Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-04-07
AN AUFUL DISASTER.

Total Wreck of the White Star Steam
ship Atta'atic-Ocer Seren Hundred
LGUeS Lost.
HALIFAX, N. S., APRIL This af-
ternoon, a report being current that
steamer had been wrecked on the coast,
and several lives lost, was first regarded
as a cruel April Fool hoax but this eve
ming the Cunard agents have received
news that it was all true, and that only
little of the truth had been told, the
fact being that the White Star steamer
Atlantic, Capt. Williams, from Liverpool,
for New York, while coming into this
port for coal, struck on Mars Rock, near
Prospect, twenty two miles west OF Hal
flax, and became total wreck. Of about
1000 souls on board, upward of 700
were drowned. The third officer, Brady,
arrived in this city this evening. He
says that the Atlantic left Liverpool on
the Goth of March, with upward of 900
steerage passengers and about fifty cabin
passengers. The steamer expert enced
boisterous weather during the passage,
but all went we'll until noon on Monday,
the 3lst of March, when the supply of
coal became nearly exhausted. The.cap-
tain determined to put into Halifax
The captain and third officer we're on
deck until midnight. The position was
then judged to be Sambro Light, bearing
north northwest thirty-nine miles. The
captain then went into his chart-room,
leaving orders to be called if there was
any change in the vessels position
Brady went to bed about the same time
as the captain. The next thing he re-
members is that he was thrown out of
his bunk, and he felt the ship strike
several times. He then rushed on deck
and found the captain and officers there,
and the deck full of passengers. He got
an axe and commenced to clear away a
boat. The captain and the other officers
were ooing the same thing. Brady got
his boat out and put two women in it.
A number of men undertook to get into
it, and about dozen succeeded. Just
at that moment the steamer fell over on
her beams end and sank. Only one boat
had been got out, and that was carried
down by the steamer and all in it were
lost Brady scrambled into the mizen
rigging which was above water, and see
ing that he could do nothing there, he
then went forward and unrove the hal
lizards, being assisted by Quartermaster
Speakman and Owen. Brady then took
the halliards and all three swan to the
rock, and then line was hauled ashore
and number of the passengers landed
by it. A number had got on the rock
but as the tide was rising their position
was no better than on the vessel. JUS
then the fishermen on shore came out il
boats and rescued those on the rock anc
a large number from the rigging. Brady
remained at the scene until noon to-day
when all who were alive on board hac
been saved, except the Chief Officer. Mr.
Firth, who was in the rigging shouting
for help. Brady says he tried to get a
crew to 90 to the rescue of Firth, bu
the sea was SO heavy that nobody would
volunteer. Altogether about $50 per
sons were saved, including Capt. Viii
liams, also the fourth officer, Mr.. Brown
the doctor, and several of the engineer
and sailors. Not single woman O.
child was saved. Most of them, as wei
as hundreds Of the men, were browne,
in their berths.
The steamer struck about 2 o'cloc]
this morning The weather at the tim
was dark, but not thick, and the Sc
rough. Steamers are going down to
, night to render what assistance they pos
sibly can. All the people saved fror
the wreck, with the exception of Brady
!, are still at Prospect, where the fisherme
are giving them all the attention the
g possibly can.
HALIFAX, n S., APRIL 1.-Secon
J officer arrived reports making this POI
! for coal; heavy gale with rain; struc
on Mars Head, Cape Prospect, &C thi
. morning; had nearly 1000 passengers
700 drowned; ESQ got ashore, but n
!. women and children saved; capital
saved; chief officer supposed lost; shi
total wreck cargo still on board non
! aioat; may be partially saved.
= Later advices make the number los
only about four hundred and fifty.
n THE NEW POSTAL LAW.
The postal appropriation bill passe