Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-04-10
THE LOSS OF THE ATLANTIC.
Statement ofCnptatn Williams.

;lTME LOSS or THE ATLANTIC.
Statement Of ofCaptain Williams.
We sailed frem Liverpool March 20.
During the first part of the passage we
had favorable weather and easterly
winds. On the oath, 25th and 26th
experienced heavy southwest and west
erly gales, which brought the ship
down to 11S miles day. On the 31st
of March the engineers report showed
but about 1877 tons of coal on board.
We were then 46O miles east of Sandy
Hook. with the wind southwest, and q
high westerly swell and falling barome-
ter. the ship steaming along eight knots
per hour. I considered the risk too
great to push on, rs We might
find ourselves, in the event of gale,
shut out from any port of supply, and
so decided to bear up for Halifax. At
one O'Clock on the afternoon of The
31st Sa;ubro Island was distant 10
miles, the ships speed varying from 8
to IL knots per hour; wind south, with
rain, which veered to westward at 8
p. NJ, with clear weather. At midnight
I judged the ship to have made 122
miles, which would place her 48 miles
south, of Sambro, and then I left the
deck and went into the chart-room
leaving orders about the lookout and
to let me know if they saw anything
and call me at A. M, intending then
to put the ships head to the southward
and await daylight. My first intima-
tion of the catastrophe was the striking
! of the ship on Mars Island and remain.
ing there fast to. The sea Immediately
swept away all the port boats. The
| officers went to their stations and COM
menced clearing away the weather
boats. Rockets were fired by the Sec
end officer. Before the boats could be
cleared, only ten minutes having
elapsed, the ship keeled heavily to
port, rendering the starboard boats
useless. Seeing that no help could be
got from the boats, I got the passen-
gers into the rigging and outside the
| rails, and encouraged them to 90 for
ward, where the ship was highest and
less exposed to the water. The third
! officer, Mr.. Brady, Quartermasters
Owens and Speaklnan, by this time
had established communication with
an outgrowing rock, about forty
yards distant, by means of q line;
got four other lines to the rock, aud
passed along with about two hundred
people. Between the rock and the
shore there was passage one hundred
yards wide. A rope was successfully
passed across this, by which means
about fifty got to land, though many
were drowned in the attempt. At S in
the morning the first boat appeared
from the island, but she was too small
to be of any assistance. Through the
exertions Of Brady, the third officer, the
islanders were aroused, aud by them
three larger boats came to our assist
ance. BY their efforts all that remain
ed and the side of the ship and on the
rock were landed in safety and cared
for by O fisherman named Clancy, and
his daughter. During the day surviv-
! ors to the number of 429 were drafted
off to various houses scattered about,
the resident magistrate, Edmund Ryan,
rendering great help. The chief off
Ger having got up the rigging, the sea
cut of his retreat. He stood for six
hours by woman who had been placed
in the rigging. The sea was too high
to attempt his rescue. At 8 p. NJ. a
clergyman, Rev. Mr.. Ancient, succeed
ed in getting him line and getting
him of. Many passengers, saloon and
steerage died in the rigging from cold.
Among the number was the purser of
the ship. Before the boats went out I
placed two bodies in the life-boat but
finding the boat useless, carried them
to the main rigging, where I left them
and went to encourage others to 20
forward on the side of the ship. At
this juncture the boilers exploded and
the boat rolled over, the ship at this
time being on her beam ends. Finding
myself useless, I went to take the la-
dies forward, but found them gone;
nor did I see them afterwards.
Many passengers at this time could not
be stimulated to any effort to save
themselves, but lay in the rigging and
died from fright and exposure. I re-
NAMED on the side encouraging, help
ing and directing, until about fifteen
were landed, when finding that my
hands aEd legs were becoming useless,
I left the ship, two other boats being
close to her, and embarked with the
remainder. On reaching the shore 1
despatched the third officer to Halifax
across the country tostelegraph news of
ktlre disaster, and to obtain assistance.
Mr.. Morrow, the Cunard Line agent,
promptly responded, and sent two
steamers with provisions,to convey the
survivors to Halifax, where they will
be cared for and forwarded to New
York at the first opportunity, in charge
of the first and fourth officers, the third
officer and four men being left at the
island to care for the dead as they come
ashore.