The Terrifying Wreck of the SS ATLANTIC (Halifax, 1873 - 150th ANNIVERSARY)

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April Fool's Day, 1873 - The grand steamer Atlantic of the White Star Line crashes hard onto the rocks of Lower Prospect, Nova Scotia (not too far from Halifax), with almost 1,000 people on board. The ship is rapidly tearing apart as the waves batter it against the rocky coastline. The lifeboats wreck before they can escape and the stern sinks rapidly. It seems hopeless for everyone aboard Atlantic, but rescue is on its way in the form of a small group of local fishermen.
At that time, the SS Atlantic was the worst disaster in the North Atlantic to date, and the worst disaster for the White Star Line until the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. April 1st, 2023 marks the 150th anniversary of the wreck, and even though it's a wreck I've covered thoroughly on my channel in the past, including with a detailed full length documentary, new research and a better understanding of the disaster make it worth revisiting this story.
My SS Atlantic Playlist: • The Wreck of the SS AT...
Bob's Book "Atlantic's Last Stop": www.amazon.com/Atlantics-Last...
Alternative link: nimbus.ca/store/atlantics-las...
SS Atlantic Heritage Interpretation Centre: www.ssatlantic.com/

[@PartTimeExplorer]

Help share this video around either on social media or with contacts you know who can promote it further. Bob, Alex, and I put a lot of time and effort into this project and we would love it if our work played a role in making sure the 150th anniversary of the disaster is not forgotten. Thank you!

[@classiccar0311]

It’s crazy how just a handful of people and sometimes one person can make better documentaries than large companies ever could dream of. All of your work is excellent and only getting better.

[@bowl-of-chicken-soup7107]

The fact that this whole tragedy could have been avoided if just one man was truthful with his captain…

[@leandrotami]

I feel like the captain was dealing with a terrible crew. He was being lied about the amount of coal up to the point that someone thought unnecessarily diverting the ship from its course was preferable to recognizing their deceit. He was also not woken up when he requested it. A captain is still one person and he couldn't do everything, he depended on his crew.

[@dat2ra]

The bravery if the locals who risked their lives to rescue strangers is a testament to the best of human nature. So touching.

[@wrightju12345]

As a Nova Scotian, it's difficult to believe anyone survived that night. The currents and riptides carry people off the slick granite to their doom every year. To be that close to the shore, a false hope, must have caused so many deaths.

[@AnotherWittyUsername.]

The White Star Line either had the worst luck or hired the most incompetent people to be found on the seven seas.

[@molllus]

I live in Halifax, and the number of graves we have from well known ship wrecks always somehow surprises the tourists. The Atlantic is a treacherous ocean at the best of times, and we're often the closest port. This is fantastically done - thank you for all of your hard work and research.

[@jonrutherford6852]

In 1851 my great-grandfather (then 12 years old), his sister, and their mom and dad made the voyage from County Donegal, Ireland, to New York City, fleeing the famine and turmoil in their homeland. They undoubtedly traveled in steerage, and documentaries like this help me to visualize just a bit of what they must have experienced during the long crossing. I enjoy your dignified and unsensational videos packed with history. Thank you!

[@gibshredcamel]

All of the people who participated in the rescue were absolute hard men. An 11 year old kid rowing across a rough sea in the early morning?! Nuts!

[@patton303]

The woman who had her baby snatched out of her arms by a wave. That made my blood run cold. Especially as a parent.

[@unrulycrow6299]

It's not the first documentary I listen to about the SS Atlantic, however it has to be the most detailed and compassionate one. I feel so sad for the lost persons, people like Rosa who likely went through the pains of childbirth and being a new mother, to losing everything in a single hour, even her life. The rescuers were outstanding people as well, and the efforts they pulled while not having much themselves is a great example of humanity.

[@johnmichaelrichards]

I'm 60 years old. I was born in Liverpool and, in the 1960s, the docks aside the River Mersey were my playground, especially the Princes Landing Stage, the Pier Head, and the Albert and Canning Docks. Even as a young child, I was fascinated by tales of the SS Atlantic. Thank you for this excellent documentary.

[@kfrenchiiee]

Poor Rosa, she just gave birth to her newborn child only to lose her over the edge to the sea. And then to be separated from her husband and left in the rigging, tied down, watching in horror and despair as the ship sunk deeper and deeper. RIP to her and everyone lost that night.

[@SherlocksLeftNipple]

I didn't expect the line about two babies being born during the crossing to hit me as hard as it did, but it stuck with me throughout this entire rewatch. What a tragically short existence to be born into. 😢

[@adielstephenson2929]

The fact that they rescued 400 people from that apparently hopeless situation is an incredible testament to the skill, bravery and determination of those islanders.

[@TheDootSlayer]

I've never gotten emotional while watching a shipwreck documentary, but the story of William and Annie Glenfield made me ugly cry. I cannot imagine what Willaim felt that night and what he must have felt for the rest of his life. I can only pray that if there is an afterlife, William and Annie have been reunited at last in peace.

[@BrightSunFilms]

I absolutely love these detailed videos, telling stories rarely known. Absolutely brilliant video overall!

[@Valshara_]

It makes me terribly sad that the man who worked for years to bring a good life to the woman he loves just to lose her in such a horrific way. And to make it worse, he couldn't even be granted a proper sentimental item to remember her by because of the horrible greed of people who looked at the tragedy as profit to be gained.

[@davidthorne5715]

The most legendary thing about this is the town who rallied into action as fast as they could, almost brings a tear to my eye