The New York Herald Newspaper, April 8, 1873, Page 11

“DOWSED GLIMS” Last Night’s Partial Eclipse in the Metropolis. THE ANXIETY DOWN TOWN. Policemen Acting as Lamplighters and Cursing the Luck. THE THUGS LOST OPPORTUNITY. Affairs Among the Strikers at the Gas Works. THEY WILL WIN OR BURST. The Gas Companies to Combine Against the Strikers. What the Officers of the Companies Say—Scenes and: Incidents at the Works and About Town—How the City Hall Clock “Glim” Went Out. ‘There was no small degree of excitement in the ‘section of the city seuth of Grand street to the Bat- tery last night, in consequence, first of the entire Jack of gas during the early part of the night; sec- ond, because from eight until eleven the supply was extremely limited and looked as though it might be exhausted at any moment, and lastly, in anticipation of the great public incon- venience and danger that might follow in the event of a complete cessation of the supply and the inevitable extinguishment of street lamps that would result, At seven o'clock the pressure of gas at the New York Gas Com- pany’s works was sadly insufficient, for it was im- possible to light mere than one lamp out of every ten, and at the Post Office, the Astor House, the Various newspaper offices, and at sucn places as it was desirable and necessary to transact night business in there was enly a feeble glimmer of gas- light to be had, During the afternoon there was no gas whatever in the New York Company’s district except in such establishments as were supplied by the Mutual, and the consequence was a great embarrassment to many branches of trade carried on in basements and cellars and in the interior rooms of the large ‘vuildings where it is necessary to keep gaslight at all times. THERE WAS ALMOST A “CORNER”? in the article of candies and tin candle sockets, and a large supply was kept on hand and in readi- ness for use at the Post Office. It was a rather curious spectacle to witness the pursuit of pleas- ure under extreme difficalty, as, for example, in the playing of a game of billiards in a basement bil- Nard room without gas. Candles were improvised and placed in every available position, on posts and pillars and suspended by cords. The result was a wonderful play of bad light and very cep shade over the surface of the green-baized tables, and there was more bad billiard playing, “scratches” and mis-cues attributed to “the shadow on‘the balls” than was ever known before in a single day. THE PLAYERS SHoT the ivory spheres away into the Stygian vacancy at the other end of the tables, and it was only at in- tervals of silence, when the balls were heard to “click” in the distant gloom, or by having a friend with a fog trumpet located somewhere in the vicinity, that@man could learn whether his bail had hit anything or not. On the counters the light ‘was furnished by candles set in the necks of bottles, as improvised candlesticks, and the opportunities for Rembrandt pictures were bewildering both by the general prevalence and the weird uncertain lights and shadows that played upon them, To add to all this gloom there was the fact of a rather overcast sky and a slight tendency to fogginess in ‘the atmos. phere, the prospects for the evening began to look quite dismal. The streets were wet and muddy and the sidewalks uneven and crooked, and the only people who felt really independent on the question were the street car conductors and the peanut venders. Happy mortals! not to be ob- Uged to depend upon the mismanagement of ANY “BLOATED CORPORATION” or the intrigues of any striking trade organiza- tton. Like the “five wise virgins,” they kept their little kerosene cana well filled with the illuminat- ing nuid, and snapped their fingers at the outside ‘world as the shadows of night came on, From seven o'clock till abeut eight there were not more than one-half of the lamps lit in the whole Jower part of the city, but orders had been trans- mitted to the various precincts directing each patrolman on post to make frequent trials to light all lamps found not burning and to similarly essay those that had been lit but had subsequently been extinguished, THE ROUGHS AND THUGS of the metropolis lost a magnificent opportunity iast night to obliterate about one-third of the po- dice 1orce by one master stroke of diabolism, All that was necessary to be done was to rub smartly against the officers’ pockets ‘and there would have been instant su!lphuro ignitton, for they each carried halt a dozen box Matches, Shades of the blue-crested Lucifer, what a chance for vengeance was there! But it ‘was lost thro the supineness and ignorance of “our dangerous (f) classes.”” At eight o’clock the lamps on both sides of Broadway, from Grand street south to Pearl, were dark, as well as in the streets bag orca tee the dow ground eastward of the main thorough- jare, aud in the City Hall Park there ‘was .& vist and impressive darkness that must have leoked like Paradise — itself toa burglar. On South and West streets the (ed ‘was too ieeble in Mow to give more than a waving button of blue flame, and every few minutes even this seemed suddenly to drop back into the pipe and set the policemen cursing. THE BATONED KNIGHTS, with thick boots, and overcoats as cumbersome as Mattresses abeut their bodies, were poor substi- tutes for the proverbially active lamplighters; and besides, the department had forgotten to furnish them with ladders and torches. There was no help for it but to bark their shins climbing the Jamp-posts and skin their knuckles striking bad amatches against damp iron frames. “Loek @ here,” said a burly By to a reporter near Burling slp, “I've lit. that lamp just seven times in the last hour, and I’ve got all them matches to use yet before I can give he job, Ain't it a sweet pill?” and he looked gioomtly across toward the dim, dull outline ef the Fuiton ferry house, where everything was a sombre. Wherever the lamps did burn it was with a consumptive sort of fame that only whade the da: nese yeliow and dreary. OVER THE WHOLE CENTRE ofthe district bounded Green’ Beaver streetson the south Bowlin; out. » to keep the At exactly thirteen minutes to ten o'clock the lucent element that made THE CITY HALL CLOCK PACK radiant with tin vay seemed to drop through the cupota as though it was ashamed to look upon the darkling scenes below. The pressure at the works was insufficient to send