THE LOSS OF THE ATLANTIC.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1529, 28 June 1873, Page 2

THE LOSS OF THE ATLANTIC.

INCIDENTS OP THE WRECK. Mr Foxley, the chief engineer, describing the disaster, exclaimed that the female passengers who were asleep at the time the ship struck, were prevented from coming on deck by the seas washing over the ship and filling her. He added : — "Some of the passengers got into the lifeboats, the davit falls being cut away to allow the boats to float clear of the davits, in the expectation of getting clear of the vessel by these means, but a sea broke on board and washed the greater portion of the passengers who were in the boats out. The boats were stove, and those who were in them perished. The third officer, Mr Brady, and two quarter-masters swam ashore with a small line, which enabled a great number of the passengers and crew to get ashore, A great many of the people were drowned while coming from the vessel by the rope to the rock. The cold was so intense that some of them, being benumbed, were unable to hold on to the rope, and they let go, and we were unable to render them any assistance. The rock was covered with seaweed, which mado it very dangerous to stand upon, and its edges were round. Those on the rock, being soaking wet and cold, were unable to render any assistance to those who were in the greatest peril. We couM percieve people falling from the ship's side and rigging. Several laid down on the deck and died. Some of the passengers became maniacs, foamed at the month, and tottered about like children. We were very kindly received and treated by the people on shore." Incidents of the most heart-rending character occurred. A little fellow, the only child saved from the wreck, rushed up on deck with the stream of passengers when the first alarm was given. His parents and other members of the family were below. They perished when the \ 1 ship filled and fell over on her side. Hustled about along with that struggling mass of excited humanity, the piteous screams of the poor little fellow went to the stoutest heart. He leaped upon the back of one of the men in the hope of being saved by him, but the man shook off the wailing boy. His cries at length attracted the attention of the captain, who, perceiving the tenacious manner in which he was struggling for life, called out to the men who were surrounding the lines that led to the rock and safety to endeavor, if possible; to save the boy. The poor little fellow was immediately assed over the heads of the struggling

mass of beings, and placed in the boat. The kindly men who were struggling to save life almost wept for sympathy as . they put the lad on shore, safe in body, though sadly afflicted by his parents' loss. : It was extremely harrowing to behold the sufferings of the unfortunate creatures even after they were rescued, j Many of them became insane, and fell i off the rock into the water and were j drowned. Two lady cabin passengers came on deck in the excitement, and stood near the wheel-house. They hesitated a moment, . as ■ if panic-struck, and returned into the companion way, as if looking for something. Presently they ! came out and endeavored to reach the forward part of the ship, from where the passengers were being sent ashore by the lines. At that moment a huge nave swept over the ship's quarter. The men clinging, to the rigging heard two heartrending shrieks, and when they looked again, the women had disappeared. Young men as well as old became paralysed, and, as they clung to the rigging or to the sides of the vessel, they seemed bereft of all reason,- and when spoken to by others to make some effort to reach the boat and. save themselves, they , would roll their eyes, then stare fixedly at the speakers and ask in a wild tone — " What boat ?" Many, again, who were roused out of their berths, had scarcely time to put their clothes on and rush on deck ere they perished. One cabin passenger—a young man— came up with" only aveston. He clung to the ship's side for a time, and finally rolled off into the sea and was lost. The crew was one of the hardest that was ever gathered in any vessel. They were picked up about 'the. Liverpool wharves . and docks, and it was with the greatest difficulty that they were kept under control during the voyage. The storekeeper says that one of them made an attempt to snatch hjs watch and chain one night, but was foiled. On another occasion, during the storm of the 25th March, he states that some of the crew attempted to break into the spirit-room, and it was for a while feared that force would have to be used to prevent them. When the boats came from the shore to rescue the survivors, the sailors repeatedly pushed the passengers aside, or knocked them down and jumped into the boats themselves. Some of the incidents of the Y ,* disaster, as related by the survivors, 'are harrowing. At one time during the weary watch before dawn, the fore boom broke^ loose from its fastenings, and swinging around instantly crushed to death about 200 persons, who were gathered on the house on deck. Several of the passengers who were landed from the steamer Delta yesterday were considerably bruised about the body and lower limbs. One man had both legs broken, and others were so sore from being knocked against tha rocks that they were scarcely able to stand.