The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-04-05
Terrible Disaster at Sea.

l, says:-Thc steamship Atlantic, of the
White Star Line, from Liverpool March
20, for New York, running short of coal,
made for Halifax. When about twenty
miles from port, off Cape Prospect, at 2.3O
this morning, she ran ashore on Meaghers
Head. She had on board over 900 men.
women and children, only $50 of whom
succeeded in landing, The remainder,
including all the women and children, were
lost. The captain aud third officer were
saved, the first officer was drowned On
the first receipt of the news here a Cunard
and Government steamer started to the
assistance of the Atlantic, but the third
officer, who arrived here at $50 this p
NJ, says the vessel and cargo are u total
loss.
THE CAPTAINS STATEMENT.
My discrimination of the catastrophe was
the striking fthe ship ION Meagher's Island
and remaining there fast the sea imme-
diately swept away all the port boats the
officers went to their stations and COM
menced clearing away the weather boats
rockets were fred by the second officer !;
before the boats could be cleared, only ten
minutes having elapsed, the ship heeled
heavily to port, rendering the starboard
boats useless seeing that no help could be
got from the boats got the passengers
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 officer, Mr.. Brady,
and quartermasters Owens and Speaker.
man by this time having established com.
munieation with the outlying rock, about
forty yards distant by means of line. got
four other lines to the rock, along which
about two hundred people passed between
the rock and the shore was a passage one
hundred yards wide; rope was success
fully passed across this, by which means
about fifty got to land though many were
drowned in the attempt; at 5 A. III. the
iirst boat appeared from the island, but she
was too small to be of any assistance !;
through the exertions of Mrs Brady the
Islanders were aroused, and BY 6 O'Clock
y. NJ. three larger boats came to our ms.
sistance; by their efforts. all that remain.
cd on the side of the ship and on the
rock were landed safely, and cared for
oy poor fisherman, named Clancy. and
his daughter; during the day the suryi-
vors, to the number of 429, were drafted
OFF to various houses scattered about. the
resident magistrate, Edmund RYAN. rem
dering valuable assistance the chief off.
Ger, having got up the mizzen 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 higb to ~.
tempt his rescue at p. NJ. clergym,
Rev. Mr.. Ancient succeeded in setting
him line and getting him off many Of
the passengers, saloon and steerage. died in
the rigging from the cold. among tho
number the purser Of the ship: before the
boats went out | forced two ladies in flo
lifeboat, but finding the boat useless, carried
them to the main rigging, where | left
them and went aft to encourage Others 10
go forward on the side of the shin AZ tb;s
juncture the boilers exploded and The boat
rolled over to the leeward, the shin N
this time being on her beam ends 6pd;ng
myself useless there, went to take the
ladies forward, but found them gone nor
did | see them afterwards; many of tho
passengers at this time could not be stimn.
lated to any effort to save themselves but
lay in the rigging aud died from fright and
exposure | remained on the side encour.
aging, helping, and directing until abou,
hfteen were landed, when finding that INV
hands and legs were becoming useless /
lett the ship, two other boats being close
TO, aud embarked the remainder; on reach
ing the shore ] despatched Mr., Brady
the third officer 81 to Halifax across III
country photograph the news ofthe disaster
and to obtain assistance Mr.. Marrow the
cn9ard Line Agent, promptly responded
and sent two steamers with provisions ~
carry the survivors to Halifax. where tbev
wlll be cared for and forwarded TO New
YORK at the first opportunity in charge Of
the iirst and fourth officers, the third otf;
Ger and four men being left at the island
TO care for the dead as they come asbora