New-York tribune., 1912-04-21
THE T|TAN|C'S PARALLEL
The AtIantiC'S Terrible Fate on
Westward Voyage.
FINEST LINER OF HER DAY
White Star Boat Was Wrecked
Off Halifax in 1878, with
a Loss of 546 Lives

The wreck Of the White Star steamship
! Titanic recalls the first disaster to a vessel
OF the White Star Line, when the Atlantic.
also the pride of the sea, was shipwrecked
in 1873. There are many striking analogfes,
as the story OF the Atlantic's fate will
readily bring to mind.
The Atlantic was bound from Liverpool
to New York. when she went ashore on
April l at 3 o'clock in the morning, about
thirty miles from Halifax. or the s76 men,
women and children on board 5+6 were
drowned. Many of these poor creatures
were immigrants, bound to the New World.
The vessel struck, careened and sank. 1t
was the most terrible sea disaster of half
a century.
The Atlantic sailed on her first voyage
TO this port from Liverpool. on June l6 1871,
and arrived here on the 26th, having made
the trip in ten days and few hours She
had been preceded by the Oceanic, mag
nifcent vessel, with which she correspond
ed In size. design and and adornment. She
was 500 tons burden. British measure
ment, and her dimensions were as follows:
Length, 40 feet; beam, AZ feet; depth OF
hold SO feet
She had four masts, six watertight bulk
heads. and was fitted with steam steering
gear OF an improved description. This gear
obviated the labor OF tugging at the wheel
I'm stormy weather. One man standing on
the bridge could move a lever which child
could control, and by regulating the move
ment, according TO the points on a dial be-
fore him, he could direct the vessel to the
right or left or maintain a steady course.
CARRIED LATEST EQUIPMENT.
The company had availed itself then. also.
Of the latest inventions for directing and
controlling the course OF its steamships
The Atlantic was fitted with eleven boil
ers and four cylinders. on the compound
principle, an Improvement In machinery ap-
piled only within the two preceding years.
The engines were 5000 horsepower. The
vessel was fitted for general trade, and
was capable OF accommodating 1900 passen-
gers Her main saloon extended the entire
! length OF the ship.
Its gilded cornices, brilliant mountings.
bronzed statues, marble chimney pieces,
carved furniture and dark red cushions
| equaIed. II they did not surpass in new
ness and general appearance. those or any
| vessel In the transatlantic service. The
| steamer was fitted with electric bells.
which were also placed in the berths OF
all passengers-a matter worthy OF much
! favorable comment in those days
! When the first fash Of the disaster to
the Atlantic reached this city the scenes
were similar 20 those we have just Wit
messed.
/ The telegraph did not work satisfactorily
and the dispatches we're az first very
meagre in details. merely telling that up
ward OF $50 OF the passengers had been
saved.
When asked to give his theory as To the
disaster 20 the Atlantic in the absence oil
dispatches tho agent Of tho White star
| Line said on the evening Of April l, 1913
REGARDED AS UNSUITABLE.
We'll. II is almost idle TO speculate. The
! Atlantic was built in compartments. and
was probably as strong as any ship cross
| ing tho Atlantic. / can then only con-
! lecture that tho lights at Halifax were
mistaken FOR other lights, the ship went
on the rocks--the coast near Halifax is
very rocky-and soon after. owing TO the
| heavy weather which prevailed, shifted on
and sank in deep water.
The company" he added. was organ
| izeI four years ago. and she was the sec
ond ship built | can safely say that no
captain crossing the Atlantic enjoyed a
| better reputation for ability than hers
| Irpon receiving the dispatch containing
the startling news that the Atlantic was "A
total loss the local agent Of the White
star Line Immediately forwarded the fol-
lowing kilograms TO Halifax:
"9:l5 y. m, April !.
Telegram received; keep me fully ad-
yised: telegraph names Of passengers
&c a. m, April ..
Agree with solicitor: leave all to your
1 good Judgment; do all possible to relieve
the saved
| That forenoon the tusboats Lady Head
| and Delta were sent 10 her relief.
And the world, then as now could only
eff and wait until the survivors reached
I Ia