The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-13 00:00:00

LOSS OF TBE UNITED STATES MAIL
STEAMER ARCTIC, AND UP WARDS OF
300 LIVES.

The Canadian Steam-ship Company's screw-steamer
Cleopatra, Captain H. Salt, arrived at Liverpool yester-
day morning from Quebec, after having put into St. John's,
Newfoundland, for coal. She made the passage from St.
John's in seven days and a half.

By her we have -.received St. John's papers of the 3d
inst., which give the melancholy details of the total loss
of the American steamer Arcticf Captain Luce, with a
fearful sacrifiee of life, off the banks. We take the fol-
lowing details of this distressing catastrophe from the
onrth edition of the Liverpool Times of yesterday :
It is with the greatest sorrow that we announce that the
United States mail steamer Arctic, Captain Luce, was lost
on Wednesday, the 27th ult., on her voyage from Liverpool
to New York, about 65 miles from Cape Race, on the
coast of Newfoundland. This terrible event was the conse-
quence of a collision in a dense fog. There were from three
to four hundred persons on board, including passengers,
officers, and crew, of whom only fourteen passengers, three
officers of the ship, and twenty-eight seamen are known to
have been saved, having arrived at Newfoundland, but it
is possible that some others may be picked up.
The following is the statement of Mr. Baahlam, the
second officer of the ship, copied from the St. John's (New-
foundland) Public Ledger of the 3d October :
St. John's, Tuesday, Oct. 3.
The following is the statement of r. Baahlam, second
officer of the ill-fated steamer Arctic, who was despatched
from Renews in search of the unfortunate vessel, or her
boats, and who arrived in St. John's this morning at ten
o'clock, which statement is given in his own words :
" Ou Wednesday, at noon, Cape Race bearing S.W. by
W., 65 miles distant, while running in a very thick fog,
were struck on the starboard bow, about 60 feet abaft the
cutwater, by an iron steamer, which made three large
holes in the ship, two below the water, one of which was
about five and a-half feet in length, one or one and a-half
in depth, leaving the whole cutwater and stem of the iron
steamer clean through the Arctic's side. So dense was the
fog that the vessel could not be seen a minute before the
collision.

