Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-04-08
THE aATLANTIcu HORROR.
Appalling Details Statement
of Officers and Steerage
Passengers. a.
NEAR SIX HUNDRED LIVES
LOST. -
The Atlantic Sunk Within
Sight of Shore.


White Star steamer Atlantic, Capt
Williams, from Liverpool for New
York, while coming into this port
for coal, struck en- Meagher's Rock
near Prospect, twenty-five miles
west of Halifax, and became total
wreck. OF about 1000 souls on
board upward OF 700 were drowned
The third officer, Mr.. Brady, arrived
in this city this evening
STATEMENT OF AN OFFICER.
He says that the Atlantic left
Liverpool on the 10th OF March up
ward of 900 steersge passenger and
about so cabin passengers. The
steamer experienced boisterous
weather during the passage, but all
went well until noon on Monday, the
31st, when the supply ofcoaI became
nearly exhausted. The Captain de-
termined TO put into Halifax. The
Captain and the third officer were Or
deck until midnight. The position
was then judged TO be Sambro light
bearing north northwest thirty-nine
miles The Captain then went into
his ehart-room, leaving orders TO be
called if there was any change in
the vessels position, They went to
bed about the same time as the Cap-
tain. The next thing that he re-
members is that the was thrown out
of his bunk and he heard the ship
strike several times. He then rush :
ed on deck aud found the Captain
and officers there and the deck full
of passengers. He got an ak and
commenced 10 clear away boat.
The Captain aud other officers were
busy doing the same thing. Brady
got this boat out and put two wo-
men in it. A number of men at
tempted to get into it, and about a
dozen succeeded. Just at this mo-
ment the steamer fell over on her
beam ends and sank. Only one
boat had been out and that was car
ried down by the steamer and all on
it were lost. Brady scrambled into
the mizzen rigging, which was above
water, and, seeing that he could do
nothing there, be then went forward
and unmoored the halyards, being
assisted by Quartermaster Spea' man
and Owen, Brady then took the hall
yards and all three swan TO the rock
and then line was hauled ashore
and number OF passengers landed
by IT, A number had got on the
rock, but as the tide was runsing
their position was no better than on
the vessel just then the fishermen
on shore came out in boats and rescu-
ed those on the rock and number
from the rigging. Brady remained
at the scene until noon to-day, when
all who were alive on beard had been
taken from the wreck except the
chief officer, Mr.. Firth, who was in
the rigging shouting for help. Brady
says he tried TO get the fishermen 10
90 to the rescue of Firth, but the
sea was so heavy that nobody would
volunteer. Altogether about $50
persons were saved, including Cap
ta;n Will 49,. - -
BI'UUwn, and several of the engineers
and sailors. Not single woman or
child was saved Most OF them, as
we'll az hundreds OF men, were
drowned in their berths. The steam
er struck about 2 O'clock this morn
ing. The weather at the time was
dark, but not thick, and the surf
rough.
STATEMENT oF A sTEERA0E PASSENGER.
HALIFAX, ~ s., April "a steer.
age passenger makes the following
statement: q turned into my berth
about IL o'clock Monday night.
The night was dark but starlight,
and the weather fine. | knew the
ship was going into Halifax for coal
The last ] remembered was that
two bells q o'clock) struck. | then
went to sleep and woke up with a
shock, and remarked to my mate,
There goes the anchor | thought
of course we were safe in Halifax
harbor, but as soon as she made the
second plunge | said, Good God
she's ashore I With that we got up
aud dres ed. The comranion. way
was thronged with lower Storage
passengers Seeing that the sea was
commencing to break over the ship
and low down the companion.way
l got as many as possible to take to
the bunks and hold on by the iron
stanehions. There We remained till
after day light. The ship had fallen
over, and the Storage was full Of
water, one side only being out OF it,
Our only chance of escape was the
ports. A number of them, probably
twenty, got out through The ports to
the side of the vessel ! remained
until all who were alive were ont.
There were great many drowned
in their hunks, and others were
drowned while trying to reach the
ports. | got out through port and
held fast TO the side of the ship for
about two hours. and then went to
The shore by life line. When / left
,he ship there were still a great
many in the rigging.
NARROWING DETAILS.
NEW YORK, April 3-Harrowing
details of the awful scenes attending
The loss of the steamer Atlantic con-
-inue to be received. All the women
who were asleep at the time the ship
stIuck were drowned in their bertbs.
The heavy seas which constantly
poured over the vessel filed her, pre-
venting them from reaching the
teck. Some women who showed |
remarkable presence of mind and APP
probation of the awful situation, on |
y reached the deck to be washed 10. |
20 the sea and drowned. One wo-
nan following the example of sailors
Ind tue stronger male passengers,
.Ook to the rigging and was dashed |
here to keep from being swept
away, froze TO death in that position
Soon after six men on shore wrote
IN the black board Cheer up, boats
ire coming To yOur Assistance " and