Connecticut western news., 1873-04-18
Incidents of the Disaster.

| some Of the incidents Of the disaster
 as related by the survivors are harrow
 ing. At one time during the weary
 watch before dawn the fore boom broke
 loose from it's fastenings, and swinging
 around, instantly crushed to death about
 200 persons who were gathered on the
 house on deck. Several passengers are
 reported to have been drowned by life
 boats, which, not being properly man.
 aged, overturned and the occupants
 were lost before assistance could be ren-
 dered. Some of them, who had life
 buoys and endeavored to reach the rock
 by means of the line from the vessel, not
 having them properly adjusted, but on
 the lower part of their bodies, were
 floating with their heads down, and in
 this way many were drowned before
 reaching the rock. One young man,
 with no clothing save a shirt and vest
 and two life buoys fastened around his
 body, leaped into the water and at
 tempted to reach the rock. The passen-
 gers who give the statement say they en-
 deavored to dissuade him from the at-
 tempt, but he persisted, and when
 finally they were rescued and landed on
 shore, the body of the young man, who
 perished in his attempt, was tho first
 they saw, and the life buoys were still
 on the body.
 Among the passengers vas @ native of the old country who had been in the lately returned to England tc bring his home he had provided for them It. the New World. They were on board the ill-fated Atlantic, and father, mother, and children all perished. Several of the passengers who were landed from the steamer Delta were considerably bruised about the body and lower limbs. One man had his two legs broken, and others were so sore from being knocked against the rocks that they were scarce ly able to stand. Three or four were sent to the hospital. The survivors say it was a fearful sight to witness the manner in which many of the unfortu- nate persons met their death. Unable to reach the deck in consequence of the jam in the gangway, several rushed through the port hole only to be seized In the iron grasp of the merciless waves, the ship.
 The only youth saved from the wreck makes the following statement
 My name is John Hinley. I am about twelve years of age. I got on board the Atlantic at Liverpool with my mother, father, and young brother. We all be- longed to Ashton, Lancashire. The first thing worth mentioning that he knew of was that he was asleep in his berth when great noise awakened him, although he did not hear any voices. There seemed to be great rush, and he stumbled out of bed and into the crowd The greater portion passed him, but he saw six men crowding into top berth in the upper steerage, and he followed them. One of the men broke through window and got out, and the boy did the same, one hearted individual push ing him through before he had made the egress himself. Once outside he held on by the ropes until himself and his companions were rescued by the life boat. What became of his parents and brother he did not know, but is cer- tain that they were drowned. The fam- fly were on their way to New York, at the invitation of two married daughters who had settled there.
 The scene about the steamer was fearful. The ifeless body of the purser could be seen hanging over the side of the steamer, his head damned in be- tween the rails, and the sea causing the egs to keep in continual motion. Hun lreds of other bodies could be seen in similar positions. Among the heart ending scenes, one or two were partic- llarly sad. One gentleman, Albert Sumner, of San Francisco, committed uicide by jumping from the rigging nto the water, first taking off his coat. Others who were near him endeavored o dissuade him, but they were too much benumbal to prevent him. He aid, "There is no prospect of rescue, nd it's useless to remain here and suf- CT, and then he jumped overheard. ! )ne lady, saloon passenger, was heard o say to her husband, Leave me and ave yourself. You can't save both. ]" But he refused, and they went down to- .. ,ether, clasped in each others arms. It ( vas the occasion of much remark that ( Tith very few exceptions the married : nen all perished. When they found it :, to save their wives and little ' nes, they preferred to die with them to $ them. Many instances are x nown where the men could have es- ' aped alone, but refused to do so. This ', 7as especially noticeable among the : terman emigrants and Americans. :;