ATLANTIC

BUILT BY HARLAND AND WOLFF IN BELFAST AND LAUNCHED IN 1870.SHE LEFT LIVERPOOL FOR THE STATES IN 1873 WITH NEARLY 1000 PASSENGERS AND CREW ONBOARD AND ENCOUNTERED GALES ALL ACROSS THE NORTH ATLANTIC.  RUNNING SHORT OF FUEL ( COAL ) AND FEARING MORE GALES SHE DECIDED TO MAKE FOR HALIFAX. DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY AND NOT HAVING GOT A DECENT SIGHT TO WORK OUT THEIR POSITION PRECISELY  ATLANTIC MISSED SIGHTING THE 'SAMBRO ' LIGHT HOUSE AND RAN AGROUND ON MEAGHERS ISLAND. THE THIRD OFFICER SWAM ASHORE WITH A ROPE AND FOUR OTHER LINES WERE RIGGED TO AID THE PASSENGERS ESCAPE FROM THE VESSEL TO THE SHORE. A TOTAL OF 580 PEOPLE DROWNED OR DIED OF EXPOSURE.THE COMPANY DENIED THE FUEL SHORTAGE AND AT THE INQUIRY THE CAPTAIN WAS BLAMED FOR TAKING HIS VESSEL IN CLOSE TO A COAST HE WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH.TAKE A LOOK AT THE BELOW LINK FOR SOME PHOTOS OF THE WRECK OF THE ATLANTIC AS SHE IS TODAY. MORE INFORMATION CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT THE NORWAYHERITAGE SITE, INCLUDING A PASSENGER LIST.