SPECTACLE ON SHORE.
A Herald Correspondent with the
Divers in the Ship.
DOWN AMONG THE DEAD.
A Terrible and Heartrending Sight
Underneath the Sea.
"A Il EN- ALE SAILOR.
Strange Romance Of the Dis
aster Without q Sequel.
THE INvE STICATION.
Contradictory Testimony of the
Officers of the Atlantic.
INDIGNATION AT HALIFAX.
The White Star AStOniShed at the
Captains Statements.
Strange Romance ofthe Dis
aster Without q Sequel.
THE INVESTIGATION.
Contradictory Testimony of the
Officers of the Atlantic.
INDIGNATION AT HALIFAX.
The White Star Astonished at the
Captains Statements.


HALIFAX, April I, 1873.
The mantle OF mourning still darkens this agon-
lied and staid old-fashioned city. The very air
seems to be full OF death, the streets full OF MOURN
ers, and the hotels crowded with the anxious and
sorrowful friends OF those who were sent so sum-
marily to their final account through the incompe-
tency OF the Captain OF the ill-fated steamer At
lantic. THE HERALD reporters, with their
special steamer, have crused around and
watched the wreck and the surrounding
scenes almost from the mement OF the terrible
calamity. Notwithstanding the weather has been
clear and calm ever since the eventful disaster the
monster ship with all her strength has slowly and
constantly drifted to pieces. Divers, though have
worked their best and have recovered hundreds OF
the bodies OF the unfortunate victims 10 look
upon the position OF the sunken hull 1t becomes
more and more incomprehensible how 1t was
possible Tor the vessel to have been driven In
where she now lies. IL Is the opinion Of the fisher
men OF the locality that she struck the Grampus
Reef about half q mile east Of the scene, and ran
along the reefs until she brought up against the
fatal rock She is lying on her port side, well
der water from amdships; the hull is
almost abreast OF the reef and forms a
sort Of breakwater between 1t and the shore
OF the island, which appears only about forty yards
of. AL that portion OF the hull from the forward
hatch is severed as completely as If 1t had been
cut with some piece OF machinery. The sea has
caused 1t to forge ahead thirty feet or so, leaving
gap or passage way, where the small boats are
continually running In and out and carrying
curiosity seekers from the shore to the wreck and
back.
THE FATAL ROCK
looks close enough for one to leap to 1t from the
nf fha huI 4 10 a
rather that portion OF it which was above water,
scarcely thirty square feet, and upon this two hun
dred or more human beings stood for two or three
hours until rescued by boats from the main land.
Volumes and volumes OF narrowing incidents
might be written OF heroism as well as OF
cruelty and inhumanity; but no pen can ever con-
vey the faintest idea OF the ghasty spectacle which
at this very moment exists on the shore at the
scene Of the awful disaster This afternoon and
yesterday several OF the fishermen, who have been
engaged in the sad business, carried the bodies up
the bank and laid them on the grassy knoll where
the other bodies had been laying. The visitors
crowded around and gazed mournfully upon the
sad sight. Many could not stand 1t and turned
away from the place which has appro prately been
called
1.-THE HILL OF DEATH
Others lift their hats and with revcrenta awe
step lightly along, rs II afraid to awake those who
are sleeping their last sleep. The bodies were
those OF steerage passengers, and most OF them
were females. One young woman was particularly
handsome, and looked as natural as If she mad died
peacefully and calm. She was fine featured
young woman, beautiful, no doubt in life Her
name was Bennett, and she had through
ticket for Boston. Her scapulars and beads
were left on her neck when her name
was entered in book by Squire Ryan. On the
body OF one man thrty-six sovereigns were found,
and upon that OF another twenty. All the men
and many OF the women had valuables, such as
gold rings, brooches, money and watches. The
magistrate and those who were assisting him Ia
searching the remains said tnat the bodies found
yesterday had more property on them than all the
rest who had been buried, except the body OF Mrs.
Davidson, which was recovered on Saturday even
ing. One OF
THE ROMANTIC INCIDENTS
Of this terrible calamity has been the discovery
that one OF the men, common sailor, and one
whose life was sacrificed In efforts to save others,
was young woman OF about twenty or twenty-five
years Of age. Her sex was not known until the
body was washed ashore and the rude clothing
removed preparatory for burial She had served
as a common sailor for three voyages, and was
favorite shipmatc with all. She is described
as having fewer OF the vices incident to Q
SdllOT's llle tHhH S usual, Uub sue Woc, hS'Oithc
less as jolly an old tar as any Of them. One OF the
survivors OF the crew in speaking OF her remarked,
81 didn't know Bill was a woman. He used 10 take
his liquor as regular as any OF us, and was
always begging and stealing tobacco. He was
good fellow, though, and ! am sorry he was
w0man.n The most singular part OF the whole
story is that the woman was an American, and
was about the only one OF that nationality belong
ing to the crew. Who she was and where she
came from and her motive for leading such a
strange life OF hardship, never was and never will
be fully known.
All along the coast, few rods back from the
shore, are hundreds OF rude. plain, Imprinted
collins piled up in q hideous, conglomeratcd mass
In 'front.' are long lines Of dead men, women and
children, in all the various positions which result
from sudden death. There was q woman with
her hands clasped in prayer and peace
ul expression upon her face; then
man whe had evidently persisted in terrible agony
then, most heartrendng OF ALL little girl staring
sightless; a babe with its arms clasped about the
neck OF Its mother and the dead woman cingingt
her child so firmly that they had not been parted,
was but one OF the many scenes which made strong
men weep.
ONE VERY HANDSOME WOMAN,
with long, flowing dark hair, had died seemingly
In the effort TO screen her beautiful persen rom
rude gaze. Almost her only raiment was night
wrapper, and that was clutched about her person.
Another woman lying still and stark, was IN the
very act OF hooking her dress wQen death oyer-