Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-04-07
THE ATLANTIC plSA.TEK.
WILLIAMS STATEMENT.

The enquiry ordered by the Canadian Govern
meut into the Atlantic disaster, was conImcuc-
ed at Halifax on Saturday when Capt. James
| 4 Williams was sworn aud read the following
statement:
i On the 2Sth of March the engineer ) report
showed that the coal was getting short, We
having experienced three days very severe
weather. The coal on board was 3l9 tons; We
being |, | 3 miles from Sandy Hook the speed
came down from eight kuots per hour, anu
with moderate strong breeZa, TO live knots
Der hour hoping that the wiud would Gauge
favorably, kept on until the 3lst when cur
coal was reduced to l27 tons. aud the ship be-
ing distant from Sandy Ito k AGO miles, latl-
tude 40. longitude 6j0U3>>4/>>; as the ship by
this time was making but seven knots per hour,
the wind being southwest the glass ialllng'and
a westerly swell On, | thought it a risk too
great to keep. as in event of westerly gale
coming up, we might find ourselves out vi all
sources of supply; the chief steward also re
portcd, Fresh provisions for but TWO days for
the saloon, aud salt for but TWO days Tor the
stecragc, when all bur bread and rice would be
out.
AT y. M alter receiving TIE engineer $ r..
port, decided to come here, Sani'ru Island
being then distant ~ miles. During the after.
noon the wind was south southwest with rain;
at : y. H. the wind vcercd to west, and the
skv was clear: | several times corrected our
course by the polar STAR the course stccred "
he compass was north ~ east, ! caslcry dcvla-
tinns, which considered ample allowance Tor
The westerly set, and to lead five miles to the
east Of Sambro Island; left my orders on the
bridge as to the looknutS; which word WAS
passed to the officers relieving ut midnight the
svc,nd and fourth officers; | corrected the
10. an rod,
ca,ltlon and orders; then went into my closet
room and sat down; in about fifteen minutes
Mr.. Fisher came in to ask some particulars
ai;ur The ship, as he was writing to the Cos
mupoIi,an newspaper, he stayed about twenty
minutes and left; NY intention was to run until
> Il M. and then to hcavc TO and await day.
At midnight the ships run was l22 miles,
which would place her As miles snuh of Sam-
bro, the speed by the log at l2::2O brings
nine knots per hour The night at this time
was cloudy aud cold At l:2!::40 my servant
CAME VI, with my coca, when he was told not
10 awake me until 3 a. M, when the second
officers would call me The first iurimatiou |
had of anything was the ship striking on Mragh-
crs Rock, on Mragher's Island, remaining
and killing slightly to port.
The officers were quickly at their stations &C
c1mpancd By the lnar'crma'crS the first
sea swept all the po,t boats over and the ship
Keeling over rapidly soon rendered the star
board boat useless every eff ri was made to
send the people forward outside OF the ship,
but terror defeated all our efforts the second
officer was on The starboard life boat ; carried
two ladies and placed them with Inn. aud re.
turned for more before got as tar as the
saloon entrance, tniing the ship going over
still further, | managed to yet hold OF the
weather rail and got back to the life boat
took the ladies out and placed them in the
main rigging, aud went back and called to sec
ond officer to come out as the boat would roll
over. which he did 10 a few moments carrying
with her Mr.. Metcalf and from thirty to forty
men: fudiug that | was of 10 use there | re-
turned to the main rigging and found that the
ladies had gouc chief officer Mr. Firth got up
into the rigging where his retreat was soon cut
off, and had to remain there until 3 p. ~,
when the weather and sea moderated with
falling tide, and he was got off s; Nlr. Brady,
third officer, finding the boats useless, went
forward, and with the assistance Of Quarter
communication with rope to small, outlying
rock, distant from the starboard about forty
yards Owens swan first, but failed to get
footing Speakman then tried it and succeed
cd stout rope was then hauled on the rock
along which Brady passed followed by the
Oldest Of the men by this time it was a. w.;
| was at this time in the main rigging, trying
to get the passengers there collected to
make au effort to get forward, many went
but the larger number, several SALOON
passengers among them, lay there and died;
the purser was the first to succumb to
the intense cold that prevailed; finding myself
Of no use there, got along the outside of the
ship to the fore rigging; got the fore sheets and
4 oh, lad
now five ropes made fast to the rock, along
which men to the number of POO passed safely,
though nearly exhausted; on reaching the rock
Mr.. Brady, accompanied by McssrS. Owens
Speakman and Thomas, got line across the
inner channel, which was about lG0 yards wide
and shallow, though with heavy surf running
through; they went up and gave the alarm and
sent messenger to Halifax; about fifty got to
the larger island bya line, though many were
drowned in the attempt. amongst the number
being the Chief Steward who was drowned by
the passengers crowding him down. |, with
the fourth officer, encouraged as much as We
could the people, about $50 who remained on
the ships SIDE to keep moving to keep from
falling asleep; in many cases they gave right up
and died apparently without any pain; twelve
lncn laid down beside me, and despite all efforts
to rouse them, died, and slipped into the sea;
| at 800 the llrSt boat came, Dut she was TWO
small to be Of any use.
At this point the Captains feelings over
came him, and it was several minutes before he
could proceed
In about twenty minutes more the first large
boat was launched aud proceeded to take pas
scngcrs off the small rocks; she was, in half
hour, followed by two others; succeeded, fear
ing the ship would port and slide into deep
water, in getting them to take off those from
the ship first and many were saved who, if left
there to the last, would have persisted from ex-
ha1lstion; at this time missed the fourth of:
liccr, aud feared he had fallen in, when [ saw
him on the rocks, encouraging and helping
another boat along; when all had left but about
thirty mcus my hands being frozen aud my legs
stiff, they took me off the rest following lnmc-
diatIy; at S:45 the survivors were landed and
lodged IN wooden huts belonging to Fisherman
named Clancy who with his daughter, gave them