the combustible fluid into the tower, and men in the atreets almost broke their necks looking up in vain for the light until their q es aed eS) the ripen zemth ae em. Then the fog began to envelope everything, and there wasa enone prospect fiat the littie existing light that seemed to struggle from saloon windows and lamps would seon be hemmed into a radius of six feet from its sources, And so the igiit wore on, with some improvement in the cou- dition of affairs on the might before and @ little promise for better things in the future, THE GLOOM IN WALL STREET. Quite @ feeling of alarm and distrust existed among the banking establishments of Wali street and its neighborhood last night, who feared that a general raid might be made upon their estabiish- ments by bergags during the night. Captain Van Duzer, of the New street police station, made ments to patrol the ward constantly dar- ing the hours of darknéss, Mr. Thomas Sampson, the detective of the Stock Exchange, was engaged ine mmilar manner, A lerge number gf extra : NEW YORK-HERALD, TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 1873—QUADRKUPLE SHERT. watchmen were also employed within and outsido of banking establishments. At the New York Gas Works. The neighborhood of the New York Gas 0om- pany’s works did not, as was expected, become the scene of any disorderly conduct on the part of, the strikers, Gathered on the corners, distinguish- able by the sprig of cedar which adorned their hats, were to be seen groups ef men talking quietly together or listening to the news of the day as read by one of their number. It may have, been that they cast an occasional glance toward the bare columns which surrounded the empty gas tanks, and chuckled with hearty satis- faction as they saw that they neither haa nor were likely to rise to their usual height, These hage tanks are the palladium ofthe strikers’ success, and upon their rising or remaining where they are entirely depends the victory or defeat‘of their Movement. {1 the company ceuld by any possible means secure men and retorts enough te fill the tanks the’ strikers would be routed and forced to sue for peace on any terms. The labor is not sucn as requires skilled workmen, and the failure of the Italians is mainly due to the (act of their being unable to understand the orders which are issued to them by the experienced foremen still im the service of the company, Far from already the assauit,upon the gas. com- pte Foi augh and joke about the attempé of the Italians to “py Wednt their work, anc assert that morning the company will be glad to have them back.” INSIDE THE BUILDING. The discharged men, to the number of 168, were paid off yesterday aiternoon. ‘They received their money without, gay Manifestations of hostility, and in resumed their places on the adjacent corners. @ money was passed out to each man through @ grated window, and a posse o1 police were juartered in an adjacent part of the room, Charles . Mowton, Chief Pngineer, received the HERALD reporter, and expressed @ willingness to show him over the works, ‘ “Do you expect to furnish (ied all night, Mr. Mowton /” was the query of the HERALD man. “dam afraid it will not held out longer than ten or eleven o’cleck, but we are doing our very best. 1am nearly exhausted trom anxiety and vexation, and do hope that this state of things will not con- tinue much longer,” answered Mr. Mowton. In the imner office, te which the reporter had been shown, sat a sergeant of police, who managed the deployment of his men with tt and con- summate discretion. Three were stationed at the street door, and by @ judicious display of their clubs kept the outside rabble in submissive quietude. The police of the Fiith and Fourteenth Ppt alternately did Non. efficient duty in the junch-room and on the stree’ IN THE RETORT HOUSE. » After the tired chefengineer had completed some work which occupied his attention, he rose and conducted the HERALD reporter through the door and into the i retort-room of the works, ‘The entrance into these barn-like quarters did not tend to impress the visitor with any great sense of the comfort or cheerfulness of the place. “Do you see hew well ventilated this building 1s?” said Mr. Mowton, pointing to the nuge open- ings in the roo and to the doors of the structure opening into the yard. ‘There certainly was no question of ventilation, but the draught of cold air which struck the re- porter’s face was but pleasant. It re- munded him at once of the cold, damp workshops which are so f copay, a condemned in “Put Your- selfin His Pigte.” Certain it is that if too much ventilation is worse than none, the workmen in gas houses are sure to find it out and tosuifer ac- cordingly. The party passed up to the long row of retorts on the southern side of the building. A large gang of laborers, mostly Be ctraps berks seen wens cling BD the coal and drawing and charring the coke. They appeared to perform their work with an intention of doing it properly, but irom inexperience and smallness of stature made only a partial success. At the windows looking out on Twenty-first street several of the discharged firemen . could be seen deriding and joking the laborers. The great mis- take on the part of the new men appeared to be that the charges were drawn from the retorts before they were thoroughly baked, and as the gas which escaped upon opening the doors was ignited huge volumes of smoke and flame rolled up almost to the roof to the terror of the Jtalians, e work did not progress with the expedition or system necessary to the business. The Chief Engineer did not oiler to conduct the re- porrar to the northern side of the works, and by his actions discouraged any request to be shown any.lurther. ‘There was such a scene of chaos in the part of the works which the reporter visited that it 1s only fatr to presume that the condition of the workmen iu the other portions was even more demoralized. AN UGLY RUMOR. The steamcr George Birbeck touched at the com- pany’s whar! about fifteen minutes past three in the afternoon to landsome workmen. As the ves- sel neared the side of the pier a general rush of the Italiang m the works took place. Hastily \sso-tan | their bedding and bundles the descendants o Dante pttempted to board the craft, The scene for a few moments was one of the greatest confusion. The men on board the steamer took up a defensive position