The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-04-03

Is studded with 1nnumeraDle BlanQS
large and small, all barren rock with
scarcely sign oI Vegetation or soil fol
anythingito grow on; yet froWning and
dangerous as the place was there wa
grandeur and beauty In the sceno on this
bright morning, when the angry waves
were beating against the rocks and enVel'
opiDg them almost continually In cloudt
of clustering spray. The business Of the
vessels was to get on board passengers
and others who had been rescued from
the wreck and put on shore, where with
such largo number in 80 small q place
that not even the large hearted, generosity
and kindness Of the fishermen could be
expected 10 make them comfortable.
The Delta and LadyheRd being unable
to venture near the shore, came to an
chor, and the Golish, with liIe.boat
went In to embark the shipwrecked peo-
pie. No time was lost. The Goliah and
boats soon returned filled with men, who
proceeded to get on board the Delta,
and such motley party Of English, 1rlshl
Scotch, Welch, German, Dutch, Nor.
wegians, Swedes, Swiss, indeed, repre-
sentativcs Of every country IN Europe,
and of the United States OF America,
were huddled together, talking, laughing,
crying, praying and thanksgiving, pro-
ducing a great confusion Of tongues.
Scarcely one.hslG of them had complete
and respectable suit Of clothes. The
wealthy merchant Of London and New
York, professional gentlemen and the
lowest OF cmigrants appeared In clothing,
much OF which had been given them by
the good people on Prospect. Some were
without coats, many without hats, others
without boots and all with the absence Of
some comfort in the clothing line. The
scene may be more easily imagined than
described. All warmly welcomed on
the Delta and no pains spared 10 make
them as comfortable as possible. The Coll
ah returned to the shore and was soon
back again with such crowd as the prev
ious one. There were several affecting
scenes on the Delta as the passengers were
collecting in her from different points
where they had been stopping. Friends
who had separated from each, other atler
the Atlantic struck and never expected 10
meet again in this world, were brought
face 10 face in the Delta's cabin, where
they grasped hand and wept for Joy and
returned thanks 10. Him whose mercy
had spared them while SO many ol their
fellows had been sent into eternity.
By 12 o'clock all those who had reach
ed the shore in safety were, excepting an
officer and four men who remained on the
island, taken on the steamers Delta and
Ladyhead, the former having about $50
on board and the latter II. A calcula-
tion was now made, Captain Williams
showing that the loss Of life, though i'm
mense, was not so large as has been re-
ported. Tho Atlantic had on board 80
cabin passengers, 800 steerage passengers
and a crew, officers included, Of 14S men;
total 978 souls, leaving the number lost
54G. This may not be precisely correct,
but Is nearly 80. The wreck remained in
the same position as before reported, bow
and masts only above the water, and the
sea breaking so rough that she was bro
l,ei in some places and few packages
had washed out and driLted to sea, but
tho bulk ;oE'the cargo appeared to be un-
disturbed,
J.W. Firth, Chiet Engineer of the At.
lantic,. made q statement in Substance as
follows. Ny watch ended at 10 o'clock,
Monday night, the second and fourth
officers took charge and l went to my
berth. was aroused by the shock Of
the vessel striking. Tho second officer
came down to my room and said the ship
was ashore, and ho was afraid she was
gone. put on few articles OF clothing,
got an axe aud went on deck to clear the
boats. The ship had careened over be-
fore reached tho deck. Icleared away
the two star board boats, and just then a
heavy sea swept the boats away. I
was holding fast to. the miZzen
mast rigging and now climb.
cd higher for safety. The night was
% dark aud spray flew so thickly that we
could not see well what was going on
around us. ! saw, men on the rocks, but
aid not know how they got there. All
who were alive on board were in the rig.
ying. When daylight came ! counted
Lhiriy.two persons in the mizzen mast
rigging with me, including one woman;
When thesesaw that there were lines be.
tween the ship and shore, many Of them
attempted 10 go forward to the lines, and
In so doing were washed overheard and
drowned. Many reached the shore by
he aid oi the lines, and the fshermen's
boats rescued many more. At last
NJ had either been washed of or
rescued except myself, the woman, and q
boy. The sea had become so rough that
he boats could not venture nearus. Soon
he boy was washed of, but he swan gal
antly and reached one OF tho boats In
safety. got firm hold Of the woman
and secured her in the rigging. l could
zee the people on shore and in the boats,
and could hail them, but they were una.
ble to help us. At2 o'clock In the after.
ternoon, after we had been In the rigging
len hours, Rev. Mr.. Ancient, . Church Of
England clergyman, whose noble conduct
can never forget while live, got crew
81 four men to row him to the wreck. he
rot into tho main rigging and pro.
cured a line, and then advanced
az far as he could towards me, and then
IlrreW 1t to me. l caught It and mad
L fast around my body then jumped cleaf.
A sea swept me of the wreck, but Mr..
Ancient held fast lli6 and pulled me
back and let rue safely on board. l was
then 30 exhausted that l was hardly
able to do anything for myself, and but
for the olergyman's gallant conduct l
must have perished soon. Tho woman
after bearing with remarkable strength
under her great trials, died two hours
before Mr.. Ancient had, arrived, Her
halt nude body was still fast In tho
rigging, her eyes protrudlng and her
mouth foaming-a terrible, ghasElY spec
tacle, rendered more ghasLly by contrast
with the numerous jewels which sparkled
on her hands. We had to leave the body
there, and It Is probably there yet. The
scene at Ihe wreck was an awful one, such
as l had never before witnessed and hope
never to witness again. Comparatively
few bodies drilted ashore Most Of the
articles which came out Of the ship while
| was on her were carried to sea.