The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-04-10
THE ATLANTIC DISASTER.
Description Of the ln-Fsted steauer.
Cause Of the Scant Supply Of Goa.

II seems from all accounts at hand regard
ing the "Atlantic disaster," that the scarcity
Of coal on board vas the Immediate cause Of
the calamity. Coal is high in England, and
on this side of the Atlantic comparatively
cheap, hence the steamer sailed with just the
requisite quantity of coal for an ordinary
voyage, without making allowances for rough
and tempestuous weather incident to voy-
ase across the Atlantic in March.
One may search the records Of all the ma
rine disasters without 6nding one more ter
rible in its aspects Than the wreck Of the ILL.,
fsted White Star steamer. At present It il
absolutely impossible to publish the nance
of the dead men, women and children.
bot certainly many Of the emigranis on
board the vessel were on their way to Kan
saa, to make their future homes with friends
and relatives Who had gone before them.
From the New York Heruld Of April I'd
We clip the following description Of the ILL.,
fated steamer:
The iron steamship Atlantic Vas . long,
narrow vessel, whose lines resembled .
pointed lead pencil She was three thousand
seven hundred tons register, four hundred
and twenty feet long BY forty feet beam.
She vas not two years old, having reached
New York from her first trip on the 23d Of
June, 1871, after q run Of ten days and
. few hours. She pnsssesed "all the
modern Improvement" steam steering
gear, compound engines. &C.; but the most
y,unsed feature of all Was the economy Of
fuel BY the use of steam Ut Low pressure A.
ter it had been used at high pressure. With
this arrangement il was calculated that abe
could be run At full speed on 6Ay-6ve tons
of coal per day. All that could make trav-
cling easy and sumptuous for saloon passen-
pers was done. ''Safeiy, speed and com.
fort" was the constant phrase of the owners,
and the performance of the line in rapid pas
ssees had raised its vessels suddenly into "a
vor. Ten days in summer time. Ne ar
aware, il not an extraordinary passage; but
thew made svifter trips, and the advertise
ment seemed nothing but fair statement oil
fact. We are the more willing to admit this
a. the sequel goes to prove on what light
chances lives and reputation are staked.
The Inflated Atlantic started from Liverpool
on her Last voyage on the 10th Of last month.
She put into Queenstown for mails and
passengers on the 2lsi. and then pro-
ceeded on her transatlantic way. The
weather was boisterous, but she did not en-
counter any severe storm, and, considering
the time of the year, made remarkably
good time. After being at sea barely ten
DAYS il Wa found that the supply Of coal
vas almost exhausted, and Captsin Williams
resolved to put into Halifax for q supply.
This Wa apparently - coolly and calmly
done a though the failure Of fuel after being
ten days at aea we're common occurrence
The rest Of the story is briefly told. A,
midnight the ship wa calculated to be some
thirty nine miles from Care Sambro. A,
two o'clock, BY installing the Proepect
light for Samhro light, she ran on Neagher's
Rock struck three or four times heavily,
and before scarce an effort could he made to
ave the passenger. she keeled over on her
beam ends and sunk. Had there been deep.
er water Of the rock On which she struck il
is doubtful that single soul would be left tO
tell the tale. She sank 40 that, ex,
cepting her how, the hull was under
vster. Most 81 thoee who persisted
had not left their berths below decks.