Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-04-09
Miseellanu.
Terrible Ocean Disaster.

freight and 400 more passengers. While
crossing the Atlantic she encountered heavy |
head winds, combined with very rough wealth
er. Everything worked fivorably AMI the
officers expected to reach New York on
Monday.
On Saturday night the ill-ated steamship
was about four hundred miles out. The
storm that swept along the coast Cd Satur-
daY night and continued on Sunday night,
RACED with great violence on the Atlantic.
The vessels coal gave out, and Captain Will
and also for safety.
About two o'c ock, while the Atlantic was
laboring about twenty miles outside OF Hall
fax, during a hurricane, it raining heavily, |
she struck Meagher's g Head, dangerous rock !
on Cape Prospect. The wind at the time
was blowing toward the rocks, and at every
Iurch it threw her with great force on the
ledge 1t was ar impJsslbility to get her Oft
The crashing of the hull, combined with
the bowling wind and roaring waters, created
most painful panic. Of the 1000 people |
aboard at least two thirds were women and
children The men lost all presence of mind
and only thought of themselves. Mean
while the officers acted with commendable
courage. Everything that human ingenuity
or exertion could do was done to save the
could not be saved. The wind increasing in
violence, it was impossible to launch life
boats The $50 or 800 people who escaped,
got off upon the rocks. Others in attempt
ing to do 50 were swept away and drowned.
The conduct of many of the male passen
gers of the Atlantic was reprehensibIe in the
extreme They refused to heed the COM
mands of the officers, and seemed perfectly
panic stricken. The crew of the vessel, on
the contrary, behaved with great bravery
and fortitude. They were undismayed, and
obeyed their officers like clOck-wOrk.
The scene byggared all description In the
midst Of the driving RAIN the poor wretches
cIupg to the rock and the vessel, but were
swept away by tens and scores at time.
The shrleks of the unfortunates were appai-
ling in the extreme. Husbands and wives,
parents and children met death together.
Finally succor came for the survivors on
the rock, in the shape of Cunard vessel
ard another steamer, who took 250 on board
and landed them safely at Ha ltax. The
people aboard we've nearly all emigrants,
seeking their homes in America.
TERRIBLE SCENES ON THE DJoNED VESSEL.
Having ascertained that one man from the
wre ked ship had arrived in Halifax, re-
porter went IN search of him and found him
He proved 10 be Mr Brady, third officer OF
the Atlantic. Bruised, worn cut and almost
speechless after the terrible events of the
morning, he was, as might have been ex-
pected. IN 10 condition to talk. Neverthe-
less, he cheerfully consented to answer the
reporter questions, and gave such into ma
ton as he uld. The Atlantic lett Liver
uool, March Doth. for New York, and touch
ed at Queenstown, the next day, to receive
the mails and passengers, after which she
started on her voyage across the ocean. She
hal a full general cargo and very large
number of passengers. Mr.. Brady could
not give the precise number, but thought
there were more than 500 in the steerage
and 80 in the cabin. These, with her crew
would probably make the total lumber not
less than 1000 souls. She was commanded
by Captain James Aguew " Illiams. Rough
weather was experienced, but nothing wOr-
thv of note occurred until Monday noon, the
3lst, when, the coal being short, Captain
Williams resolved to put into Halifax for a
suppiy. The captain and Mr.. Brady had
the night watch up to midnight, when they
were relieved by the chief and fourth officers
Al that time they Judged that SambrO light
then bore north northwest 80 miles, The
sea was rough and the night dark. The
chief and fourth officers having taken charge
Mr.. Brady went below and turned in, enc
the captain at the same time went into ht
room to lie down " hat occurred betweeI
midnight and > o'clock, the time at which
the disaster occurred, Mr.. Brady cannot tell
as he was sleeping. de was awakened anC
thrown out OF his berth by the shock, wher
the steamer struck She struck heavily
three or four times. Mr.. Brady ran VI
to the deck, and found 1t iull Of passen
gers He found an axe and commenced t.
clear away the starbOard lieboat. lie oh
served the captain ard the other officers wer
engaged clearing the other boats. Mr.. Bra
dy succeeded in getting his boat out.
This was the only boat launched, and i
had no sooner touched the water than
crowd made a rush to get into it. MI
Brady had to use force to prevent them froI
crowdng in. He put two women into tn
boat, and about a dozen men, and also &c
in himself. Just then the steamer fell owe
and sank. The boat with its living lregh
was carried down with the steamer and
in 1t were drowned.
The hull OF the steamer became almOs
submerged, and only the bow and the mast
remained above water. The greater part {
the passengers were in their rooms below q
the time, and were Immediately drowned
Indeed, SO soon alter striking did the vess'
sink that many of the passengers were n
doubt sleeping peacefully, IN bllssul ign'
rance of ali that was going on around then
and passed into eternity without struggl
OF those on deck, numbering several hui
dreds, many were washed overheard Whe
the shin fell over and the cries for help,
they struggled in vain for lie, were mo
heartrending. Many, however, had take
refuge IN the rigging and ON the boom, AT
were still living, but with the prospect
before them. tor the
knew not where they were, and were in m
mentaIy expectation of the ship sinking tu
ther aud engufng them all. Even as th
were striving to maintain themselves IN q
rigging with the sea washing them CONT
ually, their situation was most trying, al
every few MINUTES some of them would
numbed by the cold and, exhausted, loo
their hold and perish
STATEMENT OF THE CAPTAIN.
The following is the statement of the ca
tain: We sailed from Liverpool, March 9
During the first part of the passage had
vorabe weather and easterly winds. On t
oath. 25th and 26tn, experienced hea
southwest and ives erly gales, which broug
the ship down to lis mics day. On
3lst OF March, the engine er report show
but about l27 tons OF coal on board,
were then AGO miles east OF Sandy Hoo
with a high wind southwest and high VT
terly swell and falling barometer. the sh
steaming only eight knots per hour. Co
sldtred the risk too great to push oD, as
mght find ourselves, in the event OF a "a
shut out from any port OF supply, ana
decided to bear up to HALIFAX AT P
on the 3lst, SamDro island was distant
miles. ,he ships speed varying from to
knots per hour; wind south, with ra
which veered to the westward at 8 P.
with clear weather.
AT midnight, l judged the ship to h'