"The wheel wasputhard to starboard, the engine stopped
instantly, and backed at full speed, until clear of the
other steamer, which occupied a couple of minutes. The
French steamer seemed to be sinking, bow first. Captain
Luce immediately gave orders to clear away the quarter
boats, which was done, and Mr. Gourley, chief officer, left
the ship in charge of the starboard boat; and in lowering
the port boat the captain exclaimed, Hoist up that boat
again, Mr. Baahlam,' and beckoned me to go to him. Upon
doing so, he ordered me to go over the bow to ascertain, if
possible, what damage had been done. I then found the
holes above mentioned. Upon informing him of the facts,
he ordered the ship's head to be kept for the land, which
bore N.W. by W. By this time we had lost sight of the
officers' boat and the other steamer, which we supposed
had sunk. We had not been on our course more than
four or five minutes before we ran over a boat and crew
belonging to the other vessel, all of whom perished, with
the exception of one, who caught hold of a rope hanging
over the bow.
" Directly the boat was seen, orders were given to stop
the engine, which the chief engineer said could not be
done, as the ship was fast sinking. In about 30 minutes
all the lower fires were out, and at the least there were
six feet of water in the ship fore and aft. By this
time the confusion amongst the passengers was very great,
but they used all efforts to assist the crew in keeping
the pumps going, and in lightening the ship forward,
for the purpose of endeavouring to get at the leak
from inside, which wes found to be useless, and num-
bers of them got into the • boats, which were still hang-
ing to the davits. In 45 minutes after the collision I came
up from the forehold, and informed the captain that the
water was on a level with thu lower deck beams, and that
it was impossible to get at the leak. I then asked him
what he thought would bo likely to be the fate of the ship,
when he stated his belief to me that there was no hope of
saving her. He then told me to see to my boats.
" On going to those on the part side I found them com-
pletely filled with men and women, and no possibility of
getting near them. I immediately went to the starboard
side, and ordered two of the crew to lower the guard-boat,
and asked the captain what his intentions were, who re-
plied that the ship's fate should be his. I then asked him
if he would not allow his son to go with me, as I intended
to take a boat, but he returned me the answer that he
should share his fate. I then jumped into the boat, and
was ordered by the captain to cut away the tackle falls, and
drop under the stern. I did so, at which time about 20
persons, as I supposed, jumped overboard, of whom 17 or
18 were picked up. Fell in with another boat which had
been lowered from the other side, and lightened her of
part of her complement, leaving 19 in her, and 26 in my
own boat,
" The last sight we had of the ship her guards were
level with the water, and the surface of the sea strewed
with human beings who had jumped or fallen overboard,
to whom, however, it was impossible for us to lend any
assistance, and we soon lost sight of all, the fog continuing
to he very dense.
" I then asked the boats' crews whether they were will-
ing to be governed by me, which was unanimously approved,
anti I was put in complete command of Loth boats. We
were then about 60 miles S.E. of Cape Race. Deeming it
my duty, for the safety of all, to take the nearest course
for the land, and after pulling 42 hours, with nothing to
guide us but the run of the sea, which I took to bo heaving
from the southward, and in a thick fog, which lasted all
the time, we reached Brpad Cove, some 12 miles north of
Cape Race.
" We then proceeded by land to Renews, which we
reached on Friday last. I there obtained and took charge
of a small schooner, which was hired by the purser and
myself, and proceeded immediately in search of the wreck
or her boats. We cruised round until yesterday in a strong
gale of wind from N.E., but could find no trace of ship or
boats. I sent word to Captain Leitch, of the city of Phila-
delphia steamer, acquainting him with the catastrophe,
who, I am informed, sent off two vessels which he bad em-
ployed about his owu ship. Mr. Alan Goodridge, of Re-
news, also sent away a vessel on Saturday evening, but
she has not yet returned. It is with the greatest regret I
have to report no trace • of the Arctic or her other boats
could bo found ; but as there were very many vessels in the
neighbourhood where the disaster occurred, it is not im-
probable that many lives may have been saved. No doubt,
however, is left on nay mind as to the loss of the steamer
Arctic."
The following are the passengers who are known to be

saved :
Passengers Saved—Messrs. C. De Possiur or Dupasseur,
fir• A. Young, W. W. Gilbert, J. Bogart, C. T. Mitchell,
E. M. Tuss, W. P. Rathbone, J. Hennesy, H. More,
De Meyer, W. Gihon, jun., J. M`Math, George Dobbs,
and the Duke de Grammont's servant.
Crew Saved—Mr. Geib, purser; Mr. Baablam, 2d officer;
Mark Graham, 4th officer; and twentyeight seamen.

