Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-06
The AffLlNTItj WfRECk.
An Official Investigation Began.
Sworn Testimony Of the Captain.
Chief officer, Passengers, Etc.


Mcdonald and Captain Mckenzie, ship
master. S. L. Shannon and Il. Blanchard
appeared for the Government, and j. N.
Richie for Capt. Mcdonald. In opening,
the Court said the inquiry would have tbs
inquiry. He had not received q
commission from the Court, but had
received an official telegraph stating it was
on its way, and if all the parties would con-
sent he would go on and rely on the,commis-
sion being received in good time. Ritchie,
for the Captain, consented. Blanchard said
unless there was fill and unequivocal con-
sent, he would object to going on. It
might appear when the commission was re-
ceived that there were special instructions
which would require us to begin again.
All parties consenting, Capt. James A.
Williams was called and sworn.
Capt. Williams Statement.
The following is The statement of Capt.
Williams, part of which is copy of letter
he has written to the owners OF the Allan
tic;
On the 2sth of March the engineers re-
port showed the GOALS getting short, we
having experienced three days of very Sc
we're weather. The Goals on board were
319 tons, we being 1,130 miles from Sandy
Hook. The speed came down from eight
knots an hour and with moderate strong
breeze to five knots per hour. Hoping that
the wind would change favorably, l kept
on until the 31.t, when our Goals were re-
duced to 127 tons, and the ship was di slant
from Sandy Hook 460 miles, latitude Al
degrees, 90 minutes, longitude 63 degrees,
O5 minutes, 43 seconds. The ship by this
time was making but seven knots per hour,
the wind being at southwest, the glass
falling and westerly swell OF, l thought
the risk too great to keep on, as in the
event of a westerly gale coming up, We
might find ourselves shut out of all sources
of supply. The chief steward also reported
our stores short; fresh provisions enough
for the saloon for two days and bas salt for
the steerage for two days, when all but
bread and rice would be out. AT O'Clock
P. NJ, af er receiving the engineers report,
decided to come hare, SGmbro Island be-
ing then north five degrees east, distant
lit miles. During the afternoon the wind
was south-southWest with rain. AT 5
p. NJ. the wind Veered TO west
and the sky clear and starlight. l several
times corrected my course by the polar
star. The course steered by the compass
was n. "a E., with 7 easterly deviation,
which considered ample allowances for the
westerly set, aud ID lead five miles to the
East of Sambro Island. / left my orders
on the bridge as to the lcokouts, which
word was passed to the officers relieving at
midnight the second and fourth officers. l
| corrected the course the last time at 1920
A. NJ, when repeated my caution and or
| ders. | then went into the chart room and
sat down about fifteen minutes. A Mr.
| Fisher came in to asz some
particulars about the ship, as he was writ
ing TO newspaper. He stayed about 20
minutes. My intention was to remain I'M
til three in the morning, then to heave to
and await day. At midnight the ships run
was 122 miles, which would place her As
miles south Of Sambro, the speed by log
at 1920 being 8 knots per hour. The night
| at this time was cloudy and clear. At l2:4O
my servant came up with my cocoa, when
| he was told no. to awake me until A. NJ,
when the second officer would ca1 me. The
| first intimate on l had of anything was
| the ship striking on Meagher's Rock or
Meagher's Island, and remaining, heeling
slightly 10 port. THE pdblic are familiar
| with the subsequent details. At one point
| in his testimony the Captains feelings over
came him and it was several minutes before
he could proceed Thirteen saloon passen-
gers were lost, and 20 saved. 416 steerage
passengers were saved, and 52T steerage
| passengers and crew were lost. But three
women were seen, the two who were
washed away and one who got up beside
the chief officer aud died in the rigging with
her baby.
In reply to questions of his counsel the
captain added that he was on the bridge up
| to twenty minutes past twelve. Up to
| midnight it was brilliant star light. After
that there was occasional sight of the stars.
When he left the bridge he went into the
chart room, thirty feet abaft the bridge, on
the upper deck, within easy call. The off,
Ger on deck got up at two, looked into the
wheel-house, and then lay down for the
alarm. Ia making calculations he estimat-
ed her speed to be eleven knots. She had
| increased gradually from seven and a half TO
| twelve knots. The third officer reported
| that she had run 122 miles at twelve,
which agreed with my calculation. Ex-
| pected the ship at three would be eighteen
or twenty miles south of S,mbro and lay
by until daylight. Had not my clothes off
at all. Had every season to put confidence
in the second officer. He had made two
voyages in the ship. Always found
him 5 steady, sober man.
On cross-exsmilation, Capt. Williams
said the speed of the vessel at twelve was
about twelve knots. Reckoned he was
essterly eight miles off Sambro, bearing
north five degrees east. Did not shift his
course. Expected to pass five miles east of
the Sambro Lodges. Never brought the ship
into Halifax, nor never been ON the coast
before. The third officer had been in the
harbor twice. No other officer had ever
been there. Did not use the lead coming
into Halifax, because the light was clear,
and the Cambro light could be seen
| tWenty-one miles in clear
weather and fifteen miles in moderate
weather. am now satisfied that when
went into the chart room 1 was mistaken
| in the locality of the ship. She must have
| been further northwaId and westward
| than thought. l knew the coast vas an
iron bound and dangerous one. If had
been sounding regularly from II to
| O'Clock l would have been on deck and the
ship would not have. gone ashore.
and the third and fourth officers
/ Ou uCChs IIhu LuSJ DOCu OICJ SSt4CJ lucy
might, l think, have seen that there was
something ahead, and if orders had been
given 10 reverse the engines the calamity
might have been avoided. The White Star
steamers are supplied with printed orders
for guidance of commanders, Officers in
charge have full power to change the course
or stop the ship if necessary wit hout con-
sulting the captain.
Testimony of saloon Passengers.
at the afternoon session, Daniel Rename,
cabin passenger, testified: He was
awakened by the noise Of the ships
striking, and when he got to the deck saw
the officers were running about confused.
Asking what was the matter, he was an
swered by the person addressed that he did
! not know. Two or three minutes after
witness got on deck the boiler exploded.
He Clutched the rigging Bnd the ships side
and finally got forward to the captain, who
was encouraging the passengers to get to
the rocks. The captain and officers did
all they could do. They were attentive to
their duties. Never saw the captain drink
anything stronger than lemonade. Do
not know if the s'eersge passengers were
prevented from coming on deck. Have
no reason to suppose they were. -
Spencer Jones, cabin passenger, testified
that being aroused by the shock of the YES
g