Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-03

Delta's party included several newspaper
reporters. The start was made about 8
O'Clock, so that the steamers might reach
the scene Immediately after daylight. As
the morning broke the steamers approached
Prospect and those ON board quickly learned
the Whereabouts of the Inflated Atlantic
from the presence around her of large
feet of fishing schooners and small boats.
The locality is one mariner would be dis
posed to give a Vide berth if possible.
the shore being a succession of large
beds of rock with dau erous shoals run
ming for some dst2n {, while the bay is
studded with innumsrable islands, large
and small, all solid rock, with scarce a sign
Of vegetation or soil lOr anything to grow
on.
The Delta and Ladyhead being unable to
venture near shore, came TO anchor, and
the Goliah with lifebo4t went in to en-
bark the shipwrecked people. No time was
lost, and the Goiiah and boats soon turn
ed with men who proceeded to get on board
the Delta, and such u1dsy party of En-
glish, Irish, Scotch, " t.', German, Dutch,
Norwegian, Swedes, . SIS, indeed repre-
of the United States of America were hud-
died together, talking, laughing, cry
ing, praying and thanksgiving,
producing great confusion OF
tongues. Scarcely one-hah OF them
had complete and respectable looking suit
of clothes. The wealthy merchant of Lon
don and New YORK, the professional gen.
tleman and the lowest of the emigrants sp-
peared in clothing much of which had been
given to hem by the good people of Pros
pect. Some were without coats, many
without hats, others without boots, and all
with the absence of some comfort in the
clothing line. The scene may be more
easily imagined than described. All were
warmly welcomed on board the Delta, and
no pains spared to make them
as comfortable as possible. The
Goliah returned to shore and was soon
back again with just such crowd as the
previous one. There were several affecting
scenes on the Delts as the passengers were
collecting in her from different points where
they had been stopping. Friends who bad
separated from each other Sfter the Atlantic
struck and never expected to meet again in
this world, were brought face to face in the
Delta's cabin, where they grasped hands
and Hept for joy, and returned thanks to
Him whose mercy had spared them while
so many Of their fellows had been sent into
eternity. By II o'clock all were taken on
board the steamers Delta and Lady Head,
the former having about $50 on board, and
the latter II.
A calculation was now made by Capt.
Williams, showing that the loss of life
nf q
been reported. The Atlantic had on board
80 cabin passengers, 500 steersge passen-
gers and crew, officers included, OF 143
men, total 976 souls, leaving the number
lost SAG. This may not be precisely cor
rect, but is nearly so.
Narrowing Statement OF the Last
Man Rescued.
J. ". Firth, chief officer of the Atlantic,
made a statement in part as follows:
Ali who were alive on board were in the
rigging when daylight came. counted 81
persons in the mizZen mast rigging with
me, including one woman. When these
saw that there were lines between the ship
and the shore, some attempted to 60 for
ward to the lines, and in so doing were
washed overheard and drowned. Many
reached shore by the aid of the lines and
the fisbermen's boats rescued many more.
At last all had either been washed off or
rescued except myself, the woman and a
boy. The sea had become so rough the
boats could not venture near. Soon the
boy was washed off, but swan calamity
and reached one of the boats in safety.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, after we
had been iD the rigging ten hours, Rev.
Mr.. Ancient, Church OF England clergy
man, whose noble conduct can never for
get while live, got crew Of four men to
row him out to the wreck. He got into
the main rigging and procured line, then
advanced as far as he could toward me, and
then threw it to me. caught it, made it
fast around my body and then jumped clear.
A sea swept me eff the wreck, but MIR.
Ancient held fast to the line, pulled me back
and got me safely in the boat. The woman
after bearing up with remarkable strength
under her great trial, had died two hours
before. Her half nude body was still fast
in the rigging, her eyes proiruding, her
mouth foaming, a terribly CHASTITY spectacle,
rendered more ghastly by the contrast with
the numerous jewels which sparkled on her
hands.
800 Women and Children Lost.
The disaster was so soon over that hun
dreds could know nothing of the danger of
800 women and children. A majority were
swept out of the steerage and drifting be-
yond the vessel on tue immense waves,
were carried seaward and seen no more.
Arrived in Halifax.
The De.ta's passen ers landed at the
Cunard wharf late this afternoon. Thy
were mostly men from 20 to 20 years OF
age. Many were in pitable condition,
without shoes, feet swollen and bruised,
clothes torn and drenched, some with bits
of carpet mating and blankets around
them, and all fretted and sick from ex-
posure.
Some old and feeble persons died after
being rescued, from exhaustion and cod.
1t is understood the government will COM
mence investigation at once.
About ore hundred bodies have been re-
covered at PfospecS. The agents here or,
dered one hundred coffins to be sent down
at once.
Statement Of u Cabin Passenger.
l turned into my berth at O'Clock Mon
day night and was aroused by the shock Of
the ship striking. All the men in tie cabin
rushed on deck to see what was wrong.
Rockets were being fire Within fifteen
minu es from the time she struck she ca
reened. The Captain, with his officers,
behaved bravely. A cry was raised: "Take
to the rigging, it's your only chance" At
daybreak the fishermen's boats came out
and rescued a number of US. There were
three boats crews whose names deserve
high place on the roll of honor. To these
men chiefly belong the credit of having, at
the risk of their lives, rescued from death
over 400 lives.
The Latest.
About $50 were lost, among them $50
women and children.