[FROM THE ST. JOHN'S (NEWFOUNDLAND) PUBLIC LEDGER,
OCT. 3.]
The French merchant screw-steamer Vesta, from St.
Peter's bound to Granville, arrived herd on Saturday morn-
ing, with loss of foremast and bows completely shattered
to paces, having been in collision with the Collins' paddle-
steamer Arctic, from Liverpool to New York, about fifty-
four miles S.E. of Cape Race.
It appears that the Vesta left St. Peter's on Tuesday last,
and on the following day, at noon, in the neighbourhood
of the Virgin Rocks, in an exceedingly dense fog, steaming
eight knots, came into collision with a large steamer,
which was recognised as the Arctic of New York, whose
speed is stated not to have been less than twelve knots.
The Vesta appeared to be sinking, but immediately rose
again, but no hope was entertained of her ultimate safety,
the passengers and crew looking upon the Arctic as their
only chance of saving their lives. One man was killed,
and others severely wounded. Two boats were put
ever the side, the first of which was sunk, and the
second was immediately boarded by two of the crew
and several of the passengers, who, not heeding
the order of the captain to return on board, aban-
doned the vessel. The fog continuing very thick, they lost
sight of the Arctic altogether, still hoping, however, that
she would not desert them.
A cry of distress was now heard, which was attributed
to some men of the Vesta, who, it appears, had jumped
overboard to get on board the Arctic. Providentially, the
bulkhead in the forecastle was not started, which the Cap-
tollartd:eri(sinDfinuocrehdeteel)noticed as affording a chance of safety.
immediately,
with the utmost promptitude, gave
lightening the vessel by the head, which was as
readily obeyed by throwing overboard all the fish, cargo,
luggage which was in the fore part
of h
&craised her bows considerably.
and passengers,
whieh
This elevation, with the firmness of the bulkhead, contri-
buted much to stop the heavy rush of water. About 150
evessel, of t h
I mattresses, paliasses, and other' effects of the crew and
passengers, were now placed abaft the safety partition,
over which were thrown sails, backed by boards and
planks, the whole being secured by cables well and firmly
wrapped round all.
The foremast, which had received some damage, was cut
away, and contributed considerably to raise the head still
more. This occupied two days. They then ran under small
steam for the nearest port (St. John's), which they entered
on Saturday last most providentially before the rising of a
severe gale which blew on that day. Upon mustering the
hands thirteen were missed. The Vesta had on board 147
passengers and a crew of 50 men. The conduct of Captain
Duchesne is much applauded, and the condition of the ves-
sel, as she now appears, elicits the admiration of all who
visit her. Indeed nothing but the most indomitable energy,
unwavering perseverance, and most superior seamanship,
could have succeeded in bringing the vessel into port. The
unfortunate men have been taken into the hospitable keep-
ing of Mr. Toussaint (through whose kindness we have been
enabled to gather the foregoing account), who spares no
pains to provide for their comfort.
Nothing further was known of the Arctic until the even-
ing of Saturday, when new; reached town that she had suf-
fered considerably from the shock, and had been abandoned
by the passengers and crew. On Sunday some of those who
had taken to the boats arrived here from Renews. From
one of the passengers we have gathered the following infor-
mation respecting the collision :
It appears that on Wednesday last, about noon, as the
passengers were at lunch in the cabin, a violent shock was
felt, and upon rushing upon deck a steamer was very indis-
tinctly seen, thrdugh a dense fog, broad off the starboard
bow, which turned out to be the Vesta, abovementioned.
At first no danger was apprehended on board of the
Arctic, and the chief officer was sent with a boat to the
rescue of the crew of the Vesta. It was soon discovered,
however, that there was little hope of saving the Arctic,
and the lady, daughter, and son of Mr. E. B. Collins, with
several ladies, were put on board a boat, in the act of
lowering which one of the tackles gave way, and all, ex-
cept one lady, who clung to a sailor holding fast to the
boat, were precipitated into the sea and lost. Another
party of ladies and a few gentlemen were put on board
another boat, with some provisions, but not having been
manned by sailors there is little chance of their speedily
reaching the land.
The ship could not be stopped to lower the boats, the
pumps being attached to the engine for the purpose of
keeping tho vessel clear of the water, which was rushing
furiously into her from an injury done on the fore side of
the starboard wheel. She was then headed for Cape Race ;
but after having gone some 15 miles, the water had so far
gained as to extinguish tho fires, and the wheels conse-
quently ceased to work, at which time the boats saved left
the ship. Captain Luce had no hopes of saving the vessel
or kis own life, and on souse one wishing to take his little
son into the boat, declined.
A large boat, capable of containing 50 persons, was on
deck, but there not being sufficient hands on board, and
being veryheavy to launch, it is supposed she would be filled
with persons, in the hope that she might float off when the
ship sank. It is conjectured that three life-boats are yet
floating, which will be likely to live out the gale of Sa-
turday.
The purser, appears,
Mr. Gelb, it chartered:a small craft
at Renews to visit the scene of the disaster, and ascertain,
if possible, whether there are any more beats out, so that