The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-04-10
LOSS OF THE ATLANTIC.
Particulars of the Terrible Disaster.
THE CAPTAINS STATEMENT.

4bu IlNeS east OF SANDY HOOK, with Wlnd SOUTH
west and high westerly swell and falling
barometer. The ship Steamug only eight knots
Per hour: considered the risk toy great to push
on as we might find ourselves. in the event OF
gale, shut out from any port of supply. and
50 decided to bear up for Halifax. At one p.
| NJ. 31>t, SambrO Island was distant 10 miles; !;
ships speed varying from eight to twelve knots
per hour; wind south, with rain, which veered
to westward at eight P. NJ, with clear weather.
At midnight judged the ship to have made
122 miles, which would place htr Is miles south
OF Sambro. and then left the deck and went
into the chart room, leaving orders about the
lookout. and 10 let me know if they saw any
thing, and call me at three A. NJ, intending
then to put the ships head to the southwark
and await daylight.
My first intimaion of the catastrophe was the
striking of the ship on MARI, Island and re-
manning there fast. The sea Immediately swept
away all the port boats. l he officers went to
| their stations and commenced clearing away
| the weather boats. Rockets We're fired by the
| second officer. Before the beats could be clear
el-only ten minutes having elapsed-the shin
| keeed heavily to port, rendering the >tarboard
| boats useless. Seeing mat no help could be got
! from the boats | got the passengers into the
! rigging and outside the rails and encouraged
them to 90 forward, where the ship was highest
| and less exposed to the water. The third Of
| ticer, Mfr. Brady, OuarermasterS Owens and
/ Speaklnan by this time having established com
| lnunicai0n with the outlayin@ rock. about forty
| yards distant by measure of line. got four
| other lines 10 ihc rock along which about two
! hundred people passed. Between the rock and
! the shore was Il passage 100 yards wide.
! rope was successfully passed. across this, b"
| which means about fifty got to the land, though
| many were drowned in the attempt. Al llTe
| \. NJ. the first boat appeared from the island
| but she was too small to he Of any assistance.
| Through the eXertonS of Mr Erldy, the third
| officer, the islanders were aroused, and by six
! A. NJ three larger boa'S came to our a>>i>iance
| BY their efforts all that remained ON the side Of
! the ship and on the rock We're landed in safety
/ ana cared for by poor i>her}Han named
! Clancy and his daughter. During the ufy the
| survivors, to the number of TO-, We're drafted
| oil to the various houses scattered about The
resident Magistrate, Edmund Ryan, rendering
/ valuable assistance. The Chlet officer having
got MY the miZ2nn rigging, the sea cut of hi
! retreat He stood for hours bv a woman who
| had been placed in the rigging. THE sea WIS
| TOO high to attempt his rescue. At three =. VI.
| Il Clergyman, Rev. Mr.. Ancient, Succeeded! ii
| getting him Il inr and SetlH% hin oil. Many
of the passengers, saloon and >leerage. died IN
| the rigging troM cold, among the number the
| PurScr OF the ship
Before the boats went out placed two ladies
in the Iiie-boa. bat tinding the boat useless,
| carried them to the main rigging, where left
| them and went aft to encourage others to 90
forward on the side of the ship. AT tins iuncture
| the boilers exploded and the boat rolled over
10 leewarl, the ship at this time being on her
| beam ends. Finding myself useless there !
| went to take the lIdcS forward. but found them
gone, nor did | them afterwards MANY
passengers at this time could not be stimulated
, to any effort to save themselves but lay in The
! rigging and died from fright and exposure.
| remained on the side encouraging, helping
and directing until about fifteen we've landed.
| when finding that my hands and legs were be
coming useless | left the ship, Two other boat,
being close to- and embarked the remainder.
! ON reaching the shore despatched Mr.. Brady,
third offices off TO Halifax. across the country,
to telegraph the news Of the disaster and to Oh
| agent, promptly responded, and sent two
| steamers, with provisions. to convey the sur
yiv0rs to Halifax, where they Will he cared for
and forwarded to New York the first opportu-
| nity in charge Of the first ard fourth officers.
the third officer and luur men being left at the
island to care for the dead as they come ashore.
Captain Sheridan. diver, has received pro-
vis'0na authority As to the sal, age of the cargo
and materials. The second officer was lost with
| No. 80 llte-boa.
THE CHIEF OFFICERS STATEMENT.
J. w. Firth, chief officer of the Atlantic, in
| reply 10 the reporters questions, made a state
ment in substance as follows:
Ny watch ended at twelve o'clock on Monday
night. The second and fourth officers tJpk
charge, and went to my herlI. | was aroused
by the shock OF the vessel striking. THE second
officer came down to my room and said the
ship was ashore and he wa, afraid She Wa
gone. ! put on few a!ticlC~ Of clothing, 90
IN axe and went on deck to clear THE boat~.
| The ship haG careened over h1t.r ! reached
the deck. | cleared the two >ttrboard boats.
Just then q heavy sea swept tha boats away. !
was ho' Ing fast to the n'Iloun,-t rigging ard
noW climbed higher for safety. fhe ni4h' Wa
50 dark and the spray hIrW 80 thjekIv thIt Wt
could not Scp well what Wa, -oUI- au around
Us. | saw men ON on the rocks. bat 0i no'
know how they got there. Al wht wcro aIjy
on board We're IN the tig4'nG.
When daylight clrnr ! r.lutei 1huty-lwo
persons III The mlll'u-,u1>t r'-@'r@ with ln'.