The Express.
London, England, 1860-11-02 00:00:00

THE WRECK OP THE STEAMER ARCTIC.

The following account of the wreck of the steamer
Arctic is translated from a Danish paper ;
Meanwhile the steamer was about if mile from shore,
' the brit had gone southward, het cease back with all sails
set. "In belt an hour we AM! have them both." said an
laid fisherman, " the steamer first." The crew of the life-
boat were reedy with the rockets. It was about four p.m.,
cad the storm wee beginning to abate somewhat, though the
sea was still violent. The captain of the steamer, in
order to leave nothing untried, let two anchors
go at the outermost shoal. "That will never do,"
said the old fisherman ; "be is lying too close
to a dangerous place." "He does not know Harbooro
Strand," said an old man ; "only look at the brig, she
knows more about the matter—they must havebeen hero be-
fore." And in truth, at the same moment, I law the brig
with all her sails set dash over the shoal like lightning
straight towards the coast.
I :coined looking after the steamer; it was lying on the
shoal, and the waves were continuity washing over it. The
storm abated more and more, and I be to hope she
I might be weed. I went in front of the chi% to get to the
I brig, which was lying about 2,000 yards more to the south ;
the cliffs thus hid the stammer from sight for a time, but
all at once I saw its masts further towards the south, and
a greet deal nearer land_ Without suspecting anything
wrong I went again over the hills, se as to come down to
the sea, when suddenly from the top of the cliff I saw the
fearful extent of the destruction in all its hillier. The
vessel bad sprung a leak, and bad drifted to about the
middle of the shoal, about 700 yards from land, sad bad
foundered on this dangerous place. The quarter desk vas
wader water, while the remaining pert of the vessel was
still above. The mew and the had crowded into
tire rigging, and their heart-piercing shrieks resounded over
the sands. It was a night I never have seen before, and
I pray the Lord I may never witness such another. The
only hope was that the ship might hold together until the
atone had sufficiently abated to permit of the lifeboat being
used ;to use the rocket ap toe was impossible, as the
ship lay too far from la remained standing on the
shore, and could see bow every moment the sea gained on
the ship : after half an hour it reached the foremast. All
at once I hood a hollow sound ; it was the deck which had
gone to pieces ; and at the same moment a bale of oaten
went overheard and was hurried along with terrific velocity
towards the shore. And then, without intermission, boats,
tubs, acid psekages and Wee of goods, boxes and trunks,
were precipitated out of the versid, and soon covered the
whole shore. It continued thus for about one hour. The
wind lulled more and and the ship, thanks to God,
Moll remained entire. It to grow dark; I remained
Mending as long sal could catch a glimpse of the passengers
—the one moment in frantic despair, the next full of hope.
As yet I bad seen none leave go of the mast or fall over-
board.