on the gangway and drove back the men. It is stated on the authority of a police officer, Who was on duty on the whari and claimed to have witnessed the scene, that the Captain of the tug Birbeck drew a revolver on the Italians, and thus prevented them from getting on board. Up til nightfall @ number of the Italians were sitting desolate and lohely on the edge 01 the pier, waiting vainly for the return of the steamer. The ps odd that twe men were drowned 1s pronounced untrue, A further addition to the force of the New York Gas Company was received yesterday afternoon from the Metropolitan Gas Company. The latter sent thirty-three of their best firemen to assist the gangs already at work. New reterts will be opened, and, with the large force of Germans which will, in all probability, be engaged to-day, the supply may be brought up to the usual standard by Wednes- day night. What the Manhattan Company is Pre- pared For. The Vice President of the Manhattan Gas Com- pany was visited yesterday at the office,on the cor- ner of Irving place amd Fifteenth street, vy a HERALD reporter, and assured the latter that not the slightest apprehension was had of a general strike. He said that his company had never yielded to the dictation of their men, but had alwaysshown & willingness to advance the rate ef wages whenever they deemed the increase just. There existed the most perfect understanding between the employers and the employed that the company would not look with any sort of favor upon men who struck work for an advance wage: The most thorough discipline every branch of their business, was heid directly responsible for under immediate control. The engineer or superintendent were alike supreme, and the men were at omce given to understand that the commands of their immediate superiors were law while they remained in the employ of the company. ‘The men how at werk had been importuned by the strikers te join them, but, so far as Was known, did not manifest the least desire whatever to do so. It was sale to state that should every man strike to-day neither the consumers ner the city would suffer for one hour from the loss of gas. Arrangements had been perfected when the strike was first antici- pated by which the places of every man who should no esert the company could be sup- Pp Regarding the assertion that the occupation of a fireman oer helper in the as works Was an unhealthy business, the Vice Pres- dent said that they had men tn their employ who had been with them for nearly thirty years. The sudden changes of temperature might be injurious to those affected with lung diseases, but the life was certainly not to be compared to that of a sailor for severity or hardsnip. Always under cover, the men were not compelled te quit work when the rain or snow fell. It was true that the day's work seemed long, but the number ef hours of actual labor did not average more than five to six. ‘True, It was necessary that the reterts should not be left uncared for, but when they were once full the men could sit down te rest and smoke, The fires had to be raked occasionaby, but the actual amount of manual labor required was grossly exaggerated. He declined to anything regarding the causes which had led to the unpleas- ant predicament in which the New York Gas Com- pany finds itseli. At the Mutual Gas Works the men were going regularly on with their work, and the officers were in the very best of spirits re- garding the fidelity of their employés. The chief engineer kindly conducted the HERALD reperter through the works, and found the manufacture of gas progressing with the usual rapidity. The doorsof the works were open and the men came and went as their business necessitated. This company fur- nished gas en guacey, and last evening to many offices in the dark district. The policy of the Superintendent seems to be to treat tye employed as men and to expect them to do their duty. Nearly all the men are married and have families. Statement of Mr. Everitt, President of the New York Gas Company. A HERALD representative called on the President of the New York Gas Company yesterday after- noon, at the company’s office in Hester street, Mr. Everitt gave a very clear statement of the company's dificulties,, He said that the public hardly understood the mature of the pres- ent strike or Other embarrassments to which the company was subjected. During the past year the gasmen had struck for the eight hour system. The company acceded te their de- mands, and paid them the same wages tor two- thirds of their former labor, when it was found necessary to pnt on a third gang of men, and the ‘expense was increased fifty per cent thereby. Then vhe tucreased price of coal came, and these {wo (pote taken together made the company Unable to meet their engagements with the public. He stated that the reports of the strike had been mainly sensational, and, in referring to the tene of the press, said it was singular. that. the strikers here seemed to have the entire. sympathy of the newspa} while in London, the troubles; tus journals’ wore all tothe ac- tion of tbe gasmen.- He apprehended no serious: embarrassment frem the present cendition of affairs, They had obtained LARGE FORCE OF THE ITALIANS who'were F maintained at the jense of the Sti ‘being ate, and these sudjects had gone readily to work. vided them with ‘ters and " a them Reasonable Sages. of had been Sapereneee in course some men to a 7” they were complete Bettis u nm ment" of Mabor where novices, yet he had been surprised at aptitude for the business. An interpreter owas hy on hand in gas works to instract them in all their duties. Gas making did not skilled labor, only a certain amount of tact. men worked in ches of six, with a.fireman, and their Autom were to fill the retorts with coal, and after had been ex- gas tracted to remove refuse and cart it away, No danger attended any of these operations, and a lew days would suffice to teach the men all the expertness needed. A ‘fire- man received $3 25 a day, a helper $2 50. The Itatians were kept secluded from the strikers, and were housed on the companys grounds in order that they might not be reached either by outside violence or interference. To-day we thought less {han one-half of the usual quantity of gas would be manulactured, but to-morrow the quantity would increase, and hy: the middie of the week the public would suifer no further