New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-04


ATE SUICIDE - HEROIC HUSBANDS - CHARGES
AGAINST THE CREw-GENEBoUs OFFERS OF AID
INCIDENTS.
fBT TEIEGRAPH TO TIE TRmUNE1
HALIFAX, April 3.-John Hlnley, age IL, was the
only survivor Of the hundreds of women and chill
dren Oh board the Atlantic. When he came to this
city he was dressed in large and uncouth garments
loaned to him by some of the few who had clothes
20 spare. Alderman Neat happened to meet the lad
in the Cunard Office and took him to his store in
Granville-st., where he fitted him out from top to
toe with an excellent suit. The lad seemed much
eountenanee shone like that of child who had come
from a pleasant party rather than from a dreadful
shipwreck, His story is as follows:
Nv name is John Hinley. am ~ years of age. l
got on board the Atlantic at Liverpool with my
mother, father, and young brother We belonged
in Ashton Lancashire i was in my berth when a
great noise awakened me, although did not hear
voices. There seemed to be great msh. stumbled
out of bed and into the crowd The greater portion
passed me, but saw men crowding into top berth
IN the upper Storage, and followed them. One of
the men broke through a window aud got out and
OlO tn6 SdUS Out hluu-ucdAbCu PuShOu hiV
through before he climbed out himself. Once out
side held on to the ropes until myself and COM
panions were rescued by the hfe-boats. What be-
came of my parents and brother don't know, but it
Is certain they were drowned We were our way
10 NewYork on the invitation of two marned sisters
who are settled there. l saw but two men drown,
saw a lfe-bOat upset but do not know what became
of the passengers.
Jas McAllisteE passenger belonging TO Glasgow,
says:
was sleeping in my berth when the vessel struck.
was in the forward steerage in the three tiers of
which there were some 500 persons, every one of
whom appeared to have been awakened by the first
shock. fearful rush made Tor the saloon deck.
which was gained by many, but Others were forced
hack and persisted where they stood. About 10 min
utes after | gained the saloon deck the steamer
eareened over and sunk, and tbOse who had not
grasped the bulwarks and rigging were washed over
board and the frozen corpses could be seen drifting
IN every direction. A few women, not more than
half a Dozen managed to reach the deck, but none
were saved. One woman was dashed TO the mlzzen
rigging by her husband. Her name IS not known,
but she persisted where she was and her frozen body
afterward dropped down and was washed away.
was on the steamer from the time she struck till
about o'clock when managed to reach the rock
by the aid Of the line taken out by QuarteTmasters
Speakman and Owen and third officer Brady. The
rock, not large one, was crowded with men, and
one man, passenger persisted from exposure. We
remained on the rock nearly six hours, and we were
rescued by small boats from shore. Many who at
tempted to reach the rock were drowned.
The scene about the steamer was fearful The
ifeless body Of the purser could be seen hanging
over the side Of the steamer. bis head damned in
~. fbaf r1,nL md
legs to keep in continual motion. Hundreds of
other bodies could be seen in similar positions
Among the heart-rending scenes Zone or two were
particularly sad. One gentleman, Albert Sumner
of San Francisco, committed suicide by jumping
from the rigging into the water, first taking off his
coat Others who were near him endeavored to
dissuade him, but they were too much be-
Dumbed to prevent him. He said, "There
Sc no prospect of rescue, and it useless to
remain here and suffer-" and then he jumped
overheard. One lady. saloon passenger, was heard
TO say to her husband Leave mo and save yourself.
You can't save both" But be refused, and they
went down together, ciasped in each others arms.
ltwas the occasion Of much remark that with very
few exceptions the married men all persisted When
they found 1t impossible to save their wives and
little ones they preferred to die with them to desert
ing them. Many instances are known where the
men could have escaped alone but refused to do
This was especially noticeable among the German
emigants and Americans.
At one time during the weary watch before dawn
the foreboom broke loose from it's fastenings and
swinging round instantly crushed TO death about 20
persons who were gathered on the house. When
the boats from IshOre to rescue the survivors
she sailors repeatedly pushed passengers aside or
knocked them down and jumped into the boats By
direction Of the officers the boats did not go toonear
the wreck, fearing that a Ipsh might swamp them.
The boats approached within a few yards and the
people In them called to those on the steamer to
Jump in the water. by When they did SO
the boatrnen stood by and pulled them into the
boats
Among the steerage passengers who gained the
deck were young Englishman and his wife and
child. Just after they had succeeded in getting
into the mizzen rigging wave snatched away
~ shad- Immediately after an order came from