Niiht came on, and I could see no more. I offered up •
silent prayer for those in the mast a. As soon as day dowsed
I looked again for the steamer, and was thankful to see
that it had become comparatively calm. It lay still on the
same spot without having settled down further In the
water. I was convinced that all in the man were
saved, but unfortunately it was not so. The lifeboat
had come early in the morning from the station,
but its crew considered any attempt useless. The day
advanced till it was nearly noon. Mr. Claude
used every means, both threats and promisee ; he
promised any one who unstained injury a handsome pen-
sloe, and ensured the people that if soy of them perished in
the attempt be would provide for their families, sad
offered any who would go out 100 dollen from his own
pocket. Any one who Lams hie influence, character, and
fortune, knows also that be both would and could keep hie
promise ; but it was all in vain. Mr. Andersen, from Lem
trig, hastened down to a Norwegian brig which wee in the
neighbourhood, and returned with the mate and some
milers ; but when they saw the danger they refused,
with the exception of the mate, to venture out. Mr.
Andersen was the first to volunteer. The mate engaged to
take the helm ; an old Englishman, Mr. Esti, civil engineer,
who was ou the spot, also joined the volunteers. It was •
hantedons enterprise The boat, which required a ample-
ment of eight oars and ten men, had to make the attempt
with seven men : the Norwegian sat at the helm. It was •
fearful sight ; ten times was the boat hurled book on the
shore. Andersen, who rowed bow oar, wee washed over-
board ; but we fortunately pulled him in again.
The Norwegian steered the boat with as much
calmness and cheerfulness as if en • pleasure
trip ; one could hear his voice through the storm
" Cheerily, my lads, again she goes." And, indeed, Clod is
the protector of the bold. The boat as length arrived in
safety over the surf to the vessel, and was received by •
hearty cheer from the Englishmen in the meats. The
mime was speedily emptied of its living freight, and then
they began to rescue those on the foremast. When as many
pasting= as the boat could hold had got in, they put off,
and reached the land in a few momenta. On its arrival a
hearty hurrah sounded spill from the ship. This fortunate
result gave encouragement for another attempt. The boat
set out again, with the addition of one or two more oars-
men, and carried off the remaining sufferers. As
it approached the shore, however, it unfortunately
capsized, and two of the ship's crew were drowned.
As all hands were employed in saving the others
no
one thought of the boat, and it was not till some time
after that the dead body of Mr. Earl was found in it with
the head quite crushed. The English, both crew and pas 7
gangers, reached land in almost a state of nudity, they had
thought to save themselves by swimming, and had there-
fore thrown away their over-garments and boots. But
directly they set foot sabot* all the sufferings of
the peat night seemed to be instantaneously forgotten. The
number saved woo 21, the captain, the second and third mates,
four pusengers, and fourteen of the crew. As fir as I can
tell there were nine drowned—the lot mate, Mr. Hoowles ;
Mrs. Butterworth, wife of the manager of • factory in St.
Petersburg ; her little daughter Eliza, two years old ; as
tomerrieJ lady, and four of the crew, besides the stewardess.
The bodies of the child and stewardess have been recovered.
I bare often mu shipwrecks, but never have I witnessed so
great • destruction. For upwards of 1,000 yards, the next
day, the coast was literally strewed with pieces of the
wreck, broken into small piecs : the only entire thing I
saw was an oar. Captain Brown informed me that when
the ship began to founder the cabin filled at once. The
ladies and the child were drawn up on deck, but were in
the same instant washed overboard. Tile pumps were
quite useless, and part of the crew had to be employed in
baling out.
On the Sunday afternoon the child E. Butterworth was
buried in Barboore Churchyard. It was • striking funeral.
The corpse was accompanied bb the captain, the passengers.
and the crew to the clergyman s house, and carried into the
house. After singing • hymn, four sailors carried the coffin
into the churchyard, the crew and the , the
clergyman's family, and several pimento fo wing, two by
two. After the earth Lad been out on the coffin the
clergyman offered up • short prayer for the poor mother,
who had not been found, for the father who, even at that
Moment, was expectifig to embrace his wife, and concluded
' with a Timer of thenksilvfoG Sim who had saved that
little Land that was shin round the child's grave.
Though none of the shipwrecked people understood one
word of lauiala, yet I hare never seen such moved
oonotenanees, not as eye but was wet. I wished
to be able to fathom the secret thonghta of
those present and the feelings which animated them.
One thing was evident to us all—the words of Scripture—
" There is but one step between me and death." Yes, it was
• striking funeral, no pomp or ostentation ; we had neither
mutes, or funeral W. or mourning garments ; passengers
and seamen mot together in their everyday draw, some in

permute coeterna, but all had *rambled to show their
little leavening companion this Lust mark of affectioo. And
here rids my sketch. Perhaps I have not given the de-
r& in the but way—the time was short, my heart heavy,
sad the catastrophe overwhelming. Bat of one thing I
am ceetite, aael that ia that the fare are authentic.