inconvenience. ‘The com- pany would not under hog 4 circumstances again receive these old men inte its employ. On former strikes their action had been curious. When the company gave the men THE EIGHT HOURS oe demanded, it did not operate safisfactorily, anda jewlousy existing among different gangs of workmen made it easy for the company to come back to twelve hours and the same wages, Nearly every company in the city had tried the eight-hour system, but in all attempts if had been a fruitless reform. Mr. Everett stated, furthermore, that it was not contemplated to encourage these movements in the future by any acquieseent ac- tion on the part ofthe company. The present exper- iment had proven that it was not necessary to run the works at the dictation of the employes, and it would probably be a salntery lesson to them. Up to the present time the strikers had been orderly and quiet. ° Statement of the Secretary of the Metro- politan Company, A HERALD representative called at the Metro- politan Building, Forty-second ‘street and Broad. way, and found the President out, but was answered by the Secretary and Superintendent that all was working quietly and as usual in their gas district. The men were satisfied with the terms of their employment and not the slightest symptom of dis- content was visible. ‘The firemen received $3 50 per day and the helpers $3 per day. The Metropoll- tan Company had tried the eight-hour system, but had found that it’ was utterly impracticable, and the men had willungly returned to their former status. The Superintendent, a jolly. little man of Teuto: origin, just arrived from the works, and so happy was he ‘with the state of affairs there that all the radiance that couid be producea by o full gasometer was beaming on his jace. It was thoroughly evident, from the conversation on the subfeck, the gas campanies are all pulling together and are deter- mined to fight the men with all the power of their huge monopolies. Statement of the Gasmen. A HERALD representative endeavored to procure astatement from the idllug gasmen on First ave- nues, in front of the works, during the afternoon of yesterday. One highly excitable striker waved off the reporter with great importance and demanded to see his badge. “[ have no badge.” ‘Then you're no reporther!’’ “But lam!” “T say every reporther in York has a badge, and ye’ll get no statement.” Another man, with the green sprig in his hat, was more confiding and conducted the HERALD repre- sentative to the Gasmen's Hall, corner of Twenty- second street and First avenue, where he found about twe hundred men locked in, deliberating in avery quiet manner upon their future plans. The Secretary, a very intelligent man, came to the rear end of the hall and made the following statement :— i “WE ARB NOT GOING TO WORK again, except under the eight hour system, ana have decided upon the point. No circumstances will make us waver. We can stand a strike of months, and we intend to do it. We are now holding meetings, quietly discussing our plans, and we tntend to act like law-abiding citizens, while firmly be mane) f our rights to be’ adequately compensate for our severe and exhausting toil. his isa duty we owe as much to our wives and children as we do to our- selves. Aman has just made a powerful speech against violence, and as we are thoroughly or- ganized and as the men are serious and sober you need fear no disturbance of the peace, The ad- vice of the HERALD this morning counselling us to commit no acts which can be condemned will be strictly followed. ‘The entire responsibility of the strike we intend to place on the shoulders of the company. We claim and we prove that we have been badly treated; thus, while zealously and obediently performing our daily work, which is very exacting an@ unhealthy, the company has fatled te keep its promises, and has maiutained thata gasman did no skilled labor. We affirm that the work Me a Chet! is skilled lavor, and that at the end of twelve months @ man could net do more then than the bratal part. The companies ‘are rich, and all we have to do is not to work for them. To show you how the New York Company has acted, we know that agents -been out all day treating German laborers to ioeet beer, then eee them to go inside the wi and then not permitting them to leave. Those who have strock number 182, and they receive $260 to $325 per day. We do not know what they pay the Italians, but it will now take three men where it formerly took two men to accomplish the same work, Our labour was very exhausting. Many died, and new many of THE OLD HANDS ARE SICK, and when sickness comes the sufferer is almost sure to die. To work twelve hours in a gas factory tells on a man very soon. Often it is more than twelve hours; sometimes bye | as high as thir- teen hours a day. When we go home we eat our dinners and then go te bed, but are too tired te sleep. This geing on from day to day wears us out, till we finally come to our melancholy fate. A glance at the gasmen in the hall cenfirmed this story, for the faces of the men were ha; sad and disconsola For a long time we planning among eurselves practical of relief, Last elegates from all Spring the works ‘assembled and organized this Union, The Metropolitan and New York Cem- panies granted us the eight hours and ‘we resumed The Manhattan Company had employed eid men te do the sweeping and light work, and the company promised these men Sia day extra if they would not strike, Other men were id even some of the employés ‘who ‘4 old were assured that the: ept for life. The men’s feelings were werked upon and when it came to a decision on the 8th of June the company carried its Point The President romisea them $1 a day extra for a year. In the New York Company it the strike of the 8th of June the men were finally induced to relinquish their eight-heur system by @ promise of extra pay of $1, but the extra pay was not continued. THE MEN WERE OPPRESSED by the foreman, and the companies boasted that they would spend $2,000,000 to break up all strikes among en, It was February when we were notified to give up the eight hour system, in the midst of Winter, when we were assured that cold was in our midst, that our wives and children would become beggars for their daily bread, and that we would become idiers in the streets. The men were frightened into acquiescence and were prom- ised seventy-five cents extra wages ; but tht next week it was taken away. Finally, some of the papers say that this is @ faction fight; but such is not true. We have struck because we have sub- mitted to the fickle course of the company until its vacillation has brought hunger and misery to our firesides and sickness and death to our- selves. The Moral of the Gas Strike is this:—The companies, by once acceding to the demands of the men in granting them the eight- hour system, and in afterwards breaking faith with them, have by Sh agay ee responsible for the present strike. 