Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-04-02
FIRST EDITION.
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
Loss of the Steamship Atlantic.
Over Seven Hundred Persons Drowned

One Of the most fearful marine disasters ever
recorded is that which occurred, yesterday, to
the steamship Atlantic, OF tho White Star line,
between New York and Liverpool. The follow
ing telegram from halifax gives the details:
The White Star steamer Atlantic, Captain Will
lams, from Liverpool for New York, while coee-
ing to this port for coal, struck on Meagher's
Rock, near Prospect, twenty-five miles west of
Halifax, and became total wreck. OF about
one thousand souls on board upward OF seven
hundred we're drowned. Third Officer Brady ar
rived here tonight, and says the Atlantic left
Liverpool on March 20, with upwards of nine
hundred steerage and about fifty cabin passen-
gers.
THE SUPPLY OF COAL EXHAUSTED.
She experienced rough weather during the
passage, but all went we'll until noon on Mon
day, March 81, when her supply Of coal became
exhausted. The captain determined to put int o
Halifax, and the captain and third officer were
on deck until midnight Her position was then
judged to be sambro light bearing N. N W..
thirty nine miles
The captain went into his chart room, leaving
orders to be called il there YVES any change in
the ships position. Brady went to bed about
the same time as the captain.
THE SHIP STRIKES THE aHoRE.
The next thing he remembers is that he was
thrown out OF his bunk, and 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
the boats. The captain and other officers were
busy doing the same thing. Brady got his boat
out, and put two women in IL. number Of men
attempted to get into, and about dozen sue
ceeded. Just at that moment the steamer fell
over on her beam ends and sank.
TERRIBLE SCENES.
Only one boat had been got out and that was
carried down by the steamer, and all in it lost
Brady scrambled into the mizzen rigging,
which was above the water, and, seeing he conld
do nothing there, wentsforward and unwove the
halyards, being assisted by Quartermastsrs
Speakman and Owen.
He then took the halyards and all three swan
to the rock. The line was hauled ashore and a
number OF passengers landed by it. number
had got on it. but as the tide was rising their sit
uation was no better than on the vessel.
RESCUED BY FISHERMEN.
Just then fishermen on shore came out in boats
and rescued those on the rock and a large num-
Der from the rigging. Brady remained at the
scene until noon to-day, when all who were
alive on board had been saved, except Chief
Officer Mr.. Firth, who was in the rigging shout
ing for help.
Brady says he tried to get a crew to go to
Firth's rescue, but the sea was 80 heavy that
nobody would volunteer. Altogether about $50
persons we're saved including Captain Williams,
also Fourth Officer Brown, the doctor and sever
al Of the engineers and sailors.
NOT WOMAN Oh CHILD SAVED.
Not single woman or child was saved Most
Of them, as we'll AZ hundreds of mon, were
drowned in their berths. The ship struck about
two A. M, the weather at the time being dark
but not thick with a rough sea.
Steamers are going down tonight to render
what assistance they possibly can. All the peo-
Pile saved from the wreck, except Brady, are
still at Prospect, where the fishermen are giving
them all possible attention,