Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-04-03
THE GREAT DISASTER
WRECK OF THE ATLANTIC.
Terrible Scenes In the Darkne<s-
DroM ming Men and W0mem-AoW
the Wreck Occurred.


the wreck Occurred.
The terrible disaster TO the steamship Allan
ic, on the coast OF Nova Scotia, IS the absorb
ing topic throughout the country. The ship
carried a population equal TO that OF a country
town; thousand men, women and children
slept peacefully in confidence that they were
safe, ana would soon reach their destination,
when in pitch darkness, q driving vain and a
furious gale, the vessel plGneed ON the rocks
and the cruel waves covered the eorpses OF more
than half of all those who had stood upon her
decks when she steamed out Of the Mer-ey In
formation in regard 70 the calamity is frag-
nentary, but IL seems 10 be assured that many
more succeeded in reaching the shore than was
at first supposed, and that not more than six hun
bred lives have been lost. But this total is APP
palling, and grief has been carried into many a
household.
THE STATEMENT OF CAPT WILLIAMS
Is that on the 24th, 2Jth, and 10Th ult, he eNpe-
rienced heavy gales from the southwest and
west, which brought the ship down TO lis miles
day. On the 3fst the engineers report showed
only Ia tons of coal on board. He was then $40
miles east of Sandy Hook, with high westerly
swell and falling barometer. The ship was
steaming only eight knots per hour, and he con-
sidered the risk too great 20 push on, as a gale
might shut her out from any port of supply,
and he determined to bear up Tor Halifax. At
O'Clock in the afternoon Sambro Island was
lao miles distant. At midnight he judged the
ship to have made ID miles, which would place
her ~ miles south OF Sambro. He then left the
deck and went into the chart room, and left Or
ders to keen a lookout and cali him at O'Clock
in the morning His first intimation OF the dis
aster was the ship Striking ON Meaghers Island.
In ten minutes the ship keeled heavily to port.
and rendered useless the boats On that side the
others being swept away. lie got the passengers
III the rigging, advising them to 60 forward,
where the ship was not 50 much exposed 70 water.
BY that time Brady, the third officer, had es-
tabiished communication with the rock by
line, and four other lines were soon got to the
rock by which about 200 people passed; AroPe
was then passed from the rock TO the land,
about 100 Yards distant, by which about 80 got
TO the land, but many were drowned in the at
tempt. During the day the survivors, TO the
number of 42J, were drafted of to various
houses scattered about, Edmund Ryan, resident
maglsn ate, rendering valuable assistance. The
chief officer having got up in the miZzen rigging
the sea cut OIL his retreat. Many of the pas
sengers, saloon and steerage died in the rigging
from the cold. Among the number was the
purser OF the ship. Before the boats went out
the captain placed two la,es in the hie-boat.
bat finding the boat useless, carried them to the
main rigging, where he left them, and went
ait TO encourage Others 20 60 forward on the
side of the ship. At this ilincture the boilers
exploded, and the boat rolled over leeward, at
this time being on her beam ends. Finding
himself useless there, the captain went to take
me ladies forward, but found them gone, nor
uld be see them afterward. Many passengers
at this time could not be stimulated 20 any ef-
tort TO save themselves, but lay i'm the rigging
and died from fright and exposure.
In an Interview with reporter Capt. vii
liams said: ITO think that while hundreds OF
men were saved, that every woman sliould have
persisted. 1t is horrible. III could have been
able to save even a woman colll bear the dis
aAter but TO lose all-it ~ terribie."
HORRIBLE SIGHT.
;. W. Firth, chief officer of the Atlantic i'm
reply to reporters question said: When day.
light came counted thirty-two persons in tie
mlzzepmast rigging with me, including some
women When these saw that there were Inns
between the ship and shore, many OF them at
tempted to go forward, and in doing 80 were
washed overheard and drowned. Many reached
the shore by the aid OF the lines, and the fisher
mems boats rescued many more. At last all
mad been washed of or rescued excepting my
self, the woman. and a boy. The sea had be-
come so rough that the boats could not ven
ture near us Soon the boy was washed
one of the boats in safety. got firm hold
of the woman and secured her in the riggi;,g
AT two O'Clock in the afternoon, after We hal
been in the rigging ten hours. Rev. Ma ncient,
Church OF England clergy man, whose noble
conduct can never forget while live, got
crew OF four men to row him out 10 the wreck.
line; then advanced as faf as he could toSsrd
me, and threw it to me. / caught it, male il
fast around my body, and then Jumped clear.
\ sea swept me or the wreck, but Or. Ancient
held fast othe line and got me safely into the
boat, The woman, after bearing up with re
marhable strength under her great trials had
died two hours before Mr.. Ancient arrived. Her
half-nude body was still fast In the rigging her
eyes protrndipg, and mouth foaming, present
ing terrible, CHASTITY spectacle, rendered more
ghastly by the contrast with the numerous
to leave her body there, and it is probably there
yet: The scene at the wreck was an awful one
such as l never before witnessed and hope
never to witness again.
.,' THE LOCALITY OF TIE WRECK
is one that a mariner would be disposed to give
wide berth to ii possible, the shore being a
succession Of large beds Of rock, with danger
Gus shoals running ont for some distance while
TIE bay seudded with innumerable islands,
large and small, all solid rock, with scarcely a
sign Of vegetation. The dominion government
L. ord UN.rs
and steana-tug Goliath. left Halifax for the
scene OF the wreck and arrived at this desolate
SPOT Yesterday morning. The Delta and Lady
Head being unable to venture near shore came
to anchor, and the Goliath, with e-bosts
went in to embark
THE sHIPwRECKED PEOPLE.
No time was lost. The Goliah and boats soon
returned, filled with men, who proceeded to get
on board the Delta, and such q motley party
Falstaff's ragged regiment were well attired
lish, Irish, Scotch, Welsh, German, Dutch,
Norwegian, Swedes, Swiss. Indeed, represen-
fanyes Of every country in Europe and of the
n,ted states OF America were huddled to-
gether, talking, laughing, crying, praying, and
thanks giving, producing confusion of tongues
OF most remarkable character. Scarcely one
half had a complete and respectable looking suit
OF clothes. The wealthy merchant of London
and New York, the high-toned professional gen
ueman, and the lowest of foreign emigrants
appeared in clothing much of which had been
given to them by the good people of Prospect
Some were without coats, many without hats,
and Others without boots, and all had to mourn
the absence ofsome comfort in the clothing line
There were several affecting scenes on the Delta
as the passengers were collecting ON her from
different points where they had been stopping
Friends who had been separated from each
other after the Atlantic struck, and never ex-
pected to meet again in this world, we're brought
face to face in the Delta's cabin, where they
grasped hands and wept for Joy.
THE SHIP.
The Atlantic was built in 1871, at Belfast
England. She was an iron screw steamer OF
3,I0I tons register, 49, feet over all I'm length
The ship, with her cargo, was valued at $3.50 900
QUICK WoRK.-Withn q few minutes after
the signing of the general railroad bill by the