Montreal Gazette, June 4, 1840 [datelined Quebec June 2]
WRECK OF THE ATLANTIC WITH A GENERAL CARGO FOR QUEBEC
The brig Hero, Millar, which arrived yesterday from St. John's,
Newfoundland, brought eighteen passengers from the wreck of the Atlantic,
of which event we have collected the following particulars.
The new bark Atlantic, of Perth, (284 tons) George Morton, master,
from Dundee to Quebec with a general cargo, ran on shore near Cape St.
Francis, Newfoundland, at half past eleven o'clock, on the night of
Tuesday, 5th May. The passengers, twenty seven in number, and the crew
had a miraculous escape but all succeeded in getting ashore with the
exception of a boy named Hogg, who was undoubtedly drowned. From a Newfoundland
paper brought by Capt. Millar of the Hero with a perusal of which we
have been favoured, we learn that the passengers of the Atlantic arrived
in St. John's, the capital of the island, in a very destitute condition,
and appeals were being made to the charitable public, to secure them
assistance of which they stood in need. Scarcely an article of clothing
was saved from the wreck - the loss of the ship having been almost the
work of an instant, and the circumstances superceding every consideration
but the preservation of life; many got on the shore as they rushed from
their beds, on being aroused from the shock. His Excellency the Governor
of Newfoundland promptly and humanely sent to their assistance, on being
informed of their situation.
They reached St. John's, from the wreck of the Atlantic at Pouch Cove,
overland; not, however, without much difficulty; and some of them have
sufferred injuries in the awful dangers which they have providentially
escaped.
The following is a list of the passengers, who have arrived in Quebec,
from the wreck of the Atlantic. We have no doubt that the national Charitable
Societies of this city, on whom they may have claims, will immediately
take into consideration the situation of such of them as stand in need
of relief.
| Thomas Rutherford |
| Peter Macfarlane, engineer |
| Alexander Mackenzie, currier |
| Donald M'Gregor with a wife and three children, labourer |
| Benjamin Hogg, labourer, with a wife and three children |
| Henry Burgie, farrier[1], with a wife and one child |
| James Robertson, merchant |
| John Duff, a boy |
| total 18, the others, nine in number, remained in St. John's.
|
Montreal Gazette, July 2.
HARBOUR GRACE, NFLD, May 20. The body of the unfortunate boy Hogg,
[snipped], drifted ashore last week at Holyrood, when it was taken up
by the humane people and decently interred.
1) It is unclear whether the occupation is farrier, furrier
or farmer!