'y recognized the justice of the eight-hour system in consenting to adopt f and then rifled with the men, and at Jast broke their direct pledges in returning to the rule of twelve hours’ jabor per they had never taken their original action, or no’ that the pre: trike was inevitable, then ithey wonld not be holden tor the present dixagrecable gas crisis. It ts just ag dificult to reduce the wages of men in a particular trade, or prolong their time of labor four hours a day, as it to take wan the ballot irom a newly enfranchised class of cluzens. There is no doubt, from tne inspections made yesterday, that the labor is severe aud unhealthy, and that the gasmen are a hard-working, sober body of men, upon whom the bry! depends for its mghtly consumption Of At the Bast River Works the eople in charge were not too willing to Riv their operations investigated, and the: behaved in a very “diplomatic” manner, while al- ways courteous. The inference was that there was something concealed which they did not care to have ventilated, ‘There is one phase Of the movement which is worthy of the attention, of those studying indus- trial questions—that the Italians have again been taken from the care of the State, and over one hun- dred of them placed in an employment where they will be able to carn thetr own bread and raiment, Word's Island thus vgoves a vorror to * atrpkgra.”! THE ATLANTIC CRIME. Scenes at Meagher’s Head and at the. Wreck. THE SPECTACLE ON SHORE. A Herald Correspondent with the Divers in the Ship. DOWN AMONG THE DEAD. A Terrible and Heartrending Sight Underneath the Sea. A FEMALE SAILOR. Strange Romance of the Dis- aster Without a Sequel. THE INVESTIGATION. Contradictory Testimony of the Officers of the Atlantic. die sidse REE talk INDIGNATION AT HALIFAX. Abe bagaicsh 6 The White Star Astonished at the Captain’s Statements. Hauirax, April 7, 1873. The mantle of mourning still darkens this agon- ized and staid old-fashioned city. The very air Seems to be full of death, the streets full of mourn- ers, and the hotels crowded with the anzious and sorrowful friends of those who were sent so sum- marily to their final account through the incompe- tency of the Captain of the ill-fated steamer At- lantic, THE HERALD reporters, with their special steamer, have cruised around and watched the wreck and the surrounding Scenes almost from the moment of the terrible calamity. Notwithstanding the weather has been clear and calm ever since the eventful disaster, the Monster ship with allher strength has slowly and constantly drifted to pieces, Divers, theugh, have worked their best and have recovered hundreds of the bodies of the unfortunate victims, 10 look fipon the position of the sunken huil it becomes more and more incomprehensible how tt was Possible for the vessel to have been driven in where she now lies, It is the opinion of the fisher- men Of the locality that she struck on the Grampus Reef about half a mile east of the scene, and ran along the reefs until she brought up against the fatal rock. She islying on her port side, well un- der water from amidships; the hull is almost abreast of the reef and forms a sort of breakwater between it and the shore of the island, which appears only about forty yards off, All that portion of the hull from the forward hatch is severed as completely as if it had been cut with some piece of machinery. The sea has caused it to forge ahead thirty feet or so, leaving a gap or passage way, where the small boats are continually running in and out and carrying curiosity seekers from the shore to the wreck and back. THE FATAL ROCK looks close enough for one to leap on to it from the forward part of the hull. It is a small rock, or rather that portion of it which was above water, scarcely thirty square feet, and upon this two hun- dred or more human beings stood for two or three hours, until rescued by boats from the main land, Voiumes and volumes of harrowing incidents might be written of heroism as well as of cruelty and inhumanity; but no pen can ever con- vey the faintest idea of the ghastly spectacle which at this very moment exists on the shore at the scene of the awful disaster. This afternoon and yesterday several of the fishermen, who have been engaged in the sad business, carried the bodies up the bank and laid them on the grassy knoll where the other bodies had been laying. The visitors crowded around and gazed mournfully upon the sad sight. Many could not stand it and turned away from the place which bas appro priately been called “THE HILL OF DEATH.” Others lift their hats, and with reverential awe step lightly along, as if afraid to awake those who are sleeping their last sleep, The bodies were those of steerage passengers, and most of them were females, One young woman was particularly handsome, and looked as natural as if she nad died peacefully and calm, She was a fine featured young woman, beautiful, no doubt, in life. Her name was Bennett, and she had @ through ticket fer Boston. Her scapuiars and beads were left on her neck when her name was entered in a book by Squire Ryan. On the body of one man thirty-six sovereigns were found, and upon that of another twenty, All the men and many of the women had valuables, such as gold rings, brooches, money and’ watches. The magistrate and those who were assisting him in searching the remains said tnat the bodies found yesterday had more property on them than all the rest who had been buried, except the body of Mrs. Davidson, which was recovered on Saturday even- ing. One of THE ROMANTIC INCIDENTS of this terrible calamity has been the discovery that one of the men, a common sailor, and one whose life was sacrificed in efforts to save others, ‘was a young woman of about twenty or twenty-five years ef age, Her sex was not known until the body was washed ashore and the rude clothing removed preparatory for burial. She had served .