Destruction of Steamer Atlantic

The scene which is represented by our artist below, was a most heart-rending catastrophe. At the time of the collision a dense fog was prevailing. The passengers were all in bed, and the Atlantic was in charge of the first mate. Immediately following the collision the utmost confusion prevailed among the deck and steerage passengers, a very large portion of whom were Norwegian emigrants. Many of them, in their terror, jumped overboard instantly. Capt. Petty vainly endeavoured to calm their fears, by assuring them there was no danger, hoping to keep the steamer on its course, and reach port in season to save them; but the water gained so fast on the efforts of the crew, that by the time she had proceeded two miles from the spot where the collision took place, she was found to be rapidly sinking. The fires in the engine room were extinguished by the rising water, and a scene of terrible confusion followed. The emigrants, who could not understand a word spoken to them, added horror to the scene by their cries and exhibition of frantic terror. The cabin passengers, and all others who could be made to understand the exhortations and order of the captain and officers, remained comparatively calm, and provided themselves with chairs, settees and beds, all of whom wore patent life-preservers, which buoyed them up in the water, and they were thus saved. Great numbers of the immigrants jumped overboard in their terror, without any provision for their safety, and thus rushed on to certain death. The fog was a sad hindrance to the efforts made at rescue, but some 250 were picked up by the propeller and taken to Erie. The propeller had kept in the wake of the Atlantic, and those on board of her did all in their power to preserve the lives of the hundreds of human beings who were now seen struggling in the water. The cause of the dreadful accident is variously stated, and was doubtless, owing to the officers of the respective vessels not readily understanding the manner in which they should have steered according to law under such circumstances. The loss of life is ascertained to have been some two hundred! As usual, there are many affecting and interesting incidents related as having occurred. Mr. Dana, who was lost, was very efficient in saving the lives of passengers, and exhorted them to cling to the life-preservers, when in the water. When the boat went down, he took a settee and plunged overboard; but at the same moment, some twenty or thirty emigrants leaped over on to him, and he went under. The last persons taken from the boat were Mr. Givan, clerk of the boat, and Mr. Buell, first engineer. The steamer had then sunk, all but her stern, and they, with some Illinois passengers, were clinging to a rope attached to a floating mast and the wreck, being up to their shoulders in water. As soon as the shrieks of the drowning passengers were hushed, the voice of a little boy was heard, and it was then first discovered that a child about eight years old was also clinging to a rope a short distance off. The little fellow, talking to himself, was saying: “O, I can’t hold on much longer! If papa was here, he would hold me up.” The man from Illinois, a fine, powerful fellow, immediately moved along the rope, and seized the boy as he was about to sink. He held him for some time, and called out to Givan to come to his relief. Givan attempted to reach him, but in vain. At that moment the boat of the propeller, loaded to the water’s edge with rescued passengers, passed, and Givan hailed them to save the boy. Mr. Blodgett, first mate of the Atlantic, jumped out and swam to the rope, took the boy off, and returned to the boat with him. He was thus saved.