Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-18
mashingtun Sentinel.
Further Particulars in Relation to the Arctic.
STATEMENT OF MIR. W. W. GILBERT.

ladies and gentlemen, among whom were Mrs
Allen, Mrs. Brown, Mr.. Pearson and others.
Immediately after the collision, all the gentle
men ran on deck, and we saw indistinctly through
the mist, on our starboard quarter, propeller
with her bow, to all appearance, completely
knocked out. So badly did she appear to be
Injured, that it was the impression of all on
the Arctic that she must sink. The hole IN
her was large enough to admit the water in
immense volumes, and through it, her lading
could be seen down to the waters edge. Capt.
Luce Immediately gave orders that one of our
quarter boats should be dispatched to the aid
of the propeller, and Mr.. Gourlie, our chief Off
GER took command of the boat, taking with
him five or six seamen. We changed our
course and went around the propeller twice.
For the first fifteen minutes after the collision,
not realizing that we were in any danger, did
not pay much attention to what was passing,
being most of the time with the ladies, who in
the meantime had come up from the saloon.
About this time, however, it was discovered
that we were injured ourselves, and were TAX
ing in water very fast. The pumps were i'm
mediately attached to the engine. did not
suppose that we were in any Immediate danger
until heard Capt. Luce say to Mr. Gourlie
when he came within hailing distance, that we
could not stop for him. Our course was then
changed for the land, and the passengers COM
menced looking around for the means of safety.
Lite preservers were put on, and preparations
were made to get into the boats.
About an hour after the collision, think,
they commenced to get the second boat ready
for use, which boat / understand was the one
by the falling of which several passengers
were precipitated into the sea and lost This
boat was left suspended on the port quarter,
by the bow, at about an angle of forty-fve
degrees. The next boat that ] saw got ready
was the port guard boat. went to it with the
ladies of my party, to endeavor to get them
in. In going, however, Mrs. Allen inquired
for her husband, saying that she could not GO
without him. The momentary delay caused
by looking for him, prevented us from being
in time to get into that boat. When we ap
preached, it was already filed. l then asked
Captain Luce if he could not get boat to
save my friends. He said, eyes, bring them
this way" pointing in the direction of the port
quarter boat which was still suspended.
then went TO the party consisting of Mrs
Brown, Mrs. Allen, Miss Brown, Mrs. Stone
and Miss Stone, Mr.. Allen, Mr.. Brown, and
two children and said, Captain Luce says
we can get in This boat, come this way" They
followed me from the saloon deck to the bulwarks
on the port side. We found there Captain Luce
and sailor waiting for US. Two fremeu were
in the boat, whom Captain Luce ordered out
They refused TO get out of the boat, saying thai
their lives were as good as anybodys else. H.
reiterated the order, and threatened to take
their lives if they did not leave the boat and al
the same time he raised an iron mallet which
he had in his hand over their heads. Upon
this they left the boat, and Captain Luce said
Il Al. 1
of the angle at which the boat was suspended
it would be impossible for lady to get in with
out some one was there to receive her. and
sprang over the bulwarks, saying pass the la
dies over TO me, and let myself down to the
bow Of the boat by the fall / repeated the
words, "passthe ladies over" several timesrapid
ly. was placed SO far below the bulwarks tina,
/ could not see what was going on on the ship.
i gather from other sources that the ladies were
thrust aside, and / found the boat in moment
filled by others, lowered, and the rope cut by a
sailor. All this was done more rapidly than ]
can write. As i was carried away from the
ship, saw Mr.. Edward Sanford standing on
the saloon deck. He saw me in the boat, and
with a smile on his face, waved his hand 10
me as quietly as If we were about 10 leave him
for short excursion. Dir. Brown saw stand
ing on the guard aft of the wheslhouse. HI,
bowed his head to me, but l did not hear him
speak. / told him, in brief terms, my agony al
having failed in my efforts to assist his party
/ afterwards saw him on the saloon deck;
saw none OF the ladies after got over the side
Mr.. Gihon, who was near me in the boat, states
that he saw Mr.. Geo. Pearson, who was carry
ing Mrs. Aliens child. Sometime before get
ting into the boat, asked one of the walters TO
get me some biscuit. lie brought me the bis
cult tied up in napkin, which handed to the
ladies'; when j accompanied the ladies TO the
side Of the vessel, picked up the napkin con-
tanning the biscuit, when the knot became united
and the biscuitwere scattered about on the deck
l then picked up two or three and put them
in my pocket, which, during the time we were
on the boat / dealt out to the men in small
parcels as they we're wanted. This was all the
provision we had on board. When we were
about 200 yards from the steamer we deserted
another boat, which we hailed and approached
We asked IL they would take some Of our par.
~ on board they said yes six Of US then left
and went on that boat. Mr. BALKAN was in
command Of her. As soon as we got settled
in our separate boats, made n motion tina;
Mr.. Balkan should be appointed our govern
ing officer, and asked them IL they approved
Of it. They all answered yes and by this
vote he was made captain, with full power over
both boats. and after that he was implicitly
obeyed. There was some difference Of opinion
as TO whether we should remain by the steamer
or pull for shore, bot il was finally decided that
we should make for land, and we immediately
changed our course. The sailors rowed almost
uninterruptedly for thirty hours, though they
we're occasionally relieved by the passengers.
The first morning after we left the vessel we
deserted sail, and changed our course to.
wards it. Afler rowing for about three hours,
aud finding that we could not overtake her, we
again changed our course towards land. Soon
after the joyful cry Of another sail was heard,
and with renewed vigor we pulled towards her.
We approached her near enough to men on
her deck we then rose in both boats, and
simultaneously hailed her to the utmost power
Of our voices. We fastened handkerchief
10 an oar, and swung il around from the bow
Of the boat. All Of our efforts were in vain,
and fair breeze then springing mp, the
vessel sailed away from us. Darkness soon
came on, and our hopes began to droop. There
was some little difference of opinion expressed,
as to the course to take to reach land. After
this was decided, we continued rowing. Some.
time early in the evening, one of The sailors
said he was certain that land waa naar fro,,,