RMS Atlantic sinks off Nova Scotia

Background. SS Atlantic was a transatlantic ocean liner of the White Star Line, operating between Liverpool and New York City. She was the second ship of the Oceanic-class and the first White Star steamer to sink, following the loss of the clipper Tayleur in 1854. The ship had completed 18 crossings without major incidents prior to her 19th voyage.

Voyage and Conditions. Atlantic departed Liverpool on 20 March 1873 for her 19th voyage, carrying 636 passengers and 141 crew, with 175 additional passengers joining at Queenstown. Officially, 952 people were on board, though up to 14 stowaways may have been present. On the evening of 31 March, the ship navigated a storm at 12 knots toward Halifax Harbour with intermittent visibility.

Aftermath and Legacy. The wreck remained the deadliest civilian maritime disaster in the North Atlantic until the sinking of the La Bourgogne in 1898. It was the greatest disaster for the White Star Line prior to the Titanic in 1912. In May 1873, Norwegian newspapers reported that the wreck had been blown open, recovering goods and 349 bodies.