The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1873-04-10
THE STEAMSHIP DISASTER.
Particulars of the Shipwreck of
the Atlantic-Statements by the
Captain and Others.

| The following is the statement Of
| Captain James A. Williams, OF the
Atlantic: 1--WE sailed from Liverpool
March 20. During the first part of the
passage we had favorable weather aud
! easterly winds. On the 9th, o5th and
Goth we experienced heavy southwest
and westerly gales, which brought the
ship down to is miles q day. On the
3lst of March the engineers report
showed but about 127 tons Of coal on
board. We were then Ago miles east
of Sandy Hook, with the wind south
west and high westerly swell and
falling barometer the ship steaming
only eight knots per hour We con
sidered the risk too great 10 push on,
rs we might find ourselves in the event
of q gale, shut out from any port of
supply, and SO decided to bear up FOR
Halifax. AT in the afternoon on the
3lst, Sambro island was distant 10
miles. the ship. speed varying from
eight to twelve knots per hour, wind
south, with rain, which veered to
westward at i'm the evening, with
clear weather At midnight ! Judged
the ship to have made l22 miles, which
would place her IS miles south Of SAM
bro, and ] then let 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 ut !,
In the morning, intending then to put
the ships head to the southwark and
await daylight. Ny first intimation of
the catastrophe was the striking Of the
ship Oh Meagher's island aud remain
ing there fast. The sea Immediately
swept away all the port boats. The
officers went TO their stations and
commenced clearing away the wealth
er boats. Rockets were fred hy fi.a
second officer. Before the boats could
be cleared only ten minutes having
elapsed, the ship keeled heavily to
port, rendering the staiboard boata
useless. Seeing that 10 help could be
A'e iaoio tabV 'patS, EhN ttic IbuSStEl-
gers into the rigging and outside rails, !
and encouraged them to go forward
where the ship was highest and less
exposed TO the water. The third Off
Ger, Mr.. Brady. snd Quar.ermas.ers
Owens and Speakman, by this time
having established communication
with the outgoing fbck, about forty
yards distant, by means of line, got
four other lines to the rock, along
which about 200 people passed. Be
tween the rock and the shore was a
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 5 in the morning
the first boat appeared from the Is
land, but she was too smai. to be of
any assistance. Through the exer-
tons of Mr.. Brady, the third officer,
the islanders were aroused, and by
them three larger boats came to our
assistance. BY their efforts all that
on the side of the ship aud
on the rock were landed in safety, and
cared for by fisherman named Chan
cy and his daughter. During the day
survivors to the number of 45D were
irafted of to various houses scattered
about, the resident magistrate, Ed
nund Ryan, rendering valuable as.is-
,snce. The chief officer having got
Up the mizzen rigging, the sea cut off
lis retreat. He stood for six hours by
woman who had been placed in the
rigging. The sea was too high to at .
empt his rescue. At 3 in the after
1oon q clergyman. the Rev. Mr., An
,ient, succeeded in getting him line
md getting him of. Many Of the
passengers, saloon and steerage, died
. the rigging from cold. Among the
lumber was the purser Of the ship ,
Before the boats went out placed two {
aides In the life boat, but. finding the {
,oat useless. carried them to the I
main rigging, where left them, and
vent aft to encourage others to go for |
ward on the side Of the ship. At this
uncture the boilers exploded and the 8
BOAT rolled over to leeward, the ship
It this time being on her beam ends /
myself useless there | went I,
o take the ladies forward, but found .
hem gone, nor did see them after I
ward. Many Passengers at this time /
'ould not he stimulated 10 any effort q
o save themselves, but lay in the rig 9
,ing, and died from fright and expo .
ure. remained Oh the side encour- /
lging, helping and directing until q
bout fifteen were landed, when, find /
ng that my hands and legs were be- I
olning useless, l left the ship, two |
'ther boats being close to her, and en- |
'arked the remainder. On reaching /
he shore I dispatched the third officer (
o Halifax, across the country, to tele- e
,raph the news OF the disaster, and to q
btain assistance. Mr.. Morrow, the \
'unard line agent. promptly respond 8
q, aud sent two steamers with pro- s
isions to convey survivors to Hall a
AK, where they will be cared for and c
orwarded to New York the first ep- b
,ortunity in charge of the first and I
ourth officers, the third officer and a
our men being left at the island to
are for the dead as they come ashore b" I
The steamer Delta arrived at Halifax '
n the afternoon of April I'd with the h
urvivors from the wreck and arrange K
aents are made to have them well #
ared for. She reports that the Attain v
lc has not broken up. The cargo, d
which Is large aud valuable, is not, e
therefore,, adrift, with the exception OF !
hat on deck, which was very little.-s G