The S/S Atlantic was an iron-hulled steamship built in 1870 that sank in 1873 after striking an underwater rock off Nova Scotia during a storm while attempting to make port in Halifax. Of the 952 people aboard, including 156 women and 189 children, all perished except for one 12-year-old boy. An inquiry later concluded that the captain was at fault for failing to properly navigate through the unfamiliar waters and spot landmarks in the low visibility conditions. Today, artifacts from the wreck are displayed in museums and monuments commemorate the tragedy.
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3. • The S/S Atlantic was Built in Belfast by
Harland & Wolff in 1870. She had a
tonnage of 3,707 gross tons. She had a
single screw, compound engine with 4
cylinders and 4 masts rigged for sail. The
engine delivered 600 horse power, Her
length was 420 feet, breadth 40 feet, and
depth 31 feet.
8. On June 8th she departed from
Liverpool on her maiden voyage for
New York.
10. • On 20 March 1873 the
Atlantic departed on her
19th voyage from Liverpool
with 952 people on board, of
whom 835 were passengers.
En route, the crew decided
to make port at Halifax,
Nova Scotia to replenish coal
for the boilers.
16. During the approach to Halifax on the evening of March 31
the captain and 3rd officer were on the bridge until
midnight, while the Atlantic made her way through a storm,
proceeding at 12 knots (22 km/h) for the entrance of Halifax
harbour, experiencing intermittent visibility and heavy seas.
Unbeknownst to the crew or passengers, the Atlantic was
approximately 121⁄2 miles (20 km) off-course to the west of
Halifax Harbour. Officers failed to take soundings, post a
masthead lookout, reduce speed or wake the captain as
they approached the unfamiliar coast. They somehow did
not spot the Sambro Lighthouse, the large landfall
lighthouse which warns mariners of the rocky shoals to the
west of the harbour entrance.
19. At 2:00 a.m. local time on 1 April 1873, the
Atlantic struck an underwater rock off Marr's
Head, Meagher's Island (now Mars Head, Mars
Island), Nova Scotia.
24. • The ship's manifest indicates that of the 952
aboard, 156 were women and 189 were children
on board (including two who had been born during
the voyage). All women and all children perished
except for one twelve-year-old boy, John Hindley.
• The Canadian government inquiry concluded with
the statement, "the conduct of Captain Williams in
the management of his ship during the twelve or
fourteen hours preceding the disaster, was so
gravely at variance with what ought to have been
the conduct of a man placed in his responsible
position".
33. • Today, most of the ship lies heavily fragmented
under 40 to 60 feet of water. Artifacts recovered
from several salvage operations are on display at
the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax,
Nova Scotia and also at the SS Atlantic Heritage
Park and Interpretation Center, in Terence Bay,
Nova Scotia. A monument to the wreck is located
at the mass grave near the interpretation centre in
the Terence Bay Anglican Cemetery, while a
smaller monument marks a second mass grave at
the Catholic cemetery.
45. • Commemorating the 140th Anniversary
of the Sinking of the SS Atlantic 1873-2013