| fighting fel into the sea. as a common sailor for three voyages, and was a | favorite shipmate with all. She 1s described as having fewer of the vices incident to 4 sailor’s life than is usual, but she was, neverthe- less, as jolly an old tar as any of them. One of the survivors ef the crew in speaking of her remarked, “J didn’t know Bill was a woman. He used te take his liquor as regular as any of us, and was always begging and stealing tobacco, He was @ good fellow, though, and I am sorry he was a woman.” The most singular part of the whole story is that the woman was an American, and was about the only one of that nationality belong- ing to the crew, Who she was and where she came from, and her motive for leading such a strange life of hardship, never was and never will be fully known. All along the coast, @ few rods back from the shore, are hundreds of rude, plain, unpainted coffins, piled up in a hideous, conglomerated mass, In front are long lines of dead men, women and children, in all the various positions which result from sudden death. There was a woman With her hands clasped in prayer and a peace- ful expression upon her face; thon @ man whe had evidently perished in terrible agony ; then, most heartrending of all, a little girl staring sightleas; @ babe with its arms clasped apout the neck of its mother, and the dead woman clinging to her child 80 firmly that they had not been parted, was but one of the many scenes which made strong men weep. ONE VERY HANDSOME WOMAN, with long, flowing dark hair, had died seemingly in the effort te screen her beautiful persen from rude gaze. Almost her only raiment was a night wrapper, and that was clutched about her person, Another’ woman, lying still and stark, was im the very got of hooking ber dreds Wen death over: took her, An old man had one arm raised, and the other hand, grasping a purse containing fifteen sovereigns, had been wrenched from it, The grasp of the dead almost defied that of the living. THR EXAMINATION OF THR BODIES as they came ashore was conducted in a very loose way. Frequently considerable sums of money weuld be taken, and before the record was haif made the magistrate in charge would be examining the next body. This method of procedure became 80 criminally careless as to excite the indignant Pretest ef several New York gentlemen who were Present to look after the bodies of friends, The sad work proceeded under the direction of an island magistrate and a tew equally incompetent assist- ants. In the meantime the Dominion revenue steamer Lady Head lay quietly at her wharf in Hal- {fax. Brutes in human form were drinking and quar- relling upon the rocks, and two ‘of them who were Two regiments of sol- diera were idling about Halifax, and their oficers strutting in the streets. So far there has been A DISGRACEFUL LACK OF SYSTEM and organized effort in protecting property and caring for the dead. The company’s agents and Captain Williams did not even reach the scene on Sunday, and were indebted to the HERALD’s tug to tow them back when they were found becalmed half way to the wreck, Every incoming train and steamer brings mourn- ing friends in search of the bodies of their beloved. Msny have been recovered, identified and for- warded to their homes, but hundreds still remain drifting and shifting around with the cargo inside the staterooms and compartments of the ill-fated steamer, W. P. Scrymser, of New York, who arrived Friday night, to forward the bodies of his brother-in-law, W. H. Merritt, and of his niece, Miss Merritt, 1s still here awaiting the recovery of the body of Mrs, Merritt. Mr, Christian, who lives near the scene of the wreck and took charge of the effects of Mr. Merritt, which were supposed to be lost, called apon and restored thom to Mr. Scrymser this evening. They consisted of a gold watch and chain, which he was bringing ‘8 a present for a Now York friend; also a couple of rings, a pocket knife, some pieces of money and a bunch of keys, THE HERALD CORRESPONDENT IN THE HOLD OF THE VESSEL, Anxious to obtain a view ef the ship below the water, the HERALD correspondent procured a diving suit, with the permission and under the direction of the wrecker and divers who were at work upon the hull, and descended into the iaterior of the wreck, The waters were clear and every object plainly visible around the ship where she lay on the reef, It was the first time for the correspondent to seek information beneath the waters, and the sensation is almost indescribable, The air from above, which is furnished through the rubber tube, comes with a hissing sound, producing a strange feeling. I shudder at the thought of being immersed so deeply, and how slight an accident would insure instant destruction. All around the objects looked weird-like; the glasses in the casque magnifying the already bloated forms into twice their size, The waters are very cold, and a chilly feeling creeps over me at first, but as I proceed it wears away and I enter upon the task I have undertaken with more nerve than I fancied | possessed. The im- |. mense hull lies well down on the port side, which is broken in several places from contact with the reef, Fish were swimming around eagerly devouring the particles oi food which are to be picked up, Pick- ing my way towards the hull Icatch hold of a rope and scramble up the deck. The place where Ihave descended is where the ship parted, anda sectional view of the hull and cargo is obtained. The forward hatch is open andl peer down the hold. OH! WHAT A SPECTACLE is presented! The cargo has broken bulk and lays heaped up in & confused mass; bodies ef men and women, bruised and torn, were jammed among the cases and crates. It is a horrible sight to look upon, and the magnifying power of the orbs through which I gaze upon it renders it all the more horrible. Fishes swim inand out ameng the bodies and boxes, feasting upon the bodies of the dead. Limbs are strewn around, having broken off from the body from the centimual action of the waters, which, when agitated, drive against the ugly pieces of the broken hull that stick up here and render my movements very hazardous, Having seen enough ef this part of the sunken horror I proceed towards one of THE STEERAGE CABINS, the one where all the women and children were drowned as they lay in their bunks, Scrainbling