Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-04-08

tlred lives. Since her loss there have
been terrible disasters ON the ocean. bu
none which we now call TO mind. so ter
ribly appalling IS that which occurred
a lew miles from Halifax, at 2 o'clock
/ A. NJ, OF Monday. Again it is name
sake of the steamer lost eighteen year;
ago, which we now have to report as
following her Inflated predecessor 10 the
bottom OF the relentless ocean.
The steamer Atlantic of the White
Star line, leit Liverpool, March 20ih,. lor
New York, and last Sunday night, being
short of Goals, made for Halifax. Al
midnight the captain went to his berth
TO sleep. the officer of the watch being
LETT in charge. At , a. NJ. the ship
struck on Meagher's Rock, twenty two
miles west of Halifax, m q in few mo-
ments sunk TO The bottom, her spars still
remaining above water. OF 1000 souls
on che steamer only 250 were saved.
Every woman aud child was lost. There
were 50 cabin passengers and theremain-
der chiefly Irish immigrants. The ship
WAS going, apparently at full speed the
sea way rough. and the night dark but
not ioggy. The vessel sank it appears,
within few minutes amer striking, SO
that but one boat could DC launched.
Those who were saved. saved themselves
by swimming or by chnging TO the rig
ging, until rescued by fishermen on
shore. The Captain is among the sur
yivoTs.
For this geat horror it seems from the
information now at hand that the officers
OF the ship are largely responsible. Two
lights prospect Head anu Cape Sumbro)
gnard the approach TO Halifax harbor.
They are only few miles apart. These
are facts which should have increased the
caution of the officers OF The ship. Yet
they seem 10 have meaulioUsly mistaken
the one for the other. and out Of bluuder,
the awful accident was precipiiaicd.
The least part Of the duty OF the Off
Gers OF a ship approaching rough coast
in rough weather and in a dark night. is
to stand out TO eea il ihei, position j. a
matter OF possible uncertainty, Till ob,cr.
walton can be had I, is a wonder that
the Captain should have gone TO
sleep in such crisis OF his voyage.
We remember in crossing the ocean on
the steamer Brooklyn oftLe luman line,
that the captain, in approaching Queens
town, and Liverpool, aud on The return in
approaching New York, never !cil the
"brjJge" -lhc pos, of duiy-during The
night, Every passenger fell more sc.
cure in the knowledge OF this fact. The
responsibility OF The captain OF an ocean
steamer, when his vessel Is in tue neigh.
borhood Of The coast, Is momentous, and
he cannot sleep without hazarding his
ship and lis precious treasures OF life and
property.
The s,langeness OF this neglect grows
more inexp.ica5lc, when we learn that
the night was not thick, The excuse for
mis,ahiog The ships position thus becomes
still more objectionable. II ignorance
OF the approaches Of tho hAroor Is the
explanation youchsaied then the duty
Of waiting Tor daylgh, and a. pilot was
all the more pressing.
\. present. however, our information
is too vague 10 dtaN other than this gen.
eral couc.usion-ihat this great horror
originated in criminal cagc.essness.
The Atlantic w..s one o. ths finest
steamers ahoat. She Was owned by IN
American Company, the y hilc STAR line
started three years ago. The AT
lauuc" and Oceanic" Al once took the
cream OF foreign travel, and made even
The Old Cuuarders LOOK 10 their laurcls.
For sumptuOusnesS Ot furnishings. ele-
gauce oil service, convenience and r0Omi.
ness Of saloons aud rooms, beauty OF
model and leelHess, the Atlantic Was the
peer OF the finest palaces OF the walters.
A year ago the 9Th Of April We passed
heU IN New York harbor-a marvel Of
shape,y grace she seemed Is Size sped,
with almost rcsist.ess dignity, through
the sea. Two days out Of New York,
the Captain OF our Inman Steamer,
Brooklyn, standing at our side on the
deck, saw The Atlantic ste3miHg far
nor,hward, Tor the shortest passage to
Liverpool.
"She means to beat Us. this "Trip" says
the captain, "Jut | rather 60 the longer
road and be surer Of my Journey end
and the old tar shook his head with ON.
nous sAgacity.
To explain this remark We should plc-
sumo that there is great rivalry between
different lines OF ocean steamers. Zach
line is ambitious lol tie shortest passage
The Atlantic had just made one Of the
shortest passages on record; but she did
it at risk, 10y going e,r toward the
North to save 100 miles OF distance The
Northern route is the more dangerous.
on account of iogs and iceberg. 1. was
undoubtedly an iceberg, by which the
in alcd Boston" lloundered. Since the
loss of the Boston, the Inman line mas
taken the sOutherly and longer route be-
tween New York and Liverpool. So tho
Caniain on the Rrnnhlrn lnnA inc lhronoh