Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-04-02
LOSS OF THE STEAMER ATLANTIC.
Seven Hundred Lives Lost.

Halifax, /. Steamship Atlantic, of the
White Star Line, from Liverpool March goth
for New York, running short of coal, made
for Halifax. When about twenty miles from
here OFF Cape Prospect, at 80 this morning,
she ran ashore on Meagher's head. She had
on board one thousand men, women and chill
dren. Only two hundred and fifty made a
landing. The remainder, including all the
women and children, were lost. The captain
and third officer were saved, and the first
officer was drowned. On the first receipt of
the news of the disaster here, a Cunard and
government steamer started to the assistance
Of the Atlantic, but the third officer who ar
rived here at ) 80 this afternoon, says the
vessel and cargo are a total loss.
Later.-Of about 1000 souls on board, up
wards of 700 were drowned. The third Of
1cer, Brady, arrived in town this evening.
He says that the Atlantic LETT Liverpool on
the 20th of March with upwards of 900 steer
age passengers and about so cabin passen-
gers. They experienced boisterous weather,
but all went well until noon ON Monday the
3lst, when the supply Of coal was nearly ex-
hausted and the captain determined to put in
to Halifax. The captain and third officer
were on deck until midnight The position
was then judged to be Sambro Light, bearing
northwest 80 miles. The captain then went
.
ed if there was any change in the vessels
position. Brady went to bed about the same
tine 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 COM
menced cutting away boat, and the captain
and other officers were doing the same. Bra
dy got his boat out and pat two women in it.
number of men attempted to get into it,
and about dozen succeeded just at that
moment the steamer fell over on her beam
ends and sank.
Only one boat had been got ont and that
was carried down by the steamer and all in it
lost. Brady scrambled into the mizzen rig
ging, which was above the water. Seeing
that he cauld do nothing there, he went for
ward and Gnwove the halyards, being assisted
by Messrs. Speakman and Owen, quarter
masters. Brady then took the halyards and
all three swan to the rock and then line
was hauled ashore and number of passen-
gers landed by him. A number had got on
the rock, but as the tide was rising their po-
stion was no better than OF the wreck. just
then the fishermen on the shore came out in
boats ard rescued those on the rock and a
| large number from the rigging. Brady re-
| iliaiUeO Ut tne SCG!e liz mum
all who were alive on board had been saved,
except the chief officer, Mr.. Firth. who was
in the rigging shouting for help. Brady says
he tried to get crew TO go to tile rescue Of
FIRTH but the sea was so heavy that nobody
would volunteer.
Altogether about $50 were saved, includ-
ing captain Williams, the 4th officer, Mr..
Brown, the doctor, and several of the engi
neers and sailors. Not single woman or
child was saved. Most of them as we'll as
hundreds Of the men, were drowned in their
berlhs. The ship struck abont two o'clock
this morning. The weather at the time was
dark, but not thick, and the sea rough. The
steamers are going down tonight to render
what assistance they possibly can. All the
people saved from the wreck. will, the en-
ception of Brady, are still at Prospect, where
the fishermen are giving them all the atten-
ton they possibly can.