along the deck, guided by the rope from above, and assisted by one of the divers who has undertaken to conduct me through the wreck, I reach the eom- panton way. If the sight in the hold among the cargo was horrible, the one that now met my gaze was ten times more so. There, lying in animmense heap, were a hundred or more bodies. They lookea for all the world as if they were alive, with arms dislocated, eyes staring wildly, faces grinning as it were at you and moving backward and forward with the under-current; some were dressed, many were half nude, Children were clinging to their mothers and stout men were clasping their wives and seem- ing as if they met their fate with calm resignation. No description of the bodies breught to the surface could convey an idea of the horrid sight in that cabin, I close my eyes and motion to my conductor my readiness to leave. Ihave seen enough in that charnel house, the recollection of which will never fade. My conductor motions me towards the steerage cabin, where the men were by themselves and where there was such a rush fer the companion way. eer- ing down into that cabin I saw a similar picture ef death. Bodies of stalwart men, old and young, were hustjed together on the stair- way, giving—from their distended nostrils, gaping mouths and staring, glassy eyes—some conception of the terror which selzed them as they vainly struggled to reach the deck, but were prevented by the waves which swept over the ship as she heeled over and filled the cabin. From another part of the vessel I obtained a view of THE SLEEPING APARTMENT. Here, piled up in heaps on the port side, were numbers of bodies of men, and strewn among them bed clothing of one kind and another, From continual knocking against the stanchions and sharp, jagged woodwork which is splintered and broken from the linings of the bunks, the faces and limbs of these dead are mere ghastly than any I have ever seev, Imagination cannot picture any- thimg more terrible than what was in this compartment. The flesh is torn from the faces of many of the dead; others agam are bruised and battered about their heads and faces, which are red and bloody, and in striking contrast te the pale, livid features of others which the action of the waters has not disturbed. While I stand here sanother of the divers descends and com- mences to send up some of the bodies. He, however, is more intent upon secur- ing the cargo than sending up the bodies, and only does so now to gain access to some boxes and trunks which are lying beneath them. Hav- ing seen enough of the horrors beneath the water on that fatal reef—horrors of the @eep which will never b& erased from my viston—I decided to go above, and motioned accordingly to the men who were above in the boat, and, pumping down to me the necessary supply Of air to sustain life, ina few minutes I was once more at the surface gazing upen the light of heaven and experiencing @ sensation of relief at having left the chambers of death in the cabins of the fll-fated Atlantic, ABOVE THE WATERS AGAIN. For some time I could scarcely realize that |was above the water. Below everything nada greenish hue, and as the sunlight strnck across my eyes 1 experienced a strange emotion about them. Al- though the undertaking was a@ hazardous one and the scenes below appalling, it is well 1 went down and am thus enmabied to convey feebly to the HFRALD readers something of an tdea of the hid- den, scenes of & calamity which has caused the whole world to mourp. MIDNIGHT. ‘The last steamer of the Heraty fleet which will come up from the scene of the Atiantic wreck to- night has just arrived. The divers had ceased work when she left, but ifthe weather is fair they Will resume at dayfight in the morning. Only the bodies of steerage passengesa were recovered to, It veep twenty in all, and they were buried o@ é shore as soon as they could be red coMned, A considerable quantity rae om THE CARGO was recovered, but in a damaged and almost Worthiess condition, Wreckers and thieves whe have fer several days hovered around the scen@ and plundered what they could are being rapidigt brought to griefsince the arrival from New Yor of Mr. Pennell, the White Star Company's repree sentative, The local agents of the cone pany had done nothing whatever in the way of caring for, recovering or protecting bodicat or carge, and the local Provincial and Dominiom governments were equally taditferent until stirred) up by the New York attaché of the line and Cape tain Merritt, the representative of the New Yor Wrecking Company. He has employed all thet divers te be had here, and others are now on theitt way to the wreck from New York, Boston and pe~ troit, and will probably be at work during thet week. All this, it will be seen, is in commendable contrast with the apathy or indifference of the agents here, who have done nothing whatever in tha: way of securing divers, notwithstanding their in~ structions to ao so from the New York agents, On Sunday, the day when the weather and every~ thing was favorable for the operations of gather« ing ap the unfortanate victims from their waterg graves, the only representative of the compang present was a steward and one of his waiters. ‘The only steam tug in the harbor was chartere@ by the HxRaLD correspondent and the White Star line agents here or their representatives: secured a sailing vessel. The HERALD tug went down, and when returning in the evening waa hailed by the becalmed schooner, On boara of hee was Captain Williams and other representatives of the company, on their way to the wreck. Tha HERALD tug came up to the city and was after wards permitted to return and bring up the sailing vessel and her passengers, but they did not arrive, in Halifax until nearly three o’clock this morning. THE COMPANY ASTONISHED AT THE CAPTAIN'S STATEMENT. It 18 said to-night that the White Stas Company are astonished and dumbfounded at the statement made by Captain Williams in the investigation. The story of an insuMciency of coal, it is said, is simply ridiculous, and that she had enough to last for thirty days. This only Tevives the old questions of what brought the Steamer to Halifax, and if she aa coming here, how was it that sucty an incomprenensivle blunder was made as ta cause this terrible disaster? The farce of an invese tigation will probably end to-morrow, and the sure vivors of the crew will