One of the first "floating palaces" Atlantic was, at 420 feet long, with a marble floor and 21 pianos on board. Was the second White Star ship to serve on the transatlantic run, after her sister Oceanic.

 

Left on her maiden voyage on the 6th June 1871. The White Star sister ships were constructed of iron and had seven watertight compartments. Atlantic carried 10 lifeboats for 600 of her 1,160 passengers, exceeding the legal requirements of the period by more than 50 percent. The ship's power was generated by reciprocating engines which turned a Single shaft and a three bladed propeller.

 

Shortly after 3:00 pm on 20th March 1873, Atlantic departed Liverpool for Queenstown. The White Star liner arrived in Queenstown the next morning at 9:00 am and boarded her last passengers before leaving for a collision course with destiny.

 

She ran aground at full speed around 3 oclock in the morning of the 1st April, 1873 in total darkness off Meagher Island near Halifax. She carried 931 passengers; 560 lost their lives that night, 371 were saved (All male passengers and crew).

 

This was one of the largest maritime disasters of the time.