sail for Liverpool on thal Cunard line steamer which leaves here at nooms ‘The investigation is still progressing this evening in the Parliament building. Great interest is mani< fested, and eager crowds surround and throng tha buiiding. The examination of the quartermasters was con% tinued. Mr. Thomas, who was on duty when tha alarm was given, testified most emphatically tha@ Captain Williams and second officer Metcalf were Not on the bridge at the time. He supposed that the ory ef breakers meant figld ice, but ran to tha telegraph and put the wheel hard to starboard. Sq@ ar the investigation has failed to elicit but few im- portant facts, and THE EVIDENCE OF THE OFFICERS is decidedly conflicting. The examination fatledt to inspire profound respect, so. far as it has beem conducted. Lawyers seem more anxious ta display their skill at petcfogging, than tw elicit truths, for which the world is waiting, im connection with this most shocking affair. Captain Williams watches the evidence closely, an takes noies. The populace stare at higg angrily, aud whispers ef indignation are numerous and expressive, even at the hotel. On the street and everywhere wkere he appears in public he is shunned, scorned or abused. He told the Herat. reperter to-night that it seemed as if he hadn't friend in the world; that noone seemed to sticly by Dim, “It is,” he said, ‘as if lwas going on @ journey to the grave—no one wants to accompany me.”” THE SURVIVORS IN NEW YORK. Most of Them Leaving the City—Erie Of fers Them Free Passage—A Consulag Claim for Indemnity Probable, The survivors of the wreck of the Atlantic, whe arrived in this city on Sunday last, have nearly all (ft the city by various routes fer their destinae tions, the majority of them travelling over the Erie Railway to the West. In all probability they wilt be all provided for by to-morrow. Quite a number of them visited the offices of the White Star Com. pany and had interviews with the officera regarding the question whether the company will do anything to recompense them fow the loss of their effects; but no resulé was reached. Most of the men had very little im the way of money and valuables with them in the ship, and a large proportion of them concluded not to lose time in any attempt to obtain a settlement, and expressed their desiré to be forwarded imme» diately to their future homes. Yesterday the following despatch was transmite ted te ticket agents of the Erie Ratlway :— Please advise the press that the Erie Rallway Company will caeerfuliy give free transportation over its lines to all persons saved from the Atlan. tic who may wish to go West and who will present the personal certificate of J. are Sparks, agen’ White Star line, at our ticket o1 , 241 Broad ways or at Castle Garden. JNO. Re AB! I, General Passenger Agent Erie Railway. About thirty of the survivors left this city yester~ day afternoon by the New York Cent a altogether, about seventy-five remain at Ous- tle Garden, Some eighteen or twenty of the shipwrecked men, Swedes and Norwegians, calied esterday afternoon at the offices of Mr. christian Bors, Consul of the Kingdom of Norway and sweden, at No, 18 Exchange place. Consul Birs took the statements of the men, and, subsequently, set on foot be them a subseriptiom list. The result was that &bout three hundred doilars were raised and divided ameng them, mak— ing @ quota of about fifteen dollars each. Most of them went to Wisconsin and Minnesota. About thirty of them left on Sunday night without calling on the Consul, and he has telegraphed to the Swedish Consul in Chicago to intercept them and take their declarations. In all probability a clain on behalf of the men will be put im through the Consut for indemnity by the Op on ‘The statement of Captain Williams, as regards coal and provisions, is discredited by the manager of the White Star line, who affirm that the steam left Liverpool with 967 tons coal, which on the ave~ rage consumption was enough for over seventecm days. The New Yerk agent has also @ cable despatch of provisions — thera. was on board a supply for thirty-two days, with enough of other stores for passage ent and home. The quantity as well as the quality a they say, strictly examined: on all vessel® carrying emigrants by government ofmeers before they ure permitted to leave a British port. As am investigation 1s to be held as soon as bie at Liverpool, under the auspices of the British Boar® of Trude, the truth of Captain Williams’ statement will no doubt be ascertained. How the Passengers Were Treated. MONDAY, April 7, 1873, To THe Eprror oF THE HERALD:— We, the undersigned unfortunate passengers om board the Atiantic steamship, arrived in New Yor yesterday, after suffering antold misery during the past week. We are among those who crossed om the repe to the rock and remained there severs nours. After staying on the island some time w@ went to Halifax. There we were very well treated, and the inhabitants gave us clothing and nourish ment. The agents ef the White Star line did nothing for us whatever, but left us to our fate. Captain Williams had promised to take care of u@ im Halifax. When we got Lge os not ba started on the steamer’ Falmouth mom Halifax for Portiand, and came on thence by rail to Bosto: and finally to this city by tne Fall River lim The tickets we had were issued to us by tha Nova Scotia government. In no way did the agents of the White Star line approach us or over to heilpus. When in New York we remained a@ Yastle Garden some time and had dinner at half past three ‘on Sunday, Since that time we hava tasted no meat. All they gave us Was seme ary bread and milk. We went to the office of the Wiute Stur line this morning and stated our case—thag our money, clothing and toeis had been lost board the Atlantic and that we bad nothing m the world, Mr. Sparks told us that he could do oeg. | for us but give us $zeach, One of the runners the White Star line took us dewn to the Peunsyl« vi Railroad depot and Mr. ‘ks had told ne that he wonld take care of us. twhen pnd po ta | the depot the runner took us hy the hand wathy «jyon’( miss the train, boys; take care of yours selves,” and left us. We had nothing but $2 eack to go on to Chicago and were otherwise totally destitute. We want to knew what to do. We are totaliy destitute, and the White Star lime ought to replace what we have lost, gr partar i, We lave bad a@